Joel Osteen apologizes

Steve Camp wrote a letter of brotherly rebuke and concern to Joel Osteen, and Osteen apologized humbly and unequivocally (see The Joy of Humility). Further Osteen published an apology on his own church's web site. It isn't so easy to find, if you don't know where to go -- but it's there. And at its end, he links to his church's very "lite" statement of faith, which does include the statement that "We believe that eternal salvation is found only by placing our faith in Jesus Christ and what he did for us on the cross."

What do I think? I think it's good he apologized. (He certainly did a better job of it than Senator Durbin!)

Mostly I think, "We'll see." I wouldn't blame a star-struck young Christian for wavering a bit, and cursing himself later. God knows I've done it under far less intense pressure.

But this is Wonder Boy. He speaks to hundreds of thousands. His name is on a best-seller.

He's supposed to be a pastor. And he can't be counted on plainly to lay out the Gospel?

That's bad.

(Al Mohler has also noted and commented on Osteen's apology.)