Faith on Trial: Hillsong

I had to write a review because I think some other reviews seem a bit unfair and one was unacceptably cruel to victims mentioned here. If you keep in mind from the start that this podcast does NOT come from a Christian perspective, it could ease some frustration. Some topics the hosts express shock at are actually pretty standard doctrines in the Bible-believing Church as a whole, such as tithing 10% (although it does seem Hillsong has had some issues with transparency in this area, and not all churches prioritize this in their preaching, and Hillsong may not have been wise with their use of funds). I did learn some new things and was able to take it all in with a grain of salt, as someone who knows of Hillsong Church mostly because I’ve been a fan of their music over the years. I am a bit uncomfortable with Brian’s early prosperity gospel and grieved over the church leaders’ treatment of victims of sexual misconduct, and see a great need for change in this area. I still have more positive than negative views of the church because of the impact they’ve had and my own growth as a result of their music and resources, but hope that it is being purified as some of these things come into the light. Power and influence can easily corrupt, no matter who you are. Keep in mind that there were far more people interviewed here who had a NEGATIVE experience at Hillsong, and very few interviewed who stayed and still love it. The latter will be a much bigger number in actuality, although it does NOT negate the experiences of the others. When your church is that large, you tend to have a wide range of experiences as people come in with their own baggage and triggers and tend to hurt each other. That does not excuse some of the behavior mentioned here but it is an unfortunate reality that megachurches can struggle with oversight of these things. My knowledge of the church is still relatively minimal but it does seem there is a need for a robust, fair and accountable system for reporting misconduct in leadership. I do wish Hillsong had responded to the host or that there was more perspective from the other side of the coin, as people are likely to make a lot of assumptions after listening to this podcast.

I went in with high hopes! As a Christian who wants to learn more about the cautionary tales of church leadership so we can do better going forward, I was underwhelmed. I do not condone the lack of transparent leadership nor do I want to invalidate the experience of the poor people who were taken advantage of. But the journalism was poor- it’s so much more about a skeptical jab at church culture/Christianity in general, not so much about the real events of Hillsong church.

So personally, I was miraculously healed of my anxiety through a vision of Jesus one night in my bedroom during COVID. I had really bad anxiety, thoughts wouldn’t stop, and then I cried out to the Lord that night and said “if you’re real and really died on a cross and rose three days later I need you to show up I can’t do this anymore” and then after my mental breakdown as I closed my eyes to go to sleep I couldn’t feel my entire body not even my ears and I saw Jesus, the next day my mind was completely blank not a thought in sight. And has never been bombarded with thoughts like that since. I say this all to say is I didn’t know hillsong existed at this time when this happened, shoot I wasn’t even going to church, but Jesus met me and I am healed. I think interviews with people with stories like this are important to include as well because many people have been encountered by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit I know reveals trauma from my past and shows me, exactly, specifically where he was when it happened and shares in my weeping and despair and brings me solution and perspective of true lasting healing. hillsong is the problem, not Jesus. And I think that could’ve been made clear. In regards to 1 Corinthians 7:5, in the same book in chapter 13 of the Bible it says that love is patient, and love is kind, and a man is called to love his wife like Christ loves the church, God gives us a choice. So a husband should be patient with his wife in when she wants to have sex and not force her for the Lord doesn’t do that with us. The word does not make consent seem weird so let’s not push that incorrect narrative. These people had an expectation and placed a weight on hillsong to do things the Holy Spirit was meant to do with them alone in their private time with him, not blaming them but hillsong tried to take on the role of the Holy Spirit instead of letting him be who he is, the helper. And when you do that bad things are gonna happen because we aren’t meant to take on such a role. That’s all thank you.

I don’t agree with much of what Hill song did, and Brian Houston should be removed as pastor but I also understand the journalist, not being a Christian cannot understand the importance of scripture, especially when he said it’s s 2000 year old book that’s not relevant (something like that) Gods word is TIMELESS. I Corinthians 2:14 states; The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.