Posted on 12/26/2013 8:44:20 AM PST by Gamecock
Joel Osteen, megachurch pastor and New York Times best-selling author, was pressed during a recent interview about his stance on homosexuality and asked if he would ever come out in support of same-sex marriage. The Texas minister, who leads America’s largest congregation, explained that he refuses to “harp” on such issues and was “for everybody.”
In his appearance on “Katie” this week, the Break Out! author was asked to state his core message in a nugget, which the Lakewood Church pastor said was that “God is good, He’s for you, He’s on your side.”
“When you put your trust in Him, even when you have difficult times, you can rise higher. You can excel, you can be leaders. It’s an empowering message, not one that pushes people down,” he added.
Host Katie Couric suggested that the popular minister does not “spend a lot of time in (his) sermons talking about good and evil, sin and redemption. It is a very overall positive message.” She asked, “Why don’t you give people more of a moral template?”
Osteen insisted that he does, but “in a positive way.”
“There’s enough pushing people down in life already,” he added. “When they come to my church, or our meetings, I want them to be lifted up. I want them to know that God’s good, that they can move forward, that they can break an addiction, that they can become who God’s created them to be.”
The Houston, Texas, pastor was also asked about the “prosperity gospel” that he preaches, which Osteen said was a term he “never liked.”
“What it connotates is that you just talk about money,” he said. “I don’t do that, I don’t do that on purpose because so many people are skeptical of TV preachers to begin with.”
As he defines it, “Prosperity is having good relationships, having peace in your mind, being able to sleep at night. But I do believe God wants you to be blessed. He wants you to excel in your career. He wants you to go further than your parents. There’s a tradition that says you’re supposed to take a vow of poverty if you’re going to be a Christian, but I don’t believe that.”
“But there are your critics, Joel, who feel like you put too much emphasis on materialism,” Couric countered.
Osteen clarified that he believes God blesses people so that they in turn can bless others. “That’s the whole key. It’s never about just what can I get so that I can be so rich and wealthy. It’s not that. It’s how can I be blessed to do good for other people,” he said.
Osteen spoke further about his ministry objectives when asked if he considers himself a theologian, since he does not have any “real formal training,” despite leading a flock of 45,000 at Lakewood Church and his messages reaching millions worldwide.
“I’m ordained by my church. I don’t have a seminary degree,” explained Pastor Osteen.
“I wouldn’t consider myself a theologian, and I don’t debate the Scripture. I feel like what I’m good about, and I think this is the one reason the ministry is successful, I talk about how do we live the Christian life, how do we forgive, how do we have a good self-image.”
He suggested that although he might touch on doctrine in his messages, he believes an emphasis on doctrine may be what is contributing to low attendance at other churches. “These days, people want to know, ‘If I come to church, how’s it going to help me to live my life?’” he added.
The second half of Osteen’s interview on “Katie” focused strongly on the “sea change of attitudes in this country, especially toward gay rights and gay marriage,” as Couric put it.
“Helped.” The magic word meaning what? What did she accomplish? Did she make them feel good about themselves? Or did she plant the seed that the Lord tells us is our responsibility? Talk to people. Plant the seed. Allow the Holy Spirit to work on that seed. Naw. Ole Joyce rides on her privately owned Lear Jet to her little talks. She rides in the limo every step of the way. At home, the entire family lives in a mega million dollar compound of mega sized mansions. Her, kids, dogs, pool house, all on a gated compound. Google it. It has a nice little over head shot of the fort sized compound. Naw, ole Joyce dudden miss any of the wonderful things of life that she makes on her charging folks to here all that she has to say about the Salvation of Jesus Christ. I share the Lord’s good tidings for free. Have not made a dime. I use the money that the Lord gives me to share with those in need. Through my church, through personal giving to various agencies. I have a military retired check, disability check and social security. Yup, I am a rich man. God provides, and I share what he provides. By the way, my compound is quite small. A nice little 1650 foot brick home, with a one acre lot of trees and gardens. God provided, I live and share. Wonder how much ole Joyce puts in the plate every Sunday?
It took me about five minutes and said... yup, that is a man who wants my grand... and there was another... his name escapes me.... but I had the flashback of blue collar comedy when ron white was talkng about watching tv naked eating cheetos in a bean bag chair and a TV preacher came on....
The other dudes name... Todd coontz.... I will hit on them sometime just to get a chuckle... sad to think people will be robbed by them....
Joel Osteen knows ALL about prosperity and material gain. He got the city of Houston’s lesbian mayor to sell him a sports arena that had previously hosted Frank Sinatra and the Rolling Stones in the past 30 years for below market value (the venue had non-compete clauses against other city sports and concert venues so the city could no longer make money from what it was designed to do; they negotiated in bad faith to reward inner circle Democrat crony Fascists).
Isn’t Joel from a preacher dynasty like the infamous traitor Marjoe?
I don’t know. Around 25 years ago my brother said that the people with the Lakewood Church “Oasis of Love” stickers were the single worst drivers in traffic.
Somebody has a ping list but I don't remember who it is.
I wrote a vanity, in, chat about two and a half years ago, on the occasion of my 30th. anniversary. (yep, I'm old)
Lots of old "alkies" chimed in.
P.S. I'm by no means the most senior.
I’m right behind you at 28. Actually I’ve been sober since I got up this morning.
Jesus spoke of the Laodicean Church in the latter days...
This is the Church that has emerged...Neither hot nor cold..
Lukewarm and worthless....
No more Holy Spirit driven churches..No more preachers like David Wilkerson or Paul Harvey, no more lives transformed in Jesus Christ...
Why did God single out Nineveh by warning it in this manner while leaving other wicked cities unwarned?
Nineveh had been founded by a son of the righteous patriarch Shem. Thus Nineveh represents those that once served God but have departed from Him.
In the Bible only a handful of places are referred to as “that great city”. Apart from Nineveh it is used once in the case of Jerusalem (Jer 22:8), once to describe the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2) but mostly in reference to Mystery Babylon (Rev 18:21). While the New Jerusalem is the true bride of the Lamb all the others started out as pure women but, having fornicated and corrupted themselves, they became the enemies of God.
Why do stories about MSNBC? Who knows!
And to you as well!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.