Joel Osteen finally comes out on 'gay' issue

World Net Daily ^ | 10/03/2013

[Responsibility2nd]

'I'm not here to be preaching hate, pushing people down'

God “absolutely” approves of everyone — including homosexuals — declared one of America’s most well-known evangelical pastors

The Houston megapastor and best-selling author Joel Osteen, whose followers include the likes of Cher and Oprah Winfrey, is hitting the talk-show circuit to promote his new book, “Break Out!

Osteen, the very visible face of Lakewood Church in Houston since 1999,  talked to the Huffington Post about his thoughts on prayer, the pope and the homosexual lifestyle.

HuffPo Live host Josh Zepps quoted from Osteen’s new book: “It doesn’t matter who likes you or who doesn’t like you, all that matters is God likes you. He accepts you, he approves of you.”

Zepps followed up by asking if that included homosexuals.

Pastor Joel Osteen

“Absolutely,” Osteen insisted, “I believe that God has breathed his life into every single person. We’re all on a journey. Nobody’s perfect.”

[Dutchboy88]

"Remember the target - the left seeks to destroy the family and replace it with the State."

If by this you mean the "target" of Lucifer, I would agree. This is a much bigger war than just the Dems vs America.

[novemberslady]

Thanks for the ping
OH look-there's a curtain...

Come out, come out wherever you are
And meet the young lady who fell from a star
She fell from the sky, she fell very far...

And Kansas she says is the name of the star.

Kansas she says is the name of the star.

She brings you good news, or haven't you heard
When she fell out of Kansas a miracle occurred!

It really was no miracle.
What happened was just this...

The wind began to switch-the house to pitch
And suddenly the hinges started to unhitch

Just then the witch, to satisfy an itch
Went flying on her broomstick thumbing for a hitch

And oh what happened then was rich...

[wideawake]

Those words don’t appear in the Bible, though.

The Bible does tell us to love our neighbor (Mark 12:31) and to hate evil (Ps 97:10).

Osteen's statement is as ambiguous as everything else he says (Rev. 3:16).

[wideawake]

Your first mistake might be in comparing the Decalogue to a "top ten list."

[Sans-Culotte]

I am stunned and surprised he said this said no one ever.

I always knew that was probably what he thought. What puzzles me is what anyone gets from such a vacuous "spiritual leader". He's so concerned about not offending anyone that I fail to see what he brings to the table aside from his snake-oil salesman smile.

[Patriot Babe]

ROFL That is what I thought myself when I read the heading. I thought WOW ROFL

[Labyrinthos]

Your first mistake is not having a sense of humor.

[GeronL]

Then what did Jesus die for? For the fun of it?

were they all wearing leather gimp suits at the crucifixion?

If not, then the answer is no. Not for the fun of it.

[GeronL]

bump

[GeronL]

I thought the headline said that he was coming out as gay.

Not yet

I bet he is a Justin Beiber fan though

[Sans-Culotte]

Ever hear him mention Jesus? I can’t recall him ever really talking about Jesus Christ, salvation, the alternative to salvation, etc.

I watched a profile of Osteen (might have been 60 Minutes). It showed him signing one of his books. An old Jewish fellow told Osteen "my wife and I love listening to you, and we're Jewish!"

So, no, he does not mention Jesus because he (apparently) preaches some sort of gospel that does not include Christ for fear of offending non-Christians, I guess.

[CatherineofAragon]

" I'm not saying that homosexuality isn't a sin, rather, many of us seem obsessed with a sin that God didn't seem to think is important enough to include in the top ten"

Yeah, not important enough.

He just called it an abomination, detestable, depraved, degrading, and indecent. Just that. /s

[wideawake]

Your post was written to make a point, not a joke.

[MrB]

You can tell the truth, or lead anyone to a saving faith,
without being “offensive”.

“What you’re doing is wrong and you need to repent” is offensive, but necessary.

[Gamecock]

Amen.

If he actually preached sin membership and book sales would dwindle.

[Old Sarge]

many of us seem obsessed with a sin that God didn't seem to think is important enough to include in the top ten like the stuff about killing, stealing, committing adultery, false idols, and keeping the Sabbath Holy, etc.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's ass..."

[Hardastarboard]

From the title I thought “coming out” might have another context. Osteen doesn’t exactly strike me as a Marine DI kind of personality.

[Amendment10]

In stark contrast to misguided Osteen’s new age “Christianity,” Matthew 18:15-17 shows that Jesus taught for churches to expel unrepentant sinners from the congregation. In fact, 1 Corinthians 5 shows that Paul wrote for that church to expel an unrepentant sexual offender from the congregation.

Also, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 indicates that some members of that Church had formerly been involved in same-sex relationships, but had repented and accepted God’s grace to turn their lives around.

[GeronL]

he said. “We may not agree 100 percent on doctrine and theology, but the Catholic Church, our church, it’s open for everybody. I like his tone, not pushing people away.”

Unless you accidently comment in the Catholic Caucus thread, then you will receive eternal damnation.

[Mr Rogers]

“It doesn’t matter who likes you or who doesn’t like you, all that matters is God likes you. He accepts you, he approves of you.”

The Gospel does NOT teach that! God doesn’t accept and approve of you while you are in rebellion against Him. He loves us while we are rebels, but He does NOT accept and approve of us.

Joel Osteen leaves no reason for the Incarnation or the Cross. There is no Gospel without the Cross!