The below video is Chris Rosebrough of Fighting for the Faith giving a very good Biblical critique on Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz. This came out on 1/5/14 - 23 minutes long, but well worth the watch. Numerous scripture references shed light on the image and substance of Carl Lentz and his teaching. Many up-and-coming celebrity pastors are following along the same lines of people like Lentz, trying their best to incorporate worldly things into their ministry, hoping to offend no one and attract as many followers as possible. For example, Lentz boasts that his church meets in a night club and that he has multiple tattoos.
Rosebrough only shows several clips of a recent interview Lentz had on national television with Katie Couric. I watched the full interview and something he said really disturbed me. When talking about the music at his church and the band he said something to the effect of (paraphrase) "...even if you don't agree with the content of the lyrics, at least the music is good". I just wonder how many people from his congregation don't agree with the lyrics of the songs they sing. Yet it probably doesn't even matter to Lentz, because if the quality of the music is more important than who or what you are singing about or whether or not there is Truth in the content of the lyrics, then you've missed the point completely when it comes to worshiping God.
John 4:24 says: "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Notice here that 'quality music' is not a requirement for true worship. Not that quality music cannot be a part of true worship, but two other criteria must first be met. If quality music is one of the primary ways you market your church, and you even go so far as to de-emphasize truth in the lyrics of the songs, then you have no business calling your church a True church of God.
This video will give you some perspective on the biblical qualifications of a pastor to help you discern if popular pastors (or your own pastor) are qualified or unqualified for the office they hold. I really like the last part of the video which touches on the subject of Christology and refutes those who say Jesus didn't say anything about homosexuality in the Bible.
Carl Lentz: Image vs Substance from Chris Rosebrough on Vimeo.
After watching this, I was reminded of James 4:4:
"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
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