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05/14/2008
Osteen makes it clear
Last week we told you how Jay Bakker, working with the Soulforce group, was trying to meet with megachurch pastor Joel Osteen to have a discussion on gay families. Well it turns out that Osteen did end up meeting with Bakker, at which point he seems to have made his most staunch statements about homosexuality to date. This from Christian Post:
Joel Osteen, his brother, Paul, and [church spokesman Donald Iloff] then met privately with Bakker and there they discussed faith, family and LGBT people.
"It was a very cordial, very nice meeting," Iloff told The Christian Post on Tuesday. "But ultimately through our conversations, we continued to disagree with Soulforce and Jay's position."
Iloff says Bakker, whose mother is somewhat of a legend in the LGBT community, and the groups involved in the pro-gay campaign want the megachurches not to see homosexuality as sin.
Although Osteen and leaders at Lakewood open their doors to all visitors, Iloff says they "believe homosexuality is sin" and that "it is disobedience under God."
He further affirmed that they will maintain that position.
Osteen, who authored bestselling book Your Best Life Now, had remained largely mum about the issue of homosexuality but indicated in public interviews that he doesn't agree with it.
"I will say we don't see homosexuality as the worst sin," Iloff commented. "Sin is sin."
So there you have it. Even though Osteen takes an approach in which he essentially just ignores gay families rather than actively shuns them, you're not going to be seeing him and his team marching in the West Village pride parade anytime soon. Like most other evangelicals, there seems to be no room for discussion on the issue. We sinful gays are disobedient to God, conversation closed.
How mentally freeing it must be to be born into a race, gender, sexual orientation, and faith that allows you to paint the world with the broad stroke brush, rather than into a set of characteristics that forces you to acknowledge and reconcile the fine details that make up the full picture. ::sigh::
Joel Osteen Maintains Homosexuality as Sin [Christian Post]
**Despite Team Osteen's views, Soulforce and Bakker are considering it a success:
Gay Outreach To Evangelist Joel Osteen Called Success [365 Gay]
Your thoughts
I wouldn't expect Osteen to change his stand on whether or not homosexuality is a sin. But before he flies off in his private jet, I would hope he could address some other issues.
If sin is sin, will he publicly, give equal condemnation to the lies and tactics of people like Peter Labarbera, Hutherson, Dobson, Falwell, and a host of others?
Will he publicly condemn the tactics of Exodus and talk about the inherent evil in the damage it has wrought on the lives of people?
Will he publicly suggest that the church repent for its treatment and alienation of gay people over the years?
Will he publicly repudiate the notion that any "judgement of God" that has or will befall this nation, is in large part, the fault of gays?
Will he publicly acknowledge that regardless of whether or not you think gay sex is sin, the current response of the church to gay people is evil?
Posted by: Steve - Geneva, IL | May 14, 2008 11:58:15 AM
We 'sinful gays' disobey the churches. They have no basis to say we disobey God.
Posted by: revtj | May 14, 2008 1:00:18 PM
"I will say we don't see homosexuality as the worst sin," Iloff commented. "Sin is sin."
That's exactly one half of one milimeter in the right direction.
The sin of making embarassing riches while people go hungry is overlooked, but that's a discussion for another day.
The Good Book states "the stone the builders rejected will become the cornerstone." Who are the builders and who is the rejected stone in this day and age? Any guesses? Jesus spent his time with people who the churchie types of his day thought were 'sinners.' Why this escapes the likes of Osteen and his court when these discussions come up is beyond me. But half a milimeter is half a milimeter, so I'll shut up.
By the way, I saw Jay Bakker in Little Rock when he was speaking here and he is truly an unlikely gem. I trust him and his little fledgling church more than all the Osteen-style megachurches combined.
Posted by: Larry | May 14, 2008 2:22:35 PM
Jesus didn't get angry much, but the times when he did it was usually directed toward religious leaders.
He got angry at the pharisees because they had "hardened their hearts." Sound like anyone we know?
The only other time that comes to mind was when he chased the moneychangers out of the temple. Again, does that sound like anyone we know?
Posted by: Dick Mills | May 14, 2008 5:05:03 PM
I know I'm just a terrible, woman-oppressing abortion foe and all around fuddy-duddy with a socially conservative bent. I also now that you think me a scold. Nevertheless, I must raise an objection here.
You really need to cool it with how being white, male, straight, and Christian allows one "to paint the world with the broad stroke brush." Non-whites, females, gays, and non-Christians can and do paint the world with rather broad brushes themselves.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let me ask a question.
Why are Osteen's views on homosexuality important to you?
Posted by: David | May 15, 2008 3:13:53 AM
David: With all due respect, I think I'm going to adopt a "no reply to David's comments" rule, at least for awhile. I find our back-and-forths thoroughly non-productive, and I'm tired of wasting time on them.
Take care.
Posted by: G-A-Y | May 15, 2008 5:45:52 AM
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