Lakewood Church leader part of new breed who couch anti-gay teachings in forgiveness, love
When the Michele Bachmanns or Glenn Becks of the world do their public rants about rampant homosexual perversion and the decay of American values, I’m happy to let them talk.
As painful as it is to keep the free flow of ideas going, it is important to let people fly their colors. This way you know where they stand and you get to fly your own big neon flag in response. When activists called to have the Mormon church’s tax-exempt status yanked for its role in California’s Prop 8, I took the church’s side — not because I approved of their bully tactics, but because I didn’t want to see other churches lose their right to fight for us one day.
So you’d think I’d be OK with Houston megachurch pastor Joel Osteen’s recent remarks recently to Oprah Winfrey: “I believe that homosexuality is shown as a sin in the scripture. I do.” I’m so not OK with this I almost foam at the mouth whenever I think about that nuclear white Osteen smile.
True, Osteen was just sick about having to say that we’re sinners, and almost apologized for it. He went out of his way to opine that Christians make too big a deal about homosexuality and that it’s about as sinful as being prideful or fibbing. I’m glad that my marriage only offends God somewhat.
I’ve heard that Osteen has a big gay following, and I know one of those fans well. Once I emailed him to report that Osteen called homosexuality “not God’s best” on Larry King. My friend wrote back, “Well, nobody’s perfect. You take what’s good and leave the rest.” He continues to be inspired.
This all sounds reasonable, and you could argue that my friend was reminding me of my own professed philosophy about free speech and religion. And yet I shrieked out loud when I read his email.
The reason Fox News gets a pass but Osteen has incurred my wrath is because his message is so insidious. It’s feel-good homophobia, so couched in God-loves-you talk that Osteen avoids all responsibility for the fact that real people take his words to heart. Not everyone can “leave the rest” as my friend does.
Whenever Osteen answers the question about homosexuality he hems and haws, but always comes to the apparently painful conclusion that the Bible is unambiguous about it.
He’s quick to add that he does love gay people, welcomes them in his church, doesn’t judge, that there are worse things to be, etc. The message that it’s still a sin to be gay gets quickly obscured by smiley faces and glitter glue for hope.
Curiously, Osteen is rarely willing to take a stand on any other issues. He’s gotten criticized by the religious right for staying out of politics and being unwilling to talk about sin as much as he talks about positivity. It’s all about being “the best you can be” — God’s plan for you. When Mike Wallace asked Osteen if he thought Mormons were true Christians, he humbly responded, “I haven’t really studied them or thought about them…I just try to let God be the judge of that. I mean, I don’t know” and “I’m not one to judge the little details of it.”
Hmm. Why so vague about the folks who have an entirely different set of scriptures, but so damned clear on the disappointing truth about homosexuality? Perhaps some serious re-examination is in order.
Another pastor whose language and selective choice of issues is spookily similar to Osteen’s is the purpose-driven Rick Warren. Also a proclaimed political abstainer, he encouraged his flock to vote against same-sex marriage and has disturbing ties to the recent wave of anti-gay policies in Africa. Warren still insists that he loves gay people and works closely with “a number of gay organizations,” though no one ever asks which ones. These men are entitled to their opinions, but it’s time to call out the hypocrisy of this new breed of influential pastors who want us all to bathe in the light of God’s forgiving love. Except that LGBT people must still deny how God made them if they want “God’s best” for themselves.
California-based writer Abby Dees is the author of ‘Queer Questions Straight Talk.’ She can be contacted through her website QueerQuestionsStraightTalk.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 20, 2012.
He just tries not to draw attention to the fact he is violating everything the bible says about Jesus condemning merchants for invading the temple and about it being forbidden to work on the Sabbath. He is a hypocrite supreme, but should be commended for getting Christians to line his pockets with literally tens of millions of dollars despite what the bible says about such hypocrisy making him unfit to enter heaven.
Gay men, lesbians, and our straight friends that like Joel Osteen must hold him accountable for the end results of his actions. People commit suicide from the torment at the hands of bullies, quality of life is diminished from feeling of worthless, people are attacked and murdered on our streets, and families are torn apart from these hurtful comments.
Jesus preached equality and judgement of those who abused the word of God fro personal gain. Joel Osteen is preaching judgement of ordinary people and the support of discrimination.
“Do not be deceived… homosexuals… will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9
You say that “God made them….” Implying that it was God’s intention to make a person however they are once they are born. The Bible does not teach that. It teaches that we have problems because we have inherited sin.
Your comments are very offensive when looked at from the perspective of a mother who’e child has down syndrome or dies at birth. Did God make the baby that way, also? No, rather we suffer genetic problems due to our sin nature. These problems, such as alcoholism (it’s a gene) homosexuality, lust, etc should be repressed, not pursued.
tragically joel is either in denial, ignorant , or a liar about the about the issue of being gay. those who are gay live the fullness of god’s love in their lives and marriages in the same way as those who are heterosexual. this spiritual equality makes homosexals in essence absolutely equal to heterosexuals.
apart from the fact that we are no longer under the law, for the record scripture has never said that being gay of itself was a sin.
jack the 1946 transposition of homosexual into scripture to replace “defiling oneself with mankind” was an attempt to put those who are gay under the law.we died to the law in christ and are resurrected in christ. therefore we are no longer under the law but instead under christ’s love because his love gives life and the law gives no life.
for
being gay to be a sin it must come against what we are under, christ’s love. it doesnt.
@Jack
“Your comments are very offensive when looked at from the perspective of a mother who’e child has down syndrome or dies at birth. Did God make the baby that way, also? No”
Actually, yes. If you believe God is God, then yes. The answer is yes. God gave your baby Down Syndrome. God took your newborn baby to heaven. That’s what we mean when we say God is truly Lord of the Universe. Not a sparrow falls without God knowing, enabling, and willing it.
Churches are allowed to take a stand on the ISSUES and not hurt their tax exempt status as non-profits. They are not allowed to endorse individual candidates, or political parties. It seems to me like a lot of churches, on that particular issue, are running the ragged edge of disaster.
@Jack.
I am always amused to find Bible-thumping anti-gay rants in The Voice. It’s not like you stumbled upon The Voice and then decided to set us all straight. You came here looking for something…. What’s that old adage? “What you do sounds so loudly that I can’t hear a word you say.” Oh, and that other one–“Methinks thou dost protest too much.” Jack, either come out of the closet or stop leaving your bird droppings for the rest of us to endure.