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'That's not my calling': Joel Osteen on why he's mum on hot issues such as gay union
Christian Today ^ | 03 July 2015 | Czarina Ong

Posted on 07/06/2015 6:07:46 AM PDT by Gamecock

While American evangelists such as Franklin Graham and Rick Warren are not afraid of speaking on sensitive topics such as same-sex marriage, abortion, or political strife, Joel Osteen prefers not to discuss those while at the pulpit, saying those topics often "turn people off."

During a recent interview with WBUR's "Here & Now" radio program, Osteen said everybody has his or her own calling, but tackling politically controversial issues is not something that he has been called out to do.

"I have friends who are very political. They're pastors and that's what their thing is. But I think sometimes, in the church world, we can take one issue and make it really, really big and it can turn people off where there are many bigger issues. That's why I don't like to be defined by one thing," he said.

"You know, our message is about lifting people up, helping them fulfill their destiny, helping them to forgive in a tough time, how to make it through this life when life tries to push you down," Osteen added.

The pastor founded Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, back in 1959. It is the largest congregation in the United States, with around 43,500 people attending church services weekly.

Osteen said Lakewood Church continues to grow in number because they focus on issues that affect people in their daily lives as opposed to handling controversial ones.

But just recently, six men belonging to the Church of Wells heckled Osteen during service. "Joel Osteen, you're a liar!" one of them shouted, while another one who carried the Bible shouted some lines from the Scripture at him.

Osteen simply continued preaching, but churchgoers got scared in light of the recent Charleston Church shooting.

Before things could get worse, the six men were escorted out of the church by security personnel. They were later slapped with criminal trespassing, according to World Religion News.


TOPICS: Current Events
KEYWORDS: christians; homosexualagenda; megachurch; osteen; pastor; ybpdln
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To: Gamecock

Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay and you’re O.K.
Money, it’s a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream,
Think I’ll buy me a football team

Money, get back
I’m all right, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack.
Money, it’s a hit
Don’t give me that do goody good bullsh/t
I’m in the hi-fidelity first class traveling set
And I think I need a Lear jet


101 posted on 07/06/2015 1:45:00 PM PDT by servo1969
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To: driftdiver

Are you kind and respectful to, say, Charles Manson? No. You treat him humanely. You do not return evil for evil. But neither are you a sweetie pie to evil. It is VITALLY important that however you treat a person doing wrong, you do not treat them in a way that aids and abets their evil.

When did christianity become so girly? We must hate evil. Returning good for evil does not mean we are lovey-dovey kissy-kissy. But the leaders these days are incapable of making a strong stand against the evil of homosex. It is evil. It is perverse. It is corrupt. And it, as a movement, has targeted our children.


102 posted on 07/06/2015 2:57:54 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: driftdiver

...and just because an argument can be perverted by those who want to do evil, does not mean the argument is wrong.


103 posted on 07/06/2015 2:59:29 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: Gamecock

figures he can get $$ from homosexuals if he keeps quiet about God, morals, and the Bible


104 posted on 07/06/2015 4:56:25 PM PDT by faithhopecharity (For in much wisdom is much vexation; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.)
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To: Gamecock

Osteen is a coward and this is his Church:

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”
Revelation 3:17-18


105 posted on 07/06/2015 7:37:54 PM PDT by captmar-vell
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To: Gamecock

The gospel is not his calling either


106 posted on 07/07/2015 2:21:00 PM PDT by RnMomof7
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To: stylin_geek
I think if a church truly wants to be free from the State they should surrender their tax-exempt status and pay taxes.
As for Osteen ... think what he would have to pay in property taxes on his operation if he surrendered?
107 posted on 07/07/2015 2:26:50 PM PDT by zeaal
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To: captmar-vell

“Osteen is a coward”
I should apologize for saying that,

He may not be a coward at all and he may in fact actually support and agree wholeheartedly with them on ‘Gay unions’ I certainly wouldn’t know,

But it is frustrating that anyone with so many ears open to him and this is all they get, and one who knows that he would lose his rewards on this Earth if he did quote scripture and preach a straightforward biblical message on the subject.

This is exactly as it says in Isaiah Chapter 5, one of those which ‘justify the wicked for a reward’


108 posted on 07/08/2015 8:02:39 PM PDT by captmar-vell
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Judas Osteen.


109 posted on 11/29/2017 9:21:28 AM PST by fwdude (Why is it that the only positive things to come out of LGBT organizations are their AIDS tests?)
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