Joel Osteen: 'Homosexuality Is A Sin'

In an interview which will air Wednesday on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, megachurch pastor Joel Osteen declares that homosexuality is a sin based on his understanding of Christian scripture.

In response to Morgan's direct question, "Is homosexuality a sin?" Osteen had this to say:

"Yes, I've always believed, Piers, the scripture shows that it's a sin."

Osteen continued by saying that he had no desire to "bash" homosexuality or play the role of judge. He was then pressed further on the issue by Morgan who brought up his friend, Elton John, who recently had a surrogate child with his partner, David Furnish.

"Why are they sinners in your eyes?" he asked. Osteen's response:

Well, it's strictly back to what the scripture says. I mean, I can't grab one part and say God wants you to be blessed and live an abundant life, and not grab the other part that says, you know what? You know, live that kind of life. So it comes back to the scripture. I'm not the judge. You know, God didn't tell me to go around judging everybody.

Watch the exchange between Morgan and Osteen below. The full interview will appear on Wednesday's episode of Piers Morgan Tonight.

Comments

[Christopher Schouten]

02:24 AM on 03/18/2011

I love how people like this have perfected the ability to devalue the existence an entire group of people and sound so friggin' NICE while they're doing it. Doesn't fool me. Somewhere, some kid someday will kill himself because of what this guy said on TV two days ago. Despite how he tries to escape from his accountability for his words, this IS hate speech, and it DOES have consequences. Every person of faith who believes the same should know this.

[Shaina Richmond]

07:35 AM on 03/03/2011

I'm shocked to think Mr. Osteen would even think about offending anyone. I thought his stance was "let's not talk about sin, lest we offend someone and I lose my Muslim churchgoers." There's something else going on here and he's not talking about it.

[New Yorker]

11:02 AM on 02/28/2011

If you are a person who just loves his particular favorite sin, say Homosexual sex for example, will God understand and not condemn you for it ? Say you even think you were Born to be a Homosexual, will God just kinda OK the whole thing ? Will God say about the whole Men lusting after men as if they were women, that He wasn't really serious about the whole, It's An Abomination thing, and you can ignore that ?

"Heaven and Earth will Pass away But Not One word of the law will pass away."

Does THAT answer your questions folks ?

[Laura Linora]

04:39 AM on 02/26/2011

Nowadays if you think someone is wrong, you’re called intolerant no matter how you treat them. Most of what passes for tolerance today is intellectual cowardice, a fear of intelligent engagement. Those who brandish the word “intolerant” are unwilling to be challenged by other views, to grapple with contrary opinions, or even to consider them. It’s easier to hurl an insult—“you intolerant bigot”—than to confront the idea and either refute it or be changed by it. In the modern era, “tolerance” has become intolerance. As an ambassadors for Christ, however, I choose the more courageous path. In Paul’s words, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). In a gracious and artful way, I accurately speak the truth, and then trust God to transform minds.

[Laura Linora]

04:39 AM on 02/26/2011

Tolerance applies to how we treat people we disagree with, not how we treat ideas we think false. Tolerance requires that every person is treated courteously, no matter what her view, not that all views have equal worth, merit, or truth. I will not allow this notion of tolerance to intimidate me. I treat all people with respect, but am willing to show them where their ideas have gone wrong. It’s one of the first responses deployed when we take exception with what someone has said. “You’re intolerant.” To say I’m intolerant because I disagree with someone’s ideas is confused. The view that one person’s ideas are no better or truer than another’s is simply absurd and contradictory. To argue that some views are false, immoral, or just plain silly does not violate any meaningful definition or standard of tolerance. The irony is that according to the classical notion of tolerance, you can’t tolerate someone unless you disagree with him. We don’t “tolerate” people who share our views. They’re on our side. There’s nothing to “put up” with. Tolerance is reserved for those who we think are wrong, yet we still choose to treat them decently and with respect.

[Laura Linora]

04:29 AM on 02/26/2011

No one has to live in bondage with an abnormal life of homosexuality nor any other abnormal behavior. No one has to be controlled by pornography. No one has to have evil thoughts plague their minds. There is a way out through what Jesus has done for us. He loves sinners and wants to free us from any evil practices. He will empower those who cry out for deliverance to get free and stay free.

[Laura Linora]

04:27 AM on 02/26/2011

Romans 1:24-32:






24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
These scriptures clearly state that these vile affections of men lusting for other men (gay men) or women lusting for other women (lesbians) are not the natural affections

[Laura Linora]

04:25 AM on 02/26/2011

Homosexuality is also referred to as the sin of sodomy. This reference comes from an account in the Bible of two exceedingly wicked cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, which the Lord destroyed. Sodom was known for its rampant homosexuality and unrestrained sexual lust, as well as other sins such as arrogance, haughtiness, and disregard for the poor. When the Lord sent angels to warn Lot who lived in the city that it was about to be destroyed, the men of the city actually wanted to rape the angels! Genesis 13:13: "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly."

In the Old Testament the penalty for this sin was severe. Leviticus 20:13: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Today the penalty of death comes in the form of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. It also brings death to the soul and spirit of man because the life of God is pushed out by indulging in something that is an abomination to God. God wants to deliver all who are trapped in this unholy practice and He will if anyone calls out to Him with a sincere heart.

[Laura Linora]

04:25 AM on 02/26/2011

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV): "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

Although the Bible doesn't detail each and every one of these sinful acts, it does clearly speak out about many of them. Any deviation from God's original plan for sex between a married man and woman is still a sin in God's eyes. The main reason we call these things perverted is because they are unnatural and scripture clearly tells us those who do such things are committing abominations. Leviticus 18:22 (KJV): "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind it is abomination."

[rheuer111]

11:11 AM on 02/25/2011

saying that being gay is a sin implies that it's a choice.

...and people that say being gay is a choice are simply closeted gay people who are struggling with their sexual orientation.

their natural orientation makes them want to be with people of the same sex, but they CHOOSE to be with people of the other sex. (what straight person will look you in the eye and tell you that she or he "chooses" to be straight?)

COME OUT, CHOICERS! accept and love yourselves for who you are -- it's OK!! :):)

[New Yorker]

08:37 AM on 02/28/2011

Aall sins are choices, Adam & Eve chose to sin, and betray the trust, and ignore the warning from God, God who had given them every good thing, even everlasting life. Death entered the world just as God had warned them. You can abstain and thus please the Lord Our God, or you can sin. The choice is not easy, but if one asks God's help, it is possible to be celibate from your unclean unnatural lusts. Christains should pray for the homosexuals, ao their burden, just as they should also not condone or approve of that which God finds offensive. This is about what God wants, not what we He created want.

[Julliank]

10:48 AM on 03/07/2011

..and a child of an alcoholic may be more 'prone' to alcoholism or a child of an adulterer may be 'prone' to adultry, etc., etc. etc. BUT that doesn't mean they are still not making a CHOICE. My natual reaction when someone hits me is to hit them back, but that does not make that right. etc. etc. etc. etc. Many scientists have set out to PROVE the existence of a 'gay' gene, still no dice - it doesn't exist.

[AthenasOwl]

11:54 PM on 02/22/2011

So - like all preachers, he picks and chooses. I don't here him advocating stoning or owning slaves. So, how they decide? Inevitably, these guys are OK with the common morality of the last generation. They are conservative to the extent they want to conserve the imagined golden age of their, or their parent's youth. These guys are just catching up with rock and roll, for goodness sake.

[Julliank]

10:51 AM on 03/07/2011

He wasn't asked about those things. :)

[LoyalBob]

09:07 AM on 02/17/2011

Osteen says, "I don't understand all the answers" when asked if he basically believes gay people choose this lifestyle over being born that way.

Well buddy, when you are out there spewing that someone's way of life is 'sinful' to 8 million people every Sunday, don't you think that you should take the time to gain some understanding? But that would take valuable time away from lining your coffers by playing into the fears of your sheeple. God or whatever does not care who you love. Just love!

The Osteens, with their vapid expressions and robot-like responses make me shudder.

[RationalDubSteppa]

09:18 PM on 02/16/2011

2011 and people still believe in desert fairy tales about invisible men who float on clouds.

[Julliank]

10:42 AM on 03/07/2011

...and Global Warming.

[RationalDubSteppa]

09:09 PM on 02/16/2011

The scriptures also say that it is ok to own sl@ves and that women are second class citizens.

[Julliank]

10:55 AM on 03/07/2011

It doesn't say that anywhere. Ya wanna give a Biblical quote? It says that slaves are to obey their masters (there were slaves back then) and it says that women need to respect their husbands and men need to love their wives more then their own lives. OOOOOoooo that is really scarey for women!

[RationalDubSteppa]

09:06 PM on 02/16/2011

*sigh* These charlatans and their imaginary friends!

[Julliank]

10:57 AM on 03/07/2011

*sigh* ...these heathens and their 'made up' morals. ...Very justifying!