The seemingly always smiling, positive-thinking pastor to America’s largest congregation welcomes everyone to his church, including office holders and politicians – as long as they agree to leave politics outside the church doors.
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Pastor Joel Osteen preaches to tens of thousands at Lakewood Church in Houston.
Joel Osteen, best-selling author and pastor of the 47,000-member Lakewood Church in Houston, has a strict policy of not allowing any politician or government office holder to speak in his church about politics. Osteen also does not endorse any political candidate, although he doesn’t mind putting in a good word for the person if he or she happens to visit the church.
“Part of it is how I was raised,” Osteen explained in a Newsweek interview this week. “My father…kept it out of the pulpit.”
The no-politics-in-pulpit policy stems from back in the days of John Osteen, founder of Lakewood Church. The then 6,000-member congregation would see local candidates swing by for a visit every time the city council race would get close in hopes of appealing to the voting flock.
“It just got to the point where it didn’t seem right,” the younger Osteen said. “Now that we’ve grown it’s the same thing.”
He noted, however, that he is a “strong believer” in honoring the people who serve the country through public office, but with only a brief introduction and a thank you for their service during worship time.
“If one of the presidential candidates were to attend, they certainly deserve honor,” Osteen said. “[But] I think we say we don’t let them speak because, well, who wouldn’t want to come to speak to 40,000 people here? We would introduce them and I would always put in a good word, whether they are Democrat or Republican.”
His view contrasts those of many pastors who have allowed or even invited the 2008 presidential candidates to speak in their pulpit. Mike Huckabee, himself an ordained pastor, has spoken at dozens of churches across America while on the campaign trail.
Meanwhile, fellow seminary pal and megachurch pastor Rick Warren has invited all the presidential candidates to speak at his church, and actually shared the church stage with Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama – albeit it was an HIV/AIDS church conference and not a worship service.
Warren will join his fellow pro-politics and religion friend Huckabee this spring to address preachers on how to effectively talk about politics and social and cultural issues from the pulpit during a conference on Apr. 7-9 in Washington, D.C.
Warren will address what goes through his mind when he invites political figures to speak from his pulpit, and Huckabee will share about his own experiences of merging the two worlds.
Notably, Huckabee in a recent interview with The Associated Press said he learned to be a politician in church. He said he learned to connect to people, raise money and navigate contentious elections by pastoring a congregation and through a successful bid for the presidency of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Continue >>
Comments
from Fox News:
WALLACE: And what about Mitt Romney? And I’ve got to ask you the question, because it is a question whether it should be or not in this campaign, is a Mormon a true Christian?
OSTEEN: Well, in my mind they are. Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his savior, and that’s what I believe, so, you know, I’m not the one to judge the little details of it. So I believe they are. And so, you know, Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me, and I don’t think he would — anything would stop me from voting for him if that’s what I felt like.
WALLACE: So, for instance, when people start talking about Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, and the golden tablets in upstate New York, and God assumes the shape of a man, do you not get hung up in those theological issues?
OSTEEN: I probably don’t get hung up in them because I haven’t really studied them or thought about them. And you know, I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don’t know. I certainly can’t say that I agree with everything that I’ve heard about it, but from what I’ve heard from Mitt, when he says that Christ is his savior, to me that’s a common bond.
Joel Osteen said rightly said
no politics on the pulpit. Not to give the politicians the pulpit is biblical. It is alright for the politicians to come to worship God and hear the message and repent or grow spirtually. -solo.
CFElect--
I know the article is about politics in the pulpit but the discussion was centered around what I had said about Osteen. Maybe therein lies the confusion. You may be surprised that I don't disagree at all with most of what you said in your follow-up post. In fact, I agree with much of it a whole lot. Take care and God bless.
First off, the whole article is about politics...thus, the response.
Now think about this statement you write: "If you don't <agree with me>, God bless you. " I'm not sure what you mean by that. God blesses me with His grace every moment of every day whether or not I'm correct in my politics or not :-). Thank God for grach, huh?
I applaud Osteen and Warren for not allowing politics into the pulpits of their churches. I might disagree comepletely with both men from a Christian standpoint. The marriage between Christianity and extreme right (or left) politics should have no place in the Kingdom of God. We can stand firm on our morals and principles, but to appear partisan or to come across in a way that appears as if political solutions are the best way to change our world is dangerous. The way to change our world is to change hearts and to be a seperate people (that means not gossiping, not being mean-spirited, etc. as well as some of the more "pet" sins we Christians seem to place greater emphasis on).
Anyway, God bless you too! I know He already has. Take care...
Ummm, also, there's no false witness in anything I said. It is my opinion, and my opinion alone, though I know that many others share a similar opinion about Osteen (because I've heard it, on the radio, in the pulpit, and elsewhere). Everything I said was based on scripture. Everything about my opinion was motivated by my understanding of scripture. I hold to my opinion as being both correct and true. If you don't, God bless you.
"Wrap their faith in the flag"? Where did politics come into this?
I have equal problems with Warren as I do with Osteen though not for the same reasons. But I didn't mention Warren and no one else here has brought anything political into this discussion.
The misinformation about Rick Warren and other more centrist evangelicals is fairly common among those who wrap their faith in the flag. Last I checked, bearing false witness was a sin.
Citizen--
Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else in the Bible. He repeatedly uses the threat of hell to those he is speaking to, as a warning to change their behavior and thinking and deeds. The entire Christian message is offensive - always has been and always will be. The message of the cross is an offense, but Paul and the other apostles preached it loud and clear. They were beaten, cursed, abused, imprisoned, stoned and ultimately martyred for preaching it.
As Christians, we often fail to live up to the challenge Christ presents to us (I know I fail to do so, every day) to take up our cross daily, to live out the message, to preach the message. However, it's worse to not even recognize it or recognize the message and/or to mask it behind new age guru "feel good-ism". Just my .02 cents.
Washed--
Paul said those who teach bear a greater responsibility. That's nice, what you posted, but if you really read it the point of the whole thing is ultimately about the self.
RickWarren,
i believe they r referring to Mike Huckabee being Mr. Warrens seminary pal, altho i agree that the wording is a bit confusing.
but the amazing thing about this article...no one seems to have noticed...Mr. Osteen finally takes a stand on something and doesnt seem to be equivocating!
Here is Fridays Devotional from Pastor Joel....Yep really sounds like he is preaching to only be out for yourself. I really believe that many of you haven't even been to one of his services, much less really know what he is about. Many out there criticized the Apostles and lets not forget everyone that thought that Jesus was horrible. I am not saying that everything that he preaches is right on, but who out there is perfect? As Jesus would say, "Let him cast the first stone!"
Today's Scripture
“But now bring me a minstrel. And while the minstrel played, the hand and power of the Lord came upon Elisha” (2 Kings 3:15).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. When you worship the Lord, His presence will manifest wherever you are. It doesn’t matter if you are at home, in your car or at work, God will inhabit your praises. And where God is, there is tremendous power available! The enemy cannot stand in the presence of our Mighty God!
What do you need power for today? Do you need God’s healing power in you body? Worship Him. Do you need God’s restoration power in your relationships? Worship Him. Do you need His delivering power from a particular situation? Worship Him.
As you worship Him, you will see your perspective begin to change. The things that used to bother you will no longer bother you. Old habits and addictions will automatically break off of you. Things in your life will begin to change when you live a life of worship.
Start right now by worshiping the Lord out of your heart. All throughout the day, sing songs to Him and declare His goodness. As you do, you’ll experience the life of victory He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in Heaven, I worship You today. You are the good and faithful God. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for accepting me. Thank You for working in my life today. I bless You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Citizen: "While Osteen has no more reason than any other christian preacher, at least he also omits the fear-mongering."
You might want to look within the four Gospels and check just how much Jesus spoke about Hell. The reason? Hell was not originally intended for human beings. He didn't wish anyone to go there.
Some may wish to state Jesus' own words on Hell and eternal damnation as "fear-mongering". However, the warnings are real and given in true concern.
Joel Osteen: Positive Thinking Guru Masquerading As Christian Clergyman
Joel Olsteen vs. the Bible
Seven Suggestions from Osteen's Recent Book:
* Keep pressing forward
* Be Positive about yourself
* Develop better relationships
* Form better habits
* Embrace the place where you are
* Develop your inner life
* Stay passionate about life
Seven Commands From the Bible:
* Die to yourself
* Take up your cross daily
* Follow Christ
* Love not the world
* Trust in the Lord
* Love one another
* Go make disciples
It sounds to me like Joel Osteen has a great appreciation for exactly what it means to say that other religions are wrong, in the context of evangelical christianity. It is much more than "you should reconsider" or "we aren't going to follow your advice" as it would be in a general context. It involves trying to scare someone with the threat that they will suffer what is commonly considered to be eternal suffering. Common consideration for the reason and dignity of others requires that persuasion should indeed be by reason, not by fear. While Osteen has no more reason than any other christian preacher, at least he also omits the fear-mongering.
SummaTheologica,
Listen to Joel Osteen dance around the gospel for yourself -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfwYU2pmWYQ