Pastor Joel Osteen has gone viral in all the wrong ways.
The Houston megachurch leader has seen his name trend repeatedly in the days since Hurricane Harvey brought floods to the city, in large part because his 16,500-seat Lakewood Church wasnβt open to those seeking shelter.
Osteen insisted there were βsafety issuesβ caused by the flooding, but he also said it was because the church was never asked by the city to become a shelter.
βIf they would have asked us to become a shelter early on, we would have prepared for it,β he told NBCβs βTodayβ on Wednesday.
That excuse that didnβt fly for many, given that local mosques and many other places took action without waiting to be asked.
His churchβs Harvey response has led to Osteen becoming the star of a new meme... and heβs probably not going to like it.
Here are some of the images and quotes circulating on social media:
b4 u JUDGE Joel Osteen how about u hear his side? pic.twitter.com/uhpSOJJo4U
— Ali the Β’abbage (@AliMaadelat) September 1, 2017
If you're a Christian more outraged by people criticizing Joel Osteen, than by Osteen this week, you may want to rethink your priorities.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) August 31, 2017
LIVE footage of Joel Osteen while on top of the Lakewood Church during #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/13u7gEI3A9
— Maestro Hot Dog (@maestrohotdog) August 30, 2017
These Joel Osteen memes are no joke. People not letting up nor will they forget. pic.twitter.com/uKh18w6rkb
— Carlos Williams (@Smart_Sapper12B) August 29, 2017
I wasn't asked to give food
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 30, 2017
I wasn't asked to give shelter
I wasn't asked to help
So I didn't
Til I got bad PR.
Fake Christian @JoelOsteen https://t.co/Io0pLJLpMy
Joel Osteen: "Praying for everyone in Houston!"
— trigga trev szn (@TrevJSiemian) August 29, 2017
Can we use your church?
Joel Osteen: pic.twitter.com/zTtJJgUuhD
My friend Bethany made this Joel Osteen meme on Facebook and I'm inconsolable πππ pic.twitter.com/7QWWhef4ez
— Nicole βοΈAt Sunrise (@alamanecer) August 30, 2017
Do you think Joel Osteen realizes he is basically the innkeeper in the Christmas story right now https://t.co/tZPbb7ciBm
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) August 28, 2017
Joel Osteen looking at all the people in his "church" like pic.twitter.com/uBpEeyebDm
— Yukihira Theo (@_KingComplex) September 1, 2017
When they asked Joel Osteen about opening his mega church to survivors during #HurricaneHarvey pic.twitter.com/4IHfaKD0zI
— Robert Vincent (@RobertVincent3) August 29, 2017
[at Sunday school]
— Frederick Douglass (@HITEXECUTIVE) August 30, 2017
Joel Osteen: Why did Noah take animals on the Ark?
8 year old: Because Twitter shamed him into being a good Christian?
It's a @JoelOsteen tax shelter, not a church. pic.twitter.com/28mfvq2TIf
— Rube Bait (@RubeBait) August 30, 2017
Another #JoelOsteen user upload...is it #Funny or #Offensive? #Osteen #Noah #Harvey2017 #Houston #HoustonStrong pic.twitter.com/otr00lZpxv
— IsItFunnyOrOffensive (@IsItFOO) August 31, 2017
Joel Osteen reluctantly opening his church to Hurricane Harvey victims. Wasn't he an innkeeper in the Bethlehem area a while back?
— Skep Tock (@skepticalfa) August 31, 2017
Those Joel Osteen meme though π€£π€£π€£π€£ pic.twitter.com/gtK0ZjMYB2
— pisces_rebel (@piscesforever25) August 30, 2017
Joel Osteen: "our doors were never closed, we were just waiting for the right time"
— Diego Cuellar (@DiegoC_12) August 30, 2017
Me: pic.twitter.com/PdfP4MsGo1
Joel, I think you can humbly learn a lesson from Jim "Mack Mattress" Ingvale. He was "cautious" to immediately open shelter to those in need pic.twitter.com/1nkjFLDrac
— Alfredo A. Rivas (@AlfredoARivas) August 30, 2017
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