Hellsong Worship
Thanks to Matt over at his blog for the heads up on this YouTube video. I love some of Hillsong worship and we actually do some of it here, but we must hear the indictments this satire presents:
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Is that accurate? I’ve bought CDs that were worth what I paid. I’ve never seen “Hillsongs” ask for money apart from the value of what they sell.
Have you checked their lifestyles? Do those guys have big houses and yachts? Is this satire accurate?
Pretty well done piece. I don’t think anyone would disagree with what they’re trying to say.
At the same time, I think we need to make it clear that most Christian leaders are definitely not in it for the money:) If so, they needed some serious career counseling beforehand!
They are an Australian satire team. This, I guess, is their perspective on modern Christianity, and Hillsong, I’m guessing, best represents that for them. And I agree that it doesn’t apply to all. But I also think it must be heard.
My wife Lyn, and my sister once went to a fairly expensive Hillsong Womens Conference in London. When I dropped them off one time I took a wrong turn at the conference centre and ended up in the VIP drop-off area, just in time to see the main speaker arriving in a stretch limo! What with the first class air travel spoken about at the conference I guess it all adds up. Part of the cost was meant to be because the women were going to be pampered at the conference. The pampering was not really in evidence and their pamper bag consisted of a chocolate and a load of leaflets inviting them to spend money on christian stuff!
I’ve also heard of people being asked to leave the worship choir because their wardrobe (clothes) were out of date. Hummm…
If it’s inaccurate, must it be heard?
When it comes to special speakers at conferences, is the speaker that demands the limo or the conference host that insists on a limo? I know some speakers do. I’ve heard the stories. But did this one?
The reason I ask is this–we endeavor to constructively criticize ministries around us (for who’s benefit? At least ours, I’m sure), but are we ACCEPTING the criticism others make with the same discerning penetration?
David says, “we must hear the indictments this satire presents.” Must we? If the satire is a blanket criticism of Christian culture as a whole, then sure. But they seem to be handpicking Hillsongs. Is the criticism justified? Do we entertain criticism without weighing it? Even if it’s unjustified? Must we listen to it?
Actually out of all the things that I don’t like about Hillsong… this wouldn’t even make the list! And it’s actually got nothing to do with them. I don’t like how the church idolizes Hillsong and esteems their music so highly.
… when in fact I find that many of their worship song are written more a human thought process than declaring the glory of God. Worship isn’t us working out our feelings… it’s declaring the greatness of God. Not saying that Hillsong does anything wrong… I just think that the church has used them like a pop song.
I actually think that conferences should cost money… i think that ministries should bless and take good care of those who bring the word etc… it’s actually honoring and biblical FYI
Although I understand the importance of being careful with our criticism, I think this little video actually makes a great point. This is how many people view modern Christianity, both in the States and in Australia (and else where, I would assume). We need to hear this, if for no other reason than to realize how we are perceived by many people.
Well said Calvin.
Sure, Calvin. I guess when David said “we need to hear” I assumed he meant “we need to listen to.”
I should say that I too like some Hillsongs songs, and have used them.
Dave - I agree we all need to take care of those who bring the word - if people would like to donate to my limo ride to preach this sunday, then please instead buy Naked Pastor a beer.
Fred - as far as I can be sure, both of my reports were accurate - the first I witnessed with my own eye, the second was from an Aussie friend who knew the person involved. In the case of the Limo, Hillsong were organising their own conference. I’m not legalistically against limos - I knew of a poor christian band picked up in a limo to play at Toronto - it blessed them immensely and made them know they were valued. However, it was an exception and not a lifestyle.
I can highly recommend Jim and Caper go to church - it deals in depth with the perceptions of people looking in on church - very helpful to people in pastoral leadership.
It used to be that if you talked to people outside the church about the perception of church the first thing out of their mouths was about the disunity between different parts of christianity. That is still there BUT now there is a change. A lot of people have been exposed albeit briefly to stage show christianity, whether on TV or in person and it comes across to them as fake. They see right through it. Would Jesus spend money on a smoke machine … holy smoke! or a lighting rig? Or as Casper asks in the Jim and Capser book - “did Jesus tell you to do this?”
Are we really meant to promote celebrity status in the Christian World, where we have the greatest artists put on a pedestal, sometimes making millions? Are we not meant to show another way? It seems to me we are trying to compete with the world on the worlds terms - its attractional church taken too far.
Some of the Christian marketing machine deliberately exploits christians - as we have in the UK another release of the greatest worship hits of all time - all of which are on the other albums I brought recently, paying more for for them that I do for Coldplay, Snow Patrol or U2 - which a frankly a better listen.
So all in all - this video is fair enough in the issue it raises. When it comes to listening - I hope Hillsong do. We need to be careful in our criticism YES but Jesus was not beyond making critical statements, especially of the religious system of the day.
I’m really not sure that Hillsongs is “all about marketing,” smoke machine and lighting rig notwithstanding.
Would Jesus condone spending money on a Taylor acoustic guitar over, say, a Yamaha?
Wouldn’t it be better to take the difference and give it to the poor?
I wonder what Jesus would say about that suggestion…
Good point Fred - the answer is : He’d buy a Lowden like mine! and give sacraficially to the poor!
whilst we’re on ‘worship’ - this video from Brian McLaren is interesting:
http://www.emergentvillage.com/weblog/brian-mclaren-on-the-worship-industry
Jon Hallewell,
That was a good video. I don’t think I disagree with McLaren. However, it’s a leap to say that if a certain “worship company” is marketing CDs, they are marketing God. He looks at art as expression of worship. I agree completely. So then why not smoke machines and racks of lights? If it’s “big” it’s not “legitimate art”?
I think when it comes to misconceptions about what is “real worship” and what is “marketing” I think we have to be careful. I’m not sure it’s the touring worship band’s place to teach the difference (although they certainly have a certain platform to do so). I think that teaching is found in the local church.
True worship isn’t about show, or chills, or even songs. But the “show” can be a legitimate expression of worship. The problem arises when people go to the worship concert and evaluate the “worship experience” by the “show criteria.”
Interesting … I know that U2 claim they are worshipping God when they perform live - and on 3 occasions I think my experience would affirm that - so why not hillsong - well maybe. If our whole lives are our worship of God, everything we do, artistic or otherwise make a statement about the degree that ‘God is worth it’ - it’s all done before him whether we are intentional about it or not. It’s wrong for me to judge the hearts of people bringing different forms of worship, but I think we can critique the impact of certain forms of worship, the things that it can communicate. If I in all sincerity, and in the spirit of the artist decided to dance naked through our town centre (being a truly naked pastor) to worship God (because He’s worth it!) then I think the police might have something to say about it … you could critique it even if you couldn’t know for sure what was in my heart.
This is all somewhat off the topic of money implied in the original video … I’m leaving this debate behind now. Good points, well made.
Would Jesus condone spending money on a Taylor acoustic guitar over, say, a Yamaha?
Wouldn’t it be better to take the difference and give it to the poor?
I wonder what Jesus would say about that suggestion…
Um… Wasn’t it Judas who made that very same statement in scripture, just after the woman poured the expensive oil all over Jesus?