PASTOR of Lakewood Church in America Joel Osteen has said that he believes Mitt Romney is a Christian.
In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Osteen said as long as the likely GOP presidential nominee believes that Jesus is the Son of God then he subscribes to the Christian faith.
“When I hear Mitt Romney say that he believes that Jesus is the Son of God–that he’s the Christ, raised from the dead, that he’s his Savior–that’s good enough for me,” Osteen said in the interview.
Osteen has also said that Mormons fall under the Christian tent although he said the Mormon faith is ‘not traditional Christianity.’
“Mormonism is a little different, but I still see them as brothers in Christ,” the pastor argued.
Romney’s faith has largely remained an outlier in this presidential cycle, though some have expressed skepticism at the likely Republican nominee’s religious views.
Although Christians do not subscribe to the view that Mormons are followers of Christ, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints identify themselves as Christians.
However, recent polls show a majority of Americans are open to having a Mormon as president.
Interestingly, even Barack Obama had to face heat over his faith. A small minority of Americans continue to question whether President Barack Obama is a Christian.
In the CNN interview, Osteen also came in support of Obama.
Countering the speculation, Osteen said Tuesday he has spent time with the president and has no doubt about his faith.
“I believe with all my heart that he’s a Christian, as he says he is,” Osteen said.
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