272. FALSE WORSHIP – ELEVATION, HILLSONG, BETHEL, JESUS CULTURE AND OTHERS

(The Information & Edification Series – Batch 8)

There is a saying, that all that glitters is not gold and when it comes to spiritual matters, the same is true.

As someone who has been duped by the enemy’s deception on many issues in the past and that still needs to rely on God’s help every day to avoid being deceived by the devil’s tactics and self-deception, it grieves my heart when, after the Lord has opened up my eyes in his mercy, to see an area where I was deceived, to see fellow believers being deceived in the same area.

Knowing the truth therefore, I feel compelled to tell them. Some pay heed hopefully but sadly, some ignore me and continue on, thinking perhaps, that I am overreacting, delusional, “knit-picking” or too unimportant to listen to anything I have to say.

Nevertheless, I have a responsiblity before God to warn my brothers and sisters and to always promote truth, so I will continue to dispense my responsibility in this regard. It is my hope that brothers and sisters would do the same for me.

Having said that, it broke my heart tonight when I checked my phone and saw what a family member, a professing believer, sent. He had listened to a song that he found “reassuring” and out of care and concern (which I appreciate), he sent it to me. However, the song came from a coalition of two groups that parade themselves as Christians but which I know are false.

I could not believe that he had sent such a song to me, as I had sent a YouTube video about a year prior, of a respected Pastor, highlighting the evil in these so-called worship groups which are rooted in satan.

I was therefore disappointed that he had either not heeded the warning, not listened to the Youtube video, not believed what was said or had just chosen to disregard it and listen to these groups anyway. Nevertheless, the need to emphasize the danger of listening to these songs, kicked in and so I sent him a whatsApp message. Actually, it turned into a lengthy response but I just kept typing and typing. I wanted him to understand so badly, that these songs were not made for his spiritual welfare and that he needed to avoid them completely, not court them.

In his whatsApp message, he had attached the song which was from the false group ‘Elevation’ and two singers of the false ‘Bethel’ group, typing:

“Don’t normally recommend these (people) but this rendition of this song is very nice. A very reassuring song.”

The response that came to mind was: Excuse me? “But” what?

How can a work be “very nice” and “very reassuring” if it is a work of Satan? Is he in the business of reassuring? The Bible tells us clearly what is and has been the devil’s agenda, from since the garden of Eden. He is all about killing, stealing and destroying. He does not reassure but destruct. We are therefore told in the Word of God that we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11) and therefore, we ought not to let him have an advantage over us. For, the Word of God also tells us that “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12).

There ought to be no “buts” therefore when it comes to that which is false and displeasing to God. “But” speaks of a desire to compromise. It is essentially one saying, I know this is wrong but I am going to do it anyway. This is exactly what Adam did in the garden of Eden. He knew God’s stand but chose to disobey.

Alarmed and admittedly, very upset by the message, in response, I typed the following, repeating certain key words and phrases for emphasis:

Hi XXXXX.

ELEVATION WORSHIP, HILLSONG and JESUS CULTURE are not genuine Christian groups. Thanks for the thought in sending but I know that they are false and while they disguise themselves with nice words are a movement of the devil. Please avoid playing their songs. I warned XXXXX some time back and (name of my Church) on the chat.

Discernment is needed to expose what the devil is doing in these groups. Do not be duped by how nice they and the music sound. Satan is behind all of their songs. If you do the research on what they believe, it will confirm what I already sensed was true, (which is) that they are diabolical. Their renditions are not genuine worship. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to properly sift what music is of him and what is a work of Satan.

Check out this video of a Christian that has also seen through these diabolical groups.

(I attached the YouTube video of Justin Peters here, called: “WHY YOUR CHURCH SHOULDN’T PLAY BETHEL AND HILLSONG MUSIC”. See this video attached at the end of the Article below.)

Also, do your further research but most importantly, ask God to reveal the truth to you and he will.

I wrote an Article on false worship which included these groups, some years ago, before I even saw Justin Peter’s video. If you wish to read it let me know. I am not guessing or expressing an opinion. I believe that I have been gifted with discernment and am 100% sure that they are a work of Satan. Don’t expose your family to their folly.

(I) forgot to include Bethel, which Kari Jobe belongs to. (These are) four false and diabolical groups of non-Christians. Rendition being nice or not, I am not listening to any of these groups’ songs. I recommend you do the same. The Lord expects complete allegiance to what is true. I did not listen therefore, as (I am) not giving Satan any foothold. I know that you are well-meaning though, so I appreciate it.

Don’t stand on the fence with these songs. TAKE A CLEAR STAND FOR CHRIST and COMPLETELY AVOID THEM. WARN OTHER CHRISTIANS as well. Too many are asleep and not discerning these subtle infiltrations.

One more thing (sorry for the lengthy message but I am passionate about the subject), knowing that the devil’s agenda is always to kill, steal and destroy, songs that he has inspired his followers to write and that he is behind, could never be reassuring. There is no telling what kind of impact Christians opening up themselves to these songs can have in their lives. For sure, God is not pleased with these blasphemous groups and we are never to compromise to doctrines of devils, even if it comes subtly through music calculated to sway your emotions.

Do not believe every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. If they are not of God, then you should not be having anything whatsoever, to do with their so-called “reassuring renditions”. Guard your heart and mind and guard your family’s as well. All that I have said (typed) is in love. I hope you make the right choice.

There is no telling how the family member will take my lengthy message. He may choose to ignore it, dismiss it, downplay it or take the view that I am making a mountain out of a molehill. I hope he takes it seriously and I have prayed for him about the issue, hoping that the Lord will convict him through what I wrote or Justin Peter’s video or through what he leads him to find in his own research.

If he chooses to dismiss what I have stated, that will be sad but I have done my part. I could not know the truth and remain silent, without trying my very best to drive home the issue, so-to-speak, of how dangerous these groups are. For, the Word of God says “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

I may not necessarily be more spiritually mature than my relative but God has designed the body of Christ in such a way, that each has his or her part to play. On one point that a brother or sister is weak, another may be strong and vice versa. No brother or sister can therefore boast that he or she knows everything, discerns everything and does not need other brothers and sisters to encourage, edify, rebuke and warn them where necessary.

When there is danger, we are compelled by love to speak up and tell our brother and sister, not allow them to be devoured by the enemy’s wolves. Galatians 5:5-6 and 13-14, tell us that the law of Christ is love. It reads:

“For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love…For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

I am therefore satisfied that I have dispensed my responsiblity in love through that whatsApp exchange. I am now dispensing my responsiblity to you the reader, in love, by sharing the story, so that you too will be equipped with the information. I pray that you too make the right choice and stay clear of these diabolical groups.

There are other false singers and groups, so you must be careful and guarded, as to what you listen to. Not all singers and groups of singers promoting their music as “worship music” are Christians and not all of their songs are genuine worship songs that bring God honour and glory. You must therefore stick close to God’s Word (which exposes folly) and pray to him, asking him to deliver you from the deception of these times. Ask him to guide you to music that he is pleased with and to keep you from that which is from the devil.

The Article that I alluded to in the WhatsApp exchange, which I had written a few years back is on this Website. I recommend that you read it as well, as it is on the same topic. It is Article No. 168 under the ‘SINGLE Daughters’ page and is called: “THE PROBLEM WITH MUCH OF TODAY’S SO-CALLED ‘WORSHIP’ MUSIC.”

In closing, remember this verse and let it be your guide:

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:23)

(Written on 17th December, 2022)

ADDENDUM

Today is 22nd October, 2023. A few days ago, I heard a Preacher talking about false teachers and not surprisingly, he was mentioning the false cult parading as a church, called Hillsong. I was thankful again, to know that not all of God’s people are getting mindlessly carried away by the lures and deception of this false ‘church’. Some of God’s people are using their God-given discernment, measuring what they are seeing and hearing, by the beautiful yardstick of God’s Word and then judging righteous judgment according to it.

The Preacher made reference to the person in charge of Hillsong, Brian Houston and what he had said when asked why his ‘church’ was so successful. Of course, his church is not a real church and therefore is not successful at all but people wrongly equate large numbers and popularity today, as success. They will look at abject failures in God’s sight, people that are wretched, miserable and spiritually naked and call them successes.

In any event, this false teacher’s response to the question, pretty much exposed him for who he really was, an agent of satan. I have realized that these false teachers sometimes tell you clearly who they are and on whose side they are on but you will only be able to hear what they are saying and realize what it means, if you know your Word. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:15, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

In researching on the issue this morning, I found the response that Brian Houston, a wolf in sheep’s clothing but who, in this instance, revealed some of his wolfish features for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, gave. In an interview he attended, on Sydney Morning Herald and asked as to why his so-called ‘church’ was so successful, he made no mention of Jesus Christ, the gospel, the transformative power of Jesus’ blood and the grace of God in saving souls. No. His ‘church’ and the songs they produce are not about that. They are about advancing the devil’s agenda and being unregenerate themselves, they have no business speaking on such sacred matters. Instead, here is what he said:

“I think the biggest issue is relevance, I really do. We are scratching people where they are itching.”

To any genuine Christian, spending time reading and studying the Word of God (as we all are supposed to), even if duped before, this should have been a red flag. This statement should have been a wake up call. When a teacher or a so-called church, uses words like “relevance” and “modern” and “contemporary”, when talking about the message they promote, beware. That teacher is not about promulgating the timeless gospel of Jesus Christ and upholding the Bible which endures throughout all generations. That teacher is not about serving the Lord of the scriptures.

Additionally, when they talk about reaching people where they are “itching”, it is clear that they have deliberately used this word, mocking what has clearly been stated in the scriptures and revealing their true colours, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. In 2 Timothy 4:1-4 states:

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having ITCHING EARS; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

This scripture clearly makes a distinction between those who are about the cause of Jesus Christ, preaching his Word, which is truth and those on the other hand who are false, their goal being to scratch the itching ears of people, meaning, give them what they want to hear. They are therefore in the business of spreading lies or fables, having no regard for doctrine.

The time of which the Bible spoke, has come and we are seeing it unfold day by day. Brian Houston, who is at the helm of the Hillsong ‘church’, basically made it clear that his ‘church’ was not about promoting the truth of God’s Word, which never changes but about focusing on being relevant, which means changing things to suit the times and therefore, teaching things that will be accepted in the times, even if such things are false and have no basis in God’s Word. He was also about giving people what their itching ears wanted to hear, not what they needed to hear. They need to hear that they are sinners deserving of hell and destined to a lost eternity, outside of the saving grace of Jesus Christ and then how they can be saved. But Brian Houston is not at all interested in telling them this, as he himself is an unbeliever, unregenerate and in need of God’s saving grace himself. It is a typical case of the blind, leading the blind and the Bible says that both shall fall into a ditch.

In making reference to the Pharisees, who were false teachers, just like many today and therefore hated truth, Jesus said:

“…Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

If you claim to be a Christian and have therefore professed Jesus Christ as Lord but yet, have allowed yourself to be carried away by these false, cultish movements called Hillsong, Bethel, Elevation and Jesus Culture because they have enticed you with their music, which sounds good and seems decent, then you are without excuse. For, you have allowed melodies to sway you to the point of deception, instead of allowing the Word of God to ground you and guide you into paths of truth. You are asleep and it is high time that you awake.

If you prayerfully study God’s Word and ask him to help you to not be deceived in this age of deception, if you truly ask him to open your eyes to see whether these groups are of him or not and you mean it, he will. Apart from the fact that their teachings are false and in contradiction to God’s Word, if you spend time doing research online, you will see shockingly, the sinful origins in how some of these false cults started and the diabolical teachings they endorse and promote.

(Addendum written on 22nd October, 2023)

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