More distraction from Charisma. The fact that he originally pled not guilty is irrelevant. He was guilty. He admitted and pled as such. Not only that but Charisma conveniently left out that an additional enhanced charge was added when it was revealed that his blood alcohol content was at .20, known as "blackout drunk." Are we fully grasping this? The leader of Hillsong was driving while so drunk, he likely blacked out the entire incident. It is a miracle that he did not kill someone. This is not a "first incident" as it reveals and confirms the same pattern, we have now seen for over a decade. Remember these are only the incidents we are aware of. God only knows the depths of the depravity and non-pastoral behavior Mr. Houston has engaged in over the years that we have not heard about.
What is so tone-deaf is Charisma conveying these things as "setbacks." A setback is not getting your building permit approved to start the church. A setback is not driving while so drunk that you blackout. A setback is not abusing sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication and alcohol. These are absolutely disqualifying problems. Brian Houston never was a real pastor, but he should not be welcomed to start this all over again. How many blaring warning sirens do we need? When is enough, enough? Are we waiting for the next time when he kills someone, or we find out the texts led to sexual abuse? This is the same nonchalance we see in Bicklegate. Oh, so what if he pretended God spoke to him in order to lure a 19-year-old sheep into his bed when he was a 42-year-old preacher? That was 20 years ago! The concern and deference is always in favor of the abuser and never with a shred of concern for the victims.
"As Christians, it is important to remember that redemption, forgiveness and mercy are central to our faith. The Bible teaches us that God is the forgiving God, and we are called to forgive others as He has forgiven us (Col. 3:13). We are also reminded that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Rom. 3:23), but through Christ, we can receive redemption and the promise of eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Moving forward in our faith, it is essential to extend mercy to those who have stumbled and to support them in their journey toward redemption. In doing so, we can create a stronger and more united Christian community that reflects the love and grace of Jesus Christ." - Charisma News
As pious sounding as this is it is also extremely irrelevant for this discussion. I have nothing to forgive Brian Houston of. What he has done is between him, his victims and God. This is confusion that the Charismaniacs such as Charisma News always engage in to try and get their fallen leaders back and fleecing the flock with as little down time as possible. Forgiveness has NOTHING to do with employment. Restoration is about our walk with God, not our employment as a pastor. We forfeit that when we step out of the qualifications God has set forth for people who bring His word. That is not "unforgiving" it simply being biblical and please stop misusing examples such as David. Yes, David was forgiven for his adultery and murder and God is always willing to forgive a contrite heart. He still however had worldly and spiritual consequences for his sin. David still lost his newborn child. He still had Absolom rebel against him. He still lost his kingdom. Mike Bickle thinks that after some undefined "season" he can return as long as his buddies say he has repented enough. Houston acts as if the worldly exoneration from the courts regarding his father means all is forgiven and forgotten regarding his years upon years of substance abuse and abuse towards women. Please remember this is all not even considering how awful his theology is!
When speaking about the Hillsong debacle, Steven Strang, CEO of Charisma said "Hillsong blessed believers with wonderful songs and stood as an example of service to its community. The church's theology was spot-on and no-compromise when many churches are going liberal or woke. Bad things happen to good people, and the Bible is full of examples of men and women of God who failed"yet God used them anyway." Except the majority of the songs were not wonderful. They were heretical. They remain so to this day. Hillsong was an example to its community? Is that the same community Brian Houston drove blackout drunk through just one year ago? Is that the same community that had a young woman accuse a Hillsong staffer of rape, who was then allowed to stay on? Their theology was spot on? Which one? Their embrace of the prosperity gospel? The teachings of word faith heresy? The utter carnality they preached each and every week? Hillsong is a church of no compromise? Are you serious? Compromise is their business model! Beware this false biblical comparison because the bible is filled more with people who failed and were not used by God again! People who were judged by God! Not being struck dead like Ananias and Sapphira does not mean God is approving of your return to the pulpit after you violated it. Strang finished his Brian Houston defense with this gem:
"Hillsong is not the worst scandal ever. If anything, it reminds us how the media loves to criticize Pentecostals and is an example of why we must face our problems, trust God and continue to be led by the Holy Spirit." - Steven Strang
Reporting what Brian Houston has pled guilty to in open court is not "criticism." Was Brian being led by the Holy Spirit when he so casually took the life of everyone he may have plowed over into his hands? Do you honestly think your defense of the indefensible here is being led by the Holy Spirit? Hillsong is not the worst scandal ever? So, the guy who built a 100 million dollar a year church by fleecing the flock, knew his pedophile father had sexually violated congregants and said nothing. He then has at least a ten-year period of abusing women, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety medication, and alcohol for which he is forced to step down. His pious response to this is to be arrested for driving blackout drunk where thankfully he did not kill someone, and a year later proudly announce he wants to start a new church. If this is not one of the worst scandals ever, I hate to see which ones would qualify.
