Pastor Joel Osteen explains church's Harvey response in Sunday service

Joel Osteen is trying to take the high road.

The televangelist devoted his Sunday sermon to Harvey's devastation and the recent deluge of criticism after his Houston megachurch temporarily closed its doors during the deadly storm.

"Harvey came, but it didn't take us out," Osteen said, after congregants listened to a live band accompanied by a light show. "We are going to come out of this stronger than before."

Lakewood Church closed as the storm slammed southeastern Texas, but reopened Tuesday.

By then, the church and its pastor had received national scrutiny and scorn.

"There's been so much misinformation about the church last week I wanted to clarify a few things," Osteen said, as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

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The building previously flooded in 2001, Osteen said. Floodgates were later installed, but the water came within a foot or two of breaching the walls.

"If we had opened the building earlier and someone was injured, or perhaps it flooded and people lost their lives, that would be a whole different story," Osteen said during a six-minute speech. "I'm at peace with taking the heat for being precautious, but I don't wanna take the heat for being foolish."

Osteen relied on Biblical lessons in describing his predicament.

"This is not just an attack on me, it's an attack on what we stand for — for faith, for hope, for love," he said. "Jesus even said, 'When the world hates you, remember: it hated me first.'"

Osteen admitted to ignoring social media criticism.

"I know y'all love me," he told his supporters. "You need to get on social media."

He also compared himself to the Bible's David, citing Psalms 35: "I am attacked by people I don't even know," Osteen said. "David, I feel your pain, and you didn't have social media, David."

Sunday's services drew up to 1,200 worshippers — down significantly from the usual turnout of 16,000, the Houston Chronicle reports.

With News Wire Services

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