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 7 of 23)
91. Joel Osteen is a fantastic pastor. He is different from all the others, there is nothing fake about him. He spreads positiveness, love faith and hope. Just take 30 minutes out of your lives and listen to him. It may just be life changing for you. I also went and saw him in person and it was wonderful. I wished I lived in Texas and could attend his church. Read his books watch him you will not regret it. I admire him and his family. If there were only more like him the world would be such a better place. God Bless him his family and you who are reading these. Jesus is the only way.
TERESA at 12:46PM on Oct 18th 2007
92. First of all, What Is The Big Deal?? Is Joel Osteen not a man or is he an extraterrestial visiting earth? I wish everyone would back off of monitoring his every move and words trying to corner him into saying something that would make him fall from grace. He is annointed by God. He is prosperous. He is tall and handsome. He has a beautiful wife and children. He has a beautiful home. Yes Yes Yes. Stop hating on him. And yes a wife should look good for her husband and vice versa. Let him breathe.
Diane at 12:49PM on Oct 18th 2007
93. NICKI...THE BIBLE STATES THAT SUBMISSIVENESS IS BOTH PARTIES RESPONSIBILITY. WOMEN ARE TO SUBMIT AND HUSBANDS ARE TO LOVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT, WHICH IS AS SUBMISSIVE. READ & UNDERSTAND.
LYING LIBERALS at 12:36PM on Oct 19th 2007
94. It's really unbelieveable that anyone pays any attention to this phony Osteen, let alone send him money. But he collects millions of dollars from people who listen to his BS, and what does he do for God's children with all of these millions??? Does he feed them, clothe them, house them, educate them, take care of them when they are ill? Watch him preach, he cannot even keep eye contact with one person for more than 2 seconds; a sure sign he doesn't believe a word he's saying. No wonder he smiles all the time, the litter BSer is collecting millions who believe his nonsense.
A Disbeliever at 12:54PM on Oct 18th 2007
95. I'm sorry, but I believe pastors should preach, and keep their noses out of other people's personal lives/bedrooms. Everyone seems to put them up on a pedestal and hang on their every word...How many people who WORSHIPPED Ted Haggard and his "messages" are still sitting around with their mouths hanging open because of HIS shocking behavior? First and foremost, these people are MEN first, and pastors second...The advice they give is not always the best..............
abc123 at 12:51PM on Oct 18th 2007
96. JOEL MIGHT CHANGE YOUR LIFE BUT HE WONT TEL YOU HOW TO CHANGE YOUR ETERNITY. EVERY TIME JESUS SPOKE OF HEAVEN HE SPOKE OF HELL 12 TIMES MORE. JOEL WILL NEVER TELL YOU HOW TO HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE...ITS EASY...REPENT AND TRUST THE SAVIOR! JOEL WILL NEVER, NEVER PREACH THAT.
chris at 12:53PM on Oct 18th 2007
97. YES HIS WIFE CAN SHOP ANYWHERE SHE WANTS BECAUSE IDIOTS LIKE YOU ARE GIVING HIM MONEY !!!!
43 + 20 MILLION A YEAR.STUPID PEOPLE !!!!!!!
YOU CAN"T BUY YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN...
LESLIE at 9:12AM on Oct 27th 2007
98. The world never seems ready for honesty, especially those in the media. They always seem to look for the dirt or to defame. Although no one is perfect, we have to take honesty and good advice and use it to make ourselves better people. If it doesn't help you, or you don't believe, don't use it. As for me, helping your husband to focus more on you and he appreciating you, can never be bad. It clears the way for him to bless me.
Pam DCMD at 1:00PM on Oct 22nd 2007
99. I think it's funny that this would even make a headline. If a famous actor or athlete were to say this they would be patted on the back for being such a ladies man. Note that he didn't say the woman's role in the outside world wasn't important as implied by the writer of the article, but it was a simple bit of maritial advice. I think people should listen to the entire message so they will know what context to take it in. Once again the media putting their spin on something by only using a portion of what was said. When news is presented that way it's easy to make it sound like they said anything you want. As for my wife-She can have the card anytime if she wants to go shopping!
David at 1:22PM on Oct 18th 2007
100. I agree with Joel Osteen. Why should we dress for strangers and people we work with and look like hags at home for our husbands? Our husbands are the ones we should be pleasing. I love the man!
Lily at 12:58PM on Oct 18th 2007
101. This stuff about Victoria's Secret is irrelevant. Has no one even noticed that it is very likely that people are not REALLY getting saved under his ministry???? Listen to his closing prayer closely...Ask Jesus "into your heart?"...."Make" Him your Lord and Savior? ...No TRUE Repentance (metanoia) Just a lifestyle change... talking yourself into believing that everything's "okay." It's all just FLUFF with hardly ANY scripture. He says the SAME thing over and over. Motivational Speaker? Yes..... Christian Pastor/leader - NO Way.
faith at 12:57PM on Oct 18th 2007
102. God help some of these people, it is apparent that there are many who SHOULD watch, It also is in the Bible We are not to judge others. Only God is to judge. I had to laugh TED HAGGARD, I love it when people think they know what they are talking about. God Bless you.
Teresa Lauterbach at 12:58PM on Oct 18th 2007
103. Is Osteen not a man 1st with an attractive wife who wants to have longevity in marriage? So Pastor's shouldn't want their own wives to look sexy? Big Deal, someone please explain.
Renea at 5:17PM on Oct 18th 2007
104. I am a Catholic and I enjoy watching Joel on Sunday's. I get the feeling that he truly believes what he states. He is such a positive person. His comments do reflect on both sexes in the marriage. he was specifically questioned about women and Victoria Secret. He wasn't limiting in his reply. God has truly bleesed us through Joel's preaching. Lighten up. Nat
N Campbell at 1:08PM on Oct 18th 2007
105. Yes I can read that in the Bible And I do. DO you?
Teresa Lauterbach at 1:00PM on Oct 18th 2007