I wouldn't normally give this much of a platform to a critic of Joel's but since this coming week is one where we're sure to be seeing a lot of this to contrast Joel as his new book is released, I wanted to include this snippet of a radio interview with Dr. Michael Horton. It's conducted after he's recorded his segments for 60 Minutes and also covers some of his more standard critiques of Osteen's ministry.

I'll have a bit more to add to this over the course of next week. But for now, I'm really curious what he (and the talk show host) have been seeing. A sermon devoted to what snack foods we can eat? I must have missed that one. We should "deny" - Horton's own word - that we sin? I can't help but think Horton's given too short of attention to something he seems geniune in countering.

It's also worth noting that the interview here is conducted on a Christian talk radio station in New York and that Dr. Horton - despite his critiques - certainly seems to be a genuine believer interested, however imperfectly, in expanding the kingdom. It just strikes me that he's contradicting that by seeming to think that if any church is too big, then there's something inherently distrustful of its message or messenger. Suffice it to say, I think he misses a lot of what actually goes on in reality at Lakewood and his slam that Joel is essentially preaching a Christian Science message is particularly easy to rebut.

But like I said ... more thoughts this coming week.

(Good ol' fashioned MP3 clip here)

Oh, and it's also worth underscoring how Horton, in the 60 Minutes story linked below, cribs a talking point from Ole Anthony. Namely, the "cotton candy" line. I'm curious if Horton sees any merit in Anthony's ministry in light of some of the criticisms he faces from former members of his foundation (which some have substantively labeled a cult).