Hillsong Music is a Gateway Drug to Apostasy, Your Church is Dealing it to You - By JEFF MAPLES

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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Mr. Maples appears from time to time in this blog. His comments are invariably hyperbolic, lacking biblical insight, and incendiary. 

We should note our intent is not to defend Hillsongs or Catholic doctrine, but rather we shall examine the author's statements.

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Last year, we watched a string of high-profile apostasies take place, including Marty Sampson, one of the most prominent Hillsong music artists over the years. Sampson is not the only one, though. Hillsong Church is not a church, but a breeding ground for false converts — and is filled with false teachers. Hillsong has practically merged with the Roman Catholic Church and has even held Catholic Masses at its conferences and it has completely embraced the Word of Faith heresy.

This is an updated article that seeks to explain why your church shouldn’t be feeding you this drug.

It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist and as to what Antichrist is no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the Popery in the Church of Rome, (Many have speculated on the antichrist, but there is no definitive evidence that the pope is he. Therefore it is not a matter of sanity to doubt the pope is the antichrist in light of many opinions regarding this topic.)

there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name. . .It wounds Christ, because it robs Christ of His glory, because it puts sacramental efficacy in the place of His atonement and lifts a piece of bread into the place of the Savior and a few drops of water into the place of the Holy Spirit and puts a mere fallible man like ourselves up as the Vicar of Christ on earth. If we pray against it, because it is against Him, we shall love the persons though we hate their errors; we shall love their souls though we loathe and detest their dogmas. And so the breath of our prayers will be sweetened because we turn our faces toward Christ when we pray.

– Charles H. Spurgeon

By far, the greatest evil in the church are the works of darkness that creep in unaware (sic) to dilute the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, while building a false church that serves the interest of man. One of the major players in these days of iniquitous works is the world-wide organization known as Hillsong Church. Hillsong has fed much to the evangelical church in the way of wickedness through its many programs, especially its music production program. Hillsong’s music is played in nearly every evangelical church in the world, as well as many Roman Catholic churches. The purchase of every piece of “worshipful art” from them goes to support their works and pays homage to their apostasy.

Does your church worship service include Hillsong’s music?

Hillsong church is a breeding ground for false converts. Some of their New York campus’ flagship products include the homosexual couple, Reed Kelly and Josh Canfield, in which Canfield volunteers as a choir director 2 (Since the author represents his article as an update, perhaps he could do us the courtesy of updating his accusation to note that Hillsongs removed these men.)

and Justin Bieber, who has continual run-ins with the law. (This a primary reason why we take issue with Mr. Maples. Bieber is a troubled young man who came to Christ but nevertheless struggles to walk out his faith. For some unknown reason, the author thinks a Christian ought to be immediately mature and blameless. We are fortunate indeed that we ourselves are not part of a church that imposes a standard of behavior and casts out those who do not measure up. We wonder what Mr. Maples' church does to disciple troubled people.)

Hillsong Australia’s former worship pastrix, Darlene Zschech, has taken the apostate nature of Hillsong’s artisanship to the highest level.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. – Eph 5:11

(Is it possible that it is necessary to meet those who are not saved at their point of access so as to present the gospel? That would have nothing to do with the quoted Scripture.)

Zschech has chosen instead to bear false witness to the world, blaspheming the Holy Spirit by attributing evil deeds to Him that he did not do. (The author will never document this claim.)

In a recent blog post, she wrote,

I am writing this mid-air on my way home from Singapore after an amazing time away speaking, leading worship, writing songs, being with dear friends. It has been wonderful. And, to see what the Holy Spirit is doing around the earth is completely breathtaking. Even in all the expressions that make us different as God’s colourful church, its incredible to me that when the Holy Spirit draws near, His role in our experience of following Jesus makes us so very similar.

What is she referring to? (sic) Her recent capitulation to Rome–the Vatican, at an ecumenical worship event lead by the Roman Catholic Church. Don Moen, an American “worship leader” with close ties to Zschech and Hillsong, who also participated in the event was quoted as saying in an article at Christianity Today,

This ecumenical event brings Protestants, Catholics, and Jews together as we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being martyred and persecuted all over the world today.

I find it extremely difficult to reconcile this mindset, (This is the problem in a nutshell. The author, locked into his methodology and preconceived notions, is unable to identify with the idea of connecting with errant believers for the purpose of bringing light into dark places.

For the Doctrinal Police, nothing is more important than every jot and tittle of their doctrine. The slightest variation form it invites ridicule, scorn, and derision. Mr. Maples cannot conceive of a situation where people of differing doctrines might find common ground for the purpose of worship.

While we readily admit that Catholic doctrine contains significant error, we would be reluctant indeed to make claims regarding knowledge of anyone's salvation. Correct doctrine is not an indicator of salvation, any more than which building one sits in each Sunday is an indicator of salvation.)

the acceptance that contradictory beliefs can all be from the same God, (Now the author misrepresents the situation. Who is claiming that contradictory beliefs are from the same God?)

as a work of the Holy Spirit. She refers to it as “different characteristics, faces, tastes, and giftings.. yet a DNA running through our veins that draw us together.” In Philippians 2:2, Paul teaches us to be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” True Christians can only be united around the truth because God is truth. (This does not follow from the quoted Scripture. Let's quote a larger part in order to understand the context. Ph. 2:1-4:

If you have any  encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

With the text before us we can see that Paul is not talking about doctrine or worshiping with people of differing beliefs. He is offering correction to the Philippian church. Apparently there were some arrogant people in this church. Paul wants them to stop fighting with each other and cease pursing their selfish agendas.

The author completely misrepresents this passage.)

She goes on to say,

A few months ago a very interesting email turned up in my office inviting me to sing at a beautiful event called the ‘Catholic charismatic renewal’ at St Peters Square, to actually lead songs of worship with others as the Pope called people to prayer and unity…Most invites I receive, I am unable to say yes to, but when Mark and I feel a peace about it, I go…This invite to Rome was about many different denominations coming together to pray for the world…

The Holy Spirit does not lead Christians into an ecumenical, multi-god “praise and worship” event (Hmm. The author is a cessationist, but presumes to know what the Holy Spirit does and does not do.)

put on by the ancient enemy of the Gospel, the Roman Catholic Church. It’s quite the opposite. The Holy Spirit leads people out of Rome, and out of apostasy (Revelation 18:4). (**Sigh** Let's quote the passage. Re. 17:18-18-5: 

The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. 3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

"Babylon the Great," the great prostitute, is symbolic of the world system [or apostate Israel] that stands in opposition to the Kingdom of God. 

Further, note the timing. This account is given after the Tribulation has started. The rapture has already occurred! So none of this has anything to do with current Christians.

Lastly, let's consider Re. 17:16: 

The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

The beast [the antichrist many think] and the ten horns [a coalition of nations in league with Rome, many think] hate the prostitute and will destroy the her. The beast, the ten horns, and the prostitute cannot all be the Pope, let alone any other single entity.

We think the author ought to reconsider his doctrine.)

The Holy Spirit finds what Zschech claims she was led to do by Him as totally unacceptable (Eph 5:11). (***Sigh again*** Let's actually quote the Scripture. Ep. 5:3-12:

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

The first thing to note is that Paul is telling the Ephesian church that among them there must not be sin. That is, he is talking about what must not happen in this local church. 

In addition, Paul commands them to not partner with them. "Partner" is summetochos, jointly partaking... That is, there must not be immorality in their midst, and they are not to join in with idolaters in their immorality.)

Zschech has been deceived, as many from Hillsong have, that doctrine is of no importance in the Christian life, (Undocumented claim.)

and that all who name the name of Christ–Roman Catholics, homosexuals, unrepentant sinners–as long as you name Christ, we are all united in that confession. (Undocumented claim.)

She goes on to say,

I was not there to judge, I was not there to become a Catholic, I was not there to sightsee. But I WAS there to lift up the name of Jesus.. without any hesitation or compromise.. for as I have learned over many years, that once Jesus is the centre.. anything can happen.

Right Darlene, let’s not judge, let’s just jump on the bandwagon of feel-good music, man-centered pep talks, and motivational speaking, all while we judge those who truly want to hold to sound doctrine and see people come to a true saving faith in Jesus Christ. (Whaaat? Zschech was very clear. She was not there to compromise, she was there to exalt the name of Jesus. Amazingly, the author impugns her for her desire to present a witness for Christ through worship.)

“Once Jesus is the center, anything can happen,” she says. The center of what? Your blasphemous, idolatrous event that mocks who he is, and what he has done? (Again the author throws around loose, undocumented accusations.)

Jesus will not be mocked (Gal 6:7). (***Sigh yet again**** Let's actually quote the passage. Ga. 6:1-10:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load. 

6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Paul tells the Galatians to be careful with those who are in sin, lest we be drawn into sin ourselves. Paul then speaks of humility, a quality we long for the author to demonstrate. 

Paul then turns to the fruit men bear. The mocking Paul describes is related to men who live for the flesh. They think they can live sinful lives without consequence. This belief is the mocking. But God cannot be mocked, He will bring them the fruit of them sowing to the fleshly nature. They will receive the the just reward for their unrighteousness. 

Paul concludes the passage with instructions that have to do with things that sow to the Spirit, which includes doing food, persevering; and that doing good includes all people, not just the church.

The passage actually testifies against the author. Is he interested in sowing to the Spirit? Does he desire to do good for all people? Does he take care when dealing with those caught in sin lest he be drawn into sin himself? Or is he simply interested in blasting away at people who have different doctrines?)

You can rest assured that the Jesus of the Bible was not the center of that event (The author again presumes to know the mind of God.)

–rather he was looking down at you, calling you to repent. You have more than compromised his name, you have outright denied him. (Undocumented claims.)

Nonetheless, she believes that the Holy Spirit has brought her together with the Pope, the Roman Catholic Church, (Upon what basis the author believes this to be wrong is indiscernible.)

to lead thousands of lost people in an ecumenical worship service, united under a false Gospel, and a false Jesus. (Again the author places his doctrine at the center of who is saved and who isn't.)

But this isn’t surprising considering apostasy coming out of the church she was brought up in. Hillsong has focused on a works-based gospel–a social gospel, nearly identical to that of Rome. She continues,

A message was preached about the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst, and about the great grace of God which we are all dependent. Pope Francis asked the crowd to declare loudly,’Jesus is Lord’ three times and each time it grew in confidence and intention. Worship was lifted up which had the many thousands of people who attended all singing in free-flowing moments which to be honest, was reminiscent of a time I sang on a John Wimber crusade in New Zealand many years ago.

So the Pope asks the crowd to repeat a mantra, (Ro. 10:9: 

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

1Co. 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no-one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no-one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.)

and their “confidence and intention” grew with each repetition? Strangely, this sounds a lot closer to Eastern Mysticism than to Christianity. (Now the author descends into idiocy.)

Besides the fact that vain repetitions are forbidden in Scripture (Matthew 6:7), (Again the author rips Scripture out of context. We quote the verse, since the author is curiously reluctant to quote Scripture. Mt. 6:7: 

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Notice this is a not a vain rambling prayer of many words, it's three words exalting Jesus said three times.)

we are taught to humble ourselves before the Lord. We don’t use him as a wishing well. However, this practice is nonetheless rooted in the heretical Word of Faith movement that teaches that our words have the power to speak things into being. Proponents of this heresy, such as Kenneth Copeland, have argued that since God was able to speak things into existence, that man has been endowed with the ability to do the same, equating faith to a “creative force.” (Irrelevant tangent.)

She closes her blog with some very troubling statements–statements that are indicative of the lost state of her soul, as well as many others. She says:

It all comes down to a seeking heart. And a God, who is seeking us, is NOT defined or intimidated by denomination, liturgy, age or preferences… the TRUTH of our hearts toward Him is what He is after. Not controlled or manufactured, outside in expressions of lives trying to present a Holy life. Jesus, only Jesus is the answer. He takes us as He finds us. He works with us every day, from the inside out, patient and kind in His love for us and His ultimate work in our lives, leading us daily in our life’s purpose.

She’s right that Jesus is the only answer, but which Jesus? (The author persists in idiocy. Zschech makes a clear and entirely correct presentation of the Gospel, and the author agrees.

Do Catholics [or Zschech for that matter] worship a different Jesus? Or is it possible they simply have some faulty doctrines, yet are still saved? We would assert that it is entirely possible to worship the true Jesus of the Bible despite incorrect beliefs about him.)

The Jesus of the Roman Catholic Church is not the same Jesus of the Bible. The Roman Catholic Jesus is a Jesus who is summoned by a priest and dwells within the body of a wafer during his repeated sacrifice on the altar of the Satanic temple daily.

So yes, I did meet Pope Francis. And yes, I did witness something truly miraculous…Change is happening all over the planet. There is a hunger for the truth of being a Christ follower, and so Christ followers need to be found EVERYWHERE.. that we will be a witness BY OUR LOVE.

Change is certainly happening all over the planet, but it’s not for the truth. (Summary denial. The author seems unaware that lost people are searching for the truth. He would prefer they continue searching without finding Jesus, apparently.)

The Bible teaches there will be a great falling away, a rebellion against God in the last days (2 Thes 2:3), (Again the author relishes the idea of the lost going to hell. However, end-times apostasy does not exclude end times revival. We note that the number of people who will be saved is huge:

Mat. 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

Re. 7:9-10 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Re. 19:1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God...

Re. 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.

and we see it happening right in front of our eyes. The apostate church of Rome is leading the way, and Zschech and Hillsong are right behind them. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says that people like Zschech are “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan, disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (Again the author deceives us. He omits the previous verse, 12, the verse that tells us to whom he refers. 2Co. 11:12: 

And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

Having defended his apostleship to the Corinthian church, Paul then condemns those who boast about their supposed equality with the apostles. The author equates this to what Zschech did by leading worship with Catholics.

We are happy to concede that the verses could be applied in some fashion to those who falsely exalt themselves to apostleship. The author, however, has yet to offer any evidence that anyone he has condemned is in fact doing so.)

Zschech is following a false path and teaching a false Gospel. Her ends will correspond to her deeds.

Finally, she has this to say,

C’mon church. Isaiah 60 says to ARISE SHINE Thy light has come that even as the earth grows darker, Christ’s light in us shines brighter. Let’s not be dulled down by a lack of understanding, or a judgmental attitude. I had to continually remind myself that I was there to announce and declare the Kingdom of God and not to fault find but to be aware and awake to something very precious. And so on we go, hearts and hands ready for all God is calling us into.

Folks, this lady is totally, and completely lost. She has absolutely no idea who Jesus Christ is, what he has done, or why he has done it. (Undocumented claims.)

Yet, her music is played in solid churches and listened to by faithful people all around the world. Why do our churches continue to promote and support the rank heresy that comes out of Hillsong Church? Is it because we don’t any better? Arguably, most evangelical churches are on the same page as Zschech, but some would openly reject this false doctrine, and preach it back to the pits of Hell where it belongs, yet they are completely blind to the fact that they are supporting it, and feeding it, by purchasing the rights to this music to lead their faithful congregations in worship of the one true God. Can we not see the absolute hypocrisy here? Why?