If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1: 26-27 (ESV)
The word religion comes from the Bible. God used the word religion on more than one occasion in His holy Word. He talked about avoiding a self-made religion in Colossians. Then in the key verses He provides a contrast of what a worthless religion is versus one that is pure and undefiled. Based upon these verses we can conclude at a bare minimum that religion, when done God's way, is very important to HIm. One should not be trying to marginalize the word and gloat about it being "dead."
"We don't use the word 'religion,' because it's hard to get people excited about religion. Religion is dead. I don't know anything about religion, I couldn't help you. Religion has no power. But a relationship with God is a superpower."- Carl Lentz, Pastor at Hillsong NYC
Yes, Pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong NY is at it again. The media darling cannot help himself from seeking the popular spotlight and casting aspersions at the Christianity he claims to represent. This quote is from his latest interview with the online version of the New York Daily News. Perhaps his error is in assuming it is the job of a pastor or a church to "get people excited about religion." That is not supposed to be the job of the church or its leaders at all. The job is to preach the Gospel. Putting that aside I find the most honest thing Lentz admits to here is that he does not know anything about religion. That much is clear because if he knew what was pure and undefiled religion he would know that it is to keep oneself unstained from the world. Lentz not only is stained by the world but he embraces the stain and accuses anyone who does not of being religious.
"In church, people treat you like you have to change or else. Our approach is, 'We love you, nothing else.' - Lentz
What a sweet sentiment for the world. Because you see the world does not want to change. They like their sin. They are seeking pastors who will love them and their sin. They are seeking pastors to tell them they do not have to change. That they are just on a journey and the church ought to respect their sin. Unfortunately for Lentz, the Bible says that we must change.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.- Romans 12: 1-2 (ESV)
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. - Luke 13: 3 (ESV)
Repentance is change. It is turning from our sin and towards our Savior. This is the Gospel. That That Jesus took our punishment because we deserved the death He suffered. Transformation is change. It is a requirement of religion, not something to carelessly discard so you can seem cool and hip. Perhaps the most telling proof is when you hear from those who follow Lentz inside Hillsong.
"Young people are far more open and excited to share fellowship with one another when they don't feel as if there is a Bible being smacked upon their heads. Hillsong fosters a completely opposite environment, one of love, openness that is borderline infectious." - Cassidy Gifford, Daughter of Kathy Lee Gifford
Hillsong fosters the opposite of "having the Bible smacked upon their heads." Now I am all for not wielding the sword of the Spirit like a blunt instrument but what does this quote really tell us? This vague worldly notion of love has replaced Biblical truth. When asked about his stance on homosexuality Lentz famously quipped that he has a stance on love and everything else is a conversation. The problem is that the love Lentz speaks about so passionately is not biblical love. It is worldly love that accepts everything and changes nothing. The biblical reality is that you cannot separate the truth of God's Word from love!
This letter is from John, the elder. I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth--as does everyone else who knows the truth-- because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever. Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ--the Son of the Father--will continue to be with us who live in truth and love. - 2John 1-3 (NLT)
How is it love to not tell someone they need to come to penitent faith in Christ? Tomorrow is promised to no one and we cannot be so respectful of the journey someone is on to assume God will not end that journey prematurely. It is not love to hold the keys to their eternal life in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and withhold it from them out of some carnal sense of nobility. That is not love; it is cruelty.
I heard that Ravi Zacharias once said that what you save people with, you save them to. The bible is clear that we are not to conform to this world let alone embrace it as Hillsong does. Saving them with hipster entertainment means you save them to hipster entertainment. Read the article for yourself and you will see 80% of it is focused on fluff and nonsense. How many twitter followers Lentz has and how long the lines are to get in. Tattoos and ripped leather pants. These are the great takeaways from people on the outside. When the subject turns to religion it is bashed. Very little about Jesus Christ. You cannot claim to lead people into a relationship with God with strobe lights, blaring music and a feel good message about love. Only the Gospel saves and the Gospel is how we relate to God. It is religion and it is only dead when it is worthless. Can people get saved at a place like Hillsong? Sure. God is not hard to find if you are genuinely looking for Him. But how many are there for the show and think they are saved without changing anything in their lives? After all, their pastor does not believe that a church should be about change. He is on record as agreeing that it is not the role of the church to tell people how to live their lives. How many are having their journey respected until they stand before Christ saying "Lord Lord?" How many are like Cassidy? Excited to share fellowship without all that Bible stuff going on? I have no doubt it is infectious as Ms. Gifford pointed out. Sin always is.
I want to believe that Carl Lentz is a sincere person. I know people who attend Hillsong NYC and their opinion of him, which tends to border on pastor worship, is that he genuinely cares. Their incessant defense however in light of clear Scriptural truth indicates the problem. When you are willing to sacrifice religion on the altar of popular culture you end up drawing people to worship you, not Christ. Sure there is plenty of lip service played to Jesus but at the end of the day when you line up Scripture against Pastor and the person defends Pastor, I am afraid that you have entered into the realm of worthless religion as James outlines in the key verses. It certainly does appear that Carl Lentz cannot bridle his tongue and has deceived his heart into thinking that religion, a word God uses to describe how we relate to Him, is dead.
Rev. Anthony.
Below is the Daily News article for reference.
