Overview

• Rich labeled Osteen a prosperity preacher and criticized the idea that believers would be spared hardship as “spiritually ignorant.”
• He said Osteen avoids messages that could make congregants uncomfortable, including sermons about the biblical “end times.”
• The remarks were made on the Shawn Ryan Show podcast and relayed by outlets including The Blast, Daily Mail, AL.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
• Rich contrasted comfortable church life in the United States with the persecution some Christians face abroad.
• Coverage noted Osteen’s sizable platform and frequent association with prosperity theology, and there was no response from him as of the latest reports.