A Generation of Pharisees Pastors : Joel Osteen: Mormon Romney Is Christian; Obama Is Too

FIRST READ:

Joel Osteen and The Prosperity Gospel

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2010/03/joel-osteen-and-prosperity-gospel.html
  
Mormons have a different Jesus

http://www.towertotruth.net/Mormon/mormon_main.htm

Witnessing to Mormons

http://www.whatismormonism.com/WitnessingToMormonsWithLove.pdf

Evaluating the Book of Mormon

http://www.arcapologetics.org/articles/article15.htm

Joel Osteen: Mormon Romney Is Christian; Obama Is Too

http://www.christianpost.com/news/joel-osteen-mormon-romney-is-christian-obama-is-too-73826/

 By Paul Stanley , Christian Post Reporter

April 25, 2012|9:27 am

Correction Appended

Joel Osteen, the popular megachurch pastor from Houston, appeared Tuesday afternoon on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and said that he considers both presumed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and President Obama to be Christians.

Osteen, when asked about Romney's faith, said the former Massachusetts governor is indeed a Christian – which is a similar statement to the one he made in January.

"When I hear Mitt Romney say that he believes that Jesus is the Son of God – that he's the Christ, raised from the dead, that he's his Savior – that's good enough for me," said Osteen.

The Texas pastor did say that the Mormon faith was "not traditional Christianity," but that Mormonism still falls under the umbrella of Christian tenets. "Mormonism is a little different, but I still see them as brothers in Christ," said Osteen.

Many Christians do not consider Mormons to be Christians because they do not hold orthodox beliefs on core doctrines such as original sin, grace, the inerrancy of the Bible, and the understanding of the Trinity is different.

Osteen was also asked about President Obama's faith. Osteen said he has spent time with Obama and has no doubt that he is a Christian.

"I believe with all my heart that he's a Christian, as he says he is," Osteen stated.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Texas pastor served as guest chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives at the request of Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Texas).

Lee, the often fiery congresswoman known for championing liberal causes, called Osteen a "humble spirit," and praised him for leading the "largest and most growing church in American history."

Osteen prayed: "Father we thank you that you show your goodness and your favor to the United States of American and those who govern it. We ask that you bless this House of Representatives, and each member who serves in it."

"Help these lawmakers to search their hearts so that they may serve with dignity and honor and through them our nation will achieve the destiny that you have set before us. Give them wisdom as they make good decisions, courage that they will hold fast to your truth, and compassion that all should prosper from their laws. We receive your presence here today, Father, and we pray that these lawmakers will remain mindful of you, that they will honor you in everything that they do here. In Jesus name, Amen."

After leading the House in prayer, Osteen got a private tour of the capitol from Lee, which included saying a brief prayer in the House Chapel.

When asked by reporters if he was bringing a specific message to Congress, he replied that he wanted to see more compromise on Capitol Hill. "It seems like when I was growing up there was more compromise, wanting to work with each other, and I think all of them – all of the lawmakers – have hearts to do what's right and they all are passionate about it."

While in Washington, D.C. this week, Osteen will also have private meetings with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

*BREAKING* THE CHRISTIAN POST IS FOLLOWING JOEL OSTEEN AND THE GENERATION HOPE PROJECT TODAY. READ THE LIVE BLOG FOR UPDATES.

SEE VIDEO OF JOEL OSTEEN SAYING OBAMA AND ROMNEY ARE CHRISTIANS

READ: GRACE UNDER MORMONISM

Correction:  Wednesday, April 25, 2012:

An article on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, about Joel Osteen's comments on President Obama and GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney's faith incorrectly reported that Osteen saw a belief prayer in the House Chapel.  He said a brief prayer with Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Texas) in the chapel.  


 

The road to Rome: Joel Osteen to make a film exalting Mary

Joel Osteen to Executive Produce Prequel to ‘Passion of the Christ’ About Jesus’ Mother

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/joel-osteen-to-executive-produce-prequel-to-passion-of-the-christ-about-jesus-mother/
 
 Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:36pm

Earlier this month, news broke that Megapastor Joel Osteen will be executive producing what’s being dubbed the Biblical prequel to “The Passion of the Christ.” The film, entitled, “Mary Mother of Christ,” is going to be released in North America sometime in 2013.

The movie, which is produced by Mary Aloe of Aloe Entertainment and Shawn Williamson of Bright Light Pictures, promises to be an intriguing project that will surely peak the interest of the faithful.

“Under the reign of terror of Herod the Great and against all odds, Mary and Joseph survive as young parents in one of the most treacherous times in history,” Aloe Entertainment writes on the company’s web site, going on to discuss Osteen’s executive production role. ”Minister Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church, the most prominent Christian Evangelical minister in the world, has signed on his first movie ever as Executive Producer with a massive marketing and promotion plan.”

Osteen, too, has talked about the project, providing a glowing description of Mary’s depiction in it.

“Mary is portrayed as a brave, faithful young woman who readily embraces her divine destiny regardless of the sacrifices and hardships she must endure,” Osteen said of the project‘s depiction of Jesus Christ’s mother.

Joel Osteen: ‘The Scripture Says That Being Gay Is a Sin’

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/joel-osteen-the-scripture-says-that-being-gay-is-a-sin/
 
 It was a busy weekend for televangelist Joel Osteen. The popular Christian preacher was in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, where he hosted the massive “Night of Hope” worship event.

In addition to this prayer and worship initiative, Osteen and his wife, Victoria, appeared on “Fox News Sunday,” where the preacher stated his view that homosexuality is a sin, weighed in on the immigration debate and defended himself against claims of utilizing prosperity gospel.

“I’m trying to let people know that, even though there’s difficult times in the country, that God’s good, that he’s on our side and that nothing we face is a surprise to him,” Osteen said of his overall mission. “And when you keep your faith in him, you can have peace in the midst of the difficult times.”

Fox News’ Chris Wallace asked Osteen about an allegation that he faces all too often — the notion that the popular televangelist delves too deeply into prosperity gospel and that he is more of a motivational speaker than he is a pastor.

“I do want to motivate people. I want them to be a better parents, to overcome an addiction, to leave their past behind, so I don’t take that as a criticism that I want to motivate people,” Osteen proclaimed. “But everything that I teach is based out of the scripture…my gift is to talk about everyday life.”

He dismissed the notion that his message is rooted in prosperity gospel and stated that his focus is centered upon allowing God to make people the best individuals they can be.

The conversation quickly turned from these subjects to the sociopolitical sphere, as Wallace asked Osteen what he thinks about the nation’s controversial immigration debate. The pastor was more than open about the fact that he has not yet arrived on an appropriate way to handle the complex issue.

“I wish I knew the answer, Chris. It’s so complicated. I’m on the site of mercy, but I do think that you have to secure borders,” the preacher responded. “I don’t know the answer, but I’m always going to fall on the side of mercy.”

Wallace then asked Osteen a familiar question — one that his caused him controversy in the past: “Is being gay a sin?” The preacher didn’t hesitate to share his perspective on the matter.

“I believe the scripture says that being gay is a sin. But every time I say that I get people saying, ‘well you’re a gay hater, you’re a gay basher,’” he said. ”Gays are some of the nicest, kindest, most loving people in the world, but my faith is based on what I believe the scripture says and that’s the way I read the scripture.”

Osteen went on to say that he doesn’t believe homosexuals should be discriminated against. While he’s opposed to gay marriage, he stated his belief that gays should have equal rights when it comes to other issues of inequality.

He caught fire back in January after he provided this same answer, but told talk show host Oprah that he believes a gay person could be accepted into heaven. Additionally, Osteen told CNN’s Piers Morgan back in October that he would be willing to attend a gay wedding.
 

Evangelicals move to support Romney

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20120413_Evangelicals_move_to_support_Romney.html  

By ERIK ECKHOLM

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Apr 12, 2012

Rick Santorum had been the last best hope of Christian conservatives who opposed Mitt Romney, derided by many as a “Massachusetts moderate.” Now, facing the abrupt end of Santorum’s presidential bid, some evangelical leaders have begun to rally behind Romney, saying their shared hostility toward President Barack Obama will be a powerful force for uniting the party in November.

In one sign of coalescing support from Christian conservatives, the National Organization for Marriage, a leading opponent of same-sex marriage, endorsed Romney on Wednesday morning. The group called Romney a “true champion” and said that Obama “has done virtually everything in his power to undermine the institution of marriage.”

But the whole-hearted support of evangelicals, who accounted for nearly one-fourth of all ballots cast in recent presidential elections, will not come without conditions, some leaders warned. During the bitterly fought primary campaign, many conservatives questioned the depth of Romney’s opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage and government spending. They say that to win the presidency, Romney may need a fired-up base to produce a large evangelical turnout in swing states like Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia.

If Romney is to generate more excitement and sacrifice from Christian conservatives, he must “demonstrate a genuine and solid commitment to the core values issues,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council. Perkins said Santorum had vaulted into conservative favor because “he passionately articulated the connection between America’s financial greatness and its moral and cultural wholeness” and recognized that “the economy and the family are indivisible.”

“Intensity is going to be a big problem for Mitt Romney,” Perkins said in an interview, comparing an obligatory vote for Romney, to avoid the alternative of Obama, to “eating your vegetables.”

Romney, a range of evangelical leaders said, must not waver in his support for conservative principles if he hopes to tap the energies of Christian conservatives in the general campaign.

But he also needs independent votes to win, said Whit Ayres, a Republican strategist and founder of North Star Opinion Research in Alexandria, Va. So Romney must deftly walk a political tightrope, keeping the focus on economic issues with broad appeal, Ayres said.

Romney’s aides are exasperated by the skepticism, because he has formally checked the right conservative boxes, pledging opposition to same-sex marriage, strong support for Israel and the military budget, and embracing the stringent fiscal proposals of Rep. Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., a Tea Party favorite. But his inconsistent history on social issues, in particular, leads some to question whether he would carry through as president.

Gary L. Bauer, the president of American Values, a Christian advocacy group, had been one of Santorum’s most visible supporters because, he said in an interview, Santorum best personified the Reagan legacy of fiscal and social conservatism and a strong defense. Still, he is not reluctant to shift his allegiance now, though with a warning.

“Going to the general election, I will do everything I can for Gov. Romney,” he said.

“But his campaign has got to make it easy for me to help them,” he added, “and not make it hard by being tempted to pull back on conservative issues.”

Evangelicals were excited last August when Rick Perry, the Texas governor, entered the race, but he soon fizzled after poor debate performances. More than 100 Christian leaders met last January on a Texas ranch to seek a consensus candidate. Most cast their lot with Santorum, but some stayed loyal to Newt Gingrich, resulting in a divided evangelical vote in subsequent primaries.

Now, many evangelical leaders reject the conventional wisdom that Romney, after steering to the right to gain the nomination, must tack toward the center to win in November. They point to John McCain’s loss in 2008, when social conservatives were lukewarm about his candidacy and voted in modest numbers, and argue that in many important states, Republicans will need a higher evangelical turnout, like that seen in the 2010 congressional elections, to win.

Conservatives will be scrutinizing Romney’s every word and gesture in the months ahead, especially signals like his choice of vice-presidential candidate — they mention Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ryan, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio or even Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Baptist pastor, as reassuring choices.

Romney’s own campaign officials and conservative supporters reject any suggestion of altering course for the general election. They argue that Romney’s positions on core issues are solid and that Romney does not face a serious dilemma as he tries to attract both conservatives and independent voters. By stressing the overriding issues of the economy and debt and Obama’s economic failures, in this view, he can appeal to both groups at once.

Bauer also noted that in parts of the country, independent voters include many blue collar workers who are most concerned about jobs but also share conservative values on abortion and marriage.

Peter Flaherty, a senior advisor to the Romney campaign, said in an interview Tuesday that if Romney secured the nomination, he would reach out to conservatives who had opposed him, nurturing ties. “We are going to sit down with everybody involved with the other candidates’ campaigns,” he said.

Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian legal group, and a supporter of Romney, said the “stark contrast” between Romney and Obama in their visions of America would energize evangelicals as well as attract independent voters.

“I think Gov. Romney just needs to stay true to himself, to continue articulating his positions on the economy and the Middle East,” Sekulow said.

But some conservative Christian leaders, even as they say they will of course vote for the Republican candidate, remain guarded about Romney. Steve Scheffler, president of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, complained that in Iowa, where Santorum’s surprise showing in the January caucuses thrust him into the limelight, Romney’s campaign had so far made no effort to reach out to evangelicals.

The presidential race is likely to be truly competitive, Scheffler said, in about a dozen states, including Iowa, and the Republicans will need to motivate people to volunteer at calling centers and put up signs. “I don’t think there’s much room for error,” he said, “and for them not to be having these conversations with us has been baffling.”

“I hope it changes, because they’re going to need Iowa,” Scheffler said.

Marco Rubio Says He Felt 'Called' to Leave Mormon Church for Catholic Church

http://www.christianpost.com/news/marco-rubio-says-he-felt-called-to-leave-mormon-church-for-catholic-church-77156/

 By Napp Nazworth , Christian Post Reporter

June 24, 2012|4:59 pm

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he felt "called" to leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), or Mormon Church, to join the Catholic Church in a Sunday interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Rubio – who is currently being considered as a vice presidential nominee by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon – explained that his mother decided to join the LDS Church after the family moved to Las Vegas when Rubio was eight years old. Some of Rubio's relatives were, and still are, members of the LDS Church, so the family had some familiarity with the church through them.

His mother wanted a "wholesome environment to raise" her family, Rubio said, and she was "a big admirer" of the "family-friendly environment" within the LDS Church.

Rubio explained that he decided to leave the LDS Church and join the Catholic Church four years later. It was one of two occasions in his life when he had been "called back" to the Catholic Church.

"For spiritual reasons, when I was about 12 years old, I started feeling called back to the Catholic Church and it was nothing against the Mormon Church, it was just a calling, that's happened twice in my life," Rubio said.

Rubio, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba, wrote a book about his life, published last week, called An American Son: A Memoir. Rubio's religious faith is one of the book's topics, he mentioned.

"I hope people will enjoy reading about [my faith journey] as well," Rubio said.

Last week, an ABC journalist reported that sources familiar with the Romney campaign believed that Rubio was not being vetted as a potential vice presidential pick. Romney made a speech before reporters the same day to say that Rubio was being considered as a possible running mate.

When asked if he has any ambitions to run for president someday, Rubio said he deliberately avoids viewing any current position as a "springboard" for some other position.

"I think it's a recipe for self-destruction," Rubio said.

But, Rubio added, if he does a good job as senator, then "six years from now I'll have a lot of opportunities to do different things."

 

Obama Goes to Church; Likened to John the Baptist

http://www.christianpost.com/news/obama-goes-to-church-likened-to-john-the-baptist-64607/

By Anugrah Kumar , Christian Post Contributor

December 12, 2011|8:38 am

Holding hands and smiling despite the chilly weather, President Barack Obama, his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha, took a walk across the street from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church Sunday morning to attend the worship service.

With the first family sitting on a pew, the Rev. Dr. Luis Leon spoke about John the Baptist and discussed Obama in his sermon, according to pool reports.

The pastor told the congregation that the expectations Americans had from Obama could be compared with illusions people had about John the Baptist at the time of Jesus. The religious leaders of the time had great expectations from John the Baptist but he told them he was neither the Messiah nor the prophet, but a voice calling in the wilderness, Leon told the congregation. Even Americans thought Obama would bring an immediate change, the pastor added.

“People have a tendency to create idols,” Leon said, according to ABC News. “Society must wait without idols.”

According to Gallup data, Obama’s approval rating in the period of Nov. 28 to Dec. 4 was as low as 40 percent. The president’s 43 percent average job approval rating last month ranks as one of the lowest for an elected president in November of his third year in office.

After the sermon, the congregation had a good laugh when a young boy suddenly ran to the front and took a good look at the first family, according to The Associated Press.
The Obamas participated in Holy Communion before walking back to the White House.

All presidents since James Madison have attended at least one service at St. John’s Church, founded in 1815.

In the evening, Obama, his family and mother-in-law Marian Robinson celebrated Christmas with musical stars including Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, Victoria Justice and the Band Perry.