He was asked, point blank, whether Muslims and Jews who did not believe in Christ would go to Heaven. It is possible he misunderstood the question. It is possible he was distracted and not listening. It is also equally possible that Joel Osteen is a pretender who does not want to "offend" and therefore let the question slide by equivocating and saying "only God can know a man's heart." While absolutely correct in what he SAID, the damage is what he DID NOT SAY, which should have been an unequivocal "No." Equivocating, as I said, damages our mission.

 

He can't be defended on the basis of the interviewer, the program, or the audience. He knew those things when he accepted the role to come on, and he knew these questions might be coming. If he is not prepared for Larry king, he sure as heck isn't prepared for a seeker.

 

I might add he also in another part of the interview said he was the "next Billy Graham."

 

As I said, I was using HHSDad's transcript of what was said and, from it, I still find no problem with what he said.

 

I would think that the mission of Christians, including the hard rock, take no prisoner Christians would include encouraging the "unchurched" to at least look into Christianity. Constant condemnation and judging by those "representatives of The Word" are more likely to chase the unchurched away than to bring them in.

 

I believe that these hellfire and brimstone methods, for the most part, work merely like pep rallies. The "fans" are all worked up emotionally and full of fire for the cause. However, in a few days it has all worn off and they are back to "normal" and no lasting change has taken place.

 

Preachers, and others, are God's representatives. They are not God. They would fare better if they did a little less judging and a little more encouraging. Also, they need to be informed and able to answer tough questions. My experience is that few, if any, can do so. The standard lines that someday we will understand, that God's ways are not our ways, and that God loves us sound good but rarely siffice to one in need.

 

Again, I don't particularly like Osteen or his wife but I think it is good that they don't set themselves up as judges.

Pay to hear preaching? Never.

 

So you would never go to a Promise Keepers or Women of Faith or send your child to CIY, Believe, a Christian summer camp, like Camp Northward in Pendleton County?

 

Would you pay to go to a Christian concert to sit and worship with the singers?

Ann Colture was asked something similar point blank and ripped for her honest response.

He was asked, point blank, whether Muslims and Jews who did not believe in Christ would go to Heaven. It is possible he misunderstood the question. It is possible he was distracted and not listening. It is also equally possible that Joel Osteen is a pretender who does not want to "offend" and therefore let the question slide by equivocating and saying "only God can know a man's heart." While absolutely correct in what he SAID, the damage is what he DID NOT SAY, which should have been an unequivocal "No." Equivocating, as I said, damages our mission.

 

He can't be defended on the basis of the interviewer, the program, or the audience. He knew those things when he accepted the role to come on, and he knew these questions might be coming. If he is not prepared for Larry king, he sure as heck isn't prepared for a seeker.

 

I might add he also in another part of the interview said he was the "next Billy Graham."

 

You base the bolded on what? The Bible and what it says.

 

Let's revisit his answer.

 

"I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus."

 

It seems the way he answered the question and didn't come out and condemn anybody and say YES, the Jews, the Muslims, the Hindus, the guys at the airport are all going to Hell is the issue. He stated that the Bible indicates that you need to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He stated that when it comes to judging a person's heart that is God's job.

 

As Colture was ripped for her manner of handling the truth, Joel is being ripped for his manner of putting forth the message.

 

At the same time, I lean towards not caring for the guy but have not fully made up my mind. I am skeptical, to this point.

So you would never go to a Promise Keepers or Women of Faith or send your child to CIY, Believe, a Christian summer camp, like Camp Northward in Pendleton County?

 

Would you pay to go to a Christian concert to sit and worship with the singers?

 

Ann Colture was asked something similar point blank and ripped for her honest response.

Two excellent points!

He, like most other "pay for pray" TV preachers, creeps me out to no end.

 

Don't the preachers at the local corner church get paid, too?

 

But I do agree that I don't watch many, actually extremely few on TV. Can't figure out which ones are sincere and which ones aren't, so I end up throwing the baby out with the bath water.

He is correct on some issues and the quote about "he shouldn't say who can enter heaven, thats God" is one that I use and we all should use. I've had preachers tell me Baptists were going to hell...on the radio.

 

He is a good speaker and seems like he cares for people. I don't know much about his past and education. Someone gave me his book, maybe I'll break down and read it if I can locate it.

 

Check under that table that had the one short leg.:lol:

 

I might add he also in another part of the interview said he was the "next Billy Graham."

 

 

I missed that in the transcript. Do you know what part it is in? I saw where King and he talked of Graham and maybe King tried to paint him as such but never a specific statement like that from Olsteen.

Ann Colture was asked something similar point blank and ripped for her honest response.

 

Like someone said, it was a loaded question. It's really a no win situation to answer that question if you want to appease everyone...you answer it truthfully (from a Christian perspective) and you're labeled as judgemental, condemning, anti-semitic, etc...you sidestep it, and you've offended a large portion of the Christian population.

Like someone said, it was a loaded question. It's really a no win situation to answer that question if you want to appease everyone...you answer it truthfully (from a Christian perspective) and you're labeled as judgemental, condemning, anti-semitic, etc...you sidestep it, and you've offended a large portion of the Christian population.

 

Rock meet hard place.

You have to keep in mind that Larry King is Jewish.

You have to keep in mind that Larry King is Jewish.

 

IMO Larry King was not setting him up with the question. Because of Coulter, its a current topic.

IMO Larry King was not setting him up with the question. Because of Coulter, its a current topic.

I wasn't suggesting that it was a setup so much is that its like being asked "Does this dress make me look fat?"

I wasn't suggesting that it was a setup so much is that its like being asked "Does this dress make me look fat?"

 

My fault. I read a quote earlier in the thread that implied it was a "setup" question and was just lazy.

There are some good people on here whom obviously like him. I have watched him and he is one of the biggest fence-sitters I have ever seen. He refuses to address the hard questions, which in my opinion is detrimental to our mission.

 

I'm really not completely decided on what I think of Osteen.

 

I agree with you in that he seems to be a "fence-sitter" at times. He tries to work and sidestep his way around the tough, point-blank questions. I don't like that.

 

I don't like the fact that in his new book he uses very little scripture...sounds more like a self-help book from a dime-a-dozen psychologist.

 

I like the fact that he delivers and emphasizes a positive message...I don't like the fact that that's the only message he ever preaches. I think he should cover the whole gamut...I don't dispute that certain preachers may be more led or better equipped for a certain message, but they still need to tell the whole truth.

 

I watched him on 60 Minutes the other night and still just left me with mixed feelings...he seems genuinely sincere in his desire to reach and help people (maybe I'm being duped, who knows). But, with that said, my question then becomes, what is his bottom line motivation?

 

Does he want to lead people to Christ? Or does he just want to help people with their life...to feel better, to turn their life around, etc.? I mean, the latter can be done to some extent without Christ. It's certainly possible to have a "successful" earthly life without Christ. So, I wonder if Joel Osteen is losing his focus on teaching the whole gospel and bringing people to salvation, in his effort to "help" people. He doesn't want to offend them, he wants to make them feel better, so he's always spinning that positive message.

 

So basically, I'm on the fence about this...I do not question his desire to help people. I question whether that is his only motivation...does he just want to help people better their lives, or does he want to bring them to Christ? I'm sure he wants to do both, but the real question then becomes...which of the two is his highest priority? That's where he loses me, because as of now, I tend to believe that bringing them to Christ is second behind helping people.

 

Then, he says he feels that what he's currently doing is his calling and that he's not called to do some of the things he's criticized for not doing...so, then I'm conflicted about that. I certainly agree that everyone has a calling, but I have a hard time thinking that God would put a person in Joel Osteen's position and not want him to take a stand for the truth of the gospel.

 

When it comes to Joel Osteen, I'm a "fence-sitter". :lol: