Hillsong London releases their latest album, Hail To The King, next week. It's their first album in three years and the third album from the churcn.
Amidst all of the nifty PR bits about Hillsong London that were included in the release (like the fact that the church meets at the Dominion Theater, where the rock opera "We Will Rock You" has run continuously for six years; Gee, aren't they super cool? I'll bet that venue lets them put on a top notch show), was a statement that really jumped out at me: "Church motto/mission 'Because We Can,' is geared towards ending poverty ... because we can."
As many of you remember, we had some lengthy discussions a few months ago, when the Michael Guglielmucci story broke, about megachurches, celebrity-ism, and the whole commercialization of Christianity. (I'll include a bunch of links at the end so you can go back and read the posts.)
But in my opinion, the biggest problem is arrogance. And that "we can end poverty" mentality is a great example.
No, we can't end poverty. We can feed the hungry and give aid to the poor. In fact, God commands us to feed the hungry and reach out to the poor. But we live in a fallen world where poverty will be with us until Jesus comes.
I'm not saying we should do nothing.
I'm an advocate for Compassion International, an organization that works in developing countries to release children from physical and spiritual poverty, in Jesus' name. I'm all about giving and serving, and I've seen how even this kind of simple financial and letter-writing support can help. Just this week, in fact, Compassion called me to tell me that one of the children we sponsor is leaving the program, because his situation has improved so much his family doesn't need the support. His parents are working, they have enough food, the child is doing well in school and has a relationship with Jesus and a strong connection with a local church.
But I'm humble enough to know I didn't end that impoverished situation. GOD DID. And I was fortunate that He chose to use me while He did it, and to let me see Him working in the life of a child on the other side of the world.
Back to Hillsong London's new album, or whatever megachurch du jour is putting out an worship CD today. I'm sure the music is great and inspiring and uplifting. I'm sure that the artists have prayed about the project and want to help you connect with God. I'm sure that they're sincere about their faith.
But folks, if you think you need some kind of pre-packaged spirituality to be closer to God, or that connecting with your local ChurchMart will help you conquer the world's evils, think again. The "we can do it all" mentality will suck you in, until you forget that apart from God, you can do nothing, and that anything you do accomplish is God working through you.
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Firstly - "Because We Can" is not Hillsong Church's mission statement or motto. It is an in-house phrase used to encourage those within the life of the church to give.
As Nish said, it's a phrase devised to help and encourage people to give - "simply because they can". It's not a statement about erradicating world poverty - nor is it the church saying "We can erradicate world poverty!".
To accuse the church of being arrogant is well, quite arrogant!!! Let's remember that the church consists of ordinary everyday people like you and me who are loved of God and have a genuine love for God's people. The fact that they give simply because they can shouldn't be criticised but applauded. The fact that they want to do something about poverty should not be looked down upon but championed. It would be a great day when we Christians decide to champion each others causes - big church, small church, work in third world country, missions in Africa, etc. Let's stop crticising one another and being suspicious of each others good intentions because by doing so we are thinking of ourselves more highly than we should. We are also destroying and devaluing the work of God through his church.
Love and Blessings,
Dee
All I have to say is why be critical to a church that is only trying to reach out and do good in the world. Would you be happier to see 'We Can't do it' outside the church? Do you think Bob Geldof is using these reverse pyschology techniques with live aid... 'Please help us and donate,...it won't make a difference...but please help'! Of Course not! This is not a mega church and is not pretentious or self righteous, it is simply there to to good in the world and why are people like you who clearly, narrowminded as you may be, are the first to criticise that. Hillsong is a POWER church and will continue on being so...maybe you should attend and you never know how differently you see the light.
Alexandra, I'm not knocking the church specifically. I'm sure it's a lovely church.
It's the megachurch mentality that raises the hair on the back of my neck, with the "we" do this and "we" do that and not CHRIST did this or that through us, and the commercialization of Christ that would have him turning tables over in most churches today. As a consumer, you may not see just how much product is coming out of churches; Hillsong, just as an example, put out so many books, CDs and DVDs that it seems like I'm getting a product from the franchise every month.
If you read the entire post, I did said that we should all do something to end poverty, but it's the "We can do it" MINDSET that I find arrogant. I put a whole bunch of links at the end; did you read any of them? Or did you just get mad because I used a story about Hillsong to launch my rant against the megachurch mentality? :) If you read them, you'll see I'm not a fan of the commercialization of the gospel from any church.
Joanne
host of the GS blog
I can see where you're coming from, but I don't believe "because we can" is an arrogant comment. It's a statement of faith. So many Christians are living mediocre lives because they don't think they can make a difference... because they don't have that mentality. Hillsong is so popular because they KNOW that they can make a difference. They are not pushing God out of the picture by this statement. They are always aware that they can do nothing without Christ. And this is how churches become mega churches. They know they can make a difference. I guess people need to be balanced. No "because we can" mentality and too much of it can get you in trouble.
Greetings to all. I have been following the various comments with interest and would just like to add my three cents worth to the pot -so to speak. I think we need some balance and to be careful about being too quick in judging the situation.I have been attending Hillsong for only about a year, however within that time I have had my life changed to the extent of which I as confessed sinner would never have believed possible.I have met so many wonderful christians. People who I have come to know as humble god fearing followers of Christ! I personally was challenged by the "We can make a difference" statement! It is not the statement that makes the "difference" but the money that we give -hopefully with genuine motives that makes the difference to the lives of those who benefit from what the church can provide by way of funds.As Christians we need to be constantly examining our motives for why we serve and give in whatever way we do. I personnally believe that Hillsong is a great church.Churches are made up of people all of which are flawed. I can't see that being a big or mega church is necessarily a problem or should we start to limit the size of our congregations? At the end of the day as long as we are led by the spirit in all we do and maintain a genuine relationship with the Lord then we will be doing his will. Sorry if I have "rambled" a bit.
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