Chris Rosebrough issued the following warning on the dangers of following Brian Houston and his Hillsong movement,
Berean Advisory: Brian Houston
The Bereans, “were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
— (Acts 17:11)
We’ve issued a Berean Advisory to warn people about the dangers of Brian Houston of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Below you will find resources that will help you understand why we believe Houston’s teaching is dangerous and should be avoided by all Christians. Mature believers should also take the time to understand the nature of Houston’s false teaching so that they may be ready to explain to less mature believers why Houston should be avoided.Your assignment, as a good Berean, is to listen to, watch and read the resources below with an open Bible.
The resources are as follows: Three sermon reviews from the Fighting for the Faith Radio program analyzing the content of Houston’s preaching and the way in which he twists the scriptures, Two videos by Justin Peters that explain the Word of Faith Heresy and provide an in depth Biblical refutation of it, Recommended books that will help you better understand the dangers of the Word of Faith Heresy and how to Biblically refute it.
Radio Sermon Reviews of Brian Houston’s Sermons
Review of Brian Houston’s Sermon Entitled “Only For While”
Click Here to Download this Sermon Review
Review of Brian Houston’s Sermon Entitled “Area Where We Can Expect God’s Overflow”
Click Here to Download this Sermon Review
Review of Brian Houston’s Sermon Entitled “Lack vs. Overflow”
Click Here to Download this Sermon Review
Justin Peters Explains & Biblically Refutes the Word of Faith Heresy
Book Recommendations for Further Study
“A Different Gospel,” a book for the heart and the mind, is must reading for those who seek reliable information about the “Word of Faith” movement.
Every Christian should read this book in order to be aware of the dangerous implications of the widespread and cultic “Word of Faith” movement preaching what is popularly known as “”Name It and Claim It”” theology. “A Different Gospel” is a bold and revealing examination of the biblical and historical basis of this movement. This new and revised edition is complete with a foreword by Hank Hanegraaff, author of “Christianity in Crisis,” and a new afterward by D. R. McConnell.
The author knows the movement first hand and has a heart for those snared by it. He is also an academically trained observer who has based his work on careful historical and biblical analysis. McConnell warns of the movement’s cultic nature in its doctrine of healing and its understanding of the atonement and demonstrates how far the movement’s doctrine of prosperity is from Scripture’s true teaching. Click here to purchase A Different Gospel
Does God will that the true believer in Christ be in good physical health? Is a Christian promised good financial health by virtue of his or her faith in Christ? If the Christian does not experience these blessings, must we assume that he or she is outside the will of God? Gordon Fee provides a provocative discussion and a direct challenge to all who struggle with these issues. Perhaps no other issues more directly affect the lives of professing Christians as do the issues of health and wealth and their relationship to the will of God. In Disease of the Health & Wealth Gospels, Dr. Gordon Fee looks at the treatment of these two themes as frequently found in popular Christian teaching. Based on solid exegesis of the Scriptures, looking at each theme separately, this books suggests that there may be yet a “more excellent way” in viewing these emotionally charged issues. Gordon D. Fee is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, and an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God. Considered to be one of the foremost experts in textual criticism of the New Testament of the Bible, Dr. Fee was a member of the editorial board that composed both the New International Version (NIV) and Today’s New International Version (TNIV) translations of the Bible. He is also the author of numerous commentaries and books on biblical interpretation, including the popular introductory work How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (co-authored with Douglas Stuart). Click here to purchase The Disease of the Health and Wealth Gospels.
I pray that these resources help you or help you help someone who has been snared by the false teaching of Brian Houston.
Will you please share this resource using the social media buttons below.
χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη σοι,
Source: Chris Rosebrogh, Berean Advisory: Brian Houston, Fighting For The Faith, http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/berean-advisory-brian-houston.html. (Accessed 22/01/2014.)
Hillsong Church Watch 
Just listened to the first video, “the devilish puppet”. Very interesting. Didn’t realise the error of so many preachers, now I know why I never really agreed on a lot of what I’ve heard in the past – because it’s false doctrine. So important to study the Bible for yourself and not just believe what hear.
Started listening to video on spiritual shipwreck. Definately DISAGREE when he said healing no more. That’s a lie from satan. Jesus says greater things will we do because we have the Holy Spirit. I’m interested to see how he backs up his belief that healing is no more. Already dislike this man.
Listen further and he does say that God can heal – it is the ‘gift of healing’ and the ‘health/wealth prosperity bandwagon’ that get the thumbs down.
Thanks Rickie, I will listen to the rest of the message.
Just listen to the rest of the message spiritual shipwreck and don’t agree with what he has to say. It’s just his opinions. There’s no scripture that says it’s not Gods will for us to be healed
Annette – do you know anyone who has prayed, with strong faith, that God heal them yet they died? Every Sunday we sit near/with 85 year old Jack, a beautiful man who confesses strong faith in Christ for almost 80 years (a reminder to never neglect teaching our children in the ways of the Lord).
Jack’s wife died of bowel cancer last year, and to the last few weeks we would find Beryl in church worshipping and trusting that He might have mercy and let her live.
But we also remember Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.”
He took her home…..
Annette – were did we go wrong? You say “there’s no scripture that says it’s not Gods will for us to be healed”. Our physical restoration is guaranteed when He returns but what’s more important, the restoration of our souls or our bodies in this life?
Deut. 32:39 “Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal.”
Paul cried out to the Lord to take away the “thorn” that troubled him and God’s response?
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The Lord said no to Paul’s request for healing and we didn’t see Paul going on confessing “by his stripes I’m healed”.
Is there physical healing the atonement? How many wonderful men and women of God have gone into eternity having not been not healed, many even martyred for their faith even to this day (we see more Christians being martyred for the faith in the last 100 years that we have seen in the last 2000 years).
Can we say their faith wasn’t strong enough? Read Hebrews 11 – though some received their dead back to life, the others? Read on ….
Hebrews 11: 32-40 “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
“If one who believes that healing is in the atonement on the same basis as the forgiveness of sins, is anointed and prayed for and not healed, then how could they be sure their sins were forgiven?”
But He is perfect, His ways are perfect and our understanding? All we have in Christ is revealed in His Word and that too is perfect.
And I’m not saying God doesn’t heal today, He does – as He wills, for His Glory.
We should all pray when others are suffering, be it physical or spiritual. It’s our responsibility to minister to others, to pray for and comfort them.
We live in a fallen world with all its resultant sickness, depravity, death. But God is totally in control and His sovereignty aligns with the choices we make, good and bad, in the outworking of His perfect plan of redemption. (Romans 8:28)
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No body has the gift of healing but it does not stop us from praying for people.
The Body of Christ should not be attacking each other. It is not our job to correct others in judgement; leave that up to God! If we attack one another the way you are on this site, how can God use us to be His hands and feet in helping the lost find Jesus? Slight differences/grievances between us should not separate the Body – do you realize you are doing exactly what you accuse others of doing?
“The Body of Christ should not be attacking each other.”
We are not attacking the Body of Christ – we are addressing the cults that are seriously persecuting Christians caught in these dangerous movements.
” It is not our job to correct others in judgement; leave that up to God!”
And you need to repent of your apostasy, read your bible, heed Jesus’ warning and discern the times we are living in, If you want to accept this delusional view that Christians aren’t called to judge, then how can you call yourself a follower of Jesus?
Cassandra – yes and no… We ought to fight for what’s right, and I’ll be first to admit I have problems with Hillsong. I do take issue with the prosperity gospel, however I am sure many have been saved because of the ministry of this church. I don’t at all subscribe to the numbers equalling God’s favour theory for one second, but nor will I discount what God is doing there. It’s not perfect but last time i checked, neither was my church. Neither is ANY church on the face of the earth.
It is true that there are grounds for calling out wrong teaching – however the key word here is IN LOVE. Sadly it’s this last element is missing from the vast majority of “watchman/discernment” ministry. This becomes apparent in the tone of both their condemnation of said teacher, and in the way they address anyone that disagrees with them.
Yes the prosperity gospel is a real concern. No doubt this website would be far more expert than I regarding Hillsong teaching – however I’m not 100% sure if there are major issues beyond this, and I suppose the positive mental attitude thing which has its roots in new age. But like you Cassandra I can’t help wondering if we are “straining at gnats” to borrow Jesus’ turn of phrase. The difficulty we have is that there is a degree of truth here, but has been twisted to make the Bible say something it isn’t saying. This teaching needs to be brought into line – but with grace and without the almost witch hunt spirit that sometimes accompanies these things.
It’s interesting that Paul warned the Ephesian elders about false teaching that would soon come (Acts 20) and it would appear they heeded his warning. So much so that in Revelation, Jesus tells the Ephesians that they have become so good at weeding out the false teacher that they have lost their first love. I pray this was not a warning for the discernment movement.
“It is true that there are grounds for calling out wrong teaching – however the key word here is IN LOVE. Sadly it’s this last element is missing from the vast majority of “watchman/discernment” ministry.”
Hi AZ. How would you call “out wrong teaching… IN LOVE”? Can you give us a better example than the Apostles who name false teachers, shame them publicly, associate them with Satan, excommunicate them, damn them and on top of that, say we should have nothing to do with them?
“But like you Cassandra I can’t help wondering if we are “straining at gnats” to borrow Jesus’ turn of phrase.”
Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”
Not only were the Pharisees doctrines false, they were also corrupt in their works. Jesus is using Hebraic parallelism to point out their abhorrent practices. Here is the parallelism:
1. “For [the pharisees] tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.”
2. “You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”
Jesus us equating the pharisees tithing “mint and dill and cumin” to “straining out a gnat”. Jesus says that the Pharisees “have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” and parallels this with the Pharisees “swallowing a camel”.
The point is this: they missed the entire point of their religious duties.
This is the irony: C3 insists that members tithe 10% of their “mint” yet neglect the “the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness”. How do they do this? By insisting that those in their congregation who have no money tithe what they do not have and furthermore INSIST the poor give another financial offering to C3 with additional money they do not possess. See our articles on “Vision Builders” to see what we are talking about.
False teachers like Pringle would naturally “strain at the gnats” and show lack of “justice and mercy and faithfulness” to vulnerable people in their care.
“So much so that in Revelation, Jesus tells the Ephesians that they have become so good at weeding out the false teacher that they have lost their first love. I pray this was not a warning for the discernment movement.”
There are many temptations in this type of work. Pride, frustration, works, self-centredness. We often hear tragic stories of people really hurt by C3 church. So anger, bitterness and unforgiveness are things we also need to deal with as best we can before publishing articles. We don’t call C3 a ‘cult’ because we have a bitterness problem. We officially started calling them a cult after Pringle was addressed as Christ by Jabin Chavez on Resurrection Sunday 2013. You can read about that on our site.
Couldn’t listen to anymore of what he has to say. Agree with some things, but disagree with most of his “opinions”, cause that’s all it is – his opinion. It’s not truth. Don’t like his attitude.
Totally agree with your comment church watcher.
Anyone who is a cessationist is in error, in that respect. Don’t know how they could back it up with scripture.
When asked if he is a cessationist, Chris Rosebrough directly answered, “I’m a attestation-ist – “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thess. 5:20–21)
Attestation being the action of bearing witness.
Thanks Berean. It’s a challenging but exciting time for me – ensuring that what I’ve believed is correct, or inaccurate, and studying the Word prayerfully to grow in truth. Is so important to walk in the fullness of truth, not in error
And it’s our responsibility.
It’s never Gods perfect will for anyone to be sick and suffering. However, we are living in the valley of the shadow of death where satan is god of this world. He came to rob, steal and destroy. Satan is darkness and sin and death. God is light, and purity and life.
Speaking as a reformed believer myself we see that even the mature charismatic reformed believer understands that God, does indeed allow suffering….
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2013/07/an-answer-to-the-why-does-god-allow-suffering-question/
Hebrews 5:8 though he was the Son of God, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
Thanks Berean, what you say makes a lot of sense.
I thank GOD for your ministry So many are being deceived I checked out “ill-song ” after seeing a cnn show on the NY church .I couldnt believe what I was hearing and I was not surprised by the throngs of youth being misled. Just another sign of the times I thought, it was after getting sick to my stomach that I decided to find a ministry that is doing somthing to combat the deceiver. Thank you for your work and please let me know how I can help. In his service Brian From MA
There are many millions of Roman, Orthodox and Eastern Catholics who believe that “Our Lady” appeared at Lourdes and Fatima, and continues to appear at Medjugorje every couple of weeks. At Medjugorje it is believed that the “Gospel of Mary” as supposedly revealed by an apparition of her is as important as the Word. And there are secret messages that have not yet been revealed. It all has almost nothing to do with Jesus and is all about worshiping “Our Lady”.
Yet you claim that Brian Houston is soo dangerous.
“Yet you claim that Brian Houston is soo dangerous.”
You tell us. According to Gods Word, is Brian Houston dangerous?
http://www.hope-aurora.org/pages/NewFalseTeaching
https://hillsongchurchwatch.com/2013/05/29/brian-houston-phil-pringle-furthering-the-cause-of-something-worse-than-child-molestation/