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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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61 posted on 07/06/2015 7:06:27 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: Shimmer1

If I compared Freepers to Osteen, it must have been in another life. It didn’t happen in this one..... lol


62 posted on 07/06/2015 7:08:52 AM PDT by alstewartfan (If I should live to be seven I might forget Stephanie. Al Stewart)
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To: Gamecock; xzins; P-Marlowe
Joel Osteen prefers not to discuss those while at the pulpit, saying those topics often "turn people off."

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.

63 posted on 07/06/2015 7:11:04 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: Gamecock

They misspelled his name> The correct spelling is O$teen.


64 posted on 07/06/2015 7:12:19 AM PDT by joshua c (Please dont feed the liberals)
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To: mothball
If thou entertainest my love, let it appear in thy smiling; thy smiles become thee well; therefore in my presence still smile, dear my sweet, I prithee.' Jove, I thank thee: I will smile; I will do everything that thou wilt have me. --Twelfth Night
65 posted on 07/06/2015 7:16:36 AM PDT by onedoug
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To: oh8eleven

That’s really not true, but if it feeds your inner hatred, go with it.


66 posted on 07/06/2015 7:17:38 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("One man with a gun can control a hundred without one." -- Vladimir Lenin)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

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.


67 posted on 07/06/2015 7:18:14 AM PDT by Zathras
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To: Gamecock

Sure are a lot of “Christians” here casting stones at Osteen. Wonder if they use a backhand or a forehand for more strength?


68 posted on 07/06/2015 7:19:55 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: Gamecock

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.


69 posted on 07/06/2015 7:20:32 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever
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To: Drango

**Wonder if they use a backhand or a forehand for more strength?**

Something more powerful, THE TRUTH!


70 posted on 07/06/2015 7:29:56 AM PDT by Gamecock (Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and He volunteered. R.C. Sproul)
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To: Gamecock
The FR Osteen crowd is noticeably quiet.

But the 'accuser of the brethren', and those that agree with him, is in full force!

71 posted on 07/06/2015 7:32:33 AM PDT by LearnsFromMistakes (Yes, I am happy to see you. But that IS a gun in my pocket.)
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To: Gamecock

‘That’s not my calling’

You know what is his calling?

Hint, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

His true faith is in the dollar.


72 posted on 07/06/2015 7:34:46 AM PDT by Slambat
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To: LearnsFromMistakes

He is a pagan.

There is nothing he says, not one thing, that required Jesus to die on the cross.


73 posted on 07/06/2015 7:39:07 AM PDT by Gamecock (Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and He volunteered. R.C. Sproul)
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To: LearnsFromMistakes

“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.


74 posted on 07/06/2015 7:42:58 AM PDT by Slambat
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To: alstewartfan

“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.


75 posted on 07/06/2015 7:52:48 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Change the Defense of Marriage Act to the Defense of Holy Matrimony Act. Game, set match.)
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To: Gamecock

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.


76 posted on 07/06/2015 7:53:54 AM PDT by bjorn14 (Woe to those who call good evil and evil good. Isaiah 5:20)
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To: Gamecock

Do you flick your wrist to add more velocity to the stone throw?


77 posted on 07/06/2015 7:55:01 AM PDT by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: LearnsFromMistakes
But the 'accuser of the brethren', and those that agree with him, is in full force!

Never seen a particular reason to believe Osteen is "brethren." Accuse away, I say.

78 posted on 07/06/2015 7:59:31 AM PDT by RansomOttawa (tm)
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To: Slambat
As well they should be.

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.

79 posted on 07/06/2015 8:21:14 AM PDT by GBA (Just a hick in paradise)
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To: Gamecock

What ever happened to “Repent”? Has that been erased from the dictionary?


80 posted on 07/06/2015 8:30:16 AM PDT by HarleyD ("... letters are weighty, but his .. presence is weak, and his speech of no account.")
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