In my last post I asked the following question about the Scripture quote of 2 Chronicles 7:14 on the back cover of the booklet in The Hillsong CD "Live - Mighty To Save" CD. See if you can figure out what is wrong with this Bible quotation:
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Did you work out the problem with this verse, as quoted by Hillsong church? It's actually been edited. This perverted verse is incomplete and is missing the words marked in bold print:
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
If you remember from my previous post, I discussed the complete absence of repentance from Hillsong's gospel presentation, even though their faith statement maintains the necessity of repentance. The failure to preach repentance from sin is not only plain wrong, it is also blatantly hypocritical of their own theology, and possibly explains the missing words from 2 Chronicles 7:14 - words that speak specifically of repentance.
This is just plain disgraceful but I don't think we'll see sackcloth and ashes on sale in the Hillsong bookshop anytime soon. There is no excuse for taking a scalpel to Scripture like this. It is bad enough when people quote verses out of context. How much worse to delete words out of a verse and print it as if that is what 2 Chronicles 7:14 says. The text does not even contain a ... to show that the verse has been abbreviated.
In closing I wanted to submit another verse for Hillsong to consider in their next Scripture vandalism project:
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book (Revelation 22:18-19).
I have maintained radio silence for too long about the false gospel that Hillsong propogates on such a massive scale in the land of my birth. I will continue on Monday where I will be discussing my private correspondence with Hillsong church. Stay tuned!
11 comments:
My John MaCarthur study Bible also adds the following vereses as warninngs against altering the biblical text(Dt 4:2;12:32; Pr 30:6; Jer 26:2) Thank you for your insight Cameron and all you hard work on this topic! It brings to mind one final verse(And that from childhood you have know the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,for reproof,for correction,for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be adequate,equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17)
I wonder if Hillsong realizes that their actions are taking them to hell.
Excellent posts Cameron. Thanks for bringing Hillsong to attention. I know they have many followers. I pray that many people will "stumble" onto your blog and read this!
has anybody contacted Hillsong to see if this was deliberate or an error? Or have we all prejudged them guilty?
Anonymous, I can assure you that I have had correspodence with Hillsong and it will be published in my next 2 posts starting Monday. The person who wrote back to me was Robert Fergusson who is their second main preacher after Brian Houston. They are now very aware of the discrepancy! My e-mail made it all the way up their chain of command. Be sure to check this blog on Monday and Wednesday!
To Anonymous I know we should not go around jumping to conclusions. But don't you think it would be hard to accidentally make the error of leaving out 5 words from one sentence?
Don't stop posting such themes. I love to read articles like this. Just add some pics :)
heath - nothing is impossible when you are working against the clock to make something happen at the last minute. It wouldn't surprise me for a minute if this was an error. Think of it this way - if there was a deliberate aim to mislead, then WHY have lyrics that are all good, great quotations from the bible all the way through, and then right at the back have this? and why no other evidence of this in their other material? It's just not consistent, ergo looks like an accident to me.
I am saddened that the church's biggest enemy is the church... Hillsong isn't perfect but they are no better/worse than others I have seen. To so quickly leap to condemn is just wrong.
cameron: glad that you're in touch with them! Will watch to see what the outcome is. Someday we can also discuss the various styles of gospel presentations, and how effectively anybody can cover it all in 5 min. Not that I'm a fan of hillsong's supposed method.
With blogs like these there is always an underlined issue. Especially when there is finger pointing involved..... So Cameron, share with us what it is......Who or what is disturbing so much that Hillsong has become the victims.... If it's the enemy..... well then start rebuking him...... and then deal with the Hillsong thing if is still bugs you that much.....
JC don't you think that a gospel presentation that is false and even violates their own doctrine statement is a serious issue? Also, don't you think that altering Scripture is disgraceful? God ends the book of Revelation with a curse on such behavior . . .
Rev 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,
Rev 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Eph 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
So JC, the question is not whether I am finger pointing over a petty issue. It is whether I am telling the truth about the Gospel. I offered a biblical critique of Hillsong's theology and I would appreciate it if you extended me the same courtesy.
What a great resource!
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