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TechnoratiWASHINGTON – 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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