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.
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If I compared Freepers to Osteen, it must have been in another life. It didn’t happen in this one..... lol
A vital component of Judeo-Christian teaching has been telling people things that they don't want to hear.
I suspect that Moses "turned people off" when he started reading the Commandments.
At our core we are all sinners, the reason we struggle with sin is because it often involves things we WANT to do even though we have been told that it's wrong.
They misspelled his name> The correct spelling is O$teen.
That’s really not true, but if it feeds your inner hatred, go with it.
Correct.
A change is coming which will force believers of all faiths to decide what is more important.
My feeling is LOTS of Pastors and Priests are going to be out of a job.
Sure are a lot of “Christians” here casting stones at Osteen. Wonder if they use a backhand or a forehand for more strength?
Sooner, rather than later, Joel must stand on the Word of God. It will not make him popular, but it will keep his congregation from hell. Jesus warned He will spew lukewarm Christians from His mouth.
Osteen has been non-committal on Mormonism, Muslims, and now gay marriage. Pray he will rise up like his father – who was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
Osteen missed his calling. He is a motivational speaker. Pastors shepherd their flock and teach them the truth.
**Wonder if they use a backhand or a forehand for more strength?**
Something more powerful, THE TRUTH!
But the 'accuser of the brethren', and those that agree with him, is in full force!
‘That’s not my calling’
You know what is his calling?
Hint, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
His true faith is in the dollar.
He is a pagan.
There is nothing he says, not one thing, that required Jesus to die on the cross.
“But the ‘accuser of the brethren’, and those that agree with him, is in full force!”
As well they should be. No “brethren” should be exempt from or
compromise be made with the word of God.
“The FR Osteen crowd is noticeably quiet.”
As well they should be.
“Joel is a motivational speaker and entertainer. I don’t think he is a BAD guy, but I find it offensive that he seems to pose as a quasi-Christian preacher, who preaches only from the Book of Joel.”
My wife and I listen to him. His schtick isn’t sinners and saints, but how to live a productive life. He’s more of a spiritual Tony Robbins and I am good with that.
He just does not want to piss off the Pharisees on the Left.
Reminds me of a dream a pastor had a few years ago. As people were entering the gates of hell. There were other people in balconies reaching down and pulling up the new entrants by their hair and then staring them in the face and throwing them back down. As the pastor awoke from this nightmare. He cried out to God “what does this mean?” and the Lord said those people in the balconies are looking for the pastors who led them astray.
Do you flick your wrist to add more velocity to the stone throw?
Never seen a particular reason to believe Osteen is "brethren." Accuse away, I say.
Joel Osteen has his own part to play in saving humanity at this time, the same as everyone else does.
No minister has a message or style of saying it that everyone can or wants to listen to, no matter how much they might need to hear it. Isn't that true for you?
Often, the ones who most need to hear the Good Word are usually the ones most turned off by, and most unlikely to listen to, the standard sin and damnation preacher or his followers.
They may need to hear him and that message, but if they won't listen, then the preacher, no matter how good he is or how true to the Word he might be, has failed.
To me, the ones those preachers can't reach are the ones Osteen is called to speak to, to open a crack or two in their well-built walls where no one else can and allow a small bit of God's Light to shine in.
As such, given the importance of that mission and need for that sort of inspiration, something Osteen has been successful at providing, I think those who attack him are being unwise.
What ever happened to “Repent”? Has that been erased from the dictionary?
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