Politics goes to church at Hillsong (1 Viewer)

[Generator]

Following on from Sarah's post:

Family First seeks policy check list
Government falters on family pledge

It looks as though the Assemblies of God will be trying to exert as much influence as possible under the guise of looking out for the 'family', no matter how unrealistic their requests and aims seem to be.

 

[leetom]

Rudd is a clever, brilliant and deeply admired man. Even with Labor in some of its' darkest hours, it's men like Rudd who keep Labor together-

We will not for one moment stand idly by while the Liberals, the National Party or Family First assert that God has become some kind of wholly owned subsidiary of political conservatism in this country.

I think what we’ve seen in recent times is an increasing trend, both in the Liberal Party and other minor parties, to try and commandeer God for their own political purposes.

So you won’t have some sort of message from me that I’m some sort of holy Joe cos I’m not. And I think anyone in politics who stands up there and says I’m Mr Christian Morality I think has got a problem.

 

[shady_03]

giving 10% of earnings to the church is a Biblical principle - it's called tithe.
Tithe is simply used to support the ministries of the church - it is not a means of gaining salvation.

Hillsong don't preach that giving money will get you into heaven. They do, however, insistently appeal to the congregation to give generously and preach that God will bless those who do so.

Nah thats not saying god is happy with those who pay.....

 

[jennylim]

the only thing that irritates me about all this is that there are several question marks over hillsong's actual..well..christianity. some people have mentioned this previously, but their focus on "prosperity gospel" (ie, if you're a good christian you'll be rich) is, uh, undermined by a lot in the bible. so that as well as the rest of the commercialism does seem to misrepresent a lot of christians.

that said, i have no problem with politicians going and speaking - this is a free country where everyone can do what they like, and that includes going to church. and on that point, christians should be allowed to vote for whoever they like without being criticised, too.

 

[jebbie]

the only thing that irritates me about all this is that there are several question marks over hillsong's actual..well..christianity. some people have mentioned this previously, but their focus on "prosperity gospel" (ie, if you're a good christian you'll be rich) is, uh, undermined by a lot in the bible. so that as well as the rest of the commercialism does seem to misrepresent a lot of christians.

that said, i have no problem with politicians going and speaking - this is a free country where everyone can do what they like, and that includes going to church. and on that point, christians should be allowed to vote for whoever they like without being criticised, too.

Thye believe in the sowing and reaping principle which is in the bible.
Its saying that if you are free with your money, it opens up stuff so that God is enabled to bless you.

 

[poloktim]

It's about time these stupid hippy Hillsongers joined a real church. :>

 

[withoutaface]

Thye believe in the sowing and reaping principle which is in the bible.
Its saying that if you are free with your money, it opens up stuff so that God is enabled to bless you.

That sounds like the exact reason why people left the Catholic church in the first place.

 

[jebbie]

That sounds like the exact reason why people left the Catholic church in the first place.

Im just saying what they believe not whether thats correct or not. And seriously the whole reason why there are different denominations is because people believe different things/have different views on stuff. No one is forcing anyone to believe this stuff so seriously what is wrong with them and whatever it is they do?

This just goes down to the simpler form of peeping out curtains and watching your neighbours. My friends grandma does that. I dont know why, I seriously couldnt care less if they did something outrageous and murdered someone. Thats their decision and as long as theyre not forcing me to be involved thats cool by me.

 

[heybraham]

I think we're turning into america...

we became america the day John Howard congratulated Bush back in 2000

btw i think all this has got to do with the issue of political correctness. it may not only be a the Christians or Hillsong church, it could even be Islam, Catholics etc. Politicians address religious denominations politically correct -> politicans win approval ie. votes from those denominations.

your arguing over the very reason why political correctness was invented.

 

[Meldrum]

We been a state of America for some time. From our first involvement in Iraq, before that was our stance on East Timor's oil fields, before that our Americanisation of popular culture in the 1980's, before that our involvement in Vietnam despite provocation, before that...

 

[Lhyviathan]

What is the result of God's blessing?

A lighter wallet.

 

[Generator]

Slight bump.

Property deals at Hillsong
Jennifer Sexton
July 29, 2005

THE couple at the helm of the nation's fastest-growing church, Hillsong, have used a church association to offload their own personal properties.

Property searches by The Australian revealed Brian and Bobbie Houston have sold a property in the Hawkesbury region north of Sydney and a beachfront apartment at Bondi, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, to Leadership Ministries Incorporated, of which Mr Houston is a director.

LMI paid Mrs Houston $650,000 on February 14, 2002, for a 91sqm apartment with sweeping views of the famous beach. The apartment is on the same block as Jamie Packer's beachside pad.

Mrs Houston made $158,000 from the deal and her signature appears above that of her husband on the official transfer document - she as seller and he as a director of the purchaser, LMI.

In the second deal, LMI paid Mr and Mrs Houston $780,000 for a 1.278ha property at Wilberforce, on the Hawkesbury River, on October 28 last year. They made $535,000 on their 1998 purchase price.

The signatories to that deal include the Houstons as vendors and Nabi Saleh - Hillsong treasurer and the joint owner of the Gloria Jeans coffee empire - for LMI.

The church refused to speak with The Australian but an item posted on its website last May claimed "Brian and Bobbie have a one-bedroom unit in Bondi".

A neighbour told The Australian that Brian Houston stayed at the Bondi apartment on weekends.

As a registered company, Hillsong Church Ltd is required to file regular accounts with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The accounts from last year and 2002 declare that LMI was contracted to Hillsong to provide "pastoral oversight" but made no mention of the property deals.

Last year's accounts also reveal that although Mr Houston's father, Frank, was removed from the church in 2000 after he admitted having sexually abused a boy in New Zealand 30 years earlier, he remained in church accommodation until his death in November last year.

"Frank occupied a premises owned by Hillsong Church Ltd free of charge," the accounts said.

Mr Houston is head pastor and chairman of the Hillsong empire, which last year made $40 million in tax-free revenue. Donations and salary tithes to Hillsong Church Ltd last calendar year rocketed to $13 million, up from $1.8 million eight years ago.

Sales of merchandise hit $6.93 million.

Source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16083423%5E2702,00.html

 

[braindrainedAsh]

Another interesting Hillsong article by UTS students

http://www.reportage.uts.edu.au/stories/southside/hillsong1.html

 

[Generator]

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/ - The Life of Brian (01/08/2005)

Something that may be of interest to some.

 

[VonDavis]

I heard that Hillsong has ATM machines or similar so that you can withdraw money to give to them. Now THAT I am against.

That is not true ....

Please don't beat me down ..... I am a hillsonger and I attend both the city and hills campuses at least once a week each. Most of the arguements that are brought up in this forum have no factual evidence and are just stories from word of mouth. Hillsong is just an average church that happens to be reaching a lot of people hence the need for its expansion. I am not argueing that the church does not recieve a lot of money because it is quite obvious that it does ....
It is not a bad church and it is not full of bad people, It is just an amazing fun atmosphere

 

[VonDavis]

Most hillsongers have attended churches previously to attending Hillsong ... I grew up in a Uniting church in Colorado so I grew up as a christain and in a quiet church environment. At my old church it was not common to express yourself and jump around and be a 'youth' When I moved to Australia last year I heard about Hillsong and it just suited me because it was a more relaxed youth environment. My parents do not attend Hillsong they go to a Uniting church in Sydney they don't like the youth environment.... I think the biggest issue with hillsong is that it changes the cliche of attending Church.
I can not speak for all that attend Hillsong But I attend Hillsong because it suits me as a christian ... I only attend hillsong on the youth nights .... I attend my parents church on a sunday

 

[VonDavis]

I think some preachers at hillsong tend to go a bit extreme in the giving message, I don't agree with the way some of the speakers address the issue ... although the entire point of the giving is so that a church can grow and that there will be a place of worship for those who wish to worship. I do not give at Hillsong church (My parents don't allow it) but my parents do give money to thier church.

A wealth gospel! .... LOL .... i'm not sure if I answered your question

 

[Generator]

I think some preachers at hillsong tend to go a bit extreme in the giving message, I don't agree with the way some of the speakers address the issue ... although the entire point of the giving is so that a church can grow and that there will be a place of worship for those who wish to worship. I do not give at Hillsong church (My parents don't allow it) but my parents do give money to thier church.

Sickening.

The whole point of giving should be so that the lives of those without may be improved, be they a believer or not, and to do so in a manner that is free of moralising.

 

[adambra]

I'm more scared of Christian right then Islamic extremists.

 

[ydnas]

Actually hillsong preaches that greed and earning money is good (as opposed to preaching the evils of money), the rationale being that the more money you have the more good you can do.

Saying "Actually" denotes that what your saying is fact and that you have seen it for yourself... i highly doubt that the congregation would be willing to accept this, and would have much to say to whoever is addressing the congregation.

I do however agree with you on Hillsong's business style approach to preaching the good book. Their style of teaching also concerns me, as i once went to "Wildlife" which is their youth group for teens. They had this point in the evening after the "Awesome bands" and the "Rad Skaters" where the "youth pastor" started asking people to put up their hands to show they want to become part of Gods family.
Now i dont know if the people who raised their hands had been considering it for a long time or not, but i for one felt compelled to raise my hand.

They pull you in with bands, skaters, rock climbing walls, games and then they guilt you into joining by saying stuff like "look at all these wonderful things that Jesus has given you" etc etc.

Doing it that way isnt cool at all.

dont get me started on the money and whatnot... cause then ill keep ranting

[/rant]