Joel and Victoria Osteen appeared on the Today Show on Monday. Here’s what Joel had to say when asked about gun control:
For what I’m doing, I’m trying to reach as many people as possible. There are good people on both sides of the aisle, and I don’t know what the best answer there is either, but I just try to guide them and give them hope in this time of need.
Another quote:
God gave us all our own free will. He gives us freedom of choice, He didn’t make us his robots…Unfortunately, some people choose to do evil, and we don’t always understand it, but I still believe that God is good and God is for us, but He doesn’t make us do what’s right.
How did you think Joel did? Would you say anything differently if you had that forum?
Todd
Here’s the video:
Joel is an excellent communicator and statesman. Anyone who disagrees with him on theological points still recognizes his gifting as a speaker. He did okay here, he did not use his influence to promote a political cause and he did not use this tragedy to promote himself of his church and he did not alienate the non-Christian by offering glib or condemning pious sound bites. My only point would be to before saying “God is for us,” I would stress “God is for God, by His holy nature He is not the author of evil. Though God does not cause evil He also does not distance Himself from the tragedy wrought by evil.”
What Googldygarp!!! If he is a communicator, then Barack is a devour evangelical.
Joel did what he always does, never really take a stand so no one gets their feelings hurt.
By the way, I don’t think he has to take a stand on gun control.
I for one think Joel did OK here.
Most of Joel’s critics have “building envy.” (Figure it out…) Stop shooting the man and pray for him. Every time you judge his heart, you invite judgment to your own life. (Matthew 7:1). Do you have a personal issue with him? (Matthew 18:15-18). Do you have a doctrinal issue with him to the point of labeling him a heretic? Be very careful on that road. You better be firmly in league with the Holy Spirit in that pronouncement or be in trouble with God. I know. Anyone pray for him today? No. Didn’t think so.
Milk toast. He makes Christians seem to be weak, mamby pamby people who can’t take a stand about anything.
Let God determine the validity of Joel Osteens work. After all, we are told that there will be some who tickle the ears giving people what they want to hear.
Well.. I’ll start with a disclaimer – I don’t like Joel Osteen. I have never met him – I have watched him on TV a couple of times and the phrase that keeps coming to my mind when I watch him is “used car salesman”. His appearance and delivery are so slick, practiced and choreographed that he could be an animatronic figure at Disneyland. That being said – in one sense, I agree. It is interesting that Jesus seemed to be perfectly willing to not engage in political discourse during His time on earth. There were certainly no lack of situations to which He could have commented, but He chose to focus on preaching the Gospel. Perhaps if we took all of the time and energy we spent preaching about politics, and put that energy into preaching the Gospel and putting it into practice in our lives, we might see attitudes toward the church change. I own guns, I’m an NRA member – but I would find it very inappropriate for my pastor to devote significant pulpit time gun control issues, and I think that Joel made a very valid and telling point.