Hillsong Church, Relevance & Pariahs...declined to give the church's position on same-sex marriage

The Aquilla Report ^ | October 20, 2014 | Mark Tooley

[Gamecock]

YBPDLN* Ping List Ping!

The YBPDLN Ping List is generally published infrequently but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors posts can spike for a season. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me.

Because 18,000 People Can’t Be Wrong!

*YBPDLN=Your Best Purpose Driven Life Now

[HokieMom]

I love Hillsong’s worship music. I’ve seen them in concert and hope to see them again.

[exit82]

Silence is consent.

And Jesus does not like the lukewarm.

[Fido969]

If it’s not the church’s place to tell anyone how to live, then what is the church’s purpose?

Collect tithes.

[Dutchboy88]

"Hmmm. If it’s not the church’s place to tell anyone how to live, then what is the church’s purpose? Entertainment? Affirmation? Socialization?"

Fundraising.

[Gamecock]

A few years ago there was a lot of debate among the Prods here regarding the adaptation of buzzwords and phrases by the church. Calvinists and many conservative Prods came out against these buzz phrases because we said they cause ambiguity in the message. We were shouted down for not being pragmatic enough. Not wanting to reach the world.

The phrase relevance is one of those terms. Who defines relevance? Relevant to whom? The most relevant message we have is that Jesus died for sinners. Instead, in this instance, relevant is being driven by the world and this “pastor” is afraid to preach from the whole counsel of God.

[circlecity]

“stay relevant” = “keep the money rolling in.” By whatever means necessary

[WayneS]

Hillsong's pastor, stressing the church's need to stay relevant, declined to give the church's position on same-sex marriage

So the primary purpose of this church is to "stay relevant"?

Relevant to what? Relevant to whom?

[Truthsearcher]

Somebody should remind them the word of C.S. Lewis.

To be relevant with the times, don’t focus on the times, focus on eternity. Because “All That Is Not Eternal Is Eternally Out Of Date”

[Alex Murphy]

If it’s not the church’s place to tell anyone how to live, then what is the church’s purpose? Entertainment? Affirmation? Socialization? And if it’s not the church’s role to counsel how to live, then who or what should? Perhaps it’s the central message of our age that each autonomous individual chooses his/her own path without reference to others.

[StoneWall Brigade]

There Music is great but that’s as far as it goes.

[.45 Long Colt]

I see the same spirit behind both Osteen and Bergoglio (or any other pope for that matter) and he’s not the Holy Spirit.

[Maudeen]

PERHAPS HILLSONG NEEDS TO OPEN THE BIBLE

“When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (II Tim 4:1, 3-4

“1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. AND FROM SUCH PEOPLE TURN AWAY.” (II Tim. 3:1-5)

“3knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (II Peter 3:3-4)

9”Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:9-12)

[Gamecock]

Fruit of the ecumenical movement!

[fishtank]

When you "see them again",

let us know what you see.

[SoFloFreeper]

....the ministry’s leader, Brian Houston....[said] "...the world’s changing and we want to stay relevant as a church. So that’s a vexing thing. You think, ‘How do we not become a pariah?’"

Wow. Brian, did you ever read the New Testament? Ever notice what happened to Paul, John, or Jesus?

This seems to border on heresy.

[opus86]

This business of 'relevance' has been a buzzword in evangelicalism for awhile. I'm not sure how absolute truth and the reality of eternity aren't relevant to everyone.

That said, I'll give these Hillsong guys the benefit of the doubt somewhat...I think they don't want sound bites out in the media saying, 'Hillsong is anti-gay!', 'Hillsong opposed to gay marriage',etc., thinking that if they can get homosexuals in the doors of the church they might be receptive to the gospel. Whether that works or not is up for debate I suppose.

[metmom]

I love their music as well but this is very disturbing.

Church’s should not be “relevant”. They are by nature, NOT relevant.

Being in the world but not of it is what we’re called to. If Christians don’t stand up for the truth, nobody is going to. The world sure the heck is not.

[HokieMom]

Yes, I agree, of course.