WHY PASTORS AND CHURCHES NEED TO WARN THEIR FLOCKS AGAINST HILLSONG

WHY PASTORS AND CHURCHES NEED TO WARN THEIR FLOCKS AGAINST HILLSONG

http://hillsongchurchwatch.com/tag/pope/   

RICK WARREN EMBRACES ROMAN CATHOLICSIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6Ha03I1JXlc  

This article will be examining the false claims made by Hillsong’s invited guest speaker Rick Warren, in contrast to some damning evidence put out by the Roman Catholic Church on their 2008 World Youth Day.
We ask again, what god does Hillsong worship? We say this in light of Hillsong embracing pagan religions such as Islam and Roman Catholicism. We say “embracing” because of Brian Houston’s insistence that his movement preaches an inclusive gospel and an inclusive Jesus (a gospel and a Jesus you will not find in the bible).
Recently, Pastor Jordan Hall said the following about Hillsong’s invited guest speaker Rick Warren for next year’s Hillsong Conference 2015:

“What this man [Rick Warren] is demonstrating is that he is not a Christian brother… I think he is wicked folks…”

This is the video that Pastor Jordan Hall was reviewing.
Hear Jordan Hall review Rick Warren’s Roman Catholic promotional video below. This is well worth your while.

Rick Warren Anathematizes Self (Listen)
Rick Warren Anathematizes Self (Download)

When this video was published on FaceBook by Catholic News Service, Dan Phillips from the Pyromaniacs blog commented on the above video.

“Absolutely appalling. What a wretched failure of Christian leadership… to say nothing of basic Christian fundamentals. God grant him repentance, and God spare others from being misled.”
Source: Dan Phillips, FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152421040155723&comment_id=10152422050505723&offset=0&total_comments=361, 28 November at 00:25.

Those that are being mislead are those that will be attending Hillsong Conference 2015 next year. What makes Hillsong conference so dangerous is that they are brazenly declare in their marketing gimmicks that Hillsong are hearing from God.
Their “SPEAK – WE’RE LISTENING” campaign is supposedly based on the prophet Samuel hearing from God in 1 Samuel 3:10. However, their choice of immoral and deceitful teachers are a clear indication that the Hillsong leadership are definitely not hearing from God and that they have no clue what a fine bible teacher looks like. One corrupt teacher they are still allowing to speak at Hillsong Conference 2015 is Rick Warren.

Houston claims Hillsong Conference are hearing from God and are bringing “the finest Bible teachers”

You know something is wrong with Driscoll when he is invited to speak at Hillsong Conference…

We remind you again that it was Tony Palmer that said to Kenneth Copeland’s Word of Faith cult that, “Brothers and sisters, Luther’s protest is over. Is yours?“
Well according to Rick Warren it is. And according to Hillsong it is. Why? Because they don’t stand for Jesus and His gospel. If they knew the Christian faith, they wouldn’t be pointing Christians to be “coming home to Rome” and worshiping their deity.

“Pillar of FIRE…” WYDSYD08 booklet

In our article on Hillsong embracing Roman Catholicism (Part 4), we went to great lengths exposing how Hillsong and the Roman Catholic church are grooming Christians and churches to embrace Rome.
Furthermore, we covered the fact that Hillsong had no issue leading thousands of Roman Catholics at World Youth Day in “worship”.
However, if you were in the city of Sydney in 2008, you could not escape the litter of small World Youth Day pamphlets titled “Pillar of FIRE, Pillar of TRUTH”.
This booklet specifically defines the difference between the Roman Catholic Church religion from Christianity, teaching what it means to be a true Roman Catholic.
The relevant pages below refute Rick Warren’s argument that Christians and Roman Catholics have “more in common”. After browsing the below booklet, Christians need to ask the question:

Do I believe Brian Houston, Rick Warren and the Pope that “Luther’s protest is over or are they trying lying to me?”

To give you an idea what is taught in the below booklet, we read,

“Some people promote an especially attractive idea: All true Christians, regardless of how they live, have an absolute assurance of salvation, once they accept Jesus into their hearts as “their personal Lord and Savior.” The problem is that this belief is contrary to the Bible and constant Christian teaching. The Bible makes it clear that Christians have a moral assurance of salvation… but the Bible does not teach that Christians have a guarantee of heaven. There can be no absolute assurance of salvation.” - Pillar of FIRE, Pillar of TRUTH, WYDSYD08, Published by Catholic Answers, Inc. 2008.

To see the content online, click the below link:

Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth

If you have a problem with this material, you have a problem with Rick Warren and Hillsong. Not Christianity.

Hillsong embracing Roman Catholicism and the false social gospel (Part 4)

01 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by churchwatcher in Brian Houston's Beliefs

≈ 80 Comments

Tags
bobbie houston, Brian Houston, Bruce Downes, Catholic, Downes, Hillsong, Hillsong Church, houston, pope, Roman Catholic, Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholicisim, The Catholic Guy

October 31 – Reformation Day. The events leading up to Reformation Day (from Ligonier) were as follows:

Semper deformanda

An heir of Bishop Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther is one of the most significant figures God has raised up since that time. This law student, turned Augustinian monk, became the center of a great controversy after his 95 theses were copied and distributed throughout Europe. Initially protesting the pope’s attempt to sell salvation, Luther’s study of Scripture soon led him to oppose the church of Rome on issues including the primacy of the Bible over church tradition and the means by which we are found righteous in the sight of God.
This last issue is probably Luther’s most significant contribution to Christian theology. Though preached clearly in the New Testament and found in the writings of many of the church fathers, the medieval bishops and priests had largely forgotten the truth that our own good works can by no means merit God’s favor. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, and good works result from our faith, they are not added to it as the grounds for our right standing in the Lord’s eyes (Eph. 2:8-10). Justification, God’s declaration that we are not guilty, forgiven of sin, and righteous in His sight comes because through our faith alone the Father imputes, or reckons to our account, the perfect righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).’
In light of this we ask the question: is Hillsong taking us back to the dark ages? Are we seeing a gospel of inclusion that will eventually embrace the homosexual movement, Islam and Catholicism? An inclusive gospel that doesn’t require preaching the foundational Christian gospel of faith and repentance, a gospel that brought about the Reformation? Has something so subtle been going on that many Christians aren’t even seeing it?
With very little discernment, most Christians today can look at a picture of a golden calf being worshiped and know that this is a sin and an abomination before God.
They would not want anything to do with it, they would not show support to it in any way. They would question both their church and their pastor if they showed support for such blasphemy. Yet exactly the opposite is happening today in Hillsong.

All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Isaiah 44:9

They set up their abominable idols in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. Jeremiah 32:34

What if I was to tell you that Hillsong show support for an ‘idol, a false god, an abomination’? This article will come as a shock to some and will open many eyes to the reality of a modern-day ‘golden calf’.
The problem with Hillsong followers is that they don’t understand what the Catholic Church teaches. 99.9% of them would not even know what the ‘Eucharist’ and ‘Monstrance’ are. If they did, they would realise that it is another ‘Jesus’ that the Roman Catholics follow and worship, it is an idol that they bow down to.
Many people reading this are going to say ‘so what, what’s wrong with Hillsong supporting Catholics?’ To answer that question, we need to cover some basics first.
We need to define what a ‘Protestant Christian’ is. A Protestant Christian is someone who ‘protests’ the Catholic faith, not embraces it or shows support to it.

“Protestantism is a religious movement that encompasses forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with doctrines and religious, political, and ecclesiological impulses of the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation was a movement against what Protestants considered to be the errors of the Roman Catholic Church.^[1] It is one of the largest divisions of Christianity”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism, (Accessed 31/10/2014.)

Some people are going to argue that we should unite as ‘brothers and sisters in Christ’ after all, we all believe in Jesus don’t we? However the Bible says that Jesus brought division not unity and because the Catholic Church has a different doctrine than that of Christ, the Bible says we are not to even greet them or receive them into our house as we share in their evil deeds by doing this.

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you , but division. From now on there will be five in once family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. Luke 12:51-52 (NIV)

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor great him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. John 1:9-11 (Emphasis ours)

I will be showing later in this article how Hillsong show support for this blasphemy. Even if it is out of ignorance that they support this, it still needs to be exposed. The Bible says they are ignorant, to their own shame.

All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Isaiah 44:9

In order to fully understand, next we need to define what a Catholic believes.
Below is Pope John Paul II holding what is called a Monstrance. It is used to display a round wafer of bread, called the ‘host’, ‘victim’ or ‘Eucharist’. It is used in what is called the ‘Mass’, ‘Lord’s Supper’, ‘Communion’ or ‘Eucharistic meal’. The Catholic Church teaches this wafer of bread turns into the actual body of Christ when consecrated by a priest during the Mass, this is the ‘Mystery of the Eucharist’.  This is the Roman Catholic ‘Christ’.

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’, or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. Matthew 24:23

I would encourage anyone reading this to do their own research and see for themselves that this is ‘another Jesus’ – an abomination before the Lord.

“In the eucharistic mystery, renewed on every altar, Jesus makes himself truly present.“
Source: Pope Benedict XVI, Sep 22 2008, Catholic News Service

“The Eucharist is… the perfect fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to remain with us.“
Source: Pope John Paul II, Catholic News Service. Volume: 35 Issue: 7 – 10/23/04

This process of creating the Creator is called Transubstantiation.

How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Psalms 4:2

“The pope told those gathered for the morning Mass that they should be filled with joy knowing that “each day the sacrifice of Christ” will be offered on the new altar…..On this altar, he will continue to sacrifice himself in the sacrament of the Eucharist for our salvation and that of the whole world.”
Source: Pope Benedict XVI, Catholic News Service, Published 22/09/2008.

So now that we have covered some basics, we can see that the Roman Catholic Church have ‘another Jesus’, an idol that they worship and sacrifice to at every Mass.

 You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath…. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. Exodus 20:3-5 (NIV)

How is Hillsong involved in this blasphemy? How do they support it?
In order to answer we need to go back to the beginning….
Even though we have covered this before, it is worth covering it again. This is what Brian Houston had to say when Pope Benedict was elected in 2005.

Brian Houston is calling Christians to pray for and honour a man who claims to be ‘Christ on earth’; promotes idol worship; promotes praying to the dead (Saints); and claims to forgive sin! Yes, we are to pray for our enemies that they may be saved; however we are not to pray for the things that Brian is praying for.
Brian says ‘Pope Benedict XVI is a spiritual and experienced leader and is now head over a significant portion of the Christian community’
Really Brian? Having another god that you sacrifice on every altar is ‘Christian’?
Also, ‘We pray too that this papacy, like those before it, is marked by a commitment to seeing the Christian message continue to go forward and people changed by the power and truth of the Gospel’.
Really Brian? You want to see the ‘Catholic’ Christian message go forward? The same message that teaches that men are to confess their sin to a Priest and not to Jesus for forgiveness, the same message that teaches Mary is a co-redeemer and the same message that by-passes true repentance?
He does say that, ‘Obviously, as Protestants, our views are considerably different to the Pope’s on a number of issues’, but what issues? Do you ever hear Brian speaking out about the Catholic false god?
Next he says, ‘as Protestants we share a common desire to exalt Christ’, but which Christ?  Does Brian mean to exalt the Pope who claims to be ‘Christ on earth’ and to be infallible? Or does he mean exalt the ‘Eucharist’ in a Monstrance, an idol and an abomination before God?

“We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.”
Pope Leo XIII, in an Encyclical letter dated 20/06/1894. (Emphasis ours.)

“The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, hidden under a veil of flesh.”
The Catholic National, July 1895. (Emphasis ours.)

December 12, 1984 the LA Times quoted Pope John Paul II as saying, “Don’t go to God for forgiveness of sins, come to me.”
I am not sure that the Popes would be willing to return the favour and tell Brian Houston that they applaud his commitment to the going forward of the gospel. Because the Popes have declared that there is ‘no salvation outside of the Roman Catholic Church’. http://catholicism.org/category/outside-the-church-there-is-no-salvation
(Then again – Brian Houston teaches something similar.)

“We, as God’s church, become a great net of salvation, bringing answers, hope, and love to those who are yet to believe in him [Jesus].”
Source: Brian Houston, For This I Was Born, Thoman Nelson Publishing, Published 2008, pg. 16.

Next we come to World Youth Day 2008. This was a major Catholic event in Sydney that even the Pope himself attended.
As we covered previously, Hillsong again showed support to the Catholic Church by allowing Darlene Zschech and their youth band ‘United’ to perform and lead worship.

“We see World Youth Day as a great opportunity to serve the Catholic Church in its vision to present the gospel and reach out to our city, our nation and our world in unity.”

Protestant Christians may feel that it was appropriate for Darlene and United to perform at a Catholic event, as they may have the opportunity to share the true gospel message. However by just attending, they align themselves with the Catholic Church and show support for her false gospel teachings.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:11

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)

Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins… Revelation 15:4

Come out of her my people! Run for your lives! Run from the fierce anger of the Lord. Jeremiah 51:45

Here is Darlene Zschech and United performing at World Youth Day 2008.

Source: Uploaded by ReceiveThePowerLive, Official Receive The Power Live (Part 4a), Youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SEWYeO3Gas, Published 11/5/2010. (Accessed 07/09/2014.)

Here is Joel Houston (United) performing at World Youth Day 2008.
Source: Uploaded by ReceiveThePowerLive, Official Receive The Power Live (Part 4d), Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8qbJs24ot0, Published 11/5/2010. (Accessed 07/09/2014.)

At the same event, on the same night and on the same stage that Hillsong performed and led Catholics in worship, Bishop Joe Crech said the following blasphemous statement, while leading Mass (The Sacrifice):

“We are going to bring Jesus here [points to an altar that has been set up] we are going to bring the Blessed Sacrament here and we are going to put Him here [again gestures to the same altar]. Because this ‘god’ wants to be with us, this ‘god’ wants to be among us, this ‘god’ wants to touch us, this ‘god’ wants to heal us. Thank you Lord Jesus! Thank you!” (Emphasis ours)

Source: Uploaded by ReceiveThePowerLive, Youtube, [Official] Receive the power Live (part 10a), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccl0NDMIO4U, Published 11/5/2010. (Accessed 07/09/2014)

Please watch this entire video to see the shocking blasphemy and idol worship that members of Hillsong attended.
Remember from earlier that the ‘Blessed Sacrament’ is another ‘Jesus’ and an idol. Notice it’s not the God of heaven that wants to be with them, touch them and heal them; it’s the ‘idol god’ in the Monstrance, on the altar.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV) (Emphasis added)

In the last video we saw the ‘idol’, the ‘Catholic Jesus’ being brought out and placed on the altar.
This is the ‘jesus’ that Hillsong led Catholics in worship for, whether they knew it or not, they assisted Catholics in worshiping this false god and idol!

Thus saith the LORD, “Learn not the way of the heathen…” Jeremiah 10:2 (KJV)

Cursed is anyone who makes an idol – a thing detestable to the Lord… Deuteronomy 27:15 (NIV)

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NIV)

I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. Isaiah 42:8 (NIV)

They set up their abominable idols in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. Jeremiah 32:34 

The Lord says “These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, nor great him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. 2 John 1:9-11

By Hillsong taking part in this Catholic event, they are sharing in her evil deeds!
After this false ‘god’ is placed on the altar, they burn incense to it.

Yet my people have forgotten me; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stumble in their ways and in the ancient paths… Jeremiah 18:15 

The second commandment:

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them… Exodus 20:4-5 (NKJ)

Most Christians don’t realise that the Catholic Church has taken the 2^nd Commandment out of their Bible and thus changed the Word of God, allowing this idol worship.
This does not seem to bother Hillsong!

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2 (Emphasis added)

How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Psalms 4:2

All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame. Isaiah 44:9 

This is what the current Pope has to say about this idol.

First, the Eucharist affects the way we see others. In his life, Christ manifested his love by being with people, and by sharing their desires and problems. So too the Eucharist brings us together with others – young and old, poor and affluent, neighbours and visitors. The Eucharist calls us to see all of them as our brothers and sisters, and to see in them the face of Christ.
Second, in the Eucharist we experience the forgiveness of God and the call to forgive. We celebrate the Eucharist not because we are worthy, but because we recognize our need for God’s mercy, incarnate in Jesus Christ. In the Eucharist, we renew the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ for the remission of sins, and our hearts are enlarged to receive and show mercy.
Third, in the Eucharistic celebration, we are nourished as the Christian community by Christ’s Word and Life. It is from the Eucharist that the Church receives continually her identity and mission. It is in our celebration that Christ fills us with his grace, so that our lives may be consonant with our worship of God in the Liturgy. Let us live the Eucharist in a spirit of faith and prayer, with the certainty that the Lord will bring to fulfillment all that he has promised.

Source: From Vatican Radio, Pope Francis’ words at his general audience on Wednesday February 12th 2014 http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-eucharist-leads-us-to-help-those-most, Published/Transcribed 12/02/2014. (Accessed 31/10/2014.)

Not only does the Catholic Church teach that Jesus himself is the Eucharist in flesh, but they teach that man is to adore and worship the Eucharist or ‘Blessed Sacrament’. This is worshiping something that is not God and is in fact worshiping a ‘host’ and a ‘sun’. Ask yourself the question, is this the Son of God or a ‘sun god’? Just because you call something ‘Jesus’ does not make it ‘Jesus’.

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8 (NIV) (Emphasis added)

Next, the blasphemy continues at World Youth Day by everyone bowing down before the ‘idol god’ in worship. Again this is the same stage that Hillsong had just performed on!

When was the last time Hillsong spoke out against this sin of idolatry? Instead of speaking out against it, they choose to support it.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV) 

“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them…” Romans 1:32

Below, you can see Pope Benedict at World Youth Day 2008 holding up their ‘another Jesus’ god.

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their FRUIT you will recognize them… Matthew 7:15-16 (NIV)

ROMAN CATHOLICISM PROMOTED AT HILLSONG CONFERENCE 2014
Next we come to Hillsong’s recent ‘No Other Name’ Conference 2014.
Hillsong seem to be going out of their way to help Catholics believe that their ‘jesus’ is the same Jesus of the Bible. Hillsong provided a Catholic Senior Pastoral Leader, so Catholics attending the conference can understand the conference in a Catholic setting!
This is Bruce Downes aka ‘The Catholic guy’. He took a master class at the Sydney Australia 2014 ‘No Other Name’ Conference.

http://shop.thecatholicguy.com/products-page/dvds/flirting-god/

Bruce Downes openly admits that his ‘Jesus’ is in the Eucharist (see below picture of his book). And Hillsong still allowed him to take a Masterclass and speak about a false, blasphemous gospel that by-passes true repentance.

“We meet Jesus in the Eucharist every time we are present. Regardless of how we are feeling about Eucharist, Jesus awaits us in power and with love.”
Source: The Catholic Guy, The Catholic Guy Store, http://shop.thecatholicguy.com/products-page/cds/jesus-present-in-the-eucharist-cd/, Accessed 07/09/2014. (Emphasis added.)

Hillsong’s philosophy simply appears to be this: claim you ‘believe’ in Jesus and no more questions will be asked.
We should be speaking out against this even if it offends. How else will Catholics be saved? They certainly will not be saved at a Hillsong Conference if they are given a Catholic Leader to speak to them. How else will Hillsong turn from their ways?
Again, why are we called ‘Protestants’? Because we Protest the Catholic faith, not embrace it or accept it.
By Hillsong’s own actions and statements, how can they call themselves a Protestant church? By their fruit you will recognize them!

“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them…” Romans 1:32 

YOU DON’T THINK HILLSONG HAS AN AGENDA?
Do you want to know what makes Hillsong worse than Roman Catholicism?
While Hillsong parades itself as a Protestant Christian denomination, Hillsong’s official ‘NO OTHER NAME – Your Hillsong Conference Diary’ say that The Catholic Guy’s Masterclass will be on, ‘Contextualising Hillsong Conference into a Catholic setting’.
Here is the official Hillsong ‘Daily Masterclass Schedule’, showing ‘The Catholic Guy’.

Read the pdf here:

NO OTHER NAME – Your Hillsong Conference Diary

Source: Hillsong Church, Hillsong Conference Diary 2014, http://hillsongconference.com/sydney/HSC14_DIARY_WEB.pdf (viewed 7/9/2014)

So in other words, Hillsong does’t want Catholics to feel uncomfortable. They would not want them to hear the real Gospel of Jesus Christ and possibly be saved. Instead Hillsong prefers to call the Roman Catholic ‘Golden Calf’ deity Jesus too. Remember that Satan manifested himself as a serpent, the most subtle beast of the field. For Hillsong to behave this deceitfully and subtly is flat out satanic.
What’s next? A Muslim leader taking a Masterclass so that Muslims can hear about the Conference in a Muslim setting?
By using a Catholic Snr Leader, Hillsong are saying to all Catholics, that they don’t have a problem with what they believe. In fact Hillsong will even provide support for your faith and your false god.
The following quotes are from a Hillsong email that clearly show where they stand on the matter.

“This year we are excited to announce and personally invite you to a new session called ‘The Catholic Guy’ – Catholics & Hillsong – An Amazing Partnership.”

“Bruce is a committed Catholic who has been deeply affected by Hillsong Church”

“Senior Pastoral Leader Bruce Downes joins us this year to host this session specifically designed for the Catholics at conference”

“In this session, he will help you take the experience of Hillsong Conference and interpret it into your Catholic world”

“…you will be inspired to hear about Bruce’s ministry and influence today and his practical hints on transferring topics like vision casting, excellence, team, culture and evangelism into the Catholic church context.”

 Source: Google groups, forum: worship lifestyle, forwarded email from Hillsong conference registrations department, https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/worship-lifestyle/OvQ5wkVPZvc (Accessed 08/10/2014.) (Emphasis added.)

Below you can see a screen shot of The Catholic Guy’s FaceBook photo, advertising of his master class.

Source: the Catholic Guy, the Catholic Guy’s photos, FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/theCatholicGuyMinistry/photos/pb.88750959996.-2207520000.1414744042./10150403114834997/?type=3&theater, Published 01/07/2014. (Accessed 31/10/2014.)

Below, you can see ‘The Catholic Guy’ Instagram screen shot showing him taking his Hillsong Masterclass.

http://instagram.com/p/p7MSUPGoT1/
Furthermore, how will Catholics know to turn from their blasphemous, graven images and idols when Hillsong uses these same images to promote their 2014 ‘No other Name’ conference?

Source: Hillsong Image Source: Hillsong City Campus/Syd, 2014 Conference advertisement, facebook, https://www.facebook.com/HillsongCity/photos/pb.259165110795160.-2207520000.1408936643./764804073564592/?type=3&theater, Published 17/05/2014. (Accessed 09/10/14.)

God is so clear on the issue of pagan idolatry and Hillsong clearly does not care.

… so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman… Deuteronomy 4:16 (NIV)

It’s a sad, sad day when Hillsong has ‘become corrupt’ and use for themselves ‘an image’ that is forbidden by God. When Hillsong put ‘No Other Name’ on a blasphemous graven image of the Roman Catholic cult, they are saying ‘this is our God’.
This image of the ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’ is an image of yet another idol that the Catholic Church teaches is to be worshiped. it is another abomination. This is what the Catholic Church teaches about this image of the ‘Sacred Heart’.

“How appropriate this is, for devotion to the Eucharist and to the Sacred Heart are in fact one thing, inseparable”. Source: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0947.htm, Accessed 31/10/2014. (Emphasis ours.)

“Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus infallibly leads souls to the Eucharist…..So it is that the Sacred Heart, the Holy Eucharist, and Love itself, are one and the same thing.”
Source: http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0947.htm, Accessed 31/10/2014. (Emphasis ours.)

Once again the scriptures say,

The images of their gods you are to burn in the fire. Do not covet the silver and gold on them, and do not take it for yourselves, or you will be ensnared by it, for it is detestable to the Lord your God. Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction. Deuteronomy 7:26-26 NIV (Emphasis added)

The devotion to the Sacred Heart is the same as the devotion the Eucharist! When Christianity is confronted with idolatry, Hillsong not only tells Christians not to “Regard it as vile [or to] utterly detest it” as God clearly instructs. Hillsong uses that pagan idolatry for their own devotional and promotional material. Are they not showing that they are setting themselves apart for destruction?
This next picture is a screen shot of Bobbie Houston’s personal Instagram. It shows Hillsong’s ‘devotional’ booklet with the image of the Sacred Heart. Next to that is a picture of a Catholic devotional for comparison.

Source: Bobbie Houston, Instagram photo, Instagram, http://instagram.com/p/oN0G_voY8t/?modal=true, Published 20/05/2014 (Accessed 25/8/2014.)

Source: Other image above – Catholic devotion, http://www.fatima.org/essentials/whatucando/sac&immhrts/tocdevsac&immhrts.asp.

Whether it was intentional or out of ignorance, by putting ‘No Other Name’ and ‘Devotional’ on such a graven image, Hillsong are saying our God is the same as the Roman Catholic god. They may as well be using a picture of a Monstrance and putting ‘No Other Name’ on it.
Some people may say that Hillsong did not intentionally use an image of the Catholic ‘Sacred Heart’. Well if there is any doubt, in this next Hillsong ‘No Other Name’ promotional video, it shows that not only did they intentionally use this graven image but they made the ‘Sacred Heart’ beat (at 45sec in video).
They also include several other blasphemous Catholic idols and images with the name of Jesus. (See below screen grabs from the video.)
Notice the creepy church worship underneath the video (emphasis added):

There is NO OTHER NAME whereby men and women find their salvation, sense of purpose and eternal homecoming.

Hillsong Conference exists to champion the cause of the local Church across the earth. She exists to water the divine potential within pastors and leaders and believers alike so that together we can each know and fulfil The Great Commission given by Christ in Mathew 28.

Source: Youtube, Hillsong Church, No Other Name Hillsong Conference 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-YQRANOvhE, published 2/7/2013 (Accessed 07/09/2014)

Why is the ‘No Other Name’ campaign promoting Roman Catholic pagan idolatry?

But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 NIV (Emphasis Added)

“…However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:8

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 in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:22-23

Below are two photos from Hillsong’s facebook page of the Hillsong Conference, USA, 18 October 2014. These photos show Bobbie Houston with Catholic, graven images of the ‘Sacred Heart’. It’s not like they are trying to hide it!

Source: Hillsong Church, Conference photos, FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/hillsongchurch/phot/10/14os/a.10153244760415410.1073741867.95374650409/10153244761325410/?type=1&theatre, Published 18/10/14. (Accessed 21/10/14.)

Source: Hillsong Church, Conference photos, FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/hillsongchurch/photos/a.10153244760415410.1073741867.95374650409/10153244762770410/?type=1&theatre, Published 18/10/14. (Accessed 21/10/14.)

Is it just a coincidence that Hillsong also used a photo of the Vatican in their 2014 Conference ‘No Other Name’ Conference advertisement? You decide.

Source: Hillsong Newcastle, Conference advertisement, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/hillsongnewcastle/photos/pb.170870839743187.-2207520000.1408940430./317317051765231/?type=3&theater, Published 05/06/2014 (Accessed 25/08/2014.)

Source: Hillsong Hills Campus/Sydney, Conference advertisement, facebook, https://www.facebook.com/HillsongHills/photos/pb.211290442270334.-2207520000.1408936424./673536412712399/?type=3&theater, Published 14/05/2014 (Accessed 25/08/2014.)

It breaks my heart that Hillsong has compromised their beliefs so much that they are using such blasphemy. It breaks my heart that this article has to even be written.
This is not an article to point a finger at a Church, it is an article to call a church to repentance. It’s not a matter of proving a point, it’s a matter of eternal salvation or eternal damnation.
This article is not written with a grudge, it is not written out of spite, it is written with a broken heart.

Better is open rebuke that hidden love. Proverbs 27:5 (NIV)

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 1 Timothy 5:20 (ESV)

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV)

Hillsong embracing Roman Catholicism and the false social gospel (Part 3)

07 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by churchwatcher in Brian Houston's Beliefs, Hillsong Fascism, News Headlines

≈ 20 Comments

Tags
ACC, AOG, Assemblies of God, Assemblies of God Australia, Brian Houston, Hillsong, houston, pope

Pope Frances has been pushing the “miracle of unity” and is hoping to fulfill his “god-given” vision by uniting the ‘Protestant’ church and the Roman Catholic Church. People are watching with concern Kenneth Copeland, John and Carol Arnott, Joel Osteen and many others embrace the Pope as “their pope”. (We will be looking more into this later.
We’ve heard Christians scoff that it wont happen here in Australia. Especially in Sydney.
…
Think again.
Back in 2005, the AOG/Hillsong released this statement from Brian Houston.

PRAYING FOR NEWLY ELECTED POPE

National President of the Assemblies of God in Australia, Brian Houston, has congratulated the election of Pope Benedict XVI as the leader of the world’s Catholics.
Pastor Houston said the shoes of the charismatic and endearing Pope John Paul II, who taught the world so much through his life and his subsequent suffering, would be difficult to fill.

“Pope John Paul II left an indelible mark on the world, and we pray for Pope Benedict as he takes on the leadership mantle of the Catholic Church and navigates the challenges and opportunities facing the global Church in the 21st century,” Ps Houston said.

“It is important for all of us to honour and pray for anyone in a position of leadership and authority. Pope Benedict XVI is a spiritual and experienced leader and is now head over a significant portion of the Christian community, so we will pray for wisdom in his immensely influential role,” he said.

“We pray too that this papacy, like those before it, is marked by a commitment to seeing the Christian message continue to go forward and people changed by the power and truth of the Gospel.

“Obviously, as Protestants, our views are considerably different to the Pope’s on a number of issues however, we share a common desire to exalt Christ and serve our community to the best of our ability.”

Source: Brian Houston, Praying for newly elected pope, Assemblies of God Australia, (Affiliated with ACC), 21/04/2014. (Accessed 14/11/2013.)

(Source – PDF:AOG/Hillsong: Brian Houston statement – Praying for newly elected pope)

Is Hillsong ready to take Christianity back to Rome?

An Accurate Account Of The Hillsong Phenomena & An Insider Look At Their Take-Over Of GCCC

20 Saturday Apr 2013

Posted by churchwatcher in News Headlines, Uncategorized

≈ 15 Comments

Tags
amway, amway diamond, bill hybels, Brian Houston, circus, coercion, Copeland, cult, finances, Gardeb City Christian Church, GCCC, Gloria Copeland, heresy, heretic, Hillsong United, houston, Hybels, Jeremy Pearson, Jeremy Pearsons, Jerry Saville, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Meyer, money, money preacher, New Age, Osteen, Pearson, Pearsons, pope, prosperity cult, prosperity gospel, Prosperity teacher, rick warren, Roman Catholicism, Saville, Schuller, seeker sensitive, sham, Sisterhood, T D Jakes, TD Jakes, warren, Willow Creek Church, word of faith, word of faith cult, word of faith heresy

Christian Witness Ministries publishes,

Why I Left Hill$ong Campus

Written by Lance Goodall

by Lance Goodall

Franchised:

I was an active member of Garden City Christian Church (GCCC) for 9 years from March 2001 to October 2009, under the leadership of Bruce Hills, pastor.

It was a great surprise to me, and to many others, that there was about to be a take- over by Hillsong.

After his return from 3 months leave, Bruce Hills was told by the board of GCCC in November 2008, that they wanted a pastor who was more of a CEO to run the church.¹

By his own confession Bruce was told to resign.²

This begs the questions, “How long had the board been thinking of changing the leadership?” And who contacted whom? Did Brian Houston contact GCCC, or did the current assistant pastor Steve Dixon (SD) pick up the phone and raise the matter with Hillsong?

Brian Houston became Brisbane’s senior pastor under the guidance, leadership and affirmation of assistant pastor SD and the board of GCCC. So called “campus pastor” Steve Dixon according to a report in the Courier Mail was at the time unsure how long he would remain part of the pastoral team.³

Another question that begs an answer is, “Why did the elders and board members of GCCC unanimously endorse the “takeover” by Hillsong and Brian Houston as senior pastor without investigating Hillsong for themselves?” On the day of the members’ vote, a number of the elders stood on stage and testified that they had never ventured south to attend even one Hillsong conference in Sydney, yet they were backing this change all the way!

Members and adherents of GCCC weren’t given any opportunity to make any suggestions, nor was there any open discussion of leadership alternatives. The decision had been made. GCCC members were simply presented with one leadership appointment, and asked to vote.

There had been only one side of the story told. The information was always presented in a positive light, with little opportunity to question, or linger on doubts. Any questions raised were screened and well managed. I have since learned this is a technique used by the business world to manage change. There had been more spin over the pulpit in God’s name, during these months, than found in your average Colgate commercial.

Once the decision was made, GCCC became an instant “franchise” of Hillsong. The Church is now market driven under the guise of being – “purpose driven”.

Identity Crisis:

GCCC has totally lost its identity!

Without a moment to breathe, the leadership from Sydney suddenly arrived putting their stamp on this new way to “do church”. We were presented with a spokesman for this, and a spokesman for that. We even had a special “Money Preacher” to encourage and remind us of the need to tithe and give generously. Such coercion from a “church” viz Hillsong, which is a juggernaut financially, with a turnover of of $50 million plus a year⁴ is neither godly nor, in my opinion, acceptable.

We were no longer just affiliated with strong ties to Hillsong, we became Hillsong!

From day one everything had to change, and it did. For example – there was a fairly new coat of paint on the “church” walls from previous renovations, painted to a modern grey. Yet within days of the signs, and the optic fibre going in the carpark, the auditorium was repainted to the colour of the other Hillsong churches. Why spend the money?

As part of the takeover we had the celebrity gala feast; this one, and that one, from Hillsong Sydney visiting to give their counsel, and ideas. All the rich and famous were given a slot, and place of honour. For those who couldn’t get enough of their Hillsong idols they could now have them visit here in Queensland. With every guest appearance, Brian Houston became more like an Amway Diamond, than a pastor.

Hillsong is run as a Corporation not a church in its operation.

There is no New Testament precedent for this model and certainly not for its duplication.

The Church has taken its cue from Wall Street. It has been offered the kingdoms of this world, and yet instead of denying the flesh, it has embraced the path of least resistance, and in so doing, has denied the cross, and the One who bought us.

J. Edwin Orr pointed out that “seldom does God call one who ministers the Word to the ministry of money making. They are two separate callings.”⁵

By love for the world, we make ourselves an enemy of the cross:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him – 1 John 2:15.

Ambition and Success are the new golden calf.

Warren W. Wiersbe comments;

Few things taint our goodness like covetousness; a desire to be popular, and the ecstatic feeling that comes when we exercise power over the people who give us their idolatrous adoration. When our motives are wrong; our ministry is wrong; and the consequences are tragic for us, for those who follow us and for the whole church.⁶

This is now playing itself out at Hillsong Brisbane.

Seeking to be Sensitive:

The Hillsong way actually follows to the letter what is known as the Seeker Sensitive or Church Growth Movement model. This model is to help bring “unchurched” sinners into the meetings, and to make them as comfortable as possible with the experience.

• Dress down in clothing and style. Jeans are the new formal wear;
• Low mood lighting similar to a bar or nightclub. In Brisbane campus, it is so dimly lit it appears like night time, yet it’s 10:30 am in the morning. Quite a contrast especially in Queensland when the sun is up at 5:30 am;
• Secular music is played as background music prior to the start of the service. eg The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony;
• Worship – now accommodates the excitability of the young and the unchurched;
• Music is now more about entertainment than the sole purpose of lifting up our God above all other gods;
• The lyrics (words) of the songs have progressively become “I, me, my” focused instead of Christ Jesus focused – e.g. In Your Freedom I will live;
• Worship is now limited to 20 minutes;
• Big screens are not there for the glory of God. It’s not pictures of creation, but the names and faces of those on stage that are lifted up;
• Hillsong relies on the quality of programmes not the power of the Holy Spirit for transformed lives;
• Preaching is now a standard 20 minute sermonette;
• Preaching on the whole is “relevant” and topical. It is now a people based message to “help” the hearer with their felt-needs e.g. happiness, family , finances, relationships, job, career etc;

This type of pop spirituality effectively teaches:

• Every human being is divine or basically good;
• God’s Word is not really the final authority, but is still useful as a moral guide;
• The goal of my life is centred on me;
• What I desire determines what happens in my life.

What this type of church model does, is nothing more than increase the numbers of adherents, and leaves the sinner in his sins. The church now has a flock of deceived sheep, or are they in reality misguided goats?

Massaging the Message:

• Messages lack any mention of sin, repentance, prayer, obedience, death to self, holiness, sacrifice, suffering, hell, even God himself.
• Preaching lacks sound doctrine. Closer analysis reveals it is more based around pop psychology, than biblical truth.
• The message has little challenge or need for personal self assessment.

Yet the scripture exhorts us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith – 2 Corinthians 13:5

The preaching frequently includes different Bible versions. This includes The Message, which is a perversion and not a true translation.

• Often this is quoted in church to expound or reveal a greater truth. It is normally thrown up on the big screen for everyone to read. The Message was produced by Eugene Peterson, as a simple paraphase, not as a translation from the original texts. Yet without fail, not a Sunday will go by without this Bible version being quoted.
• To show the  degree we have strayed, the KJV has over 700 references to “Lord” in the New Testament alone. The Message has just 23 verses which mention “Lord”. But the real concern is that “Lord” is never once associated or found linked to “Jesus” in any way in The Message.

Brian Houston frequently preaches a message that is a watered down gospel. He teaches from Bible verses that were never meant to say what he teaches. This is known as Eisegesis.

Eisegesis (from the Greek root εις, meaning into, in, among) is the process of misinterpreting a text in such a way that it introduces one’s own ideas, reading into the text. This is best understood when contrasted with Exegesis. While exegesis draws out the meaning from the text, eisegesis occurs when a reader reads his/her interpretation into the text. As a result, exegesis tends to be objective when employed effectively while eisegesis is regarded as highly subjective.

Verses are used just because they have a certain word or contain a truth that fits with his message.

Houston Heterodoxy:

Brian Houston lacks or is happy to ignore all forms of discernment;

Brian Houston’s preaching could be termed “Heterodox Humanism”

He happily accepts and promotes the following teachers most of whom have personally been at Hillsong Conferences.

You will also find these people’s books as the only books available in the Hillsong Resource Centres (bookshop), along with Brian and Bobby’s material of course!⁷

• Joyce Meyer – Prosperity Teacher/ Preacher. cf. Paul’s instruction about women teachers – 1 Timothy 2:12.
• Joel Osteen – Prosperity Preacher and denier of the true Gospel
• Jerry Saville – Prosperity Preacher
• T D Jakes – Prosperity Preacher and denier of the trinity (advertised as guest speaker at the 2010 Hillsong Conference).
• Rick Warren – member of the Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) trained under Robert H. Schuller (a la – The Hour of Power)
• Bill Hybels – Pastor of Willow Creek Church – who has admitted getting it wrong with the Seeker Sensitive model. Hybels trained under Robert H. Schuller and is good friends with Rick Warren. According to Schuller — Self Esteem is the new reformation!! He defines sin as a lack of “self-esteem”.
• Pearsons – Jeremy Pearsons (wife Sarah) son-in-law of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland—visited Hillsong Powerhouse in Sydney in October 2009 for Encounter ’09⁸
• Hillsong United band played for the Pope  during his visit to Sydney in 2008.
• Sisterhood (a term widely used by Hillsong) is a concept borrowed from the Women’s liberation movement, and the new age.

Darwin’s Day:

Finally one of the worst instances of spiritual bankruptcy I’ve experienced was the live performance of the “Hillsong Creation story”, featured at Hillsong Brisbane on 11-Oct-2009.

Aspects can only be touched on here. The play was done in humour, and obviously aimed at a child audience. However the fun and humour ends very quickly, where the creation narrative turns into a sham and a circus. Plants and animals were various members of the congregation, dressed in costumes. More and more characters appeared on stage, and we had six or more of the cast from the pastoral team. Somehow we were meant to make the mental leap, as a congregation, from the bouncing chicken and the freckle faced rat to God’s act of creating our world and the Universe out of nothing!?!

The seven days of creation were played out by various actors and God even created for us – “Superheros”, like Batman and the Incredible Hulk, both making a guest appearance. God is so “great”, that He invented superheros, can openers, and cars!

The Holy Spirit at one stage was taking too long to come –“hovering over the waters”. Towards the end Adam and Eve appeared clothed (minus the fall, sin and satan, and God’s provision). The story ends ….

Steve Dixon then expounded for about twenty minutes the creation story as found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2.

He touched on a few points expressing the view that we are not able to know the exact time frame of God’s creation, whether it was a literal seven days, or a certain period of time which God took to make earth.⁹

Darwin would have been proud on this 150th Anniversary of his Origin of Species, and Richard Dawkins would be more than bemused.

The Church in the West for too long has sailed along in fair seas. The Zephyr has fluttered at our sails in the height of summer, and has blown comfort upon the people. Our ship has sailed below sapphire skies, the crew sleeps, while the current of the world, and tides of apostasy have taken us off course, and we barely know it.

The worst of it is, darkening clouds beckon on the horizon, bringing a storm of ecumenism and coming persecution with barely anyone to trim the sail of this wayward vessel.

Conclusion:

Since the introduction of Hillsong to Brisbane, this once truly relevant and purposeful church has been sideswiped. A church birthed in humility and zeal by its founders, who gave all to the cause of Christ, have now become a people who have lost their way, and now dance to the flute of the musician, whose song is not the song of the Lord.

The love of fame and fortune have been Christianized, and an unsuspecting flock now give their allegiance to a captain who cares “little, if anything, for their salvation”.

It must be said that they who began well have turned aside to follow a shepherd who is no shepherd. The hireling has crept in unawares.
Paul complained in his day:

For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s – Philippians 2: 20, 21.

The way once narrow, now abandoned, has become a broadened highway, opening up to the verdant plains leading on to the gates of a city that arises in the distance. It is that great city, clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! It is a city proud, that city upon seven hills – BABYLON.

about the author

Lance Goodall and his wife Norilyn have both served the Lord in the AOG movement for many years. They have since come out of the Church Growth Movement. They both have a concern for the knowledge of God and His glory. They carry in their heart, a love for Gods’ honour, for His Word, and for the salvation of the lost….

Footnotes

1 Part of the transcript from a sermon preached by Bruce Hills at Legana Church in Tasmania – Easter – April 2009 – DVD can be obtained by ordering from Legana Church.

2) CWM has a copy of a transcript from a tape recording of Bruce preaching in which he make this confession.

3) The meeting was held on Sunday 26th April 2009 to determine the vote from the congregation. 80% of those present agreed to have Brian & Bobbie Houston as senior pastors

4) http://tinyurl.com/242myr7

5) J. Edwin Orr, Revival is like judgement Day (Atlanta: Home Mission Board, SBC 1987) p. 14

6) Warren W. Wiersbe – The integrity Crisis (Nashville; Oliver Nelson Publishers, 1988) p. 56.

7) I personally visited the store, and viewed the books all over the shelves in the resource centre (bookshop) at Brisbane Campus. I suggest you check out any Hillsong bookshop

8)http://tinyurl.com/289qwxk

9) This “play” was performed at the Garden City, Brisbane congregation in the 10:30 am service on the 11th October 2009.”

Source: Lance Goodall, Why I Left Hill$ong Brisbane Campus, Franchised, Christian Witness Ministries, http://www.cwm.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=148:why-i-left-hillong-brisbane-campus&catid=45:cetf52&Itemid=41,