Popular Christian speaker and bestselling author Joel Osteen does not believe in prosperity gospel, but that does not stop his naysayers from accusing him of taking advantage of other people's generosity.
When he recently appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" to promote his new book "The Power of I Am," the talk show host asked Osteen: "As a TV preacher, how do you feel about the image people have of TV preachers of, 'Give me your cash, and you too will get cash? Is there any of that in your preaching?"
"I don't believe any of that," replied Osteen.
Colbert pressed on, "Do you ask people to send you cash?" Osteen answered that they don't and never have.
Colbert praised his perspective as "refreshing" and shook his hand, and then asked: "Regardless of whether you ask, do you they send you cash anyway?"
"They send cash anyway," Osteen answered with a laugh. "But here's the thing I should clarify—they don't send me cash, I don't take a salary, but I think people can see sincerity..."
But Colbert was not having any of it. "You don't take a salary? That's a nice suit man," he quipped.
The two gentlemen then talked about Osteen's new book, and he said that even non-believers can learn a thing or two from "The Power of I Am," according to The Gospel Herald.
"Anybody can read the book... When he was on the earth Jesus went to all kinds of people," explained Osteen.
When Colbert asked Osteen about his legions of fans dubbed as "Osteenians," Osteen said that he hoped it would not catch on since his mission is not to promote himself, but the power and love of God. "I hope they get inspired by our message, but I turn everything back to the Lord," he said. "I have no desire to become a denomination or have followers of me, but followers of Christ."
