Politics and the Pulpit

[ladiesbballcoach]

What doess the leader of the largest congregation in the country say?

 

http://www.newsweek.com/id/103290/page/1

 

Do you plan to lend your support to any of the presidential candidates?

I really don't. I like to keep that to myself. Part of it is how I was raised. My father … kept it out of the pulpit. I think that part of our goal is to reach as many people as we can. Our reach is very broad. Even in the church we are very diverse. There are Republicans, Democrats, independents—everything … I don't want somebody saying, "He's for this party or that party, and that turns me off."

Given the line you've drawn, what would you do if the next president came to you for, say, counsel on an issue like abortion or the war in Iraq?

I would be glad to give it to him. I would be honored. I would just do it personally. We have had—not presidential candidates—plenty of people call. I don't mind being associated with them. It's not the association. It's that I don't endorse one.

 

There's obviously an evangelical bloc that has a significant amount of power in political circles. Is that bloc called to do politically related work?

I think so. I think they stand for what Christians stand for—at least, in their view. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I do think, at times, the evangelical gets a label that becomes more political. That's what I don't like. When it's so politicized. There's a fine line there, but I think we can't just sit back and let everybody else express their views. I think it's important that we as believers in Christ express our views.

 

Then there are your critics who say your preaching is light on scripture, heavy on materialism. How do you respond to that?

I never preach messages of money or anything like that. I feel like my gift is to take part of a scripture, even if it's part of one verse, and make it relevant in our lives today. The fact is, we're all given different gifts. I know pastors that can just go down [a page in] the Bible and explain it, and it's fantastic. I don't think that's my gift. My gift is to say, let me talk to you about forgiveness or having a great attitude, and then I tie the scriptures back in. You know when Jesus was here he taught simply. Believe it or not, he didn't quote the scripture a lot. He quoted sometimes from the Old Testament. He told stories. He told parables. I feel like all my teaching is rooted in the scriptures, but I don't feel like I have to quote so many scriptures to prove myself.

[Madeleine Albright]

Very New Age. Not being critical but what is preaching the Word? Is it telling what you want then finding select verses to try and fit your thoughts....very dangerous for any minister to do.

 

To say Jesus didnt quote the Scriptures is insane.

 

Over and over Jesus quoted the OT.

 

Once again not being critical of J.O. But to me it is just too much New Age. I have watched him over the years since he has taken over the role of pastor since the passing of his father and not once have I ever heard him preach on

Sin, Hell, Heaven, Holy Spirit.

 

You can be a positive thinker all you want but there are many things that positive thinking will not change, there are things in our lives that only the Holy Spirit can change and not our way of thinking. Dont get me wrong it is better to be positive than negative but the ultimate way is to rely upon and totally surrender to the will of God and be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

[ladiesbballcoach]

Very New Age. Not being critical but what is preaching the Word? Is it telling what you want then finding select verses to try and fit your thoughts....very dangerous for any minister to do.

 

To say Jesus didnt quote the Scriptures is insane.

 

Over and over Jesus quoted the OT.

 

Once again not being critical of J.O. But to me it is just too much New Age. I have watched him over the years since he has taken over the role of pastor since the passing of his father and not once have I ever heard him preach on

Sin, Hell, Heaven, Holy Spirit.

 

You can be a positive thinker all you want but there are many things that positive thinking will not change, there are things in our lives that only the Holy Spirit can change and not our way of thinking. Dont get me wrong it is better to be positive than negative but the ultimate way is to rely upon and totally surrender to the will of God and be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

 

 

He talked about the Holy Spirit at an evening with Joel Osteen on Sunday night. And his whole message for the evening was summed up by the 2nd part of your last sentence. I have bolded it.

[ladiesbballcoach]

 

To say Jesus didnt quote the Scriptures is insane.

 

Over and over Jesus quoted the OT.

 

.

 

In skimming through the book of John that is sitting here by the computer, I find about 3-5 references where Jesus referred back to the OT. From the entire book of John. I would not classify that as over and over.

 

Mind you that is skimming and not reading throught it.

[Madeleine Albright]

I can name you 3 times just from the Temptation in the wilderness.

 

It is really not worth the debate, if you search for it you will see that Jesus referred to, quoted and used the OT all through out His ministry.

 

Every time He says the "Son of Man" He is quoting the OT.

 

On a side note, I am not an Osteen basher nor hater. He simply doesnt do it for me. I am thankful for the lives he does touch and his church is soaring to new heights.

 

I am sure that the worship experience was awesome and I hope he continues to inspire people to be better.

 

But I do disagree with him about Jesus not quoting the scriptures.

 

All four of the gospel were written at different times and for different groups of people, each had a purpose. I can PM you with all the scriptures Jesus quoted if you would like.

[IM4THEHOUNDS]

What I am about to say will likely ruffle some feathers but-----Joel Olsteen does not wish to ruffle any feathers ---- even if it means denying the truth of God's Word. During his interview on Larry King Live recently, Larry asked him "Joel, I am a Jew---I don't believe in Jesus the way Christians do---will I go to heaven?" Instead of telling Larry the truth---that you go to heaven only by the blood of Jesus Christ, confessing you are a sinner and need a Savior----and trusting that Christ died for you and you are made righteous in him---he said "I believe that there are many ways to get to heaven, Larry---not just one way." This is absolute heresy! I don't put much stock in what Joel Olsteen has to say about anything----particularly, matters of salvation. If he really believes this I fear for him.

[KYNINERSFAN]

You didn't ruffle any feathers here. Joel really won't take a solid stand on about anything. It gives him leeway and a way out if confronted. What a terrible answer to Larry King. Let ole' Larry ask me a question like that and he will get 1 truthful answer backed by the Word of God. Not some smoothed over answer that you can take a million different ways. In Revelations the bible tells us the fearful will not inherit Heaven ..... You better read that verse Joel.

[Madeleine Albright]

I just wonder if him and his wife were short, fat, and ugly would they still have the same appeal?

 

Still New Age to me

 

I dont want to bash him, as I stated earlier, he doesnt do it for me and it is watered down. There are many more like him in America.

 

Do you know where America stands in the world today? The last report that I read on this topic , which was about 2 years ago, claims that America is now in the top 3 for Missionaries, not sending them but recieving them. How can this be?

[acemona]

What I am about to say will likely ruffle some feathers but-----Joel Olsteen does not wish to ruffle any feathers ---- even if it means denying the truth of God's Word. During his interview on Larry King Live recently, Larry asked him "Joel, I am a Jew---I don't believe in Jesus the way Christians do---will I go to heaven?" Instead of telling Larry the truth---that you go to heaven only by the blood of Jesus Christ, confessing you are a sinner and need a Savior----and trusting that Christ died for you and you are made righteous in him---he said "I believe that there are many ways to get to heaven, Larry---not just one way." This is absolute heresy! I don't put much stock in what Joel Olsteen has to say about anything----particularly, matters of salvation. If he really believes this I fear for him.

 

Billy Graham said the exact same thing. So Billy Graham is a heretic as well?? Look up Acts 10 and see what it says about people of every nation.

[IM4THEHOUNDS]

You didn't ruffle any feathers here. Joel really won't take a solid stand on about anything. It gives him leeway and a way out if confronted. What a terrible answer to Larry King. Let ole' Larry ask me a question like that and he will get 1 truthful answer backed by the Word of God. Not some smoothed over answer that you can take a million different ways. In Revelations the bible tells us the fearful will not inherit Heaven ..... You better read that verse Joel.

 

Amen and Amen!

[IM4THEHOUNDS]

Billy Graham said the exact same thing. So Billy Graham is a heretic as well?? Look up Acts 10 and see what it says about people of every nation.

 

Yes he did. I saw that as well. And in my opinion he once preached the truth of God's Word but has departed from it in order to be accepted and more politically correct. Sickening.

[ladiesbballcoach]

I just wonder if him and his wife were short, fat, and ugly would they still have the same appeal?

 

Still New Age to me

 

I dont want to bash him, as I stated earlier, he doesnt do it for me and it is watered down. There are many more like him in America.

 

Do you know where America stands in the world today? The last report that I read on this topic , which was about 2 years ago, claims that America is now in the top 3 for Missionaries, not sending them but recieving them. How can this be?

 

He says that you have to turn your whole life over to the Lord. How is that watered down?

[ladiesbballcoach]

You didn't ruffle any feathers here. Joel really won't take a solid stand on about anything. It gives him leeway and a way out if confronted. What a terrible answer to Larry King. Let ole' Larry ask me a question like that and he will get 1 truthful answer backed by the Word of God. Not some smoothed over answer that you can take a million different ways. In Revelations the bible tells us the fearful will not inherit Heaven ..... You better read that verse Joel.

 

A group once approached Jesus and said that the sins of a certain lady required her to be stoned to death. He refused to do it. Was he simply not wanting to ruffle the feathers of the religious leaders?

[acemona]

A group once approached Jesus and said that the sins of a certain lady required her to be stoned to death. He refused to do it. Was he simply not wanting to ruffle the feathers of the religious leaders?

 

I am impressed.

 

 

LBBC what do you have to say about the fact that he said he does not know who will get to heaven?

 

Here is where I struggle with the religious right, and their connection to the conservative political movement . . .

 

To me it seems that their faith (I know I am using a broad brush, but let me for a moment) is all about believing the right thing and being correct. I know many of you feel my theology is a little off and that is okay - the thing is, I can acknowledge that I may be wrong. In many cases, I had to acknowledge that I was wrong before I could come to my present conclusion. JO has a belief and stands strongly by it and he is very particular in that belief (the truest, most pure incarnation of God is Jesus Christ and no one can know God better than Jesus does) but he is not exclusive in that belief. God has to have the ability to make God's self know to others who will never hear the gospel. Otherwise those people are doomed to a possible eternity without knowing God, simply b/c of their birth place.

 

JO could be wrong and I am sure that he will admit that he could be wrong and it is not his intention to MAKE anyone believe what he believes. However, his life is more full b/c of his relationship with Jesus and he wants others to experience that and works to share that with everyone.

 

Christianity is not about being right and holding the TRUTH it is about a growing relationship with God through Jesus.

 

Jesus never tells his followers what to believe He teaches them how to live.

 

Act 10:34 - The Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (35) but ACCEPTS men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

[IM4THEHOUNDS]

I am impressed.

 

 

LBBC what do you have to say about the fact that he said he does not know who will get to heaven?

 

Here is where I struggle with the religious right, and their connection to the conservative political movement . . .

 

To me it seems that their faith (I know I am using a broad brush, but let me for a moment) is all about believing the right thing and being correct. I know many of you feel my theology is a little off and that is okay - the thing is, I can acknowledge that I may be wrong. In many cases, I had to acknowledge that I was wrong before I could come to my present conclusion. JO has a belief and stands strongly by it and he is very particular in that belief (the truest, most pure incarnation of God is Jesus Christ and no one can know God better than Jesus does) but he is not exclusive in that belief. God has to have the ability to make God's self know to others who will never hear the gospel. Otherwise those people are doomed to a possible eternity without knowing God, simply b/c of their birth place.

 

JO could be wrong and I am sure that he will admit that he could be wrong and it is not his intention to MAKE anyone believe what he believes. However, his life is more full b/c of his relationship with Jesus and he wants others to experience that and works to share that with everyone.

 

Christianity is not about being right and holding the TRUTH it is about a growing relationship with God through Jesus.

 

Jesus never tells his followers what to believe He teaches them how to live.

 

Act 10:34 - The Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism (35) but ACCEPTS men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

 

Theology and Religion are just that----they often have nothing to do with a personal relationship with Christ. However, the method of salvation is laid out clearly in God's Word . . . if you deviate from what the scripture says then you are simply wrong. Period. I didn't say that God did. Your beef is with Him. It has absolutely nothing to do with what I think . . . I shudder to think what my finite mind would come up with . . . my vain philosophy is nothing. My standard, anyone's standard should be and is God's Word. Joel Olsteen says he can't know if there is more than one way to heaven yet the Bible clearly says that there is only ONE way. He is wrong. If you want to believe otherwise you go right ahead---I choose to believe the scriptures, pure and simple. Taking verses out of context to "fit" with a personal philosophy is not teaching the bible IMO. It might sound good, pass the "feel good" test, even help us deal with problems we may face but it is not the bible and the whole counsel of God. If you listen to what they are truly saying and then compare it with the Word the Holy Spirit will give you discernment. My advice to anyone listening to these "philosophers" is be careful.