There are 8032432 reasons Christians might be upset with Pastor Joel Osteen. His sermons are more self-help than Bible-focused. The church is very much a cult of personality. He doesn’t take hard stances on controversial issues.
But Joel and his wife Victoria celebrating their son’s college graduation? That shouldn’t even make the list.
See if you can guess why some people are all worked up.
If you guessed people wrongly assumed they were making a devil-related gesture — rather than the traditional “Hook ‘Em Horns” gesture for the Texas Longhorns — you’d be right.
@VictoriaOsteen @JonathanOsteen ..Joel showing the sign of the devil is bad enough, you too Victoria.. unbelievable, what are you thinking??
— Steve Pane (@steve_pane_) May 20, 2017
@JoelOsteen @JonathanOsteen Why on Earth would you use the devil sign? My goodness a thumbs up would work or you don't have thumbs??
— askofu indimuli (@ian_indimuli) May 20, 2017
@VictoriaOsteen @JonathanOsteen Yea what's with the Satanist hex
— sergio gonzalez jr (@hoodysoldy) May 20, 2017
@VictoriaOsteen @JonathanOsteen @VictoriaOsteen why that sign, really your teachings have uplifted us but that sign makes me concerned and worried
— J So-oabeb (@JosefSoabeb) May 22, 2017
@VictoriaOsteen @JonathanOsteen Pst Joel I read and share your devotions with my family, very fond of you but you should've be sensitive to that sign, to christ its wrong
— wayne (@waynekitt) May 21, 2017
@VictoriaOsteen @JonathanOsteen Doing horns?! Even though is UT, that symbol ain't good! Thats devil's symbol!
— Isaac Hogg (@isaachogg) May 21, 2017
@JoelOsteen @JonathanOsteen ….. are you really making the universal sign of the devil…. really!! Joel Osteen. Really!!!!
— Steve Pane (@steve_pane_) May 20, 2017
@JoelOsteen @JonathanOsteen Joel, I'm a HUGE of yours … but … WHY the devil sign?
— Bud McClure (@JCMcSter) May 20, 2017
@JoelOsteen @JonathanOsteen That's the devils sign
— Ajay Mangal (@dgifbj) May 21, 2017
@JoelOsteen @JonathanOsteen You do know the sign of the Devil…Don't you?
— TheStudioElle (@TheStudioElle) May 21, 2017
@JoelOsteen @JonathanOsteen People pay more attention to the devil than to https://t.co/nPEekU0TT8 know all the signs of the devil but u can't memorize 10 bible verses.
— kwadjoelvis (@konadu_elvis) May 21, 2017
@JoelOsteen @JonathanOsteen It's sad that our people perish for lack of knowledge. The hand gesture are the devil horns. These universities are in it too. Pray, Pray!!!
— Earline P (@PrierEarline) May 21, 2017
To be sure, plenty of people (many of them presumably Christian) understand what the sign means. Many of them even corrected the people jumping to the wrong conclusion.
Still, it’s absurd that people would assume the worst about the Osteens based on their own ignorance. I would say that’s unusual, except evangelicals have a habit of doing just that when it comes to issues like LGBT rights and Planned Parenthood.
The Osteens haven’t responded publicly to the comments. Not that they need to.
(via Austin American-Statesman and The Christian Post)
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