HOUSTON, TX - During Sunday's service at Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen ripped up a Bible in a bold act of defiance.

After the sermon was completed, in a theatrical display of his attitude toward the Scriptures, Osteen stood up and solemnly ripped the Bible in half before tossing it on the ground.

"The Bible shreds my theology, so I shredded the Bible," Osteen said afterward, defending his actions. "I couldn't find one word of truth in this thing. It talked about persecution, trials, tribulations, poverty, hardship, and even the 's-i-n' word. It's repulsive, really."

Some critics noted that Osteen had "pre-ripped" the Bible during his sermon so it would tear more easily. Still, it's a pretty thick book, so it took Osteen tremendous effort to tear its thousands of pages. He also spoke words of victory over the book as he ripped it in half. His hands were singed in the attempt, but he was finally able to push through and finish the ceremonial tearing of the Bible.

"It was the courteous thing to do, considering the alternative," he added ominously.