Hillsong And Brian Houston

stormdancer0 said:

I think if God can reform and anoint a murderer like Saul, changing him into one of the most (if not THE most) prolific writer and evangelist ever, He can reform and anoint a child molester. In our eyes, a child molester is worse than a liar or a cheat. In God's eyes, it is all sin, and it all leads to death without His forgiveness.

If we only allow people who are "blameless before others" to run the church, there would be no church. We are blameless only in that Jesus has forgiven our sins and taken the blame for us. You and I are no more blameless than this man is. We are no better and no worse than he is in God's eyes. We have all sinned and fallen short. We are all blameless in God's sight if we are truly washed in the blood of His Son. If we aren't Christian, we bear the full brunt of the blame for our sins.

As Jesus said, He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.

Condemning this man because of past sin is putting yourself in the place of God. It is HIS job, and His job alone, to judge both the sin and the genuineness of repentance. Also, while we ARE to judge and discern our brother's sins (i.e. other Christians) for the sake of their souls, this man was NOT a professing Christian when he committed the molestation. When he becomes a Christian, all that is supposed to be washed away. If our Lord declares a sin forgiven, how arrogant it would be of us to say the sin is unforgivable.

Of course, God gave us the intelligence to protect what is ours. I would not let this man babysit my kids, Godly or not. But if he's bringing so many people to Christ, perhaps he truly has changed. Maybe not. But that's not my place to judge the level of his repentance. If he were to come and speak at my church, then I would be given discernment as to whether he is Godly. Seeing him or hearing him on video/audio would be helpful. But just hearing stories, I don't think any of us can judge.

So, along those lines, has anyone ever gone to listen to this man? Or seen him in a video or heard him in an audio program? If so, what are your feelings?


GoldenKing wrote Where, exactly, does it say in scripture that Mary was a prostitute? That is a myth of the Catholic church (no church-bashing, just stating fact). It only says she was delivered from seven demons. (I think that number is right.)

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the.Sheepdog said:

I tend to agree with MisMontana here in that I really wonder what the purpose of this thread really is.

It certainly doesnt edify anything or praise God. I think the OP and some others should please remember that this forum is pretty much consecrated to fellowship and praise, and contentious bits like this really dont serve the body here.

This is a no debate forum.

No mod hat from me, just an observation.

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