JavaleMcGeeShaqtin
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Twitter Rips Joel Olsteen's church for being closed to those seeking shelter when the storm hit
Background: Joel Osteen is a pastor with a church that can house 17000 people. He has refused to open it as shelter for the drowning people of my city.
ISGH, or the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, has graciously opened their mosques for any and everyone that is struggling.
As per @CaffeineManic's fantastic idea, here's a list of all the mosques and their addresses:
https://isgh.org/islamic-centers/
EDIT: For all the people saying there were photos of the church flooded, those pictures were proven not to be of Lakewood Church, but of nearby buildings. Photos actually showed the area outside Lakewood Church doing just fine. (Source: http://www.snopes.com/is-osteens-megachurch-affected/)
That said, I posted this about 6-7 hours before Osteen opened his Church, so keep that in mind before you call this a witch hunt.
Moreover, this post wasn't created to spread shame on Joel Osteen. Instead, it was made to highlight gracious actions by Texan Muslims in a state where Muslims are denigrated daily.
SomeDumbFox
It's a tax shelter.
cowpiefatty
Also mormon churches are another place that will almost always accept people in times like this.
ShimonOutcast
As a Jew, I respect this, stay safe Houston.
ojdajuiceman1
Proof that not all muslims are bad and not Christians are good.
DrunkenCanuckEh
He is an evangelical aka a fraudulent scammer who uses the Bible as a way of making money. Do you know what the sad thing is? -
DrunkenCanuckEh
There are likely millions of Americans who give con artists like him money because they think it will cure what ails them.
kobyashimaru
There are also lots of non-Osteen churches that are open too.
Cyranojoe
Good!
UilleannMann
THIS is what religion should be all about... helping your brother when he is in need! Praise to the ISGH!!! Y'all rock!
Rodeodoc
During the fires at Fort McMurray last year the mosques in Edmonton were quick to lend a hand with food and shelter.
sombrerohorsewagon
He is one of the money changers Jesus would have driven from the temple with his New Testament Chancla.
TheDairyPope
Because when someone asks WWJD? Don't forget that flipping tables and chasing people with a whip is an available option.
areyoulessthan
Spikelf
No he might be a POS but the church is open and working with the city. Quit posting and start helping or you you become the POS
turdturdleton
Juleva
Si six in the morning...
pastramionrye
I believe they answered this today and it turns out the internet got it wrong by jumping to conclusions... Again.
TimothyVonShaft
I mosque say I'm glad to see this
definitelynotthebostonstrangler
The joke I've been praying for
UnnecessaryExposition
Im glad most Texans are giving them muslim chance to show their value to their community!
davemClickDriver
Until flood over and then it's guns out
GrumpyAvatar
Oh, you.
davemClickDriver
Allahast a good joke
Experimentalist
You non dad joke fearing mofo. Take your upvote and go to blazes.
ruthless410
ThatWillBuffOut
It's a times like this I'm reminded that Trump and his son Eric stole money donated to help kids with cancer.
HodorIsADJ
*ahem*Clinton*ahem*Haiti
iovoid
He eats pieces of shit for breakfast.
Buck39
And every other meal. And snack.
RogueMachinae
He eats himself?
Endro22
Shooter McOsteen
JupitersWitch
You know this is bullshit right. Their doors are open and they have set up a medical center.
Ninjaduckpuppy
It's because the building was flooded and seem unsafe.
azazyel
The Mosque near me has an annual BBQ for the neighborhood, good people. They started this after they got attacked after 9/11
artsicili
:(
CleverAndOriginalAndFunny
I hope they cook the food better than the steel beams!
Orzbek
Man, I remember the paranoia after 9/11. The Gas station I used to frequent put a sign on their door saying: "WE ARE INDIAN, NOT ARAB!"
azazyel
This mosque had a sign "We're Not Your Enemy" broke my heart that the felt the need to do that
GaySocialistLiberalMuslimCommieAtheist
An attack that made nations that are normally passive-aggressive at the least offer their aid was sorta a big deal.
Orzbek
I was really upset by it. I was 13 or 14, and the guy that owned it was one of the nicest people I've ever met. Took time to make sure 1/2
Orzbek
the kids/teens that came in were doing alright, made sure they were actively trying to learn in school and was overall nice. 2/2
ImgursLibertarian
WTF kind of bbq doesn't have pork shoulder, or ribs? a sad one.... Unless steak, which is a grillin' not a bbq.
JonathanHoag
Hello, fellow Southerner!
Monka42
Howdy
ImgursLibertarian
Hey ya'll! Somehow people didn't like my view of BBQ.
theonemarcusbob
While that's awesome that they do that.. a BBQ without pork?
plainoldfool
Texas?
MattMcC980
Beef brisket
ImgursLibertarian
gross
RichHammond
carvinbass18
JonathanHoag
Nah it's all good stuff. It's not a BBQ but a cookout and nothing wrong with that
plainoldfool
The fuck you talking about brisket is a cornerstone of American barbecue. Don't get your Carolina underwear in a twist. We like hog too.
azazyel
Lamb too
ImgursLibertarian
more gross.
MattMcC980
Never had bbq lamb is it good?
ImgursLibertarian
I had lamb chops one time. One of like 3 things i'll never even try again: Other 2: Beef liver, Forced Anal Pounding.
azazyel
Oh yeah, especially if you roast it on a spit
thisisnotatakenname
He is a money grubbing evangelist. He is not a God fearing man, nor a decent human being.
WhereDidILoseMyPants
Who is down voting you? +1
iamthemansheep
I think it's probably the term God-fearing. It is a bit archaic. Why not God-loving?
Flyndaran
Only insane people would love the monster that created all the horrors of reality. Fearing him makes at least a hint of sense.
zephyrbell
He's also the blinkiest.
NarutoSexyJutsu
As a Christian, it makes me beyond upset that people follow him, thinking he is a man of God. Sadly, he thinks he is a god.
RogueEnthusiast
Is god fearing a good thing?
Gaehhn
I bet Jesus knows him.
NoItsATideUsername
Seems like a psychopath
leroy666
What on earth does "God fearing" mean? That you are afraid of that which you worship? Sounds pretty bizarre!
ProbablyNotAnActualElephant
"Fear" in this context only loosely refers to actual fear. It's more akin to the sort of respect you show to an authority figure.
leroy666
Pardon? fear doesn't mean fear? Do words mean whatever you want them to mean? See Alice in Wonderland.
ProbablyNotAnActualElephant
Words can mean different things in different contexts. See: English is bullshit.
leroy666
Yeah! I know. Just being an ass and dumping on the Christers
SleeplessEnfuego
Regardless, the Lakewood church actually is open. This post is now incorrect.
thisisnotatakenname
Behold the power of the flock! For it is the unstoppable force! Amen!
thisisnotatakenname
/s
teamnicedynamite
It was closed yesterday when this post was made and only opened after public backlash when it was revealed the "pastor" lied about flooding.
SalTuscany
That's because Joel Osteen isn't getting paid. He's basically the Ayatollah Khomeini of Christians.
Sam1979
Khomeini actually believed his bullshit. Osteen is a swindler through and through.
fuckpuffins
the religion of peace strikes again.
OrangePanic
Hey man don't lump the true christians in with a money loving hack. This man does not worship the lord but an idol called Money and greed.
Phycohb
Religion of money strikes again.
ImgurGuyUSA
I'm not a fan of Osteen but this is simply not true. They are taking many people at Lakewood and supplies for evacuees.
GoBearsGo
Days AFTER he was eviscerated on social media for being a fucking douche bag and piece of shit con man.
duncanhills666
yeah 4 days after being raked over the coals on the net and on tv they relented. in theory it shouldn't have taken them 3 mins to decide.
JimothyDuncanHalpert
Joel Osteen is a piece of shit. Everything about him just screams, "punch me in the face."
frostybox
especially his face, he and Shkreli must be bros
TheConformityInCommentorsHereIsAstronomical
This comment section should contain plenty of praise for ISGH and not just hostility towards Osteen. They're doing a wonderful thing!
JupitersWitch
Osteen's church is open and has been. If only the internet would get shit right.
CaliforniaMoon
You are so right,I just freakin hate him. But yea good on u ISGH!!
serialkillazjungle
Totally agree, the real message here is getting lost due to all the, admittedly justified, hostility towards Osteen. But let love spread.
QualityPork
Don't tell me how to live my life!
AccountCreatedToUpdogVotes
Yeah, but I'm fine with blatant hostility for that piece of garbage.
ZachPutland
Yes but it's basically expected for everyone who is able to help out I suppose
luvas
ITT : "They're good sandpeoples, Brent"
Ninjainslippers
Yes, please. Let's focus on good things and give them energy.
sassyclassykickassy
Agreed!
TK421isAFK
And maybe a few facts would be nice. Osteen's an asshole, but he had nothing to do with the church being locked, and he did have it opened.
kindofaprick
Ninjainslippers
We only have limited time in this world. Why focus on what we hate when there is so much to love and promote?
kindofaprick
I like to multitask. And it keeps me balanced.
sassyclassykickassy
He is saying both.
kindofaprick
And I'm agreeing.
CaffeineManic
This post should be edited with a list of addresses and phone numbers for each mosque. https://isgh.org/contact/
[deleted]
[deleted]
DarkZalgo
Why limit information that could potentially help anyone? If there's a single person it could help it's worth doing it.
Bakassin
@OP
ForgotMyOtherAcct
@OP
Majedisthecaptainnow
@OP
KellyanneAlternativeFacts
TBH, I think this post is directed more at us bystanders, outside of Houston. People looking for shelter are likely not browsing imgur
Suetsumuhana
Though people browsing imgur might know friends and family looking for shelter and can hopefully point those in need to the source.
JavaleMcGeeShaqtin
That's a great idea ill get on it.
skribs
When have you ever seen Internet comments choose to focus on the positive?
lilwood6
Yep He's a cocksucker for sure
krazy986
I thought he didn't let anyone in, because the parking lot was flooded? I still don't like him, but I think this is false.
Naiirita
not the parking lot, the access roads and the inside rooms were flooded.
SomethingInTheseHills
The pictures that they posted of flooding as their reasoning were not the church or the parking lot of their church from what I read.
kiive
Please do not make this about religion. Assholes can be found anywhere.
asm80dfa8sdfj
From the beginning it was about his claim to be Christian when his actions were against the beliefs of the religion. It's not about
asm80dfa8sdfj
Christians or Christianity. This post is good though, I think. Many people, especially in Texas, don't have good views on Muslims, they
asm80dfa8sdfj
tend to think they are evil or bad as a whole; not all Texans, it just seems to be more common to have that prejudice.
LizardEnterprises
Its not about religion. It's about hypocrisy.
KeeleonOhms
Its not about religion. Except for when Joel Osteen made it about religion.
LizardEnterprises
"Its not about sending a divine message, its about the money" - Insert picture of Joel Osteen in Joker makeup here.
ChinaMike808
That's great and all, but you jumped on the bandwagon before the verdict was in; the church is flood prone, THAT'S why they didn't open.
wilsontennisball
I live a few blocks from Lakewood church. Calling BS. Only parking is in basement. "Church is flood prone" lol. Houston is flood prone.
ObiWanShalomi
As much as I hate his fkn face, I have to keep my mind clear of judgement and your explanation could be a legit reason.
KeeleonOhms
I honedtly havent seen proof o e way or the other. Just a lot of pictures and accusations.
JamieSmyth
it's almost as if Muslims are decent, caring people and....not terrorists???
rickeyspanish
they're terrorists too...it isn't mutually exclusive
LizardEnterprises
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/facebook/000/023/180/notsurprisedkirk.jpg
necroheroic
That sounds like no Muslim in the world is a terrorist and all are caring lol. There are good and bad people in every religion.
LiterallyYourMom
No it doesn't. It sounds like a vast majority, which is true. Out of ~1.8 billion globally, Daesh's numbers aren't even a 10th of a percent.
necroheroic
Idk how to put this, but majority =/= all. And why don't we talk about how the majority of religious terrorists are Muslim?
necroheroic
I don't even have anything against them but it's dumb to deny the facts. Again: there are good and bad people in every religion.
LiterallyYourMom
Nobody's saying there aren't, but to blame 1.8 billion people for the actions of an incredibly small percentage is monumentally stupid.
offbalance
Even Christians are not surprised by his behavior.
spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccee
We're not surprised, but we're disgusted all the same.
RebelReis
Agreed!
slaaneshBuiltMyJetbike
My grandmother is an extremely gullible, Trump-supporting, ultra-conservative, right-wing southern Baptist. She still hates that dudes guts.
StateOfPlague
That comment ended exactly opposite of how I expected. Shows opinions can be just opinions, and actions can be more powerful. Nice name btw.
AreYouFuckinSorryIsAStupidComment
Not all ultra conservative, right wing, southern baptist, Trump supporters are douches. Just have a higher propensity for douchiness.
ITalkAboutGoats
Pretty sure "ultra conservative" does actually make someone a douche, considering what being ultra conservative entails.
bibliophilic
Disgusted but not surprised.
DutchGeekGirl
This man is not what I would call a Christian. At least, he does not follow or espouse the Bible.
ObnoxiousComma
Well of course not, he's not a Christian
wackjack
Yeah, cause he's a massive fuckwad. Pretty much everybody acknowledges that.
famousfornow
Thinking of Joel Olsteen as a great spiritual leaders is like think Trump is a great president when both are really just great business men
AccountCreatedToUpdogVotes
Millions of dollars in donations say otherwise.
HarryPotterReferenceProbably
Don't lump us in with him
Zugswang
I bet a lot of the people who attend services there are busily defending him out of cognitive dissonance.
PoultryInMotion
Can we all agree that practicing any religion in this country is ok as long as it doesn't hurt others and pays taxes? Can we vote?
MalthusAndreusDrake
yeah he only caved to pressure long after he was publicly called out for his callous behavior.
DrBlackMiami
We're not..
NonBinaryGenderFluidDoggo
That’s because his preaching doesn’t coincide with the Bible, so he’s technically considered a “false preacher”(not a Christian)
ZacharyAddison
We never liked Joel much. He's actually the bunt of most of our jokes.
AreYouFuckinSorryIsAStupidComment
Yea, cuz it doesn't surprise us when pieces of shit act like pieces of shit. That dude can choke on a chode.
DaBendago
YEP, most of us who ever look into our Bible will loath him fully and not just for this. That man dose no live like he has Christ as his God
h0d0r
That's because Christians know he's not one, he's just a big fucking leech that is getting rich off people.
XtremeHairball
As a Houstonian, I had no idea he had such a bad reputation with so many people. It doesn't really affect me, but what exactly did he do?
jesus1424365
He was born
AGrammeIsBetterThanADamn
He poached his daddy's good will & audience and used them to push his "happy, best-life-ever, prosperity++" brand of false-hope Christianity
StateOfPlague
Wait was the church under his father a goodwilled, decent place? Like did he degrade his father's his entire life's work and reputation?
AGrammeIsBetterThanADamn
THAT I don't know. I was never a congregant and never paid too much attention to it, I first saw Osteen's smiling face on books in Wal-Mart.
FurtiveGlancer
All religions suck. Period. That is all.
RenegadeTQ
As if Christians are less capable of spotting abhorrent behavior?
nbrikha
What do you mean even Christians...this dude has always been a greenback whore. In it for fame and money...the opposite of the message
Badyams73
Seems that you answered your own question. He's not a real Christian.
nbrikha
imgur has decided that any number of apples ruins the bushel. Christians be damned, literally.
Badyams73
Not just Imgur. All of America. People preach "tolerance", yet gives none to Christianity.
Crushn8tor
It's a tax shelter, not a storm shelter.
dodgese
Lol...so true
codnuggets
Yeeessss!
AGrammeIsBetterThanADamn
That one made me go "ooooooooooo!!!"
SeaCastIe
This comment deserves way more upvotes
PhilanthropicMisanthrope
Seriously underrated post.
sonic745
Drum roll please!
tofavoritestuff
This is the best comment on the FP currently. Damn
Sekolah
Top comment right here!!
bmwcrafters
That's when you know there's something fishy with religion
embrew24
Naw, it's the person more than anything else.
FoxKeegan
What he preaches has nothing to do with religion
JustABonelessAlien
Not religion. Just bad people.
Datkhanofkhans
Wow! It's almost as if we shouldn't judge a group(S) of people based on the actions of a few of them! What a concept! +1
DavidDireZebra
"A few"
Pebblebro
Like Nazi!
Tamerdinosaur
Like ISIS!
JohnyCarlos
If religion brings enough bad people together, we need to think of a new way to curb the trend.
ObnoxiousComma
Are you serious?
dashers
Bad people are a minority,just attract a lot of attention.
mousemarie94
People always say this but...is it statistically true?
[deleted]
[deleted]
PoeticStatic
I hope people didn't go there as a way of saying "too late Satan Christianson" and went to the mosque who didn't hesitate.
Littlebrownfoxx
He actually is only offering it after the cities facilities fill up. The guy is a POS
Greyeyes1973
Last I heard it wasn't as a shelter but as a distribution center for other locations being used as shelters
Duendes
TBH, for a building that big, you're going to need staff & materials available to keep things from getting out of hand when opening
Z0op
... so?
Mockingbirb
Didn't they show pictures on fb earlier, to show that the place was flooded??
BusinessDragon
They showed pictures of a different location. Their entire neighborhood is fine, including some nearby parking garages with sub-floors.
MayorofLoserville
It was the lower parking lots. Nobody has cars right now. The highways are flooded, but the rest of the church is fine.
SamArt53
I'm sure it was all about his worrying how this would affect the future donations to the church and not out of altruism.
serialkillazjungle
Almost definitely.
PhilanthropicMisanthrope
Certainly definitely.
icelandicsealbear
He lied about it up until he was caught. Unfortunately, his viewers believe the bullshit about "liberal media trying to destroy faith" so...
icelandicsealbear
they may not believe a word.
CheeseEggsAndPotatoes
*will not
AlkeneThiol
It was even covered on Breitbart yo...
skribs
Because Christians consider him to be a false prophet, so they're not surprised
TargaryenLoyalist
The thousands of people attending that church don't seem to consider him one, not to mention all the people sending him money.
Badyams73
What can I say? Liberals don't have a monopoly on gullible sheep.
TargaryenLoyalist
Might want to get off your high horse about gullibility considering your party chose a literal con man as president.
Badyams73
So, saying that Republicans are gullible too is considered to be on a high horse?! Cause that was the implication.
Zugswang
What is unfortunate is that, for all who do, so many do not recognize that he's exploiting faith for personal gain.
skribs
Honestly, I think people like him are worse for Christianity than anyone of another religion who oppresses Christians
skribs
(Note that I'm not saying people of other religions, but specific individuals or groups that believe another religion and hate Christians)
Zugswang
Just bad for humanity. The more vices and lies are tolerated in others, the more we allow it in ourselves, and the worse we all become (1)
Zugswang
political tool for the most self-serving to enrich themselves with support from the poor, delusional, and oblivious. (3)
Zugswang
It is just that the most visible example of this has been the deterioration of Christianity in the US as it increasingly becomes a (2)
JABBATHEWOCKY
This guy is not a Christian by any standard.
Stroika
thank you for saying it, as i am too late
shackslam
Good enough christian for the people that give him money.
eetsumkaus
I looked up this guy and most of his quotes don't sound heretical to me. Is he sinful? Hell Yeah. But he's also Christian
CurseUrSuddenButInevitableBetrayal
hey, being a Christian don't mean you a Christ follower.
eetsumkaus
...yeah it does. but being sinful does not preclude you from being a Christian
mousemarie94
Who gets to decide someone's relationship with God? I don't understand religion.
shuttlecockinakumquat
I get to decide that you're all delusional and that's good enough for me.
SepharimAdagio
No one gets to decide another person's relationship with God, but one can guess based off of what they do to represent Him.
whyexactly
That's the problem with a lot of groups, anyone can claim allegiance with it.
LucasTheArchaneer
He teaches that the better person you are and the closer to god you are the richer you'll be which is not supported by the Bible ex: Paul
VirginSurgeon
Neither do I but please understand his behavior does not represent all christians just like isis does not represent all muslims
mousemarie94
Well, certainly. That would be a fallacy but I'm not sure anyone can say he isn't a Christian-even if he isn't 'christian like' to some
TheForgewright
He is not someone that follows Christ's teachings. He uses his words, certainly, but 140 characters is too short to express how unchristlike
Whathasbecomeofmylife
It's in the messages he speaks. He doesn't speak of sacrificial love and humility, but in the inspiration of "I can" and "I will" typically
Whathasbecomeofmylife
for selfish thing. Like, I /can/ become rich. I /will/ never be sick again. And Jesus /wants/ me to be rich.
zorakid
you can judge a person by the standards and examples of the holy text he claims to follow.
Janthran
bible says "you will know them by their fruits" and osteen doesn't really show much behavior in the way of imitating christ
WhatKindOfBeesMakeMilk
This.
jva346
"Whatever you do not do for the least of you, you did not do for me. " I think that's in Matthew? Also, the whole love that neighbor thing.
kiive
Still a very sobering verse. Especially when we're capable of some pretty vile things, as human beings.
JABBATHEWOCKY
25:40 The parable of the sheep and the goats also comes to mind. Jesus was clear in the gospels that not all who claimed to be faithful were
AwesomeTeddybear
The "love that neighbour" is a funny typo... "yeah but which one??? Do i pick him myself???"
strumfooligan
https://media.tenor.com/images/16e48d03e8a40a35ea919226e693ab17/tenor.gif
AccountCreatedToUpdogVotes
No, it's that one over there. You love THAT neighbor.