This is a rush transcript from “Hannity,” March 30, 2009. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
SEAN HANNITY, HOST: Joel and Victoria Osteen are the heads of Osteen Ministries and the editors of the “Hope for Today Bible.” They’re also holding an event at Yankee Stadium — that’s the new Yankee Stadium — next month called “A Night of Hope.”
Now, it’s taking place on April the 25, and it is your chance to celebrate faith, get some inspiration from Joel and Victoria.
They join us now to help give you some hope, inspiration and navigate through these troubled economic times.
It’s a little bit biblical, right, inasmuch as it’s render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, render under — see, somebody is going to get mad. Render unto the government or Obama that which is — you know, I think we’re taxing and spending way too much money. You guys feel the same way? Are we — is the government — is this similar inasmuch as government wants to provide things for people? Is that similar to biblical times?
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JOEL OSTEEN, LAKEWOOD CHURCH: You know, Sean, you probably know more about that than me. I don’t know. It probably is, you know, but…
HANNITY: You’re not going to go there?
J. OSTEEN: Well, I just don’t feel like I know much about it.
(LAUGHTER)
HANNITY: Well, first of all, there is more anxiety, more fear. And one of the things that bothers me is I think too many people want to put their hope, faith, trust, confidence in a government. The government is going to give you health care. The government’s going to give you day care. Dental care. The government’s going to give you housing.
Is — are we moving away from any concept of, I think, what the Bible teaches us: through the sweat of your brow, you make your bread, and you work six days a week, and you rest on the seventh?
J. OSTEEN: I think that and just the fact that, you know, we keep our hope and our trust in the Lord and hopefully, you know, believe that the government, with good people there that will, you know, help protect the land and be what they’re supposed to be.
But I think, you know, ultimately, I hope it has to be in the Lord. I tell people all the time you’re not working under man. You’re working under God.
HANNITY: Do you see, though, people in your ministry that they do — they really want someone outside of themselves to take away their fear in life?
VICTORIA OSTEEN, LAKEWOOD CHURCH: Well, you know, I think everybody’s looking for something. And you know, we talk about just look to God. You know, don’t look to man. Man can only do so much. But God can do the impossible. He’s limitless.
So you know what? Whether you believe in God or not, you need to believe that — you know what? You don’t have to rely on man. That God has given you gifts. He’s given new talents. He’ll open opportunities for you to work hard and to accomplish things.
HANNITY: What I’m afraid of — because I agree with you. I think every human being was born with incredible potential and talent, every single person. And that, when you live in freedom and you don’t have tyranny, that that talent can come to fruition, come to life.
And I think that’s why America has advanced the human condition more than any country in civilization, in history. And I think we’re on the verge of sort of backtracking from that self-reliance and that free opportunity for everybody. Do you not see that at all, without bringing you into the political side of it?
J. OSTEEN: Well, you know, Sean, I don’t know if I — I don’t know if I see it as much as you, because you know what? We’re dealing with people that a lot of times, trying to lead the Christian life, trying to overcome a divorce, trying to make it through the tough times. So, so much of our message is just about empowering people to know that there are good days up there ahead. You know, even then you possibly might be in difficult times. God can still bring you through.
HANNITY: Is worry the antithesis of faith? If you are a worrier, is that the opposite of faith?
J. OSTEEN: I think it is. I think worry, fear, you’re using your faith in the wrong direction.
I believe that you can — if you get up every morning and say, “This is going to be a terrible day. I’m not going to make it through this year. I’ve got so many bad things,” I think you’re going to draw in that. You’re using your faith in the wrong direction.
HANNITY: Where does negative thinking, then come from? Is the human soul split in your own mind, your — is human consciousness sort of like dark forces, light forces fighting and competing or your consciousness? Or am I really digging, really, into a whole other direction?
J. OSTEEN: I think it’s true. I think there are forces that, you know, that can plant thoughts in our mind. I think a lot of times, we’ve just been trained. This is the way we’ve been raised.
HANNITY: Conditioned?
J. OSTEEN: Yes.
HANNITY: So it’s repetitive, compulsive negative thinking is a common thing?
J. OSTEEN: I think so. I meet people all the time, they grew up negative. “My mom was negative. That’s why I’m negative.” Well, I believe you can change that. You can change it one thought at a time.
HANNITY: In other words, you can reject the compulsive thinking process. Is that fair?
V. OSTEEN: I believe so. I believe you can train yourself to be positive.
HANNITY: Do you guys ever fight?
J. OSTEEN: We don’t ever fight.
HANNITY: Oh, come on. That’s — so how many years have you been married?
V. OSTEEN: We don’t fight like we used to. We’ve been married 22 years now, so you know, you learn to navigate. You learn to give and take.
HANNITY: Basically, he says, “Yes, dear”? That’s…
V. OSTEEN: No, no. Really, it’s not. I wouldn’t like that.
HANNITY: No.
V. OSTEEN: I really wouldn’t like that. I like him. I mean, I respect him. I respect his opinion, so I’m glad he stands up for it.
HANNITY: All right. Last question. So you’ve got — you’re going to the brand-new Yankee Stadium, April 25, and anyone can come? Or is it?
J. OSTEEN: It is. It’s a ticketed event, but it’s open to anybody. We’d love to have whoever wants to come.
HANNITY: Where do you get the tickets?
J. OSTEEN: Ticketmaster, online. Something like that.
HANNITY: How about JoelOsteen.com or something?
J. OSTEEN: They can go there and get it. We’d love to have people come out. We’re just going to have a good time and celebrate the goodness of God.
• Click here for ticket information
V. OSTEEN: Oh, yes, we’re going to have fun. It’s going to be beautiful in that stadium. I mean, we’re going to go see it for the first time next week.
HANNITY: I haven’t seen it yet.
V. OSTEEN: But it’s amazing. I mean, just the pictures that we’ve seen. So we are so thrilled to be there.
HANNITY: All right, well, guys, good to see you again. And we always appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you.
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