I can assure you that I've been to Hillsong quite a few times and have heard the gospel accurately preached. Yes, including the mention of sin and the cross.
Most readers will be aware that I have a long list of grievances with Hillsong Church in Australia. Unlike the many grievances based on their financial practices, I have focussed on their understanding and proclamation of the Christian Gospel. Among my many grievances has been one that I didn't think even Hillsong defenders would argue with - the necessity to preach repentance (you know, turning away from sin). In fairness to Hillsong it is difficult to preach repentance when you never talk about sin. Why do I think that even Hillsong defenders would not argue against this particular grievance? Because they affirm the necessity of repentance on Hillsong's own doctrine statement which says:
We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and the 'new birth' we must repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives.
So let's take a look at the video Troy chose to support his claims and alleviate my fears. Pay close attention to Joel A'Bell's focus on repentance in this video:
The Journey [Discovering Christianity] from Hillsong Church on Vimeo.
Troy, I have to ask why you would use that video to argue against what I have been saying? It actually affirms almost everything I've said. So much missing information I don't know where to begin. Who is this God? Why do I need His forgiveness? What cross? Why did Jesus need to die that I can get this gift? Why do I need this gift? Why don't I deserve it? What is this gift? etc etc
On a purely logical level it creates many more questions than it answers. But once again I'll zero in on one point because it is a part of Hillsong's own doctrine statement. The necessity of repentance from sin in order to receive salvation. Where in this video did Joel speak of our need to repent or turn away from our sinful life. Of course it is difficult for Joel to do this when he never even defines sin.
Come on Troy, I am not being a nit picking monster, this is basic Christianity! Instead of arguing with me over this why don't you challenge the Hillsong leadership over this. The more this gets voiced the better the chance that they might repent and start preaching Christianity - which would be a wonderful blessing to their vast audience.
7 comments:
I did send you links to a Robert Fergusson sermon that I thought was ok ... but you thought it was rubbish.
Sorry Newtaste, then Troy was the second to send me something. Still haven't been sent anything even close to the Gospel. Did I talk about it on an earlier blog post?
No, I don't think you mentioned it.
Yesterday on Sydney radio there was a 7 minute interview with a woman who says her son was cured of multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy and a loss of neurological functions after she prayed to Mary MacKillop. MacKillop is about to be Australia's new 'saint'. At no time during the interview did the mother mention God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. She did say she had a vision of MacKillop who helped her put her son back into bed one day. There numerous stories like this of Catholics putting their faith in a deceased 'saint' or a living 'mystic' rather than having direct faith in God.
Hillsong doesn't believe in any of that. Neither do you. Neither would you say the Rosary, and neither does Hillsong.
I think your beliefs are closer to Hillsong than the Catholic Church.
A couple of scriptures come to mind.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:21-23
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1Corinthians 6:9-11
I have been around for long enough to know that there are numerous people in our churches - including in leadership who are openly sinning, disobeying God's commands, deceiving themselves that they are saved. No wonder outsiders look in and simply write Christians off as hypocrites.
This is thanks to the inadequate, and unscriptural Gospel preached by churches like Hillsongs. What they are doing is very serious. Repentance is so central to the contents of the gospel - any study of scripture will bear this out.
I think Troy is missing the whole point because this video just affirms Camerons points. This video and the fact that 1000's of christians would see nothing wrong with it saddens me. I was shocked to find that when Joel got saved he learned that "God was real and Jesus came to earth" wow how underwhelming. Joels explanation of why Jesus came really blew me away. We found it "difficult to communicate with God" thats why Jesus came "so we could understand now how to relate to God" and I thought he came to save us from eternal damnation.
There is no talking of repentance from sins, judgement and the holiness of God is abscent in that video. With other words that video does not contain the Gospel at all.
Josef, Göteborg/ Sweden.
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