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.
Yes, VSA; and good for you. It certainly is a journey. Progress not perfection!
Well, he is no “man of the cloth” in the true meaning of that phrase. Osteen is a schister in my humble opinion. He is leading thousands down the road to hell. Those people are listening to his garbage and they are going down the wrong road. Give him money is not going to get YOU into heaven. Only through the Lord shall you see the Father and heaven. Only through Jesus Christ!!!
Well you go ahead say what you might friend. But my Bible tells me about these people. I am simply repeating what it tells me about them and what they are doing to people. The Lord tells me my job is to share the gospel and the truth. The truth of Osteen is that he is not leading people to the Lord. He is misleading. He is as plain as a clear glass. You make your comments regarding me, and that type of opinion puts you in the same boat as you placed me. You are being just as judgmental as you claim that I have been. Be what you might, you do not speak for me.
I actually agree with you about giving the truth to people. The only thing I disagree with you on is “guessing” who is going to Heaven and who is not. I don’t think you have the right to do that.
I am not guessing on anyone. I am simply stating that those who mislead are misleading people to hell and they are guilty and will face the judgment of it. You are doing a great job of judging yourself.
Bill W. has lots of friends at F.R. I’m among them.
Since when it is a sin to make a lot of money? If you don’t like Joyce Meyer, don’t watch her shows or go to her conferences, or buy her materials. She gives a lot away every year.
45,000 in this “church” shows that TX is as full of the uninformed as is San Francisco or Los Angeles.
Full disclosure: I’m a Catholic. I attend Mass usually once or twice a week. On TV I usually watch EWTN. My wife (although a Catholic as well) likes watching the Protestant TV ministers. She regularly watches Joel Osteen, John Hagee, Joyce Meyer, Jesse Duplantis, Creflo Dollar, Kerry Shook, among others. We have seen some of them in person at their conferences. Here is my take:
1) I like Osteen’s smile, postive attitude, upbeat messages, can-do attitude, pro-success sermons. I don’t particularly care for his corny jokes or repetitiveness. I know his father is with the Lord. I’ve heard the story of how met his wife and inherited is father’s ministry a million times.
2) John Hagee is the most interesting of all, well read, and educated with a solid background in history as well as theology. He certainly does not hesitate to condemn sinful behavior such as sodomy and abortion. While I share his pro-Israel outlook and attitude, I think he does go over board at time praising the Jews and his contempt for Catholicism is at times palpable.
3) Joyce Meyer is my favorite in this group. She does stick closely to scripture. She tells it like it is in a self deprecating way which I think connects with a lot of people. Learn from my mistakes seems to be her biggest message. She bares it all. Yes she makes tons of money-—a testimony to her success——but she also gives a lot of it away. You can’t help the poor if you’re poor yourself.
4) Jesse Duplantis. Another highly successful TV minister who has made a great fortune doing what he does. My wife likes him. I think he’s goofy.
5) Creflo Dollar seems OK to me. No major issues with him.
6) Kerry Shook: Usually a pretty good message although he is a little too casual for my tastes. He seems to have a lot of contempt for organized religion and institutions as well as ritual.
Of course no is perfect. We are all sinners. We all have our faults and imperfections. But I think on whole they are good people trying their best to help others and incorporate scripture into their messages. What works for some doesn’t work for others. Casual preachers like Kerry Shook can connect with others discouraged by organized religion. I prefer the institution, discipline, structure, and history of my faith. But Lord knows we have had more than our share of sin, corruption, and scandal from time to time.
Personally I don’t believe these preachers believe in God.
Thus is he is not interested in learning more about God?
Glad to know you. I am going to try to keep an eye out for “fellowship-related” topics.
My head is reeling after watching that video. Weird. The pot calling the kettle black. The snake oil salesman who peddles drug laced snake oil picking apart another snake oil salesman who just peddles a sugary version of the same snake oil.
But, never, never, never did I think I would ever agree with something Hinn said!
Fair enough. Have a great New Year’s and hoped your Christmas was great.
I don’t. And no making money is not a sin. It is when making all that money becomes your drive and that replaces what you should be doing. I don’t bother watching her stuff. I have heard way too much about her from many others thus did not bother wasting my time on her, Osteen, Warren, etc. You do as you do friend. I will follow the Lord and do as HE directs. Have a nice day.
That’s all good for you. But if Joyce Meyer has managed to help just one person, her efforts are worth it.
A “Christian” leader who refuses to renounce sin is about as useful or helpful as a dead carp in the middle of a battle.
“self-image” is more important to him than saving souls.
The same Benny Hinn to heals the lame with a touch? Often the same lame people at every stop on a tour? lol
Even he got Osteen’s number??
You have to see the old testament in some of this. His vision of the opening to hell might be the only “real” thing that happened in his ministry. Besides calling out Osteen.
I wouldn’t follow any preacher on TV, first of all. I did use to watch the CBN News reports from the 700 Club before turning the channel.
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