Oprah Interviews Joel Osteen
On Sunday January 8, 2012, on Oprah's OWN network, aired her interview with the Pastor of the biggest church in America, Joel Osteen. This is a Pastor who is always under heavy scrutiny because of the reputation "Tele-evangalists" have as being crooks, con artists, swindlers, and the like.
I believe Oprah is GREAT at what she does. She interviews others everyone wants to hear from very well by asking penetrating questions that all viewers want to know the answer to. Some of her questions were:
Do you feel you have to defend being a "mega-church"?
Is there truly only one way to heaven?
How would you describe God to a non-believer?
Do you believe homosexuality is a sin?
How do you explain your lifestyle (lavish house, grand piano, etc.)
How's your marriage?
Have you ever doubted your faith?
I believe he answered the questions Oprah threw his way pretty solid. I, more so, were interested in his response to how many paths there were to God and his income. His responses to her questions were very similar to his preaching style; very positive/upbeat and without any negativity. Joel Osteen is truly a positive thinker as he states, "Your problems aren't there to defeat you. They're there to increase you." A large majority of people believe his teaching/preaching style is very one sided. "He preaches the feel good gospel. He is a prosperity teacher. He doesn't preach enough against sin." His response to this was, "I can't please everyone. Either i'm preaching too much of this and not enough of that. Somebody is always going to have something to say. I don't have to answer to anyone but God."
Check out some of these other quotes and takeaways from the interview with Joel as well as his wife and a member of the choir. Enjoy!
"He (God) wants every generation to build and go further."
"I can't be a blessing to others if I'm poor, broke, and depressed."
"Your problems aren't there to defeat you. They're there to increase you."
"Trouble is inevitable. Misery is optional."
"Jesus is the one path to God, but there are many paths to Jesus. You never know who He would reveal himself to others."
"I do believe homosexuality is shown as sin in the scriptures. When I read the scripture, with good faith, it doesn't show that it is not a sin."
"Our message is about the goodness of God."
-Julie-Choir Member
"I don't have a lot of ups and downs. It's just contentment." (In response to, "Have you ever doubted your faith?")
"I think he has. I think the people are hungry for a message of hope. I think the way he presents it in a nonjudgmental manner. I think people can receive that from him." (In response to, "Do you think your husband has ascended to the highest point in his career?")
-Victoria Osteen
How did you enjoy the interview?
