On Larry King last night, mega-church preacher Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria, Jim and Tammy 2.0, offered beaming advice about how to have it all with God's help. We were sort of shocked by the exchange about undergarments, in which Osteen said women shouldn't dress up for work or the outside world, but for their husbands; translation: they should wear sexy underwear. An excerpt from the transcript:
Larry King: Is this -- is this true, that you once exhorted women in the audience to shop at Victoria's Secret to help their marriage?
J. OSTEEN: Oh, well, that was -- that's probably true. I think the whole...
KING: That's why you're smiling all the time.
J. OSTEEN: OK. OK. I hope it was in a good context, though. I mean, I wasn't -- it's too much to explain now, but yes I did.
V. OSTEEN: Yes, he was encouraging women. He was encouraging women to take careful [care of?] themselves.
J. OSTEEN: Yes.
V. OSTEEN: And to not go around in their old, you know, bathrobes, and that they could add that spark to their home. And I think that was great.
KING: What's wrong with that?
J. OSTEEN: No, there's nothing. And that was my point, don't go look good and dress up to go to work and dress up to go to event[s?] for everybody else. Dress up for your own husband. I mean, look good at home.
Of course, we think you should dress up for your spouse, but the implication here seems to be that women's role in the outside world isn't that important ,and also that it's up to women to keep the spark alive.
Why isn't Osteen telling husbands to go to Calvin Klein?
Click on the image below to watch the Osteen interview.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 23)
16. I don't know how anyone could take Joel's statement out of context or getit wrong. We all know that men want to see their wives as sexy creatures as well as homemakers. If it is not Victoria's secret it is some other type of lacey dainty's he want's to see. Maybe the man does not have a thing for lingerie but likes to see his wife looking good. If she does not do it someone else will. That's the challenge these days with marriage. There is a lot of temptation out there in the world. If each party does their part to keep the spark in their relationship no one can break them up.
yolonda at 5:57PM on Oct 17th 2007
17. what a wonder preacher he shoul advise both husband wife to appreciate each other as well as the kitchen
lynette at 5:22PM on Oct 17th 2007
18. sUSAN: Listen to your favorite preacher and you will see that he wishes his women to be submissive. That is not how God intended a relationship between a man and a woman. Read your Bible.
Nicki at 10:18PM on Sep 23rd 2009
19. I don't know what the big deal is. I heard a pastor say the same thing while preaching at a church I attended over 5 yrs ago. Too bad no one gave him this much attention for saying the same thing. I guess the difference is Joel Osteen is famous and that pastor isn't. Still, both husband and wife should work to maintain their appearance in order to keep the spark alive in their marriage.
Vee at 5:36PM on Oct 17th 2007
20. I guess I am the odd man out..Osteen seems rather phoney to me. All fluff and no substance. When pressed to give his opinons on relevant social issues, Osteen says he has none. He has none? What is he, a computer?
David S. at 5:44PM on Oct 17th 2007
21. The author gave a nice try at twisting Joel's words and intentions when he made those comments. I think it's very true, women and men will often dress up and look nice for everyone but thier spouse and really our spouses are the most important people in our lives. Way to go Joel, I support you one hundred percent! Joel is a great communicator and great encourager and reminds us to put things in the right perspective in this crazy world we live in.
Melissa at 5:57PM on Oct 17th 2007
22. Pastor Joel is one of the best preacher in our times. He is facing reality. And yes- He meant only good when he mentioned about shopping at Victoria Secret. Women should dress up for their husbands. He only used Victoria Secret as an example because we all know that store sells sexy women clothing.
I dont think anyone (male or female) should be offended by his comment.
Hats off to you Pastor.
Amber at 6:00PM on Oct 17th 2007
23. Of course she turns it into Joel Osteen saying women's role in the workplace isn't important and it's up to the women to keep the romance alive. Quit reading into EVERYTHING!!! I'll tell you exactly why he didn't tell men to go to Calvin Klein, are women visually stimulated the way men are? Generally not, otherwise there would be just as many women addicted to porn as there are men. Men don't get dressed in lingerie, they don't have a Victor's Secret, they just wear underwear, who care's where it comes from???
Stephanie at 6:18PM on Oct 17th 2007
24. I, too, think the blogger is taking this whole thing a little too seriously. There is nothing wrong with encouraging a woman to make an effort to look sexy for her husband. Besides that, Victoria Secret makes ME feel sexy, and when I FEEL sexy, I think that in and of itself makes you exude a certain allure. And my husband likes it. I had a female minister once who extolled the virtues of thongs. I like that this opens the door on discussion and makes it clear that being a Christian doesn't mean you don't have fun with sex.
cadydidwhat at 8:04PM on Oct 17th 2007
25. As a Pastor, I also believe that husbands and wives should make it a life style of looking good for each other, and not the outside world. Wives deserve more than "left-over" husbands who come home from work tired, crumpled and all they want to do is fall out in an easy chair. when you leave for work you take a shower and put on fresh clothes; do the same thing when you come home after work, take the time to let your wife see you looking good and smelling good just for her. Wives, the same thing goes for you: many of you now work but remember you are still a wife, and you are the object of your husbands affection, and men being who we are, you are the object of their desire. At home and in the bedroom especially you are not a corporate executive, a doctor, an attorney, or business partner, you are a wife. God designed men and women to fit together and part of that union is eye appeal. Nothing wrong with both men and women dressing to please the eyes of their spouse. Wives, buy your husbands a couple of pairs of nylon boxers in splashy colors, and husbands, yes, go to Victoria's Secret and buy her what you secretly want to see her wearing. It is the God given privilege of husbands and wives to completely enjoy each other in the intimacy of their sex lives.
Makendoo at 6:50PM on Oct 17th 2007
26. Joel Olsteen os a very postive influence. I think Ada should marry me and I'll buy her all The Victoria Secret that she wants. Tim
Tim Sigler at 8:37PM on Oct 17th 2007
27. Osteen and his wife are an embarrassment to Houston. They charge an entry fee to their church "services", Joel's name is bigger than the church on the sign, and when Victoria was ejected from a plane at Bush Intercontinental for disorderly conduct, she screeched, "Don't you know who I AM?!?!" Yeah, great Christians - NOT!
puck at 7:02PM on Oct 17th 2007
28. Apparently a lot of people are seeking guidance from a stranger, someone with a propensity at delivering sentences that are not backed up by any factual truth. I guess th lack of maternal and paternal guidance in their childhood led them to seek outside comfort.
What they don't realize it's that that guy is full of it. They gleefully give him money they should be spending on themselves or their kids.
Claudius
Claude Chabana at 7:15PM on Oct 17th 2007
29. Hog wash.
That's all I can thing of.
Claudius
Claude Chabana at 7:25PM on Oct 17th 2007
30. Stephanie:
What you wrote is ok - one difference. Women usually like men for WHO THEY ARE! - men ususally like women for WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE...
Makendoo at 7:18PM on Oct 17th 2007