At Hillsong Conference 2016, Brian Houston talked about having a generous church. In this message, Brian Houston attempted to talk about the ‘power of kindness’. To justify his own prosperity on ‘generosity’, Brian Houston went out of his way to twist Proverbs 16:2:
“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.”
What followed from his mangling of Proverbs 16:2 was a confession how Brian Houston hates to be wrong misunderstood:
“I’ll hold you down on the ground until you confess I’m right!”
HOUSTON’S BIBLE TRICKERY… TO SHUT YOU UP?
To be fair, Brian Houston claims that this is his ‘human nature’. It is his human nature alright – he likes to boast about it:
“I love making self righteous religious finger pointers mad.” [Source]
“Blocking haters on Twitter is like sport. It gives you an adrenaline rush.” [Source]
By using Proverbs 16:2 he exposed himself as being ‘right in his own eyes’. Houston’s premise is that Hillsong church is successful because it is a generous church. So how is his church successful? Well if anyone knows the history of Hillsong, its foundations are on the false ‘Blessed to Be a Blessing’ Prosperity Gospel. The idea is that if you are generous, God will bless you.
Houston knows people have a problem with Hillsong’s prosperity theology and has cloaked the prosperity language with words such as ‘generous.’ It’s a nice way to say, ‘If you think we are wrong, at least operate from ‘kindness’ and ‘generosity’ and don’t say anything.
This is why Brian Houston used Proverbs 16:2 to condemn anyone who disagrees with his prosperity heresy generosity doctrine:
“You know it’s an amazing thing when people truly learn. They truly do learn what it is to sometimes understand generosity as just not always having to be right.”
See the serpent at work? This is so subtle and deceptive. He is coating his deception with nice sounding words. His definition of ‘kindness’ and ‘generosity’ trumps truth and what is right- thus making everyone consider he is right at the expense of God’s Word. That’s real slick!
In other words, if you disagree with Brian’s prosperity gospel ‘blessed to be a blessing’ doctrine, you’re not allowed to insist on what is right: “Be generous – not right.”
This dangerous ‘positivity’ culture that has created Houston’s “generous” church is a culture that shuts down critical thought. You’ve just heard Brian do this by twisting the Word of God to prove he is right “in his own eyes”.
That’s what he is essentially saying. Be nice. Shut up. You’re wrong. I’m right. Because I am generous. Unfortunately for some falling for this false doctrine, their ‘generosity’ is simply a sign of their gullibility.
That is censorship. That is bullying. That is a fallacious argument. This presentation is dishonest and not even close to being ‘nice’.
And this is how you financially exploit Christians for lots of money.
Brian Houston then openly admits that he hates being wrong “misunderstood.” He then goes on to say,
“And I can’t stand – if I feel patronized when I’m right and someone else wrong. And they just go, ‘Okay. Whatever. If that’s what you think.’ I mean I’ve GOT TO BE RIGHT! I HAVE to be right!”
Brian Houston is like the man in Proverbs 16 who is “pure in his own eyes.” He has always been right. Everyone else is wrong. His leadership is right. His church is right. His doctrine is right. His ‘gospel’ is right.
In fact, Brian Houston is SO right, he puts on Hillsong Conferences so that he can “champion the cause” of your “local church” with his own pompous imaginings. He must have your recognition that he is right.
Which is why we have the bible to carefully weigh those who claim they are pure:
“but the LORD weighs the spirit”
This is the same Brian Houston who teaches that:
- You need to give Hillsong money so God can bless you.
- If you do not put God first in your finances, “you can’t be right with God” or “be in the will of God.”
- If you apply this man-made “Kingdom First” principle, “all things will be added to you.”
- Jesus Christ died on the cross “so YOU could become rich.”
Brian Houston truly thinks he is right in his own eyes. But the Lord ‘weighs the spirit’ through His revealed Word.
God has given his church the ability to discern the thoughts and attitudes of the heart through His living Word:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
We are not playing God here. We are allowing God to help us see who is a servant of God and who is a servant of Satan (2 Corinthians 11); to see if people confess the faith or hold to a different faith.
When a minister preaches a false gospel and binds their followers to it, that man is eternally damned (Galatians 1:6-8). This is why it is so dangerous for Hillsong to be considered a church when this foundational concept of salvation and faith is rejected. The Word of God has rightly discerned the heart of Brian Houston by discerning his soul in contrast to His divinely inspired Word.
Going back to Proverbs 16, let’s look at the context:
“The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:1-3
The difference between Hillsong Church and a Christian church is that the Christian Church “knows the answer of the tongue is from the LORD,” while Hillsong submits to Houston’s “plans of the heart.” A Christian Church submits to the Word of God. Hillsong Church submits to a man who is wise in his own eyes.
We know Hillsong submits more to men and not His Word because you don’t see Hillsong members defend Christ and His Word. You see them defend a man and his ways.
Houston claims that in his ‘human nature’ he has to be right. But he’s been ministering from that human nature ever since he was born. His entire ministry is founded on his ways, on his ideas, on his methods and the expense of Christ and His message. The people he has destroyed in the process to remain right at all cost is the fruit of his ministry. Unfortunately, there is a pile of dead bodies behind the Hillsong bus. Either give generously or get out. You either agree with Brian or you can leave. But the Hillsong bus ain’t gonna stop.
Those are your options.
We hope that this article encourages Hillsong members to wake from their spiritual slumber and leave Hillsong.
[TRANSCRIPT TO COME]
Categories: Hillsong
I think OT prosperity was children. I don’t see anything wrong with biblical prosperity, however pride is the danger eg 2 Chronicles 26:16 King Uzziah became very prosperous and powerful and became proud and then he stepped over the line trying to usurp the role of priests in the temple.
My guess is that Houston realizes he cannot fill all the different ministry which is why he gets visiting speakers with different giftings. However wouldn’t that be frustrating because visiting talented visiting speakers would take away church members loyalty to Houston