Another day, another celebrity pranked! Find out how one of the world’s most famous pastors became the internet’s latest victim.
There’s a lot hidden behind Joel Osteen‘s million-dollar smile: charisma, drive and a love for the common man, to name just a few. But could there also doubt? The televangelist and pastor — whose Houston, Texas, church services are broadcast to more than 7 million viewers every week — appeared to completely denounce his Christian faith April 8. But before you go asking for your tithing money back, there’s more to the story!
Joel Osteen Hoax: Did The Pastor Denounce Christianity?
A message claiming to be from Pastor Osteen was published on the website JoelOstenMinistries.com — note the misspelling of “Osteen” in the URL — in which the televangelist completely rejected Christianity.
“Deep down in my heart, for a number of years now, I have been questioning the faith, Christianity and whether Jesus Christ is really my, or anyone’s, ‘savior,’” the message read. “I believe now that the Bible is a fallible, flawed, highly inconsistent history book that has been altered hundreds of times. There is zero evidence the Bible is the holy word of God. In fact, there is zero evidence ‘God’ even exists.”
The message goes on to suggest that the pastor has made “millions” by exploiting Christians, and that he plans to start his own religion soon.
Joel Osten ‘Not Angry’ About Being Pranked
“You know, I’m really not angry,” he told ABC News just hours after the hoax hit the web. “I don’t feel like a victim. I feel too blessed, that life is too short to let things like this get you down. … You can’t stop everything from happening, but you can choose to say, ‘God, it’s in your hands.’ I’m going to move forward. I’m going stay full of joy and I’m going enjoy this day.”
— Andy Swift
Follow @AndySwift
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