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 23 of 23)
331. Hypocrite!! What ever happened to a vow of celibacy and poverty.
Nobody needs anything from this life if there really is a paradise where the streets are made of gold.
This wealthy sex fiend is a pure fraud.
dean at 9:59PM on Oct 18th 2007
332. "This is my Bible" I love Joel Osteen..he has brought me out of many a hard time of self chastising.
Cecilia at 12:17AM on Oct 19th 2007
333. Joel Osteen is a pig and a fake. Are people really so blind to believe and accept who and what he is?
He's a money hungry little man who's only goals in life are to have the "largest church" and the most money.
First of all Joel, what I wear for my husband is NONE of your business. Keep your mind out of my bedroom.
Secondly, most of the people you TAKE money from probably can't afford to buy the slutty things at Victoria's Secret. Of course, you didn't think of that because you've lived off of other people's money for so long that you have no idea what the cost of things are. You don't have to earn a living, you just have to make sure your congregation earns a living. Right?
BTW, I AM a Christian. I just keep my eyes focused on GOD, not some man who likes to give pep talks.
Me at 2:10AM on Oct 19th 2007
334. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/26/AR2005122600828.html
MH at 12:23PM on Oct 19th 2007
335. Joel Osteen is good for alot of things, his messages are "oh so sweeet". When we run out of syrup we turn on his show and let the syrup from his messages run all over the pancakes. As a gospel preacher he is a complete bust. "Wake up the Champion In You"; that's a laugh. Osteen is applauded and lauded because he "preaches a positve message"; so does Anthony Robbins and the rerst of the motivational speaker crowd, but they have sense enough not to call themselves "Preacher".
A description of Joel osteen, Joyce Myers, paul wjhite, TD James and all the rest of these "pulpit pimps" can be found in the writings of a man who knew christ amd who lived real faith; Paul told us, "The time will come when men will not put up with correct teaching. Instead, to suit there own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn thier ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
Finally, there is the man who was allowed to visit hell; and wile he was visiting, he saw one man walking through the flames, as he walked he let out a coninual stream of cursing and hatred. From time to time he stopped and pulled up other men up and look in their faces. Curious about this, the visitor to hell asked his guide, "Why is he pulling those men up and then throwing them back in the flame? His guide answered, "He is looking for the preacher that spenjt every Sunday telling him how to "Wake up thea champion."
Makendoo at 12:55PM on Oct 19th 2007
336. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am so proud to be a part of and to see the work of our Father God in Joel and Victoria's ministry. It is very helpful to me in my every day walk in the Lord. The comments about "wives shopping at Victoria Secret" reminded me that i need to replenish my favorite bath products. Thanks and may God continue to hold all in the cradle of His Mighty Hands. I also to like Issiah 54:17...
Vivey at 11:31PM on Oct 21st 2007
337. I think that more women (and men) need to do more to build happy marriages. VS is one way to spice it up; so is talking about making love during the day so that you can anticipate what happens later. The main problem with marriage today is that spouses bring the selfishness of our culture into marriage. Think about whether you treat your spouse better or worse than a stranger; think about whether you give them the benefit of the doubt like you do others in your life. DON'T take your spouse for granted.
Rebecca at 9:06AM on Oct 22nd 2007
338. Osteen's comments are NOTHING compared to the comments Solomon made in the "Song of Solomon".
(Next time you are in a hotel, check out the Bible...or look for a Bible online. look in the index for "Song of Solomon" or maybe "Song of Songs" ..You will be amazed...
Explicit...the two lovers' song is not what most people expect...)
...
vikingmother at 10:17PM on Oct 23rd 2007
339. He's a lovely man and I think people should get off his back. If women can be made to feel "inferior" just because someone suggests they dress nicely, then they are not packing much punch in the brain department anyway. Osteen has a very attractive wife, she'd look good no matter what she wore, so I doubt he's shopping for a replacement. Maybe that annoys the ugly libber babes most of all.
Leslie at 10:49PM on Oct 23rd 2007
340. WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE MORE INF, ABOUT JOEL AND HIS WIFE.
ANGELES FERRARI at 1:53AM on Nov 2nd 2007
341. Preachers should not talking about this foolishness during church service. The "Gospel" is meant to be about Jesus Christ. Last time I checked Jesus' message was, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of God is at hand." What happened to preaching about sin, repentance, salvation, and Holiness unto the Lord? Now we have preachers giving marriage counselling during service...way to go Joel
doug at 8:03AM on Nov 21st 2007