Megachurch Receives Negative Backlash During Hurricane Harvey

Photo by: TMZ

Famous pastor, Joel Osteen, has faced harsh criticism during Hurricane Harvey due to not opening his massive megachurch, Lakewood, to the public during the national disaster. Osteen has been victim to multiple social media attacks claiming that his lack of action during the storm was not the “Christian thing” to do. News about Osteen being nothing more than a con artist running a bank, not a church, devoured headlines on social media outlets.

Osteen’s initial offering of “prayers” for those effected by the hurricane was quickly replaced with apologies after the outbursts of the public. In an interview, Joel Osteen told the “Today” show, “We were just being precautious, but the main thing is the city didn’t ask us to become a shelter then.”

During interviews since the public’s concern, Osteen explained that due to severe flooding Lakewood was inaccessible for use. He recalled back to 2001, when it was still home to the Houston Rockets, when severe flooding damaged the building. Since then, Lakewood has had floodgates installed to prevent issues of this nature, but in this situation, pictures showed threatening levels of water surrounding the gates of the church.

Photo by: CNN

In Osteen’s first sermon since the devastating flood, he acknowledged the negative backlash him and his church have been receiving. He told his congregation, “It’s easy for people … for somebody from a distance to make judgements without having all the information. Some people that don’t have the facts — and people that don’t want to have the facts — will continue to try to stir things up.” Joel Osteen emphasized in his sermon, “I don’t mind taking the heat for being cautious, but I don’t want to take the heat for being foolish.

Once there was no major threat, on Tuesday, August 29, 2017, Lakewood opened its doors to hundreds of storm victim providing them with shelter and comfort.