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Brian Houston: “the Muslim and you, we actually serve the same God”

Brian Houston & Chris Rosebrough Offering Corrections

We are very concerned with the liberal-secular trends and language emerging from Hillsong. People are now dropping the word Chrislam and associating Brian Houston’s behaviour with his friend Rick Warren and Warren’s controversial Chrislam agenda. This may be true. This may not be true.

The important thing is this: We need Brian Houston of Hillsong Church to properly clarify some serious issues surrounding his recent statements.

OUR RESPONSE TO BRIAN HOUSTON

We hope that Houston responds to our below questions,

Dear Brian Houston

We really appreciate you commenting on our blog. It’s a relief to know that you are keen to clarify this error.

There seems to be confusion among members in your church what the difference is between Islam and Christianity. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity for you to address the differences between the two faiths.

While you seem to have clarified the issue, you seem to strongly suggest that “the loving open inclusive arms of a loving God” includes both Christians and Muslims in light of your statement, “the Muslim and you, we actually serve the same God. Allah to a Muslim, to us Abba Father God”.

You’ve supposedly addressed the first issue over Muslims and Christians worshiping the same God but you didn’t clarify where you implied the inclusivity of God in that context. Do you believe that Muslims can be reconciled to God without knowing Christ’s substitionary punishment for their sins? 

Lastly, is there anything else in that particular sermon that you feel impelled to publicly repudiate since you said “my allegiance is to the Lord Jesus Christ alone”?

We do not wish to misrepresent your words.

Regards
Churchwatcher

CHRIS ROSEBROUGH’S RESPONSE TO BRIAN HOUSTON

Why is it so important for Brian Houston to respond publicly on such matters? Chris Rosebrough from Fighting for the Faith recently commented on our site which we thought was worth reposting.

Brian Houston’s clarification here and on Twitter will be discussed on Monday’s episode of Fighting for the Faith… And here are the problem’s with it:

1) Because of the seriousness of Houston’s gaff (since that’s how he’s treating it) is so great that what is absolutely necessary for him to do is to issue a public statement, preferably both in writing and from his pulpit. It is not sufficient for him to have left a comment on a blog post or make a brief statement on twitter.

2) The brief clarification that Houston has given only adds more confusion to an already convoluted statement. This is due to the fact that Islam DID NOT originate from the descendants of Ishmael. Islam didn’t even show up in human history until 2,700 years AFTER Ishmael was born.

3) To clarify his statement by saying that Islam claims to worship the same God as Abraham is, again, a statement that causes even more confusion. Mormon’s claim to worship the same God as Abraham and so do Jehovah’s witnesses. Yet, the gods that they worship have nothing in common with the YHWH the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

In order to properly repair the breach that Houston has created by his statement he MUST PUBLICLY, in a high profile way, repudiate his own statement and must make it clear that Islam does NOT worship or serve the same God as Christians OR Abraham. He must make it clear that Allah is an idol and a false god and that salvation cannot be found in Islam but only in repentant faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Until Houston does that, it is my opinion that he’s only attempting to engage in political damage control.

Source: Chris Rosebrough (@piratechristian), Brian Houston: “the Muslim and you, we actually serve the same God”, Hillsong Church Watch, https://hillsongchurchwatch.com/2014/03/17/brian-houston-the-muslim-and-you-we-actually-serve-the-same-god/#comment-1949, March 22, 2014 at 2:53 pm. (Accessed 23/03/2014. Spelling errors in original comment correct.)