Country music star John Rich has accused megachurch pastor Joel Osteen of avoiding biblical teaching on the end times, sparking a public feud.
Speaking on the Shawn Ryan Show, Rich said Osteen never preaches on Matthew 24, where Jesus warns of “famines and earthquakes” and false Messiahs before His return.
Rich argued this is because “it’s very uncomfortable for Christians to have to think about.”
“To say that God would never make his people go through something like that is one of the most ignorant, spiritually ignorant things a person could say,” he added.
“Joel Osteen is never going to preach that. Joel Osteen is never going to say anything that’s going to make anybody uncomfortable ever on any level ever.”
Rich contrasted American Christianity with believers facing persecution abroad.
“Why don’t you go tell that to the underground Christians in communist China right now who are being killed by the thousands?” he asked.
“Do you think fat, lazy American Christians are better than them? No. They are superior to us.”
Osteen, based in Houston, Texas, is known for his weekly broadcasts watched by millions and his teaching on prosperity and positive thinking.
He has not responded to Rich’s remarks.