From What in the World!
Joel Osteen pastors the largest church in America, Houston’s Lakewood Church, which just moved into the arena where the local NBA team used to play. Recently, Larry King interviewed Osteen on his popular CNN program. Osteen said, “I don’t know” 43 times during the conversation. Osteen didn’t know whether or not Satan would be allowed into heaven. He didn’t know if anyone is condemned. He didn’t know if Jews or Muslims or Hindus are going to heaven. He didn’t know what the prosperity gospel is. He didn’t know why God allows tragedies like cancer, birth defects, or 9/11. “I don’t have it in my heart to condemn people,” Osteen said. “I don’t know. I know there is condemnation, but I don’t feel that’s my place.” King asked Osteen, “What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all?” Osteen replied, “You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know.” He added later, “I’m just going to let God be the judge of that. I don’t know. I don’t know.” Osteen later posted a brief letter of apology on his website, saying, “I believe with all my heart that it is only through Christ that we have hope in eternal life.” (CNN.com, 6/20/05; joelosteen.com, 7/19/05)
Seriously– this man doesn’t seem to want to stand for anything in front of the world. It’s even more hypocritical when you take into account the size of his church and it’s new facilities. I can tell you this much, you wouldn’t find me at his “church”.