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TechnoratiOsteen: I thought it was great. It gave good insight into who they are. Nobody more qualified to do it than Rick Warren so I think it's great.
CP: You talk about criticism in your book and address your own critics. You say you don’t allow what people are saying to distract you and that not everyone’s going to understand you. What would you say is most misunderstood about you?
Osteen: Hm ... I guess mainly that people think that ... just the fact that we're presenting hope that we present the Gospel as good news, as God being good, some people think that ... I don't know if it's misunderstood ... that's what I feel like my calling is. I realize I'm not the only one that's doing it right. I'm just one part of what God wants us to do on the earth so I really feel that I'm running my race and maybe people don't necessarily see that.
CP: You said you weren’t called to expound on theological doctrine or every part of Scripture. Your calling is to inspire people. I’m sure everyone who hears your message leaves inspired, but do you feel your listeners have a greater grasp of Scripture that Christians should have?
Osteen: To get a greater grasp of the theology and some of the core doctrine, we have classes for people to take there at the church. I think again my gift is to help people to live out the Christian life because you can have a lot of knowledge but if you don't know how to forgive when people hurt you, have a good attitude, expect good things, I feel like that's my main gifting. But I do believe we need to know what Jesus did when he died, what it all meant. And we have people that teach that. Always to me, it helps to know more of God's word.
CP: Do many of the people who attend your church take those classes?
Osteen: We have thousands that attend different classes. There’s courses we’ve been through over the years. Plus, on Wednesday nights, when I’m not speaking, it’s more of a Bible study as well. Again, I feel that my gifting and the calling of our ministry is to teach people how to live the Christian life. My main focus is on that part of it. To me, to win people over, to bring them to Christ they need to know … it makes a difference to serve the Lord, you're going to have a new strength you're going to have the right attitude.
CP: How would you best describe yourself? An evangelical? A pastor? A televangelist?
Osteen: I don’t know. I'm a pastor. I don't like the word televangelist ... I'm a minster, a pastor ... I guess, yeah, I think I fit under the term evangelical. Sometimes, it (“evangelical”) was kind of used … as in times past it seemed like it was kind of a political term. I just like to be called a pastor.
CP: There was a study done about what “evangelical” means to people and many people either don’t know or can’t agree on a definition.
Osteen: For years people asked me, I always thought … I said I guess I am. I don't know what it means. One day I read where it means you believe in Jesus and the Bible and sharing your faith – I said “then I am one.”
CP: Going back to your book, near the end you talk about waiting with expectancy. Around this election time, many are probably praying and waiting for change in the country. What kind of actions should Americans be putting behind their prayers at this time?
Osteen: I think God's called people to rise up and run for offices ... we encourage our people to get involved in candidates they believe in in terms of for the country. I encourage things like that.
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