Morgan Freeman Confronts Joel Osteen With Question, 'Who Is God'?
On this Sunday's third episode of "The Story of God" with Morgan Freeman, the actor takes on the topic, "Who Is God?" and visits Pastor Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church to get some answers.
"I believe God is our Father, the Creator, Somebody that gives us purpose and destiny," Osteen, who pastors one of the largest churches in America, responds. "Sometimes it's hard for people to say 'how can I believe in something I can't see?' But it's what you choose to believe, through faith."
A wide-eyed Freeman resistantly listens as Osteen speaks.
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"When Jesus came He said, 'I want you to come to me.' So I tell people, 'You can talk to God all through the day like you talk to your friend, in your thoughts you can say, God thank you for this day," he continued. "I think God can be as involved in your life as much as you want Him to be. That's what we try to teach people to get God out of your Sunday morning box."
Freeman responded, "God has been a lot of things to a lot of people and now here you're making God personal, approachable, helpful."
During the segment, clips of people at Lakewood Church worshipping were displayed. Osteen's wife, Victoria, is also featured on the show telling the congregation that God lives inside of everyone and she urged them to tap into that "spiritual life."
The Osteen portion of the program closed with Freeman calling the thousands of congregants worshipping a "show." He seemed mesmerized with the celebration of God, describing it as people's own personal experience with God.
"This is clearly a faith in the God in you, your inspiration, your power," Freeman eerily stated in closing.
During a recent promotional interview, Freeman spoke of Pastor Osteen and his experience at Lakewood Church, and he maintained that it left a positive impression on him.
"In a Houston megachurch I connected somewhat," Freeman told Page Six. "Encouraged to think positive. You don't just get some things just like that! You have to go do it to get it. God's plan for us is to succeed."
The actor does not consider himself to be a Christian but rather he describes himself as a "privatist," saying that "all of life is this planet. Life ever after is here."
He admitted that going to church as a child was not appealing, "I went to churches and synagogues, only it never caught hold. At 13, I stopped."
So far "The Story of God" series serves as an intriguing exploration of one influential man's discovery of faith while journeying around the world. The six-part miniseries airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on the National Geographic Channel (NGC), chronicling Freeman's journey across 20 cities in seven different countries in a quest to find answers to the mysteries of faith. The miniseries is a collaboration with Revelations Entertainment and the NGC.
To watch last week's episode or for more information on "The Story of God" with Freeman, visit www.natgeotv.com.
