'Oprah's Next Chapter': Pastor Joel Osteen Talks Homosexuality And Degrees Of Sin
Pastor Joel Osteen reaches millions through his sermons, and he tries to preach in a more positive way than some of his notable contemporaries. But because he doesn't focus on sin in his sermons doesn't mean that he doesn't believe in it. He clarified his stance on sin and homosexuality on "Oprah's Next Chapter."
"Sometimes we look at gay being a bigger sin than being proud or not telling the truth," Osteen said. "I don't think God categorizes sins." While he sounded almost reluctant to come out and say it directly to Oprah Winfrey, Osteen did confirm that he sees homosexualty as a sin, based on what he's read in scripture. But his point is, that it isn't necessarily a bigger sin than so many others, and therefore perhaps it shouldn't be emphasized and sensationalized as such....
Pastor, I just wonder, we should pray for many people, and we would hope that Morsi the (dictatorial) leader in Egypt would become Christian as we would wish everyone would become a Christian, but I think Osteen really falls under the false teacher category. We all know that Osteen will suffer The Awful Judgment of False Teachers
Pastor Osteen seems weak and timid when it comes to taking a stand for the Word of God. His lack of formal biblical training is evident. We pray that he will acquire some spiritual back bone and speak out boldly about sin, Mormonism, homo sexuality, the blood of Jesus. God spare us from preachers who are afraid to offend their congregations by preaching the truth. Let us keep Pastor Osteen in our prayers.
Somehow, I just can't get past Joel's interview with Larry King where he waffles around the question of whether Christ the only way to be saved, as well as his feel-good seeker-sensitive "sermons". I've never heard him preach sin, repentance, the blood of Christ. He might be a good Biblical - principle motivational speaker, but he's not a preacher and shouldn't really be called a pastor.
I agree that all sin is sin and in a sense any sin leads a human being to be separated from a Holy God. Therefore anyone needs the forgiveness of sin that only Jesus can give when they put their trust in His shed blood. A homosexual can do this. So can a thief, or a liar. The issue I have with Pastor Osteen is that he says to Oprah and to the world that homosexuals can get to Heaven. He needs to clarify further that he is not saying unrepentant homosexuals will get to Heaven. For God wants to change the hearts of sinners and conform them to His Will. Pastor Osteen did not stress the importance of repentence in his remarks and if I was an unbeliever I would think he said unrepentent sinners can go to Heaven.
James 2:10 tells us that if we sin a "little" sin we are guilty of sin. In the eyes of God sin is sin. But God also shows us that not all sin has the same consequences. God told Moses that if a man murders someone that man is to be put to death. If a man steals he is to make restitution. And in Matthew 23:14 Jesus mentions that certain people will receive a greater condemnation. Does that mean some sin has a greater punishment? If we look at the example of God teaching Moses how to govern His people when they sinned I think you have to say yes. All sin is evil in the eyes of God but not all sin is punished the samhich shows that certain sins are worse than others. God always dealt harshly with the sodomites.
Joel is more of a politician than a pastor. he really, really hates to agree with the Bible and therefore God. He thinks that homosexuals will get into heaven--wrong
1st Corinthians 6 7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that your brethren. 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.---NASB
Osteen directly contradicted God in his interview.
Did osteen say that its ok to kill people because its just a sin the same as being proud? I think the most important point he forgot to emphasize is we should repent to be forgiven. He cant say we are ALL will go to heaven because there is forgiveness without the need of repentance.
San Jose John wrote: Sins of the mind tend to produce less collateral damage than the same sins when they are physically committed but, you're right. Sin is sin, and all it takes is one to validate a person's condemnation by God.
Don Randolph wrote: It isn't a "bigger" sin, but it is still a sin and still enough to send you to hell.
Sins of the mind tend to produce less collateral damage than the same sins when they are physically committed but, you're right. Sin is sin, and all it takes is one to validate a person's condemnation by God.
Well, in my opinion Joel finally stepped up. It was like pulling teeth to get him to say it and he reminded me of the way the Shrek movies portray Pinnochio (sp?) but he did say homosexuality is a sin. It is a sin that the homosexual can be forgiven for like any other sin. I buy that. I don't think this will change the minds of any of the Joel haters but in this case he did call a spade a spade.
The next step would be to say that unrepentant homosexuality can lead a person to Hell. Will there be homosexuals in heaven? Yes, and murderers, theives, liars, cheaters and all manner of scum and villiany, but what these sinners, myself included, will have in common is that they asked and received forgiveness from Christ for the sin. They did not ask for acceptence of the sin.
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he really, really hates to agree with the Bible and therefore God. He thinks that homosexuals will get into heaven--wrong 
