Why does Hillsong advertising and their stage productions/layouts appear to have continual New Age/occult themes? 
While this may not be apparent to many people today, it’s glaringly obvious to those who have come out of the occult/New Age movement. Is this just a coincidence in their attempt to be popular and relevant to “outreach” to the world? Is this why we are seeing a “resurrection” of a once popular, now denounced as New Age, book “The Shack”? This article will be looking at Julie A’bell of Hillsong and examining her controversial endorsement of this incredibly dangerous book. At the end of this article, we will link/post to reviews refuting the errors of the book.
WHO ARE JOEL AND JULIA A’BELL? Julia A’bell is the wife of Joel A’bell. Joel A’Bell is the lead pastor of Hillsong Church. 
Recently, Jules A’bell endorsed and promoted the New Age mystic/occult book “The Shack” on her instagram account. Once again, Hillsong proves that its leadership are incapable of fulfilling pastoral duties in rightly discerning Christianity from paganism. 
What makes this promotion from Jules A’bell worse is another Hillsong pastor’s endorsement of it. Take note of Christine Caine’s “approval” in the comments section. And even more troubling there are at least 726 “likes” by Julia A’Bell’s Instagram followers. By endorsing this book Hillsong, Christine Caine and Julia A’Bell need to be warned that Christian leaders are subjected to a “stricter judgment,” (James 3:1) with James making it clear that those who teach the Word of God are under the magnifying glass of God’s Word. Pastors are judged even more severely, than those in the general congregation because with greater responsibility comes greater accountability. 
Source: https://instagram.com/p/zTzoQniVI2/?modal=true, Accesssed 27/02/2015.
Dr. James DeYoung, Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Western Seminary, does a review of TS entitled Revisiting The Shack and Universal Reconciliation. That longer version doesn’t seem to be available online but it is cited in Dr. James DeYoung Revisiting The Shack & Universal Reconciliation. DeYoung gives us this personal testimony:
Seldom does one have the opportunity to review a work of fiction written by a friend that has risen to the top of best seller lists… Who is the author? For more than a dozen years I have known William P. Young.”
We have discussed much theology in a “think tank.” Over four years ago Paul embraced universal reconciliation and defended it on several occasions. He claimed that universalism changed his life and his theology.
The core belief of universal reconciliation asserts that love is the supreme attribute of God that trumps all others. His love reaches beyond the grave to save all those who refuse Christ before they die.
Source: Dr. James DeYoung, Guest Contributor: Dr. James DeYoung Revisiting The Shack & Universal Reconciliation, https://gospeldriven.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/guest-contributor-dr-james-deyoung-revisiting-the-shack-universal-reconciliation/, 15/01/2009. (Accessed 12/04/2015.)
In Dr. Gary Gilley Shuts Up “The Shack” we read Gilley’s dead-on-target review of Young’s musings:
nowhere in The Shack is the reader given a clear understanding of the gospel. When Mack asks God what Jesus accomplished by dying Mack is told, “Through his death and resurrection, I am now fully reconciled to the world.” When pressed to explain, God says that He is reconciled to “the whole world,” not just the believer (p. 192). Does this mean that all will be saved?
Young never goes that far, however he certainly gives that impression when Mack’s father (who was an awful man and showed no signs of being saved) is found in heaven (pp. 214-215), when God says repeatedly He is particularly fond of all people, when God claims that He has forgiven all sins against Him (e.g. 118-119), that He does not “do humiliation, or guilt, or condemnation” (p. 223) and, contrary to large hunks of Scripture, God is not a God of judgment.
“I don’t need to punish people for sin, sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It’s not my purpose to punish it; it’s my job to cure it” (p. 120). While Young’s comment has some validity it does not faithfully reflect the teaching of Scripture which portray God as actively involved in the punishment of sin.
Source: DR. GARY GILLEY SHUTS UP “THE SHACK”, Apprising Ministries, http://apprising.org/2009/03/22/dr-gary-gilley-shuts-up-the-shack/, Published 22/03/2009. (Accessed 13/04/2015.)
Ken Silva’s also observes that the New Age writer Eugene Peterson also endorses ‘The Shack’,
There’s no secret that many in and around the sinfully ecumenical cult of the Emergent Church aka theEmerging Church [1 ] love The Shack (TS); e.g. a couple of years ago I showed you what contemplative andEC fav author Eugene Peterson had to say about TS at Amazon.com. He gushes:
When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of “The Shack.” This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” did for his. It’s that good! –Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C. (Online source)
As I said before, at least I agree with Peterson this is fertilizer alright. However, for him to even try and equate this man-centered rubbish of Paul Young to the work of John Bunyan gives us even more reason to find Peterson’s spirituality suspect. So right now let’s look quickly at a real Christian review of TS.
Source: Ken Silva, OPENING UP THE SHACK, Apprising Ministries, http://apprising.org/2011/08/03/opening-up-the-shack/, Published 03/08/2015. (Accessed 13/04/2015.)
Tim Challies reviewed the book and stated,
“Because of the sheer volume of error and because of the importance of the doctrines reinvented by the author, I would encourage Christians, and especially young Christians, to decline this invitation to meet with God in The Shack. It is not worth reading for the story and certainly not worth reading for the theology.”
Source: Tim Challies,”The Shack” by William P. Young, Challies.com, http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/the-shack-by-william-p-young, Published 15/01/2008. (Accessed 13/04/2015.)
Qualified men have already proven that the Jesus presented by William Young is not the Jesus of the Scriptures. Therefore we need to be asking the question – why does Hillsong leadership endorse such a dangerous New Age book?
Hillsong Church Watch 
William Paul Young is another *EMERGENT making a buck deceiving the Body of Christ with his fairy tales…
~Andy
I wonder how long will ACC/AG continue endorsing HS? HS is a brand and (unofficially) a denomination of its own. Will their next generation be more Gospel centered or drift further away from it?
Don’t they pretty much control ACC anyway? What I’d like to see first is traditional churches stop endorsing Hillsong, which many of them have been doing for years by singing their music and attending their conferences.
Hillsong should definitely be considered a denomination of it’s own at the very least, but would be better to consider it a sect or cult. It’s time churches in Australia were more outspoken about Hillsong and start calling a spade a spade.
You are correct (Uppercut) on saying that HS have been controlling or influencing ACC/AoG for years.
I think ACC/AoG should make a graceful split. It is better for both organisation. Will that happen? May be there are small fringe groups who have left already.. I would love to know where they are especially the ones in Sydney and NSW.
Do you mean Julia A’Bell? Your investigative skills make Inspector Clouseau look competent.
” Recently, Jules A’bell endorsed and promoted the New Age mystic/occult book “The Shack” on her instagram account. ”
And the next week Julia A’Bell preached from The Shack.
So non-Biblical books are never allowed?
Check your kindle, Newtaste. We’re gifting you a copy of Sarah Young’s New Age, he ain’t heavy, he’s my lover, “Jesus Calling” to read alongside your digitally autographed copy of “The Shack”.
To answer your question, any Christian recommending or endorsing “The Shack” might need to check their credentials at the door.
“Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims…. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters.” The Shack’s “Jesus.” [1,p.182]
By the way, are you a universalist, Newtaste?
That verse you posted is the first time I’ve ever read anything from The Shack, and it’ll be the last time if the rest of it is like that. You’re all very quick to assume.
I have however purchased Pastrix by Nadia Bolz-Weber. The chapter on her relationship with Chris Rosebrough is fascinating, and really does show the grace of God.
Newtaste – then why were you so quick to (seemingly) approve Julia A’Bell’s endorsement of a book well-known for its controversial universalism among other even more controversial issues, when you haven’t even read it?
As for Chris Rosebrough’s friendship with Nadia Bolz-Weber, I agree. Chris is unapologetic about his extending grace and friendship to her as well as his deep concerns for her spiritual walk. I recommend Tullian Tchividjian’s message “It Is Not Finished” preached at his conference attended by both Chris (as speaker) and Nadia, as guest.
http://www.fightingforthefaith.com/2015/03/it-is-not-finished.html
“….so non-Biblical books are never allowed?”
Newtaste, if that question’s a serious one (i.e. not trolling/ attention-seeking) then you’re at big risk spiritually.
Any mature Christian *should* know that if a Christian writer/ leader uses a resource they know is NOT Christian/ in ERROR, they must show why this source is needed e.g. quotes from New World Translation”bible” when writing Christian apologetics text addressing Jehovah’s Witnesses heresies AND make the true Christian position as clear as possible e.g. use correct, highly reliable bible translations to compare with the NWT’s selective MIStranslations.
*IF* Caine and A’bell knew how misleading/ potentially dangerous to any Christian unprepared to deal with “the Shack” novel is but still choose to endorse it they are a disgrace to all Christian leaders everywhere.
Google “Herescope blog the Shack” for multiple discernment apologetics entries. e.g.http://herescope.blogspot.com.au/2008/10/shack-and-universal-reconciliation.html.
“Do you mean Julia A’Bell? Your investigative skills make Inspector Clouseau look competent.”
Hello newtaste, Are you a new Christian? According to a simple search “julesabell” is the same person as”Julia A’Bell”:
https://twitter.com/julesabell
“So non-Biblical books are never allowed?”
Is this normal practice for satanic books to be highly extolled reading for HS’ers?
churchwatch have now changed their “Julie” mistake to the correct “Julia”. They’ve failed to acknowledge their error, just changed it without a correction notice. So you got deceived.
Deception? Seriously Newtaste, are you that needy you need a “correction notice” for a spelling mistake? Just letting you know every time I type your profile name in response to your comments, it usually comes up Newtatse (just giving a correction notice acknowledgement in advance) – it’s that gosh darn deceptive typing middle finger! Naughty finger!
What a surprise (NOT) – a Hillsong follower following his leader’s example by caring more about spelling than theology.
Houston (mid Sep? 2014): “…there are no dictionary definitions for modalism…. do you mean medalist or modelist?” http://pulpitandpen.org/2014/09/18/pp-transcript-brian-houston-asks-if-modalism-is-a-made-up-word/
“So you got deceived.”
You sound very bitter. The only people being deceived are those sitting in HS churches, mate.
Thank you Billy. And thank you to the multitudes in The Quintity.
Newtaste – you take yourself way too seriously. How about acknowledging Julia A’Bell just may have caused others to believe in a different Jesus and a different eternity by recommending they read “The Shack”.
Not quite related but I just can’t get my head around the fact that in these “churches” if someone is promoted to say senior pastor it automatically qualifies their spouse to be senior pastor too, regardless of whether they are even remotely suitable. Is that just a rort to pay them double the Sr pastor salary?
In older Pentecostal theology, one of the reasons why their spouse is given the same status as their husband is because of their understanding of Gen 2-3.
The idea is this. Now that man and woman have become one flesh they both share in doing the work of the ministry. At first, this meant that women couldn’t preach or teach in the pastoral office behind the pulpit. Instead, the wife would preach or teach the kids in Sunday school.
As we can see – over time these roles were challenged. So initially, this idea was not a rort. This idea really worked for both the pastor and his wife. One would know the parents really well and the other would know their children really well. Salaries were paid for both of them because they were essentially running two massive offices in the church.
It is interesting however that Brian Houston did not disclose his wife’s salary when he was pressed how much money his family were earning from Hillsong. So we tend to believe that Brian and Bobbie Houston are definitely rorting the system.
Thanks. The reason I asked was because when Nick Dimitris went off to prison his wife and fellow senior pastor Emily Dimitris appeared totally incapable of keeping the church going (from what I could tell anyway). It made me wonder what exactly she was getting paid for and you’re right – they are never really forthcoming about how much the partners are paid.
LMI’s financial report for 2013 is publicly available.
http://www.acnc.gov.au/RN52B75Q?ID=E63E55BA-EDCB-449B-8971-C383F6E14CC8&noleft=1
Im pleased this topic of ‘The Shack’ came up. My sister (born and raised in Christ, spirit filled, baptised etc), recently went a little wayward and ended up having an affair, subsequently leaving her husband…. On her journey of “self seeking”, and reasoning from God (and the world), she happened to read this book The Shack and now actually believes and has told me that “papa will forgive her”… And that she basically has his permission to do whatever she wants and she will get to heaven no matter what… TOTALLY denying God’s word. TOTALLY denying the message of the Cross… HOW DANGEROUS IS THAT!? THIS BOOK IS DANGEROUS!!! This is what we read about in the Bible – false prophets. It is incredibly HEART BREAKING to witness these words come out of her mouth and know that this was not how we were raised to believe… I pray that God opens the eyes of the blind… Anyone who has read this book and is being deceived.
I’m sorry to read that. My husband was in a men’s prayer group at St Thomas’ Anglican. They also read “The Shack” based on the recommendation of one of the ministers. I was quite alarmed at the time.
I listened to Tullian Tchividjian’s talk at Liberate. He’s spot on.
Sadly I attended a sermon byJulia A’Bell a few years ago and she said that ‘we think its usually outside forces attacking us but most of the time its not’. Instantly I remembered the scripture “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Eph 6:12 and I remember wondering why a pastors wife doesn’t even know this major scripture. Another time I went on a Friday night sick as anything, under major attack from the enemy hoping to hear a word from God and her whole sermon was “I’ve got song, you’ve got a song, what’s your song?” I was so sick and the whole thing was fluffy and ridiculous. An elderly woman got up and left and I saw another couple leave. I don’t think they realize that people are going through major issues in life and this white washed nonsense doesn’t cut it. Only the word of God breaks chains, not new age fluff.
Also has anyone noticed that in the ad for the 2015 Conference it shows pictures of Saturn and all sorts of cubes and triangles which are in relation to Saturn worship which was the religion worshipped at the time of the flood! Look at the images flashing on the guys shirt, its pyramids and cubes. Lately I’ve also seen photos of the stage with cube images all over it which is also related to Saturn worship. Look it up, its really occult symbols. Demons need these symbols to take ground and move in.
The Holy Spirit as left long ago and another horrible spirit has taken over. We are definitely in the last days and the great falling away is totally marching forward. Scary stuff.
We’ve noticed a lot of pagan-like imagery used by Hillsong in their adverts to look spiritual and connected to life. We even saw one add where their were silohettes of yoga poses (they weren’t doing spiritual dancing).
Yes. It’s a form of lying and manipulation known as gaslighting. It’s a mind controlling technique which we think should be considered illegal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting
Christians would be more prone to it because we naturally give people the benefit of the doubt. Do not think for a second that Brian Houston does not use this technique in his sermons.
He was exposed of gaslighting when he dropped that Allah comment and pushing the gay agenda. He knows he can’t say things in a way that opposes the Christian world view. He can only suggest, imply and gaslight.
To Churchwatch:
Re: Pentencostal idea of husband-wife equal pastorhip based on Gen 2-3.. Can you give us info/source please?
I personally experienced where pastor’s wife having having more authority probably more then him. It was so controlling and manipulative. Some of them were not biblically of theologically trained. Have no idea how these lot get ordained? Thank God..some of them are retired now….
“I personally experienced where pastor’s wife having having more authority probably more then him. It was so controlling and manipulative.”
Fruit of the Jezebel spirit. This is why Scripture explicitly forbids women from usurping the authority of men by presuming to preach or teach in church. Women who contravene this stricture are nothing but presumptuous air-heads, and hen-pecked “pastors” who acquiesce to their wives in such matters are shown up as the effete pretenders that they truly are.
“This is why Scripture explicitly forbids women from usurping the authority of men by presuming to preach or teach in church.”
Preach it brother!
All too often wives own the ministry while their husbands sit in the background like a useless piece of furniture. This is a disgrace pure and simple. The husband should be in charge, and the wife should stay out of the pulpit. Not the other way around. Otherwise, those two do not belong in the ministry.
Joyce Meyer’s husband makes me cringe.
Petition now at 200:
https://www.change.org/p/hillsong-remove-mark-driscoll-from-hillsong-europe-conference
“Speak, We’re Listening”
or in hillsongs case its more like “Speak, we’re speaking”..
nfg
cw, i think you need to add a link on the top left of all your pages that show yfg churchwatch exists.
i didn’t even know it was there until now because i just saw it from your central church watch page.. yfg churchwatch is kind of hiding over there in the corner.. unless that was your intention..
i might have some comments to make over on yfg churchwatch too..
thanks, nfg
We have been adding more links on the left-hand sidebars. ChurchWatch Central is a recent addition to all the sites’ sidebars. Yoido Full Gospel Church Watch will be added soon.
thanks cw, nfg
ps also i like the suite of sites, i think its lookin pretty good..