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Allie Martin

OneNewsNow.com

December 25,2007

Joel Osteen is pastor of Houston's Lakewood Church, which -- according to Outreach Magazine -- hosts approximately 47,000 people each weekend in a renovated former NBA arena. Two days before Christmas, the best-selling author made an appearance on Fox News Sunday with host Chris Wallace, where he was asked about the role of religion in politics. More specifically, Osteen was asked about the Mormon faith, and whether a Mormon could be classified as "a true Christian."

"In my mind they are," Osteen said. "Mitt Romney has said that he believes in Christ as his Savior, and that's what I believe. I'm not the one to judge the little details of [Romney's religion], so I believe [Mormons are Christians] and Mitt Romney seems like a man of character and integrity to me and I don't think anything would stop me from voting for him if that's what I felt like."

When asked about specifics of the Mormon faith, such as the gold tablets allegedly found by Joseph Smith with the so-called "new revelation" from God, and the belief that humans can become gods, Osteen said he did not know enough about the religion's beliefs to comment.

"I certainly can't say that I agree with everything that I've heard about it," the Houston pastor responded. "But from what I've heard from Mitt, when he says that Christ is his Savior, to me that's a common bond."

Osteen also said that he admired former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

All Original Content Copyright 2006-2007 American Family News Network - All Rights Reserved

MY  REPLY:

I would like to make three observations:

1. By definition, Mormonism is a (Christian) cult. The prosperity gospel that Joel Osteen preaches is also cultic teaching. Neither the Mormon gospel nor the health and wealth gospel is the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since Osteen preaches and teaches heresy, one should really not expect him to be able to discern truth from error. The fact that he influences so many people on such a regular basis exponentially increases the seriousness of his sin.

2. It is the very opposite of true Christian love and concern to tell someone they are on the right path when, in fact, they are headed straight for eternal punishment -- a.k.a. Hell.

3. Simply mouthing the words, "Jesus Christ is my Savior" does not make a person a Christian. And pretending otherwise only furthers very false, very dangerous teaching. Lest we forget, Jesus himself said that many will say to him, "Lord, Lord, did we not do many great works in your name?" To which Jesus will reply, "Get away from me. I never knew you."