Queerstianity: A group of people that supposedly push no political or religious agenda but “share” their philosophy of tolerance and love onto others.”
(Source: Urban Dictionary [slightly edited])
Is Brian Houston of Hillsong Church slowly grooming his congregation to embrace the false “Gay Christianity” doctrine? To understand the below article, we would advise you to read our previous articles:
Hillsong grooming its members to embrace Queerstianity (Part 2)
Hillsong grooming its members to embrace Queerstianity (Part 3)
Hillsong grooming its members to embrace Queerstianity? (Part 4)
Hillsong grooming its members to embrace Queerstianity? (Part 5)
Hillsong grooming its members to embrace Queerstianity? (Part 6)
Who is Anthony Venn-Brown?
In our Part 3 article, Ben Gresham dropped an important name in his article that talked about his meeting with Brian Houston: Anthony Venn-Brown. Anthony Venn-Brown used to be quite involved in Christian Life Center, (which later became Hillsong). You can read more of his story at Hillsong here:
Amway, Hillsong & C3 – The Mesiti Connection & Restoration
Watch him be interviewed below:
People who struggle with same-sex attraction do need our love and support. However, this does not mean we lie to them about God and what God says in His Word. One very popular lie that is spread by false teacher like Matthew Vines and Anthony Venn-Brown is “Gay Christianity”. This is one of those fatal doctrines that can send the person who embraces it to hell – which is what we do not want to see happen. We are aware how sensitive this Christian issue is and wish to deal with it carefully and biblically. To understand why the ‘Gay Christian’ doctrine is a false gospel and doctrine and why it is an attack on the Christian faith, please read our article below.
Hillsong grooming its members to embrace Gay Christianity (Part 1)
We wish to make this very clear: we do not endorse Venn-Brown’s hard push on churches to embrace this non-Christians teaching. We do not endorse his false teaching and false Christian ministry.
That said, in this article we wish to high-light Anthony Venn-Brown’s important observations as to how Brian Houston is encouraging Hillsong to embrace the ‘Gay Christian’ doctrine. We can’t stress enough how much Hillsong is leading Australian churches down the apostate road of “relevance” at the expense of anything God-glorifying. Notice how Venn-Brown stresses how irrelevent “churches” like Hillsong are if they hold to the traditional Christian faith:
If churches continue to hold on to the outdated Christian belief that homosexuality is a sin then it makes them increasingly irrelevant to those who have gay and lesbian friends, family members and work colleagues. The previous Christian labels of unnatural, perverse, evil and even abominations not only do not fit, they are offensive to many straight Christians with gay friends and family.
The longer churches put this issue on the back burner the further behind the developing world and western society they become. Considering the progress made in scientific research, changes in the law, and that homosexuality has not been classified as a mental disorder since 1973; some churches are 40 years out of date on the issue of homosexuality.
We submit to God’s Word not the culture’s word. It is God’s church and not the people’s church. Society has no right to tell the church how God should be Lord and King. This is idolatry and as we are seeing, Hillsong appears to be constructing a “god” that exchanges the truth for a lie. Hillsong needs to learn from history and resist the coercion from society in a similar way church leaders did prior to Nazi-Germany. If we do not repent and return to preaching the gospel and continue to use biblical language in communicating what God says is good and evil, it will be society that becomes “god”, telling us that man is good and God is evil. We’ve seen the results of this last century. Lest we forget.
In our next article – we will expose the deceptive nature of Brian Houston’s sermon ‘Scandal of Grace’ where Venn-Brown got the video snippet from.
Hillsong: Pastor Brian Houston talks about the pink elephant in the room
Contrary to popular opinion, homosexuality is not a topic often mentioned from Hillsong pulpits; for or against. On Sunday 18 August 2013, Hillsong’s Senior Pastor, Brian Houston, preached a message that was broadcast to all Hillsong congregations around the world in over 100 services. What was significant about this sermon was that during the message he publicly began a conversation about the Hillsong churches need to come to grips with the ‘gay issue’. You can read the relevant extract below.
Facing reality
Hillsong, like many Evangelical/Pentecostal churches, is coming to terms with the progressive LGBT changes in our western world. Whilst there have been right wing anti-gay preachers, particularly in the US, many church leaders in Australia hoped if they just closed their eyes or buried their head in the sand, eventually the issue would go away. I’ve often said that the problem is not so much homophobia but subjectaphobia; they would rather just not go into the volatile space of faith and sexuality. Possibly this is why Hillsong refused to comment on same sex marriage when approached recently by the mainstream media about it being an election issue. Other Christian groups were predictably quick to condemn Prime Minister Rudd’s promise to make marriage equality a reality in 100 days if re-elected. But now churches like Hillsong are facing the reality looming on the horizon, that in some countries, gay and lesbian couples may come into their churches who have a recognised, legal marriage. Some will be parents. They are no longer gay, lesbians or “homosexuals” they are believers, committed church members and families. What do they do about that?
Also, Hillsong has always been a church that has reached out to people outside the church. If churches continue to hold on to the outdated Christian belief that homosexuality is a sin then it makes them increasingly irrelevant to those who have gay and lesbian friends, family members and work colleagues. The previous Christian labels of unnatural, perverse, evil and even abominations not only do not fit, they are offensive to many straight Christians with gay friends and family.
The longer churches put this issue on the back burner the further behind the developing world and western society they become. Considering the progress made in scientific research, changes in the law, and that homosexuality has not been classified as a mental disorder since 1973; some churches are 40 years out of date on the issue of homosexuality. I would hope that they catch up and make it a priority. Here are 5 reasons why.
Facing the harm
For a long time many of us have known of the tremendous harm experienced by gays and lesbians in Christian churches. This is something I wrote about in detail to the National Executive of the Assemblies of God in 2005 when Brian Houston was the president (you can read that letter here). It is good to finally have this acknowledged publicly. Maybe the recent statements from Exodus of the damage their message had on individuals and Alan Chambers andRandy Thomas’s apologies have also encouraged this.
I am pleased that Pastor Brian Houston has acknowledged the weight of this personally and, as a church, but as I mentioned to him recently “I know only a handful of pastors who are actually aware just how deep and extensive the harm is. And the reason they know is that they opened their churches to gay and lesbian people and listened to their stories.”
Conclusion
When working with churches, leaders and denominations I let them know about the 10 separate issues they will face in order to become not just a welcoming but also accepting and affirming church. This is not a once off meeting or workshop it is a journey that will take several years to complete.
My hope and prayer is that this will be an ongoing conversation that takes ALL churches to a place where gay and lesbian people are treated with respect and equality. People of colour were once told to go to the back of the bus. Women were once told their place was in the home. A paradigm change has happened in the world re people of colour and also women’s equality that is now happening about sexual orientation.
When mega-church pastor Delman Coates spoke to his his 8,000-member Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton he said he “apologized for participating in this conspiracy of silence,” and that “The people in the pew, are further along on this issue than those of us in the pulpit.”
Come on church…..catch up.
********************************************************************************************************
On Sunday 18 August 2013, a sermon, ‘Scandal of Grace’ preached by Pastor Brian Houston, was broadcast to all Hillsong Church campuses around the world. Below is the relevant extract.
“The one elephant in the room for churches around the world at the moment is the gay situation. What would Jesus do? What would Jesus do? You need to pray for church pastors and leaders around the world because whichever way you turn the scandal is there. You can turn one way and you can tell there would be a great scandal amongst the Christian Church. You can turn another way and you would just cut off so many people. There’s lots of hatred out there but in the middle of it all you know there are three things: the world of the times we live in; the weight we live with; and the word we live by.
Think about that! The world has changed quickly. The world has changed and so I’m not saying that the church ever should be ruled by the way of the world but the reality is we are in a world which is changing fast. Here in Great Britain the laws have passed. The world is changing. We’ve got the world we live in to consider.
We’ve got the weight we live with. You say what’s that? Well it’s the weight when a young person growing up in a church feels like they are confused in their sexuality. They feel like “maybe I’m gay” and they go to a youth leader and they are rejected. At that moment a great hatred comes in. At that moment some of them have gone so far with the rejection and gone to parents who didn’t understand and ended up committing suicide – That’s the weight we live with.
There’s the world we live in. There’s the weight we live with and there’s the word we live by. And they don’t all necessary align. With the word we live by, many people have various convictions. In the middle of it all know that Jesus when it comes to people would let nothing stop Him from breaking through a divide to help hurting, broken, everyday normal people like you and I.
*******************************************************************************************************
Other previous statements
Australian Broadcast Corp., Australian Story/August 1, 2005 Pastor Brian Houston
“I think that the homosexual question and sexuality generally is one of the most challenging questions there is for the church in the 21st century. And it’s one where I feel conflict myself, as a believer in the Bible and specifically the New Testament, I think that marriage is God’s idea, and I think it’s for a man and a woman. But I also represent a God that’s merciful and gracious and kind, and having to connect those two things I think is one of the great challenges for me as a church leader.”
*******************************************************************************************************
Media Statement on Issues of Sexuality 2008
As a church we always endeavour to treat people compassionately whatever they may be facing in life.
We are a Christian Church and as such believe the Bible provides us with clear teaching on sexuality and sexual expression – heterosexual and homosexual. But I do not believe this is about rules and regulations as much as God wanting what is best for each of us.
The heart of God is toward people, and I believe that is also the heart of our church.
God has created each of us as sexual beings, and I do not believe it is His will for it to be complicated. However, I recognise that people face very real issues in regards to sexuality. I have seen this both in my wider family, our church and society more generally.
This is a global challenge that most of the world’s churches are grappling with, and we, like them, are trying to balance theology with compassion.
We do not profess to have all the answers, nor has the church worldwide always got it right, but we will continue to try and connect people to Jesus because we know that hope and answers for every situation and circumstance can be found in Him.
Pastor Brian Houston
Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church
*******************************************************************************************************
@BrianCHouston Tweet 12:09 PM Apr 25th 2009
STOPPRESS:Hillsong r not preaching against gays. We r not stooges of the right nor teachers of excessive wealth. Just helping+loving people
*******************************************************************************************************
Source: By Anthony Venn-Brown, Hillsong: Pastor Brian Houston talks about the pink elephant in the room, http://gayambassador.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/hillsong-homosexuality-gay.html, Published August 30/08/2013. (Accessed 08/01/2014.)
NOTE: SCREEN GRAB TAKEN ON THE 11/07/2014.
Hillsong Church Watch 
“We’ve got the weight we live with. You say what’s that? Well it’s the weight when a young person growing up in a church feels like they are confused in their sexuality. They feel like “maybe I’m gay” and they go to a youth leader and they are rejected. At that moment a great hatred comes in. At that moment some of them have gone so far with the rejection and gone to parents who didn’t understand and ended up committing suicide – That’s the weight we live with.”
There is no doubt that the world and the church has been harsh in it’s treatment of gay people. There is a great deal of shame attached to this sin. There used to be a great deal of shame attached to unwed mothers as well. Some of them have committed suicide. I don’t remember the church being berated by preachers who suddenly wanted to side with single mothers in their suffering. Yet the GLBT lobby has itself managed to effect political and societal change and now change in the church by using shame against its critics. I don’t think it would be drawing a long bow to suggest that the number of gay men in power (both in the church and out) is directly responsible for the progression of this minority group in the world. However, I refuse to be moved by a political lobby whose hatred and aggression towards God is both violent and unrelenting. I am reminded of the lynchmob in Sodom in Genesis 19.
9 And they said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door.
This violent crowd were intent on raping the angels and would do worse to Lot if he tried to stop them. IN fact, I find it really interesting that their accusation of judgement to Lot is the same attitude that the GLBT community has towards conservative Christians today. Not only that but the self-awareness of their own depravity is quite startling .
Homophobia is a hand grenade which is often lobbed into church doorways and the cumulative effect of its use has been condemnation, shame and fear and the cessation of robust and healthy discourse on a subject which rightly needs to be addressed by the church. We need to be approaching this subject with biblical soundness and love as churchwatcher has suggested. But even he has used the euphemistically stated ‘struggling with same-sex attraction’ rather than simply describing it as fornication, or lust. We do the ‘minefield shuffle’ without even realising it.
The church should not carry the ‘weight’ of somebody else’s sin. Jesus did that at Calvary. The yoke Jesus sets on us is easy and our burden from Him is light. Every man faces the consequences of his own sin whether that is a pregnant teenager or a gay one. Homosexuality is a sin which is empowered by the forces and powers of darkness. God judges those who give in to its depravity and will do so again in the end. It is up to the church, the salt and light of the world to make it clear that God does not wink at sin and he will not allow his people to make friends with the world. Not only did he judge Sodom but also judged Ananaias and Sapphira for lying, and I note that deceit is right up there alongside homosexuality in the Romans 1 discourse.
There is a way to deal with homosexuality in the church which neither condemns people nor avoids God’s particular treatment of the practice of this sin. Clearly as Romans states, homosexuality is part of a much greater whole. The general wickedness which encompasses homosexuality is not just related to sex, but to a debased mind, disobedience to parents (which is interesting in relation to the example of the young person who is apparently ‘rejected’ by youth leaders and parents), and even the attitudes of being unloving, unforgiving and unmerciful.
Let’s look at God’s word without being afraid of offending anyone, and with a stern eye on our own hearts so we don’t get led away by hysteria or fear. Yes, this is a desperately serious issue, and that is the very reason why God wants to guard the church against it. It is just as desperately serious outside of the church. There is a far greater need now for wisdom and courage amongst bible believing Christians than ever before.
So thankyou churchwatcher for having the boldness to report on this issue.
“22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
25 And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:
26 And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.”
Sounds like a bit of ‘fire and brimstone’ kind of judgement, doesn’t it – and it is, but let’s consider the cause?
Did the judgement of God fall because “there were ‘sodomites’ in the land? At first glance, that may appear to be the case, however, I would suggest that the judgement of God, as enacted by the the king of Egypt, was due to the idolatry that had occurred first. It was *because* of the idols and the pagan tree groves where they were set up and used for occult worship, that the ‘sodomites’ appeared, and did abominable things, because the king and the backslidden Israelites had allowed it to come to that.
Here’s another passage of scripture, from later on in the same book:
“11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made,
13 And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.” (1 Kings 15)
I could be wrong about all of this, in a New Testament context (grace versus law etc) but it seems to me that when the authorities that are raised up by God, turn away from Him and condone evil doings amongst the people, idolatry shows up first and THEN the sodomites… and then the judgement of God begins to fall…
(When the Bible speaks of sodomites in this context, it means those who practice illicit sexual acts, as a part of the pagan worship that happened in the groves. So some of those abominations would have been homosexual acts, and others may have been involving female prostitutes, who sometimes attained the title of ‘priestess’, as sometimes seen in historical New Testament times.)
If we are going to apportion blame for the current sorry situation within the church, then we cannot fairly start with the ‘gay community’. After all, it takes a “church” leader with idols in their heart (which eventually spill out onto the platform and also come across from the pulpit,) before the Sodomites turn up. At least that much is clear…
If there was no idolatry in the modern church scene, there may not have been an incentive for these lost sinning Sodomites to come – at all! So what would those modern day church ‘idols’ be? Mammon worship – popularity – promises of health and wealth – self important image – super spirituality – elitism… and so on.
It seems to me that Romans chapters 1 and 2 are repeating themselves, as modern man (‘religious’ man) has turned away from God and any concept of God, and has “a form of Godliness” but has denied any reap power for change.
They have turned aside unto idols, in seeking the answers to life. As they have departed from that natural disposition which was given to them, they have been seduced by a strong delusion, and a kind of blindness – just like the men of Sodom, who were blinded by the angels, when they sought to do evil to them.
In that day, they tried to enter Lot’s house, today they are trying to enter the Lord’s house, and in their blindness, modern day Pharisaical leaders, are very stupidly opening that door to them!
Homosexuals, or any other sinner – which includes all of us, should never be rejected for their sins. All sinners are accepted into the church, Jesus came for the unhealthy not the righteous. However, we cannot say that homosexuality is normal and ok, ie a new form of sexuality, that is totally against God’s Word. We should be an example of love and truth. Let God convict the homosexuals, our job is to speak the truth in love, and to accept people in their journey of sanctification and transformation. I do not approve of homosexuals in leadership though. That’s crazy, as all sexual sins open the door to demons and darkness.
Unfortunately, the reality is, there are homosexuals coming to many Christian and/or so-called ‘Christian’ churches, with the intention and belief and understanding that they can REMAIN IN and even PROMOTE the homosexual lifestyle, and still live as a Christian.
The satanic Secular tv/news and satanic Hollywood are intentionally forcing their pro-gay stand on those of us who do not adhere to their pro-gay beliefs. Those 2 groups have emboldened the gay community beyond what they ever were in the past.
Included are tv shows such as Ellen, which flaunt sexually immoral behavior.
Furthermore, the satanic Secular tv/news and satanic Hollywood have convinced the Secular public that if you DON’T take a pro-gay stance, there must be something wrong with you (as there must be something wrong with Bible-believing Christians). Their huge publicity campaign says it is not the ‘right’ of Christians to disagree, because we Christians are not being “tolerant” and “affirming” and “for equality.” These are publicity campaign terms that are even tricking some Christians into silently acquiescing the LGBT movement. Those 3 terms are nice words, to describe something which our Lord calls pure “evil.”
Christians and any others who do not endorse a pro-gay lifestyle are quickly becoming the minority.
Also, pro-gays are going out of their way to harass those who are NOT pro-gay. Persecution of Christians for not being pro-gay, is not only a trend on the rise, it is becoming fashionable and even humorous to some pro-gay communities. They believe they have the right to flaunt their near-nakedness in huge wicked ‘pride’ parades, but more and more we Christians are not allowed to even share the Bible’s opinion and must keep totally silent. THAT is their ‘equality.’
Here are a couple recent HORRENDOUS examples, of OUR CHRISTIAN rights being trampled upon, by pro-gay emboldened supporters. These are JUST PLAIN WRONG..
COLORADO:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-orders-colorado-bakery-cater-sex-weddings/story?id=21136505
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/12/12/Christian-Baker-Willing-to-Go-to-Jail-for-Declining-Gay-Wedding-Cake
NORTHERN IRELAND:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/northern-ireland-bakery-refuses-to-make-gay-bert-and-ernie-wedding-cake-9590745.html
NEW YORK:
http://godfatherpolitics.com/10573/new-york-government-school-forces-middle-schoolers-to-ask-for-lesbian-kiss/
http://www.eternallifeblog.com/2014/03/07/middle-school-girls-forced-lesbian-kiss/
re the baker who was told to bake the wedding cake for the gay couple..
Yes, its interesting isn’t it. Would Colorado law also hold that if a Christian came into a Muslim butcher shop and wanted non-halal meat that the butcher should then prepare meat done this way in order that he not discriminate against the Christian?
No. Because who in their right mind would do that when there are so many OTHER non-halal butchers to cater for their needs. The same holds true for the Christian Baker. The judge is simply catering to the GLBT lobby who once again have gotten their agenda fulfilled. This is not about human rights. The whole rights issue has been blown out of all proportion. Nobody is stopping the gay couple going somewhere else to get their wedding cake. Their feelings were hurt because this guy made a point of being honest and telling them he couldn’t do their cake for them. Now they want to make a public statement, or at least their lawyers do, and who knows what type of lawyers they are?
But look, this has been happening for all of history. Daniel was ordered to bow down to King and refused the order which was law in that day. He was then sent to the lion’s den where God protected him. The same for his friends, who were thrown into the fiery furnace. Jospeh was thrown into jail for not complying with the powers that be. John had his head removed, Paul was thrown into prison numerous times and dragged up before the courts. Jesus told us we would be taken before judges and not to worry about what to say because he would give us the words.
Before we become too concerned about our rights, we need to remember that in the world, and before the enemy, we have no rights. Before God, we are his beloved children who will be protected and cared for even in the worst type of persecution.
@ anita, “Before we become too concerned about our rights, we need to remember that in the world, and before the enemy, we have no rights.”
there’s a poor attitude. try telling that to all the Christian lawyers at CWA. maybe you should let them know, they need to give up on their Christian cases, and just go home, leaving their Christian clients out to dry. que sera sera.
Because that is what we are discussing here, the Christian lawyers at CWA and their pending court cases. But don’t let context, or indeed reading comprehension get in the way of a good extrapolation.
@ anita,
don’t backtrack on what you said. because yes even in the current legal system, we do have rights. the Gay community has been setting itself up for a huge battle against the Christian community, but it is our responsibility as Christians to do our best to work issues like these through the legal system. so yes we do have rights.
nobody here was discussing pending CWA court cases. i was the one who brought CWA up (as another example), because i happen to have a friend who works there. be honest, you had never even heard of CWA until i brought them up.
and for another example, you have never heard of Jay Sekulow either, and the big battle he has been fighting (though it’s been all over the news), have you? are you involved? what are you doing to try to help our brethren in need? anything?
I’ve seen and heard Jay Sekulow (American Center for Law and Justice) in action – he’s been on the front line for years.
http://aclj.org/jay-sekulow
@ churchwatcher, yes, thank you.
and as you said in your article on your other website, i dont know how phil pringle can talk so nonchalantly about his total lack of empathy.
but fortunately, phil pringle’s total lack of empathy, is more than eclipsed by the compassion of many like Jay and others who are on the front line, slugging it out.
Bolger,
You are right. I had never even heard of the CWA court cases until you brought them up. And no, I haven’t heard of Jay Sekulow, even though he has been in the front line for years, I have sadly missed that particular nugget of information. Even though I did try and google CWA and christian lawyers before I replied, all I got was Christian World Adoption. I also checked the blog post again to see if I had missed anything that Churchwatcher had referenced. I couldn’t find anything relating to CWA. I don’t know whether you realised you had provided so little information or whether you were just playing head games, but it wasn’t very helpful.
But this is my whole point Bolger. You can’t introduce a subject which has no obvious reference, relate it to something I have said, and then take offense. You have to provide context or you make no sense. Added to this, you didn’t explain yourself, you just attacked me.
I was talking about the persecution of christians by the world and how our rights have always been ignored. The world would always do this and has always done it, I said, and then I used Daniel as an example. I also believe God will protect us in the midst of this persecution. I said we had no rights, because before the world, christians don’t, and never will. That is how the world sees it.
You took one sentence from my whole comment and then made it into an attack on a subject which you clearly hold dear to your heart and about which you did not give any reference so that neither I nor anyone else could look it up. You did not give me a chance to understand where you were coming from, you just spoke out of your own experience, and assumed everyone else has had the same experience as you. You were wrong.
Hence my reply.
If you actually want to share information and wish also to disagree with something that somebody has said, you might try a less aggressive approach.The replies you get will then be more conducive to intelligent conversation.
.
Well said Anita…
if anyone wants an avenue to help, i believe VOM is a great choice:
http://www.persecution.com/
another Christian introduced me to their ministry several years back. anyone familiar with them may recall they had a leadership issue a few years ago, but i believe it has been completely resolved, and that they are outstanding…
@the fly on the wall: All very interesting and sad, but true.
Last year, we had a ‘gay pride festival’ in one of Brisbane’s largest inner city public parks, just 2 blocks over from where I live. Hired fencing (above head height) was installed around what would normally be a family area – the kid’s soccer park – all marked off with white paint on the grounds and nearby dressing sheds and canteen – but all closed off on that particular weekend for the “gay community”…?
The people of the town protested vigorously to local councilor (Vicki Howard) who not only put on the show, but also funded it (we suspect somewhere in between $20,000 and $35,000) in order to show her “support” for the ‘gay community’ (or perhaps more realistically, to garner votes at Council election time…?)
Gays have moved into Brisbane city proper, and they are everywhere – they own businesses, have investments, live in upmarket high rise units and populate all kinds of inner city attractions and venues – they are here in force and councilor Howard knows this. Unless she panders to their particular lobby group, she may go under at a future election for not doing so – no pandering (or funding) equals no votes – at all!
The vast majority of towns people were opposed to this charade, and the cost of it (which ratepayers were forced to bare,) and they did not want this kind of activity in their neighbourhood. Having lived here for the last 9 years, I can say that, while the entire neighbourhood isn’t ‘Christian’ by any means, many people still have an inherent sense of right and wrong – and it came bubbling to the surface on that occasion.
Here’s 2 links to what the Gay community organisations had to say about their new venue before the Fair last year:
http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/fair-day-moves-from-perry-park-to-new-farm-park-11385.html
http://qnews.com.au/article/brisbane-pride-fair-day-moves-new-farm-park
and of course, more of the same later on this year:
http://qnews.com.au/article/brisbane-pride-fair-day-moves-new-farm-parkhttp://qnews.com.au/article/brisbane-pride-fair-day-moves-new-farm-park
It is interesting to consider the story of Lot. (essentially Genesis 19:1 – 36,)
Abraham chose the fertile plains of Canaan, where God blessed and multiplied his flocks – but Lot chose to live in a wicked city – perhaps he could see ‘opportunities’ for ‘prosperity’ – but at what cost??
When Abraham was interceding for the deliverance of Sodom, God could not look down and find 10 righteous men. Not only did Lot lose most of his family members (including his wife) when fleeing that evil city, he could not make even one convert to the ways of the Lord – not even one, but had to flee, with his own britches virtually on fire, as the judgement of God fell…
But Brian et al think that they can embrace “the gay community” and remain unaffected? Poor fool you Mr Houston… poor fool you…
I am not writing all of the above to condemn the gays – they live in darkness and cannot be expected to live any kind of “christian” lifestyle – on the other hand, those in ‘christian’ leadership, should know better than to let these unbelievers think they are ‘safe’ because they are ‘saved’ (attending church – sinner’s prayer prayed, etc) and all the while they are allowed to continue living a debased and sinful existence…
with no teaching or correction to the contrary.
Surely the love of God, expressed towards these lost people, would compel the Church, to tell them the truth.. and if they can’t get it there – they sure can get it here.
Christ died and shed His blood for lost sinners, and rose again for their justification – Amen!
The word ‘equality’ has been twisted these days to mean that people of a particular group are not able to achieve something as much as others, they are not treated with ‘equal dignity’. What is important is equality in terms of God-given dignity and equality according to God’s Law. That’s all. That is why I use the word ‘equity’. The word ‘equality’ is very political, which is why i try to avoid it as it is often misunderstood in the way the Christian sees it. The word ‘equality’ has different connotations to people of different worldviews. That is why one must be careful in using it.
Many claim to be for ‘equality’ when they are really not – they are only for the interests of a certain clique.
Check out ‘Anti Mammon and Usury Conquerors’ on facebook and like it.
the bible makes it very clear, that homosexuality is a sin. we cannot endorse this sin.
leviticus 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
leviticus 20:13
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
1 corinthians 6:9-10
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
this verse is the verse that says it all to people who think the bible is old fashioned biblical outdated text.
proverbs 13:13
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
yes gay people should be accepted into the church, they can come as they are, yet they cannot stay as they are.
Hello mrhatch – I agree – the practice of homosexuality is abhorrent and I don’t think that those who “support the gay community” know just what some of the hard core
members actually get up to… I’m not going to canvass that here, but the scriptures do make it clear enough for us to tell the difference, from that which God created and ordained.
Both the Bible and history tell us that, when a civilization legalises and indulges in such sinful lifestyles, then that civilization is teetering on the brink of destruction.
Rome fell because it had become corrupt, (although it was a wicked empire anyway,) but when these things begin to overflow and fall out of the back room and into public view, there is very little time left until that civilization falls – and it is usually irreparable damage – it can’t be fixed…
Here’s a quote from the Telegraph, quoting a senior historian/researcher in today’s modern Rome:
“Roberto De Mattei, 63, the deputy head of the country’s National Research Council, claimed that the [Roman] empire was fatally weakened after conquering Carthage, which he described as “a paradise for homosexuals”.
The remarks prompted angry calls for his resignation, with critics saying his comments were homophobic, offensive and unbecoming of his position.
The fall of the Roman Empire was a result of “the effeminacy of a few in Carthage, a paradise for homosexuals, who infected the many.
“The abhorrent presence of a few gays infected a good part of the (Roman) people,” Prof Mattei told Radio Maria, a Catholic radio station.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8438210/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-caused-by-contagion-of-homosexuality.html
Anyone can see that we don’t have to go too far back in history to see this pattern, seeing this article was published only recently… Another quote:
“”Today we live in an era in which the worst vices are inscribed in law as human rights. “Every evil must have its punishment, either in our times or in the afterlife.” Politicians and academics were left aghast by his remarks and more than 7,000 have signed a petition calling for his immediate resignation.”
One wonders just what the ‘effect of a few gays’ inside Hillsong will have on its younger congregation, if this historian is correct in his findings? Is it worth the risk?
It is one thing to call a group of people to repentance, under the Gospel, but it is another thing entirely to allow them to continue, unchecked, in their sin within the walls of an organisation that calls itself a ‘church’…
Austin
yes the church today is doing nothing to take a stand and speak out against, the homosexual lifestyle or the women preachers who are not to have any authority over men.
yet they are still very outspoken about the no sex before marriage. i wonder when they will start to endorse it.
co habiting as a normal thing between and man and a woman. the boundaries are getting more blurred.
we have so many different bible translations and mixed messages that are coming out of the church.
is it any wonder other false branches of christianity are rising up and the body of christ is falling.
everywhere i go i see jehovahs witnesses and mormons at every train station and tube station i go to in london.
this is defiantly the last days christianity.
im sorry but being gay is not ok.
Hi mrhatch – “last days” signs? Well yes, without any panic – things cannot continue on forever, there must be an end of all things, just like there was a beginning and perhaps you’re right – it is definitely getting late, a few minutes to midnight…
As for the rise of the cults – well Matthew 24:11 come on down! JW’s have been holding ‘street stalls’ for the last 2 years, in downtown Fortitude Valley (actually, just around the corner from Brian’s new Hillsong “nightclub” church – Brisbane City ‘campus’) – now there’s some ‘last days’ competition for you!
If you missed my earlier posts, here’s the link for that place:
https://hillsong.com/brisbane/city
Now that looks like a great place to welcome gays, drunks, prostitutes and drug dealers/addicts, doesn’t it? I’m still trying to grasp just how your ‘average’ family (mum, dad, and 2 kids) would fit into a souped up former Valley nightclub…?
Furthermore, I have NO problem with repentant sinners entering your average church, and experiencing that marvellous ‘born again’ change that is so evident in genuine conversations. What I do have a problem with is when people enter ‘churches’ like Hillsong, and evidence no change at all! Not even months later…
Perhaps that’s where Lot missed it? If he’d had a “night club church” then maybe he would have gotten half of Sodom into his congregation too… but then again, that’s the problem, isn’t it?
We’re not supposed to just stuff large crowds of people into a building, with no repentance, and then call it a church – we could call it a “night club” though,
couldn’t we?
HILLSONG IS NOT A NIGHTCLUB CHURCH!!!! ITS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE EXCITED BECAUSE OF GOD WHO IS AMAZING!
Once again – Hillsong says likewise.
What really concerns me is: – I was talking it a gay guy yesterday who says he is a Christian and he told me “I’m sure Jesus wouldn’t have a problem with it”. I gently told him that Jesus does have a problem with homosexuality because it is sin. If we don’t tell them it’s sin then they will continue in their lifestyle, paying the penalty for that sin, in their own body, and ultimately paying the price for eternity. How can you say you are being loving to homosexuals if you don’t tell them the truth.
Annette
what you said is the truth right there, as Sting of the band the Police said in his song if you love somebody set them free.
well done for telling the man the truth, now it is up to him what he does with that truth.
http://www.gcmwatch.com/11202/meet-obamas-new-baby-executive-order-11246
Hillsong does not support gay nor does it have anything against the people.God created man and women to make kids not man and man or woman and woman. It is inhumain. and i agree with this.
“Hillsong does not support gay nor does it have anything against the people.”
Really? Would you like to see footage that seems to suggest likewise? Email us if you care about the truth.
“God created Adam and Eve – not Adam and Steve…” as the old maxim goes…
At least, that’s the truth of Genesis, but as usual, ungodly sinners who want to promote their own agenda, have taken the word of God and twisted it to their own advantage.
Hillsong is really only a “Johnny come lately” to this cause though, as Liberal ‘theologians’ have been denying what the scriptures teach about homosexuality for decades, in our time.
Biblical Christianity is exclusive of any and all sin, including sinful lifestyles, but the one World Church which Hillsong is seeking membership of, must be all inclusive – they don’t want to leave anybody out – except for us that is – there will be no ‘tolerance’ exercised towards Bible believing Christians…
Also, there is the “human shield” angle too – Brian and Hillsong will never be attacked by the Ecumenical movement, as long as they have a section of LGBT people in the midst, acting as ‘human shields’ against any future persecution of the real church.
Tolerance will be exercised towards them though, as they have so blatantly and openly compromised any last vestiges of real Christianity, so that they can now “blend in” with all of the other New Age heretics and hypocrites.
Well done Brian and Bobbie – you’ve just mixed the perfect mix in order to avoid the times of trial and testing up ahead – we’ll see just how well that one goes down on judgement day…
Hillsong is no more than a money raking cult, that uses all manner of people for its own ends – it is not a Christian church – it is now a New Age cult that pressures people into ‘tithing’ while it welcomes unrepentant sinners into its midst, and leaving them in that condition… need we say any more???
An interesting read. Jonathan Merritt has been tweeting about his new article on Brian Houston.
http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/
http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2014/10/16/hillsongs-brian-houston-says-church-lgbt-issues/
Will you be going along to heckle him and claim that electrodes to the brain do work?
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/book-launch-celebration-tickets-18528188310
http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/feature/ft-national/anthony-venn-brown-tell-all-on-life-as-gay-man-the-church-and-reparative-therapy-19237.html
You’d be very supportive of the techniques used in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Though now, the only cuckoo is you.
This comment was “approved” to demonstrate just how ridiculous your comments are these days, Newtaste.
Newtaste, Only you could make Hillsong’s reputation worse than it already is.
The battle against sin e.g. homosexuality is a spiritual battle not a fleshly one. Therefore *any* method that relies on will-power alone – including Christian ministries given to NON born-again I.e. *counterfeit* Christians – is doomed to failure. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+10%3A3-5&version=KJV
Of course if you read your bible regularly you would already know that Newtaste.
P.S. these days what a person types online reveals what is in their heart more than what they say with their mouth in real life. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15:18-20&version=KJV
Thinker – the Bible says:
“44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.
45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” Luke 6:44, 45
A man would have to be a blind fool not to see the basic intent of this scripture. Then again, there are a lot of foolish people who will not see it, because it suits their cause not to see it…
The Bible calls those men “wilfully ignorant”…