Posted on 01/30/2011 10:35:39 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Popular preacher Joel Osteen's recent affirmation that homosexuality is a sin has garnered reaction from both gay rights advocates and evangelicals alike.
LGBT group the Human Rights Campaign called for an immediate apology, arguing that his statement "adds a burden to those already struggling to accept their sexual orientation or gender identity."
"One would hope Mr. Osteen would use his pulpit, with an audience of over 7 million people, to tell all human beings that they are loved just the way they are," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Instead he chose to send a dangerous and irresponsible message."
Evangelical leader R. Albert Mohler, Jr., who does not agree with Osteen's "updated version of prosperity theology," was glad to hear the renowned pastor – who reaches 10 million television viewers nationwide – affirm the Bible's teaching. But Mohler stopped short of praising Osteen.
"Thankfully, he did not deny that homosexuality is a sin. We can only have hoped that he would have given a more bold answer, followed by an equal boldness in the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said in a commentary Thursday.
On Wednesday, Osteen and his wife, Victoria, appeared on CNN where they were interviewed by its newest anchor, Piers Morgan.
Though he had indicated his stance against homosexuality years before, Osteen was pressed during the show to spell it out more clearly.
"Is homosexuality a sin?" Morgan asked.
"Yes, I’ve always believed it," stated the pastor of America's largest church, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. "The Scripture shows that it’s a sin."
"I say it’s wrong because that’s what the Scripture says," Osteen added, explaining that he can't pick one part of the Bible (that says God wants to bless you) and reject another part of it (that states homosexuality is a sin). He also added that he's not "one of those to bash homosexuals and tell them they’re terrible people."
The Rev. Dr. Miguel de la Torre, a Baptist minister and member of the HRC Religion Council, disagreed.
"As a Southern Baptist and an ethicist I believe that we can’t follow Jesus’ commandment to love God and our neighbor as our self if we start with the premise that homosexuality is sinful," Torre argued. "Starting with the belief that people are sinful doesn’t allow us to get to know them, let alone love them."
A group of pastors from the Houston area, meanwhile, rejected arguments that Osteen's comments were hateful.
"No reasonable person can accuse Joel of being bigoted or hateful, but was very gracious in how he answered the question," asserted Pastor Willie Davis on behalf of the Houston Area Pastor Council.
"No pastor should take a poll about the popularity of his convictions if he is faithful to preaching from the Holy Scriptures, nor can Joel or any pastor be criticized or condemned for simply repeating what God Himself has said," he continued. "In fact, Joel nailed the essence of God’s love by also clarifying that the homosexual lifestyle is harmful to those who practice it or other extra-marital sexual behavior.
"If we care about people we must teach the truth that points us toward God’s best."
And that moment of teaching the truth will come for all Christians, according to Mohler, a Southern Baptist.
Though Osteen has tried to avoid talking about or focusing on sin since taking the pulpit in 1999, Mohler predicted the time would come for him to face the question of sin.
"To his credit, Osteen did answer his question, and by staking his position on the Bible’s teaching that homosexual acts are sinful, he took the only road available to anyone with any substantial commitment to the truthfulness of the Bible," said Mohler.
lol
It adds no more burden than for anyone else that is tempted to sin.
If that were the case we would never get to know, or love, anyone.
“The Rev. Dr. Miguel de la Torre, a Baptist minister and member of the HRC Religion Council, disagreed.
“As a Southern Baptist and an ethicist I believe that we can’t follow Jesus’ commandment to love God and our neighbor as our self if we start with the premise that homosexuality is sinful,” Torre argued. “Starting with the belief that people are sinful doesn’t allow us to get to know them, let alone love them.””
Miguel yes you can if you realistically understand the Gospel and its truth. It is obvious that you do not and by the way you twist scripture it is plain that you are a false teacher who should be expelled from the Church
I'm not really an Olsteen fan, but as a Christian minister, what else can he preach, without violating the Word of God? Any legitimate Christian church MUST teach homosexuality is a sin, precisely because the Bible expressly says it's a sin. This isn't complicated.
When we have advocacy groups that are directly connected to the current administration demanding what must be (or must not be) said from the pulpit, it strains the very fabric of the Constitution. This can't stand.
Hopefully, there will be no apology. Homosexuality is a sin that guarantees NO inheritance in the Kingdom of God. It's time for Christians to stop apologizing for our beliefs and to start putting those who claim to be Christians yet support ungodliness on notice that they will not be tolerated among those of The Faith.
And for those who don't believe, like this so-called "human rights" group, serve notice to them that this is Christianity: repent of your wicked ways, turn to God, allow Jesus to empower you to overcome sin and learn from the Holy Spirit so you will know what pleases God and what displeases Him. This ain't about YOU! This is about reconciling with HIM.
I guess these folks only want a God who doesn’t put any demands on them.
I thought a key issue was that nobody really knows what causes homosexuality. But, it’s a behavior, and I thought the focus was on the behavior being sinful.
Maybe I’m mistaken, but I thought churches welcomed all who accept the word of God and are forgiving of their sins. Mr. Osteen has called a spade a spade in calling it sinful behavior.
And don’t we focus quite a bit on homosexuality? For example, heterosexual sinful behavior such as fornication and adultry is also condemned by clergy. Why is there only outrage when they talk about homosexualiy, and not about the other sexual sinful behavior? Preaching against the sins of a man and a woman don’t seem to attract the headlines that anyone preaching against homosexuality attracts.
Love doesn't mean you must accept stupid behavior.
We live in a magic marker society. You bring the magic marker to church along with your Bible and you simply cross out the parts of Scripture you don’t agree with.
It’s about time he condemns homosexuality. Now . . . how about abortion? . . . Will he ever condemn that?
He is not condemning homosexuals for BEING homosexual, he is condemning them relenting to their sinful desires.
This is no different than a man being a man ... and thus being attracted to other women besides his wife... being naturally attracted is.... natural. ACTING on that attraction... or even lingering on the thought of someone besides your spouse sexually is what is wrong.
He include his perspective as a Southern Baptist and as an ethicist. As a Christian, how would he respond? The scripture says all have sinned. You must start with the belief that people are sinful.
8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
There's Miguel's problem. Now if he will kindly remove the title of Reverend before his name and go frolic out in the fields where daises grow before he corrupts any more souls.
How do pastors defend attempts to negotiate the 10 commandments?
II Timothy 3:1-9
1You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them! 6For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires, 7who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth. 9But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men,* their folly will become plain to everyone.
I think thats a large part of his weekly message. You are loved.
And, yes, its still a sin.
I guess I’ll start being a little less skeptical of Osteen in the future.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.