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 3 of 23)
31. I did watch Larry King, and my opinion is that this gentle man, who obviously respects and loves his wife and others, could not have been referring negatively to women. He had to be referring to the celebration of marriage and how it's okay to carry that into the bedroom. He obviously is fine with looking good to the rest of the world if you have looked at Joel and Victoria. Why must we rip good men apart?
Traci at 7:48PM on Oct 17th 2007
32. Joel is just another scumbag TV hypocrite.What do you people expect from these crooks?
Dean at 8:00PM on Oct 17th 2007
33. Thats all well and good. I guess when you only work 1 day a week and you have maids and servants to change diapers and prepare your every meal and pick out your clothes, wash your car, take your kids to and from school, You have loads of time to go blow all the money your congregation gladly forked over to you in hopes that they would miss the 5:15 to hell.
Why didn't Joel tell anybody about his new 3 million house he is building in Memorial? I just want to know how you can do that on a $200,000 a year income. Maybe God in handling the mortgage? Oh thats's right, he paid CASH!
Skip Hartley at 9:11PM on Oct 17th 2007
34. Ah yeah.... so marriages wouldn't fall apart if we women keep ourselves looking good... and that's all women are here for... great... Well, I prefer to reject Joel's views, though I am a Christian. I would rather not have to worry about keeping some man happy at home. I'm gonna stay single, dress up when I go out and go to work looking good (not sexy) because it does make a difference in your job. Then I'm gonna wear whatever I want for underwear and not have to worry about a man that I need to keep happy. I personally am a little fed up with the church's devaluing of women. Or, valuing them only as housewives and whatever. I enjoy my job and I enjoy working. I decided not to work in the church after hearing a pastor's wife tell me how smart her husband was for hiring a woman to oversee a particular ministry because it saved the church money cause he didn't have to pay her as much since she was a woman. I'll serve God but in a secular position and I will continue to be happy, single and not oppressed.
Of course there is nothing wrong with women dressing up for their spouse at home but I certainly can understand the author's point that Mr. Osteen is being a little sexist.
To the jerk who said that if women spent more time in lingerie rather than at work [helping to support their families] eating donuts, more marriages wouldn't fall apart: any woman who feels it is her job to keep the spark in her marriage by wearing Victoria's secret, keeping her man's appetites satisfied and keeping up the home is not going to be very happy and will probably dump the slob eventually(sociological studies show that even women who work still do 90% of the work at home and even in cases when the husband is the stay at home, the women still end up with well over 50% of household chores). So much for your theory on how to keep marriages together.
Lisa at 8:45PM on Oct 17th 2007
35. People are certainly trying to take Joel & Victoria's stance here, out of context. I think all they mean is, you should care about what your husband thinks of you and want to look good for him, & vice versa. He's not saying anything about women being less in the world outside of the home, he's just saying view your home as more important. It's amazing how much people can stuff in between the lines when they're looking to bring someone down.
I've not attended church for years, because of the same kind of folks, always finding something wrong, but I always watch Joel and visit his website frequently. He gives a very positive message & as I read in another post - reading positive and hearing good message is a welcomed delight, versus the preacher that already tell you you're going to hell before the sermon's even started. Joel, you are an inspiration and I love everything that you and your family stand for, so thank you!
Jean at 8:50PM on Oct 17th 2007
36. Oh yes, and to the single peoples comments - if you're single, then I don't believe he was addressing you. He was speaking about married couples and keeping the thrill alive. Nothing wrong with that! If you prefer to be single, more power to you, but I don't think that message was for you!
Jean at 8:51PM on Oct 17th 2007
37. YES!!! I GIVE JOEL OSTEEN AN A PLUS I THINK WOMAN SHOULD LOOK GOOD IN THE BED ROOM ALSO COOKING IN THE KITCHEN THAT WILL EVEN MAKES THE DINNER TASTE BETTER FOR IF YOU CAN'T LOOK SEXY FOR YOUR HUSBAND WHO ELSE YOU GOING TO LOOK SEXY FOR THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A LOT OF CHEATERS WIVES KEEP IT REAL DON'T LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT FOR YOU!!!GOD BLESSED.
jean powell at 9:21PM on Oct 17th 2007
38. YES!!! I GIVE JOEL OSTEEN AN A PLUS I THINK WOMAN SHOULD LOOK GOOD IN THE BED ROOM ALSO COOKING IN THE KITCHEN THAT WILL EVEN MAKES THE DINNER TASTE BETTER FOR IF YOU CAN'T LOOK SEXY FOR YOUR HUSBAND WHO ELSE YOU GOING TO LOOK SEXY FOR THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A LOT OF CHEATERS WIVES KEEP IT REAL DON'T LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT FOR YOU!!!GOD BLESSED.
jean powell at 9:11PM on Oct 17th 2007
39. ephesians 5 verse 22-23,I read my BIBLE, I watch Joel Osteen all the time he gives very good advice, good for him.
pearl at 9:20PM on Oct 17th 2007
40. I think I must have stumbled into the 1950's. Exactly how old ARE you people? Right, the whole "50s-serve-your-husband" thing worked SO WELL. And you baby boomers have, what, a 50% divorce rate? Give me a break with this "dress sexy for your husband" crap. You people quoting the Bible to support this junk are even worse. The worst part? People from around the world can read this, so your stupidity is truly internationally known.
Poor Ada. She's probably just as shocked at you ancients.
Living in THIS century at 9:29PM on Oct 17th 2007
41. Joel Osteen would be the last preacher to want his wife to be submissive.Victoria is his helpmate as God intended.Please dont be so ugly to this wonderful man of God.
betteroffline at 9:55PM on Oct 17th 2007
42. skip hartley u shouldnt comment if u dont have facts. Joel wrote a book,the rest of the world knows this.His book made him a millionair.Joel does not take any salary for his services since he made millions on his book and hes got another one that came out Monday,sold millions already in three days.And how many preachers never ask for money?!Joel never does. Are u a child of satan not seeing how this man of God really is. Leave him be.
betteroffline at 8:27PM on Oct 20th 2007
43. Have any of you read Theology of the Body?
Cathleen at 10:22PM on Oct 17th 2007
44. Joel Osteen never(or at least hardly ever) uses the BIBLE! How is he a PREACHER?
Michelle at 10:40PM on Oct 17th 2007
45. King was simply commenting on a sermon from the past. This was in reference of a sermon from over two years ago. The message then was about relationships. This was only a small content of the whole message. There were many other references made by Joel for husbands to follow as well to spice up a marriage.
God bless you Joel.
Armando at 11:13PM on Oct 17th 2007