LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
On March 30, 2022, Brian Houston released an email to Hillsong members and once again he demonstrated a complete disregard of the eldership and his disciplinary process. The context of what he wrote clearly indicates that he thinks he can still hold some type of ministerial role within the church today:
“I still have a sense of bright hope for the future and I know God is not finished with me yet. We have no intention of retiring.“
Who does that sound like?
“My father [Frank Houston] is over seventy and I rarely hear him talking about the ‘good old days’, even though he has seen plenty of them. He is still dreaming and moving forward with God, and there is no such thing as ‘retirement’ in his vocabulary.”
Source: Brian Houston, You Can Change the Future, pg. 115.
The context of the above quote is scandalous. Brian lied before a Royal Commission stating:
“… my father retired in May 1999 from the senior pastor role, and the idea was that he was going to be an itinerant.” [Transcript (Day 88), Royal Commission (Case 18), pg. 54.]
However in his book ‘You Can Change the Future’ (published after 8-9 months later after Frank confessed to paeodphilia), Brian attempted to cover up his father’a crimes but boldly he ‘stepped back’ from running CLC so he could keep preaching because “there is no such thing as ‘retirement’ in his vocabulary”. And as we all now know, Frank was ‘ministering’ until he died in 2004.
In this book, he stated:
“In 1999, my father Frank Houston decided to step back from day-to-day running of his church, Sydney Christian Life Centre, and passed the baton of leadership on to me.”
Source: Brian Houston, You Can Change the Future, pg. 122.
And:
“My father is over seventy and I rarely hear him talking about the ‘good old days’, even though he has seen plenty of them. He is still dreaming and moving forward with God, and there is no such thing as ‘retirement’ in his vocabulary.”
Source: Brian Houston, You Can Change the Future, pg. 115.
Read more of what Brian Houston said about his father in this book here.
A MESSAGE FROM WHAT?
The scriptures say,
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool.” Jeremiah 17:9-11
So the title of the email “A message from my heart” says a LOT about Brian Houston in this email. As the scripture above points out, Brian is one “who gets riches but not by justice” because he thinks his heart is not “deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” – which is why at least some of his elders wanted him to step down and go through restoration (which Brian kept refusing). However, the email is littered with twisted verses, Brian Houston presuming his church should show mercy towards him. It is inexcusable for Brian Houston to expect mercy when engaging in lies and cover-up.
BRIAN HOUSTON’S PRESUMPTUOUS PITY PARADE.
Brian Houston cannot expect that by parading his sorrow and misquoted scriptures around that this alone warrants forgiveness, grace or repentance. It sadly reveals how deceived this man is:
“And of course, first and foremost, to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for Your amazing grace and forgiveness. Thank you that when we “confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive them.” (1 John 1:9)
Thank you Father that “Your mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13.)”
The scriptures clearly say,
“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17
Because this email is now circulating throughout Hillsong, it can only cause more division and form more ‘tribalism’ because of Brian Houston’s pity parade and bible twisting. Brian Houston has not obeyed the gospel of God. There is still no fruit of repentance because he is STILL using the grace of God to ‘bible-twist’ his way into the hearts and minds of those who might just might fall for his deception.
If mercy and grace means anything to Brian or Hillsong members, they would show it first to Brian Houston’s trail of victims – and make sure Brian Houston reconciled with them first (evidence of there being fruit in keeping with his repentance) so he may then be shown grace and mercy in return. But don’t hold your breath.
God has judged Hillsong. Jesus is not just the “rock” in this parable, he is ‘the rain and floods’ to see who is of Him and who isn’t:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27
And great is the fall of Brian Houston and his Hillsong ‘house’ (with many rooms).
Brian Houston writes:
From: Brian Houston <brian@hillsong.com>
Date: 30 March 2022 at xx:xxxx pm AEST
To: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: A message from my heart
Dear Church,
Let me start with the words I want and need most to say — I am so deeply sorry.
To those impacted directly by my actions, I am sorry for the pain I have caused you.
To my wonderful, forgiving and gracious family who I love more than anything, I hate hurting you. Bobbie, in my eyes you are the most Christ-like, beautiful, loyal and faithful person alive today. It crushes me to see your heart breaking as we navigate this season, letting go of so much that is precious to you. I love my family and it pains me deeply to see you navigating these waters.
And of course, to every single wonderful person who has called Hillsong Church home, I have let you down so badly and sorry will never be enough to express my sorrow. As hollow as it may sound, I believe I am the person and pastor you believed me to be. Imperfect and flawed, but genuinely passionate about God, people, calling and life. I am determined that my mistakes will not define me.
This is not the way I imagined it to end. I believe the future is still bright for Hillsong Church, as you remain knit to Jesus, His Holy Spirit, His Word. Better days are coming as you continue to lean into His Kingdom on the earth.
And of course, first and foremost, to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for Your amazing grace and forgiveness. Thank you that when we “confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive them.” (1 John 1:9)
Thank you Father that “Your mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13.)
Over many years of constant pressure, opposition, challenges, and attacks, accompanied by my personal turmoil over my father’s evil, many people have asked – “How do you continue to get up, cope, and keep going?” And now we know the answer. I haven’t coped very well at all. I openly admit that alcohol has been no friend and I am determined to relegate it to my past.
Please be assured, I accept full responsibility for my actions and I have no one to blame but myself for the position I find myself in.
It may be some time before we see light at the end of this tunnel, but I know God has not finished with us yet. And what now you may ask? We are living day by day right now. Bobbie and I are unified and we are believing together that this year will be a year of respite and restoration to our souls, as I continue to prepare to fight for my innocence in the legal proceedings ahead of me.
I still have a sense of bright hope for the future and I know God is not finished with me yet. We have no intention of retiring. As Bobbie would say, “the final chapters of our lives are not yet written”.
We are grateful also to the many around the world, who have reached out to us, extending kindness and grace in this season.
Thank you for the immense honour of pastoring Hillsong Church these past 39 years. What a journey. What wonderful memories and joy. What powerful testimonies and stories of Christ’s transformation and grace. I still believe “the best is yet to come”… and our prayer for your health, well-being and God’s perfect Will in your life continues.
Much love,
Brian Houston.
Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com
“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
Categories: Hillsong