Why Hillsong Music is Dangerous For Your Church

Houston, we have a problem!

Brian Houston, that is. Arguably one of the most influential figures of today's professing church, Houston, was previously the senior pastor of the worldwide multi-site megachurch known as Hillsong. Houston recently stepped down as the leader of the global organization after a years-long legal battle with the Australian government over his alleged covering-up of his father’s crimes.

The church, founded by Houston's pedophile father, Frank Houston, dominates the contemporary worship music scene, with their songs being played in churches of every denomination around the entire world.

Popular songs like Oceans and Forever Reign with lyrics like "Spirit lead me, where my trust is without borders," and "nothing compares to your embrace" fill the IMAG screens of Baptist churches, Methodist churches, Pentecostal churches, Catholic churches—churches of every kind during Sunday morning worship. From raging electric guitars, drums, and professional soloists to small choirs with nothing more than a keyboard and a few singers, the music is emotionally captivating, bringing many to tears and arms lifted high, as they sing out praises to God.

So what's not to like?

First, Hillsong is a cult. Particularly, a cult of personality. One of the primary marks of a cult is blind loyalty to a visionary who often claims to be a prophet. In a blog post on Hillsong's website entitled Five Things That Should Matter to a Worship Leader, one of Hillsong's foremost worship leaders, Jonathan Douglass writes: