Harvest Online ::: News

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Aug. 11, 2005-Southern California pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie joined three other leading U.S. pastors for a lively conversation with CNN television host Larry King in the Los Angeles studio of Larry King Live on Aug. 4. Broadcast around the world, the program was billed as "megapastors discussing the meaning of Christianity," and included Laurie, Max Lucado (Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas), Rod Parsley (World Harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio), and Michael Youssef (Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Ga.).

Pastor Greg Laurie with Larry King and Pastor Rod Parsley in CNN's Los Angeles Studio

The topics presented during the one-hour program were varied and plentiful, allowing Laurie and the other pastors to give spiritual perspectives about social and political issues, and to speak boldly about matters of Christian faith in response to King's pointed questions.

On Pain and Suffering
Speaking with King about why God allows terrorism, pain, and suffering, Laurie said, "You know, Larry, I had a lady come into our office on Sunday morning after our [church] service, and she has breast cancer. And it was that suffering that got her attention to get her to come back to church and to start seeking a spiritual life and getting right with God."

Laurie continued, "And I think of the psalmist who writes, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray. But now I have kept your word." And CS Lewis said, "God whispers to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain. Pain is God's megaphone."

"How do you know it's not a crutch?" King replied to Laurie. "I mean, I've got breast cancer. I've got to pray something. You know—every believer in the fox hole."

Laurie responded, "Thank God for that crutch. Larry, He's not a crutch to me, He's a whole hospital."

King acknowledged the relevance of Laurie's statement with a chuckle and a nod, and said, "Good line. Write that one down."

The End Times
During the program, Laurie answered questions from callers about heaven and whether the human race is entering the final days before the return of Christ. Laurie responded to a caller from Oxford, Ohio on the latter, saying, "I believe [Christ] is coming back. And I believe there are signs of the times. And I think you can look at this conflict in the Middle East right now.

And it's interesting to consider the fact that the Bible says that in the last days the conflict will be in the Middle East, and specifically around the city of Jerusalem there were gatherings of the Jewish people in the promised land. Returning once again was a fulfillment of prophecy. And then their isolation. And the fact that the world has largely turned against them, these are the signs of the times."