Los Angeles, Jan 11 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Pastor Joel Osteen, leader of Houston’s Lakewood Church, has categorically stated that being gay is a sin. The pastor was speaking to Oprah Winfrey as part of his promotion of the book Everyday a Friday.

Osteen however stated that GOD’s mercies endures for all manners of sin so homosexuals still have the chance to repent and see their sins forgiven. He was quick to point that homosexuality is no bigger sin that all the other sins.

He told Oprah that, “You have to have forgiveness for your sins but sometimes we look at gay being, you know, a bigger sin than being proud or being, you know, not telling the truth. I don’t think God categorizes sins. To think we are all going to be without one sin; I hope that’s true, but I don’t think any of us would make it to heaven.”

He explained that when people are able to repent, they can move on with their life. To defend his view that homosexuality is a sin, Osteen turned to the scriptures as his proof. Osteen’s comment is consistent with an interview that he had with CNN’s Pierce Morgan.

Osteen is a regarded as a “positive” pastor who always seeks to bring out the best in his congregation by providing them with uplifting messages.