Brian Houston is an Australian pastor, author, and founder of Hillsong Church, one of the largest and most influential megachurches in the world, with campuses in multiple countries. Hillsong is well-known for its contemporary worship music, which has gained international popularity and is widely used in many evangelical churches. Houston served as the senior pastor of Hillsong Church for several decades before stepping down in 2022 amidst controversies. His teachings and leadership have significantly shaped the church's theology, style of worship, and approach to ministry.
Why Brian Houston Should Be Regarded as a False Teacher and Avoided
1. Promoting the Prosperity Gospel
One of the most concerning aspects of Brian Houston's teachings is his promotion of the Prosperity Gospel, which teaches that God’s will for every believer is to experience financial wealth, health, and success. In his book "You Need More Money," Houston suggests that financial prosperity is a sign of God’s blessing and that believers should expect to live abundant, prosperous lives as part of their faith. He frequently preaches that God wants His people to be wealthy and successful and that financial blessings can be achieved through faith, positive confession, and generous giving, particularly to the church.
However, this view of prosperity is not supported by Scripture. The Bible warns against the love of money and teaches that the pursuit of wealth can lead to spiritual ruin. Paul wrote, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus Himself warned against storing up earthly treasures and emphasized that true life is not measured by material possessions (Matthew 6:19-21, Luke 12:15). By promoting the Prosperity Gospel, Houston leads people to focus on material gain rather than the true riches found in Christ, distorting the message of the Gospel and reducing God to a means of financial success.
2. Downplaying the Necessity of Repentance and the Reality of Sin
Brian Houston’s teachings often focus on positive, uplifting messages that emphasize God’s love, acceptance, and blessings but downplay the seriousness of sin, the need for repentance, and the call to holiness. His sermons frequently center on themes of self-improvement, personal success, and living a victorious life, rather than addressing the need for repentance and the transforming power of the Gospel.
The Bible is clear that repentance is an essential aspect of the Gospel message. Jesus began His ministry by saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17), and the apostles consistently preached repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19). By failing to emphasize the necessity of repentance and the seriousness of sin, Houston presents a diluted version of the Gospel that offers temporary comfort without leading people to true salvation and transformation.
3. Misusing and Twisting Scripture to Support His Teachings
Houston often takes Scripture out of context to support his teachings on prosperity, success, and self-empowerment. For example, he frequently cites passages like John 10:10 ("I came that they may have life and have it abundantly") to suggest that Jesus promises a life of material wealth and success for His followers. However, the "abundant life" that Jesus speaks of refers to a life filled with spiritual richness, joy, and peace in Christ, not necessarily material prosperity.
The Bible warns against those who twist God’s Word to suit their own purposes. Peter wrote that some people "twist the Scriptures to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16). Paul instructed Timothy to "rightly handle the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). By misusing Scripture to promote a message that caters to human desires for wealth and comfort, Houston demonstrates a disregard for the true meaning of God’s Word and leads people into error.
4. Emphasizing a Man-Centered, Experience-Driven Faith Over a Christ-Centered Gospel
Brian Houston and Hillsong Church often place a strong emphasis on emotional worship experiences, personal empowerment, and achieving personal dreams and goals. Their services are characterized by high-energy music, dynamic presentations, and a focus on creating an atmosphere of excitement and emotional engagement. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using contemporary music or engaging presentations, the problem arises when the experience becomes more central than the message of Christ and His Gospel.
The Bible teaches that true worship is grounded in spirit and truth (John 4:24) and that the central message of the Christian faith is Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). When churches prioritize emotional experiences and personal success over the truth of the Gospel, they create a faith that is shallow, unstable, and easily swayed by feelings and circumstances. By promoting an experience-driven faith, Houston leads people away from the central message of the Gospel and encourages them to build their faith on shifting sands rather than on the solid rock of God’s Word.
5. Failing to Distinguish Between True and False Teachers and Doctrines
Brian Houston and Hillsong Church have frequently partnered with or endorsed teachers who promote false doctrines, such as prosperity theology, Word of Faith teachings, and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) beliefs. By inviting these individuals to speak at Hillsong conferences or sharing platforms with them, Houston has demonstrated a lack of discernment and a willingness to compromise on essential biblical truths.
The Bible instructs believers to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1) and to avoid false teachers who lead others astray (Romans 16:17-18). Paul warned the Ephesian elders that "fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). By failing to distinguish between true and false teachers, Houston creates an environment where unbiblical teachings can flourish, and his followers are left vulnerable to deception.
Conclusion from Scripture
The Bible consistently warns believers to be vigilant against false teachers who distort the truth and lead others into error. Paul wrote, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:13). Brian Houston's promotion of the Prosperity Gospel, his emphasis on self-improvement and material wealth, his misuse of Scripture, and his partnerships with other false teachers align with teachings that deviate from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus warned that "false prophets… come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). True teachers of God’s Word will always point people to Christ, call them to repentance, and uphold the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. In contrast, Houston’s teachings often direct people toward themselves, their desires for wealth, and their pursuit of success, leading them away from the true message of the Gospel.
For these reasons, based on the authority of Scripture, Brian Houston should be regarded as a false teacher, and his teachings should be approached with great caution or avoided altogether. Christians are called to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to remain grounded in the truth of God’s Word, which is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12).
The true Gospel is about repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and the transforming power of God’s grace. It calls us to live lives of holiness, obedience, and submission to Christ's lordship, not to pursue material wealth, success, or self-empowerment. Therefore, believers should reject Brian Houston's teachings and remain faithful to the unchanging truth of God’s Word, which offers the way to eternal life, true spiritual growth, and fulfillment in Christ alone.