Osteen on Piers Morgan: “Yes, I’ve always believed, Piers, the Scripture shows that homosexuality it’s a sin,”

This is a good thing. And the link to his apology where he states emphatically:
“It was never my desire or intention to leave any doubt as to what I believe and Whom I serve,” he stated. “I believe with all my heart that it is only through Christ that we have hope in eternal life. I regret and sincerely apologize that I was unclear on the very thing in which I have dedicated my life.”
Further: “I believe that Jesus Christ alone is the only way to salvation. However, it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to review the transcript of the interview that I realize I had not clearly stated that having a personal relationship with Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Is also wonderful. It reminds me of a rather bad thing that occurred over at http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2011/01/mystery-quotation-who-is-christian… Pyromaniacs in the comment section where a posted stated in his rather self-righteous and ungodly act of usurping the role of divine adjudicator with regard to Joel Osteen:
Matt Aznoe said…

Rather than laughing at Joel Osteen, we should be weeping for his eternal soul. He is a wretched man who is heading directly for hell. He desperately needs the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to change the course in his life.
Of course I contended with this and other attempts to usurp what is reserved for God and God alone and maybe I can take the time to email this information to this commenter and his supporters.

I am no fan of much of Joel Osteen’s prosperity doctrine but it is God’s right and his right alone to say who and who is not saved judicially and this is exactly why I appreciate the clarity of the Osteen statements.
So, why should not the Biblical warnings against false teachers apply to him, 1 Timothy 6 in particular?

As for Osteen’s profession, Jesus Christ Himself stated that not everyone who calls Him Lord and does mighty works will be saved. And being willing to state that homosexuality is an abomination is no big deal … Muslims, Mormons, rabbinic Jews and papists do the same regularly. Further, Osteen’s statement regarding homosexuality is only remarkable precisely because of his media empire based on the prosperity doctrine, and his unwillingness to stand for Biblical truth in the past. Were Osteen either the leader of a tiny congregation or even a head of a large ministry known for regularly proclaiming hard Biblical truths, his statement on Piers Morgan would be unremarkable.

Osteen confesses Jesus Christ, but as it is the Jesus Christ of a false prosperity gospel, is that not a false confession, a false bearing witness of a false Christ, a different Christ that was revealed to the world and whose record was borne witness of by His apostles and is by the Holy Spirit? Again, as any Muslim can denounce homosexuality based on the Koran, any Mormon can do the same based on the book of Mormon, and any Jew can do the same based on the Babylonian Talmud, and any Catholic can do the same based on the teachings of their popes.

Also, let us be honest. Osteen knows that were he to ever fail to denounce homosexuality, his media empire would end collapse, and his culturally conservative suburban Texas congregation would leave him. This is what happened with another prominent midwestern prosperity teacher, Carlton Pearson, when he started preaching universalism after finding out that a family friend was homosexual. The people in this televangelism industry are experienced veterans and very savvy. They know what lines they can cross and what lines they can’t. Osteen knows that failing to respond to Morgan’s challenge would mean losing his wealth and influence.

So, before praising Osteen for the equivalent of stating that 2+2=4 (and doing what he needs to do in order to preserve his wealth and status generating ministry) a bit more of this fellow is required. Coming out of and denouncing the false prosperity doctrine is a start. Taking all of his ill-gotten gain that he has amassed over the years from preaching that doctrine of devils and giving it to the poor - an act of genuine repentance modeled on Zaccheus - would be excellent also. That would be a sign that Osteen’s confession of faith is in the Jesus Christ of the Bible, and not the false Christ that Osteen has not only gotten very wealthy by serving, but Osteen has also used to lead people away and distract people from learning about and submitting to the true Jesus Christ.

And as for Albert Mohler’s praising Joel Osteen and taking his words at face value … well that is what happens when pastors turn “culture warriors.” This is just another “Manhattan Declaration” moment for Mohler, where he showed that he will stand with practically anyone that is willing to carry water for his religious right agenda.

Solo Christo, Soli Deo Gloria, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Sola Scriptura http://healtheland.wordpress.com