From sex scandals, demonic doctrines, and song lyrics, to disturbing MTV, should Christians avoid Hillsong?

Dangerous false theology

Hillsong Church embraces the Word of Faith movement, and the prosperity gospel (“name it, and claim it”), which says that God wills to enrich us financially. Hillsong has invited prosperity gospel preachers Kenneth Copeland, Bill Johnson, Benny Hinn, and Joel Osteen. These ‘pastors’ are at the forefront of the prosperity false gospel movement. These false ‘churches’ use their music as their primary means of evangelism; to enlarge their own camp; to enlarge their reach; to enlarge their churches and campuses even more; and, to bring people into their false-theological system. 

A dangerous celebrity megachurch

Hillsong, a celebrity-beloved nondenominational megachurch that gained the interest of celebrities such as pop star, Justin Bieber, who confirmed he’d left the Church—and American talk show hosts and television producer, actress, author, and New Age High Priestess, Oprah Winfrey interviewed Hillsong’s New York branch former pastor, Carl Lentz.

Oprah is one of the most influential promoters of New Age themes in the world today and uses her public influence to elevate her hand-picked spiritual guides and gurus who pull together their versions of ‘truth’ from various religions and philosophies. Her beliefs are a far cry from biblical Christianity. She invited Carl Lentz, who was fired from Hillsong for “moral failures,” and this is what was said:

Oprah Winfrey asked Hillsong New York Pastor Carl Lentz point blank, “Do you have to be a Christian to believe in God?”

Without hesitation, the pastor said, “No.”

“I believe that when Jesus said that ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’—the way I read that, Jesus said that He is the road marker, He is the map,’ Lentz said.

Carl Lentz and Justin Bieber became inseparable friends, and Mr. Bieber saw Mr. Lentz “as a second father.” Lentz became a fixture on TMZ and showed up on Kourtney Kardashian’s Instagram.

Dangerous worship

Hillsong’s contemporary pop ‘Christian’ music today, points more to us, than to God. They use music as a hook, to pull unsuspecting people into their false-theological system, whereby their songs often have no sound theological basis, and many of the younger people are getting their Christian doctrinal beliefs from the music, and not the Bible.

The biggest reason you should stop singing songs from Hillsong, Bethel, Jesus Culture, and Elevation is that their music embodies a false theology of worship.”

Worship that is structured, and regulated is the opposite of “Spirit-let” worship in their view. They view experience of the feelings that come with worship as evidence of God’s manifest presence, even if their church’s doctrinal statements do not affirm that theology.

Dangerous doctrine

This movement, this Health and Wealth prosperity movement is rooted in metaphysical cults, like Christian Science, New Age, and Gnosticism, and it has a very horrific view of God, of man, of Christology. They teach the ‘little gods’ doctrine that we are all little gods which have a whole lot more common with Mormonism than anything else. They teach positive confession that we can speak things into existence. That is an ability that only God has, but they ascribe that ability to humans, to Christians. They have a very horrific view of Christ, His person, and His work. 

1 Timothy 4:1 (DARBY)

¹But the Spirit speaks expressly, that in latter times some shall apostatize from the faith, giving their mind to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons.”

A dangerous cult-like history with disturbing accusations

They are dangerous and their fruit proves it, including their history of lying, concerns with their original predecessor, Frank Houston (an alleged serial pedophile who founded Sydney Christian Life Centre, which would eventually come under the leadership of his son), ex-Hillsong members’, attenders’, and volunteers’ abuses, and rogue pastoral leaders such as Carl Lentz (former celebrity pastor of Hillsong New York), and Brian Houston (founder, and global senior pastor, who was paid for his silence of his father’s child sexual abuses). 

Should Christians still follow and listen to Hillsong music?

While we are not to be harshly critical (judging a brother), we are definitely called to be discerning. Due to some of Hillsong’s songs which have questionable, even demonic connotations, we should absolutely not be listening, much less worshipping, to their music! As we draw closer to the second return of Jesus Christ, Satan and his armies are doubling down on how they use music to influence people—away from God. The sins of Hillsong’s leaders should not prevent us from worshiping God, but why accept a ‘church’ or movement with doctrines of demons when you can avoid it? …and if you or someone you know is thinking about attending Hillsong… four words—run for the hills!

Hillsong music is very dangerous, and here’s why | Fight for truth

Why our church no longer plays Bethel or Hillsong music | Doreen Virtue

Hillsong says Jesus is like Wonder Woman? | Fight for truth