Pastor Joel Osteen is known as a preacher who stays positive, friendly, and encouraging in his sermons. This approach often leads to Christians saying he is afraid to tackle and tough issues in the church, which is something he does not feel called to do.

"I think the challenge for me that you have to overcome is they want to go to the hot button issues and for some people, that's not what my ministry's about or what I'm about," Osteen told The Blaze. "It's just not my focus, so for me it's easy for me to walk away from an interview and for people to think, 'That's just the guy who's against gays or against some other hot button issue.'"

The Lakewood Church pastor believes his calling is to interpret scripture for his congregation, and teach people to love God and their neighbor. He said that "balance" is what his message is about.

"I'd rather get criticized for who I am ... this is just who I am. This is the path I'm supposed to take," he continued. "There's different approaches. I just know that my gift is encouragement, hopefully to uplift people."

Osteen also recently chatted with Huffington Post about the term "prosperity minister."

"I don't like that term, I never knew what it meant," he said. "It means someone who talks about money all the time. I don't do that. I specifically stay away because people are already skeptical."

Osteen feels being wealthy, rich, or prosperous has a whole different meaning in his life. He looks at his blessings and the life he leads as a sign of success for him.

"But if I go back and say, prosperity to me it's having good relationships, having health, accomplishing your dreams, it's having money to pay your bills, it's being blessed so you can be a blessing," he told Huff Post.

He tackled the popular stigma that Christians need to be humbled by poverty or not having what they need so they live on faith. The pastor said real Christians do not have to be poor, and can be strong leaders in their community and do great works for the Lord.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that. God wants you to succeed," he said about Christians with money. His wife Victoria chimed in and said being rich is knowing "are you happy, do you love your family?"

See the interview here.