‘Houston needs you’: Social media rains scorn on Joel Osteen for closing megachurch after hurricane
Celebrity pastor Joel Osteen is drawing intense criticism online for keeping his megachurch closed during Hurricane Harvey and instead offering social media promises of prayers.
The “prosperity gospel” minister preaches at a 16,800-seat arena at Lakewood Church near downtown Houston, which has suffered severe flooding after the hurricane made landfall and then parked over the city.
(UPDATE: Prosperity Gospel preacher Joel Osteen to open megachurch to Hurricane Harvey refugees after public shaming)
Osteen offered prayers in a Saturday afternoon tweet, but his critics asked for more.
You can find ways to help the survivors of Hurricane Harvey here.
Victoria & I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends & family.
— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) August 26, 2017
Are you going to donate some of your millions of dollars? That would help more than prayer.
— I’m Corey Voss? (@HolaYoSoyFiesta) August 26, 2017
Put your money where your mouth is. Houston has been unfathomably good to you. Time to pay it back. Literally
— Amandaisarunner (@amandaisarunner) August 28, 2017
Hey Joel, don’t you have the biggest and richest church? Why don’t you open up the doors and the wallet in the name of Jesus for the people!
— Mozez713 (@Mozez713) August 28, 2017
Osteen’s church canceled services Sunday, saying the building was inaccessible due to flooding, and directed worshipers to a variety of relief services.
The pastor and his wife live in a $10.5 million mansion in the River Oaks neighborhood, where residents and their dogs were rescued from the rising waters, although it’s not clear whether Osteen’s home suffered any damage.
A photo posted early Sunday morning showed heavy flooding about a block away from Lakewood Church, but Osteen’s critics urged him to open the doors to nearby flood victims.
Why isn’t Joel Osteen mega church in Houston Texas is not open to the public in need of shelter, food and protection?
— Mr. Weeks (@MrDane1982) August 27, 2017
@JoelOsteen Why aren’t you helping the people in Houston? I’m sure you received enough money from them to build that monstrosity of yours.
— Rose Justice (@RMBJustice) August 28, 2017
@JoelOsteen Dude, open up your church, and open up your home. Come on, man…..
— Jacob Detamore (@kipsbigboy) August 28, 2017
1. Now the people need shelter: anyone seen Joel Osteen and his Lakewood Church stepping up? He’s right in Houston
— jan dodge (@tenajd) August 28, 2017
“God’s got this, so you don’t need my massive church to provide shelter. Just keep praying and I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’ll be in the tub.”
— Winston Smith (@ghostofnero) August 28, 2017
Lots of Houston residents want to know why @JoelOsteen hasn’t opened his 16,000 seat megachurch in Houston to help people. pic.twitter.com/AI21GRMvzb
— TRUMP 24/7 (@MichaelDelauzon) August 28, 2017
Don’t you have a massive church that could be used as a shelter?
— (((Byron Henry))) (@SonOfPug) August 28, 2017
@JoelOsteen if you were a real Christian, you’d be opening your doors to your displaced neighbors.
— FAB24 (@Francesabolton) August 28, 2017
Why haven’t you opened your massive church there in Houston to shelter #Harvey flood victims? a real Christian would do that
— Nancy G (@Nancylyn1) August 28, 2017
Come on man. The bible is very clear that we have to try to help each other. You have more than enough personal resources to help. Do it.
— Narcoleptic Flamingo (@ccuspis) August 28, 2017
@JoelOsteen why aren’t you opening ur doors? Houston needs you. Practice what you preach
— sylvia flores (@sylflo) August 28, 2017
How are you guys helping the storm victims in Texas right now?
— Ken Reid (@KennethWReid) August 28, 2017
Open your church as a shelter. Provide food and clothing. Please
— Rhonda Harbison (@rhonda_harbison) August 28, 2017
So you’re out of the state while your “flock” drowns. Jesus wept.
— Olivemama (@Olivemama5) August 28, 2017
Joel Osteen has a HUGE church in Houston that would make a great shelter. pic.twitter.com/byqHxXrHQn
— Brasilmagic (@Brasilmagic) August 28, 2017
me: God doesn’t punish or reward people on earth based on their behavior
news: Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church might be flooded
me: pic.twitter.com/EIq5nhOZS8— Jennifer C. Martin (@notreallyjcm) August 28, 2017
Breaking Banner
‘Comparing yourself to terrorists?’ Internet cracks up at Trump saying dead 9-11 hijackers got more justice than him
President Donald Trump quoted Fox News host Mark Levin that left many scratching their heads. Levin, who has a show on Sunday evenings, claimed that the terrorists from Sept. 11 got more due process than the president.
The claim was a curious one because, as many on Twitter noted, it's not often that the president of the United States compares himself to a terrorist. Secondly, the 9-11 hijackers all died in the attack, as they were on the planes that crashed into the buildings and into a Pennsylvania field.
Trump is known to quote Levin frequently, though the citations often make the president look worse.
Breaking Banner
MLK was ‘gravely disappointed’ with white moderates — whom he believed were responsible for impeding civil rights
"We also realize that the problems of racial injustice and economic injustice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution of political and economic power."
—Martin Luther King Jr., 1967
This Martin Luther King Jr. Day comes as moderate Democrats, falling in line behind former vice president Joe Biden, are warning that the party risks re-electing Donald Trump if it nominates too radical a candidate for president — by which they mean someone like Senators Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.
Breaking Banner
Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe catches Alan Dershowitz in humiliating hypocrisy: ‘He’s not to be trusted’
Harvard Constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe called out President Donald Trump's lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, Sunday on Twitter, noting that his opinions seem to evolve depending on who he's defending.
Dershowitz is on a kind of press junket for the president, defending him in various media appearances. The former lawyer to Jeffrey Epstein is handling Trump's defense as it pertains to the abuse of power. Dershowitz thinks that charge has no basis in law. In fact, impeachment trials aren't actually legal proceedings, they're political proceedings, because the Justice Department claimed that Trump can't be indicted under the law while he's president.
Nobel economist: Trump’s economy is an absolute disaster for people and the planet
Ex-White House aide describes Trump’s abusive tantrums when he doesn’t get his way: ‘Not normal at all’
Chris Wallace grills Lindsey Graham over rigged Senate trial: ‘This is just a rush to get this over’
Frantic administration officials were forced to scuttle plans dealing with Suleimani killing due to Trump’s interference: report
Presidential historian rains hell on National Archives for ‘idiotic’ decision to blur photos to spare Trump’s feelings
JPMorgan Chase buys new Paris building as they prepare to move jobs out of London following Brexit
Chief Justice John Roberts is far from the impartial savior Democrats are hoping he’ll be: PBS host
Ken Starr is an awful choice for Trump’s legal team because he’ll look like a hypocrite: Former federal prosecutor
‘Comparing yourself to terrorists?’ Internet cracks up at Trump saying dead 9-11 hijackers got more justice than him
If people of color showed up to a Capitol protest heavily armed — Trump would call them terrorists: commentator
Chief Justice John Roberts is far from the impartial savior Democrats are hoping he’ll be: PBS host
Ken Starr is an awful choice for Trump’s legal team because he’ll look like a hypocrite: Former federal prosecutor
If people of color showed up to a Capitol protest heavily armed — Trump would call them terrorists: commentator
Farmers refuse to cheer for Trump as he lies that he’s fighting for them to keep their land
