I have not minced my words in the past when it comes to condemning the members of the professional Christian set and wrongly monikered "family values" groups that continue to strive to keep homophobia alive and well and who in general do all they can to maintain an atmosphere where gay teens (and older gays too) will view suicide as their best option. I've had two friends resort to suicide because they could not come to terms with their sexual orientation in light of their anti-gay religious upbringings. And as we have seen over recent months the death toll continues. The death toll needs to stop.*
Now prosperity gospel advocate Joel Osteen has come out with statements that work to place him in the near ranks of Peter LaBarbera, Maggie Gallagher, Tony Perkins and similar merchants of anti-LGBT hate. Osteen - like so many self-enriching professional Christians - clings to a few antiquaited arguably anti-gay Bible passages while conveniently ignoring Christ's direct directives to (1) love thy neighbor as thyself and (2) sell all that you have, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. Hmm, I can't imagine why the word "hypocrite" quickly springs to my mind. Might it be because Bible inerrancy doesn't allow an honest - though misguided and ignorant - believer to selectively pick and choose which passages to follow? The Washington Post looks at Osteen's recent verbal diarrhea. Here are highlights:
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Texas megapastor Joel Osteen has found himself in the headlines this week for telling CNN's Piers Morgan that homosexuality is a sin. Osteen and his wife Victoria are among America's most influential religious figures. Acording to his Web site at Lakewood Church, the 16,000-seat Houston church he pastors, Osteen's "weekly sermon is broadcast into every U.S. television market where it is viewed by seven million Americans each week and more than 20 million each month. His weekly broadcast is also seen in nearly 100 nations around the world
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Asked point blank about homosexuality by the eponymous host of Piers Morgan Tonight, Osteen was forced to address an issue that he'd just as soon avoid. "Yes, I've always believed Pierce the scriptures show that homosexuality is a sin. . . . . I don't believe that homosexuality is God's best for a person's life --sin means to miss the mark."
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While Osteen denies that his message is focused on financial gain alone, he does teach that financial success can be a sign of God's favor. . . . . So while Osteen has ruffled Christian feathers by his unorthodox message, the headlines he's making this week on homosexuality are sure to agitate a whole new group: those who blame ministers for homophobia.
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Texas megapastor Joel Osteen has found himself in the headlines this week for telling CNN's Piers Morgan that homosexuality is a sin. Osteen and his wife Victoria are among America's most influential religious figures. Acording to his Web site at Lakewood Church, the 16,000-seat Houston church he pastors, Osteen's "weekly sermon is broadcast into every U.S. television market where it is viewed by seven million Americans each week and more than 20 million each month. His weekly broadcast is also seen in nearly 100 nations around the world
*
Asked point blank about homosexuality by the eponymous host of Piers Morgan Tonight, Osteen was forced to address an issue that he'd just as soon avoid. "Yes, I've always believed Pierce the scriptures show that homosexuality is a sin. . . . . I don't believe that homosexuality is God's best for a person's life --sin means to miss the mark."
*
While Osteen denies that his message is focused on financial gain alone, he does teach that financial success can be a sign of God's favor. . . . . So while Osteen has ruffled Christian feathers by his unorthodox message, the headlines he's making this week on homosexuality are sure to agitate a whole new group: those who blame ministers for homophobia.
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