Posted on 01/07/2010 1:41:13 PM PST by Gamecock
Annise Parker, the newly-elected happens-to-be-lesbian mayor of Houston was sworn in Monday and the opening prayer was given by ... Rev. Joel Osteen. Is your head spinning? Osteen heads the nation's most mega of evangelical non-denominational megachurches, Lakewood Church in Houston where about 45,000 people cycle through a revamped sports stadium for services every weekend.
Osteen has been all over telling folks (Larry King, Whoopi Goldberg) for years that homosexuality is not "God's best." I presume he means "God's best choice" because otherwise I'm lost in the dropped or implied rest of the sentence. But "God's best" is phrase Osteen never finishes so I'm just guessing.
Yet, Osteen hasn't joined the more strident wing of the religious right in damning gays. Indeed, Osteen takes heat from other evangelicals who condemn him for not laying down a line of fire about sin of any kind. That's not his style, says the preacher known for his broad smile and sermons that God wants you to be happy. Osteen's best seller was titled, Your Best Life Now.
Now writer Timothy Kincaid suggests to his gay readership that they look at Osteen more fully and fairly.
Careful what you say. There are some on here who think he’s God.
Osteen’s “flock” is anyone who can donate and buy his books. And he doesn’t want to offend any of his “flock”.
That was cool, and I agree 100%.
>Yeah, Im judging, and I am using the Bible to judge.
No need for apology.
“For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? “
1 Peter 4:17
If Osteen is IN the house of God, he is a fair target for judgment FROM the house of God.
I had the same problem when I dared to ask a sincere question about Sarah Palin. Some icons cannot be even remotely questioned. Those who back Osteen should have tried to convince you of their side rather than flame you.
LOL!
They’ll do more than flame. They will never respond to your statements but they will tell you how much they know about the Bible and how much you don’t know. I guess they think that makes them right to worship Joy Boy. That’s a good name for Osteen. He preaches JOY JOY JOY!
Amen and amen to that!
I don’t trust anyone who smiles a lot, and this guy is ALL TEETH.
Anyone without blindeds would hear that is eaxtly what he talks about.
Oh? What about this little gem?
And he certainly doesn't preach that Christ is the only way. You do know that he denied Christ on national TV, right?
I am against banning anything on FR, as much as I detest Osteen.
My objection is granting them devotional status.
What is wrong with preaching joy and prosperity? The intimation there is that you don’t believe that God wants that for us. There is ZERO Biblical evidence of that. I don’t know anything about Osteen, but a pastor that preaches nothing but hellfire and brimstone isn’t going to get very far, plus there is more to the Bible than that.
Sometimes people need to hear about the rewards rather than just the punishment.
Sorry for screaming.
There is ZERO Biblical evidence of that.
Why does God promise that Christians will suffer for their beliefs?
OK, but if another pastor that didn't deny Christ preached joy and prosperity, he would STILL be reviled on these threads. Why? Probably for the same reason some on FR think that if your church has any instrument other than a pipe organ for the praise/worship, then you're going to hell.
Are Christianity and prosperity mutually exclusive?
Why does God promise that Christians will suffer for their beliefs?
Because some have and more will. Not every one of them has, not every one will. But if you try to sell Christianity to someone with the promise of earthly poverty and guaranteed misery, you're not going to have much luck and will be forced to omit large sections of the Bible. There is a religion that thinks like that--Islam. I refuse to live solely for the afterlife like those murdering cavemen. We are to make our lives here better as well.
Jesus wants you to have a good life and help those that need it. He likes to talk with you. It isn’t a huge mystery.
I have conflicts that come and go but prayer will put them at ease and resolve them. No prayer, No resolve.
Bingo.
Osteen doesn't teach that.
OK. Still, I’d like to know why so many here believe that Christianity and success are mutually exclusive.
Because worldly success is mutually exclusive with Wordly success. The Bible says we will suffer for our faith. Over and over. God is not Santa Claus.
Osteen knows the Truth. That is why it makes him squirm when he is pushed towards it. Hoe knows the truth will cost him money
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