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.
lol
She might step on a million to get there, but if she helps one along the way... that’s all good
Who has she stepped on? Who has she hurt?
There is an ‘Osteen crowd’? Who knew? I’ve only seen one with the Osteen vision, who posts daily BS with a stern warning not to discuss anything in the first post, and no replies most of the time to those pathetic attempts at threads!
That works for you. That’s OK. Others are inspired by TV ministers such as Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Robert Schuller and others.
What works for some doesn’t work for others. I’m Catholic. Going to Mass works for me. But it doesn’t work for others. I earlier complained that Joel Osteen was awfully repetitive. I’m sure many feel the same way about Mass. And yes Mass IS very repetitive.
Wrong! We do our veggies!
They can be “inspired” by that, as long as they aren’t following them like a disciple
I was making fun of the “if it helps just one person it was worth it” thing.
I hear you. I felt the same way.
It was kind of surreal.
Heck of a journey. And the livin’ is a lot easier. For several years I wouldn’t pay any attention to politics. I had more important things to concentrate on.
I don’t go to meetings much anymore. That’s probably about to change. I miss them. Plus, if someone brings up politics you can say “This ain’t no political meetin’!”
Yup! Weird, isn't it?
Working toward salvation must be repetitive. Sin sure is.
And his "sermons".
The Shook brothers’ father started Champions Baptist Church when he and some others broke off from a church in downtown Houston. I think of them the same way I think of Osteen. None of them wanted to be Baptist for several reasons. One, they’d have to go to seminary and get ordained. Second, they’d have to split the tithes. That’s a big chunk o’ change.
Not sure if you’re talking about this, but I was referring to the video on #3 post on this thread and the amazing book by Bill Wiese, “23 Minutes In Hell: One Man’s Story About What He Saw, Heard, and Felt in That Place of Torment”. Doesn’t have much to do with Joel, but I was struck by that video.
.
Alfred E. Neuman
The Joker
Joe Biden
It’s a MIRACLE! and it bought him a mansion and a private jet! and they get to recycle crutches and wheelchairs.... hallelujah!!
...
er, yes it is weird
It was kind of surreal.
I felt like I was watching a Twilight Zone episode. :)
LOL!!!
I confess that I used to dislike Joel Osteen for all of the reasons others have given, even used a few of them myself, the last time when a neighbor mentioned she like him.
Since being "taken to the desert", I've had a slow change of heart about a great many things, including my judgements regarding Joel Osteen.
I think I've watched his program less than 10 times, but each time enjoyed his style and got what he was talking about. At first I was just channel surfing and stopped out of curiosity and stayed until the end.
Probably coincidence, but the first time I surfed by his program he was talking about what I dealing with, and his sermon was accurate and helpful. Now I try to find his program if the TV is on Sunday morning and am disappointed if I miss it. But if I don't like it, I change the channel.
I apologized to my neighbor for my misjudgements and poor choice of words and hoped she wasn't offended. I really need to be more thoughtful and careful, lest my mouth condemn me. We are forgiven as we forgive and I have had a poor track record.
The Joker
Joe Biden"
LOL, two cartoon characters and a....wait, THREE cartoon characters.
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