Gay Marriage and Homosexuality: What Have Joel Osteen, Billy and Franklin Graham, Joyce Meyer, TD Jakes and Other Top Pastors Said on the Subjects
BREATHcast News/April 29, 2014
By Jeannie Law
Evangelist, Reverend Franklin Graham recently participated in a news panel discussion in which he answered questions on homosexuality. Some of the world's most popular evangelicals in America have shared a similar biblical position as Graham in past interviews.
Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyers, T.D. Jakes and more, like Graham, have openly shared their thoughts on the divisive subject, and they have used their knowledge of scripture to shed a light on what God thinks and how the Bible guides us with regards to sin and homosexuality.
During the ABC segment with Russell Moore, Ralph Reed and Cokie Roberts, last week, Graham was questioned on whether his position on homosexuality remained the same from past interviews.
"Franklin Graham is a sinner," the son of Billy Graham said, "and I'm no better than a gay person. I'm a sinner. But I've been forgiven, and I've turned from my sins. For any person that's willing to repent in turn, God will forgive."
Popular Pastor Joel Osteen, who leads the largest church in America, is known for his motivational messages that are well loved in the LGBT community. The Pastor has been known to tread lightly on the subject in former interviews, but ultimately when pushed on the topic he agrees with Graham.
"I believe that scripture says that it's a sin but I always follow that up by saying you know what, we're not against anybody," Osteen said to Larry King. "There's a lot of things Larry that I don't understand - so I just don't want to preach on it, preach about it."
In another interview he told Piers Morgan, "I'm not against anything." In that same segment he and his wife Victoria said that they would attend a homosexual marriage.
In another instance, Oprah questioned Megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes on the matter and he said, "I'm not called to give my opinion. I'm called as a pastor to give the scriptural position on it."
The pastor added, "Doesn't mean that I have to agree with you to love you. I don't dislike anybody. I love everybody."
When asked if being gay is a sin he replied, "I think that sex between two people of the same sex is condemned in the Scriptures, and as long as it is condemned in the Scriptures, I don't get to say what I think. I get to say what the Bible says," Jakes said. "I'm not anti-gay, I'm not anti-anything. I don't want to even be known by what I'm against."
In 2005 beloved charismatic author and speaker Joyce Meyer told Larry King on his program that she thinks it's "a choice."
"Obviously, Larry, if I believe the Bible, then I don't believe that a gay lifestyle or a homosexual lifestyle is the right way to choose to live. I believe that there's something so much better," she said. "I believe it's definitely a choice. Well, I think that that's the natural way that God intended us to be. I just followed the natural way that I was. I didn't have to consciously think, do I want to do this or don't I?"
Best-selling author and Pastor Rick Warren explained on Piers Morgan, while he may disagree with people on their views on sexuality, he does not have the right to demean, to demoralize, or defame anyone and turn them into a demon.
Warren though, does not believe that the Bible definition of marriage as between a man and a woman should be changed. He added, "I don't think other groups get the opportunity to redefine a term. I fear the disapproval of God more than I fear your disapproval or the disapproval of society."
Colorado evangelical pastor Ted Haggard, was involved in a same-sex and drug scandal six years ago. During an online debate in 2012 the controversial Pastor said, "If someone is dealing with same-sex attraction or homosexuality, and they want someone to be their life partner of the same gender, though we would oppose that in our churches, it should be allowed by the state."
Despite all he'd been through and experienced himself, Haggard maintained that God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman, but he believes the roles of the state and religious communities are different.
Respected and world-renowned evangelist, Pastor Billy Graham, father of Franklin Graham, previously issued a statement regarding the Marriage Protection Amendment in Minnesota affirming that he is for the original definition of marriage. "I pray that the good people of Minnesota will show their support for God's definition of marriage, between a man and a woman. I wholeheartedly endorse the Marriage Protection Amendment," the statement read. "Watching the moral decline of our country causes me great concern, I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected."
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