WASHINGTON – Shaking hands with hundreds of faithful readers and listeners at a local bookstore, Pastor Joel Osteen heard countless “thank you’s” as he signed their books.
The book-signing event at Books-A-Million on Sept. 5 was his first stop in the nation’s capital where he would later preach a message of hope to thousands that night. Some were ecstatic with joy and some, genuinely touched, as they told Osteen how much he has made a difference in their lives and how they listen to him every week. One visitor even invited him to his home country, Japan, to preach.
Osteen, who pastors one of the largest churches in the country – Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas – has heard the same “thank you’s” and “you’ve changed my life” comments for years but he says he just feels more inspired every time he hears them. The Christian Post had a chance to sit down with the megachurch pastor and best-selling author at the bookstore.
CP: Regarding the principles you lay out in your book, how do you feel people who are in difficult circumstances (i.e. the downturn in the economy, hurricanes and persecution overseas) can really live out these principles when facing the harsh reality?
Osteen: I think that you have to realize it's just one step at a time and that even when those negative things happen we just have to come back to the fact that God's still in control and that really believe that Scripture says that He'll give us strength for every battle we fight.
i think it's just coming back to that place of you know what I'm not going to get upset, I'm not going to lose my faith, I'm just going to believe and trust that God's still in control.
CP: Was there any point in your life where you fell away from faith? What was the most trying time for your faith?
Osteen: I never did [fall away]. My dad was of course a minister. I never rebelled or went through drugs or anything like that.
I think during my mother, when she was very sick with cancer, that was very hard on our family. I don't think we doubted. It's just it's hard to see anybody when you're told that they're going to die ... that was a real trying time, but again we believed and God worked it all out.
CP: I know you don’t like to talk politics much, but since you’ve come to Washington, I just wanted to get your thoughts on this year’s election, how you feel it’s going especially with the wide attention on both parties drawing Christian voters.
Osteen: There’s good and great things in both candidates. They're both great leaders. I always encourage our congregation to search their own heart and vote what they feel God wants them to. I think that if we'll do our part, God will put the right person in office.
CP: Have your congregants come to you for political advice?
Osteen: Not so much about political stuff. I try not to weigh in a lot on that rather than just make sure we vote and do our part.
CP: What do you personally look for in a candidate?
Osteen: I look at their character, the life they've lived and what they stand for – just some of those main character issues. And of course where they're going to take the country what their vision is for it. I don't know if I've made a choice just yet. I'm still watching.
CP: And what did you think about Pastor Rick Warren hosting the two major presidential candidates last month? Continue >>
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motivational speaker period....
I have always felt Joel was a motivational speaker
Thanks for sharing your interview with Pastor Joel Osteen.
I appreciate his knowing who he is and also providing ramps by which people can move from seekers to fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.
God bless him and Lakewood as they continue to reach people for the good of God's kingdom!
II Timothy 4:3.
How can you teach theology when you know very little. You can't give what you don't have.
When a so called "Pastor" doesn't teach the most important things like why Christ died for us and why is it important that Christ Resurrected from the dead, then that whole Lakewood group are in dire trouble.
You must disciple your flock and teach them about Christ and HIS role in saving you. HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE said 38 times in a row, Joel, will not save your flock for Christ.
I think we should all pray for him and Lakewood.
Joel Osteen hasn't presented the Gospel AT ALL in the many times I have watched his program. The guy doesn't have a clue; and he is misleading thousands of people in his ignorance.
Osteen says that it is not his particular gifting to teach the doctrine of why Jesus died and what His sacrifice meant. He also says that they have people there at Lakewood who teach classes, who lead Bible studies, who touch on those areas that perhaps Osteen is not gifted in.
IF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is that people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and hear the Gospel of His birth, death and resurrection, then why doesn't Osteen share his pulpit with someone who is gifted in that area?
I repeat - IF - the most important thing is saving souls from HELL, then why does he not share the platform he's been given (the platform entrusted to him) with someone who can deliver that message?
Osteen has the largest platform (TV, print, interviews) ... and for him not to recognize that is beyond irresponsible. But again, that's only IF IT'S IMPORTANT to him that the Gospel be preached.
What good does it do if someone who isn't saved walks into Lakewood Church, walks out thinking that they can live a positive, hopeful "Christian" life, applying all the life skills Osteen teaches (but in their own strength), never having repented of sin, never having understood their need for a Savior, never having been warned of God's perfect and holy judgment, and then BAM - they get hit by a bus. What does it then profit him if he doesn't have Jesus as his Savior? Where are Osteen's priorities?