Carl Lentz is a former pastor who rose to prominence as the lead pastor of Hillsong Church NYC, an influential branch of the global Hillsong Church based in New York City. Known for his charismatic personality, celebrity connections, and unconventional, trendy style, Lentz quickly gained popularity, especially among younger audiences and the entertainment industry. He often focused on making Christianity appear relevant and relatable, using social media, modern culture, and celebrity endorsements to build a large following. However, Lentz was dismissed from Hillsong in 2020 due to moral failures, including infidelity, which brought his teachings and lifestyle under greater scrutiny.
Why Carl Lentz Should Be Regarded as a False Teacher and Avoided
1. Emphasizing Popularity and Celebrity Culture Over the True Gospel
Carl Lentz often placed more emphasis on being culturally relevant and appealing to celebrities than on faithfully teaching the truth of the Gospel. He became well-known for his friendships with celebrities, his appearances in high-profile media outlets, and his ability to make Christianity appear "cool" and trendy. This emphasis on popularity and celebrity status shifted the focus away from Christ and the message of repentance and salvation to a message that prioritized cultural acceptance and personal image.
The Bible teaches that the Gospel is often counter-cultural and offensive to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). Jesus warned His followers that they would face opposition and persecution for standing for the truth (John 15:18-19). By prioritizing popularity and cultural relevance, Lentz compromised the truth of the Gospel, making it more palatable to the world but less faithful to Scripture. True followers of Christ are called to preach the Word faithfully, "in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2), even when it is unpopular or goes against cultural trends.
2. Watering Down the Gospel and Avoiding Clear Biblical Truths
Carl Lentz frequently avoided preaching on essential aspects of the Christian faith, such as sin, repentance, the need for salvation, and the exclusivity of Christ. When asked about controversial topics like abortion, same-sex marriage, or the exclusivity of Christ for salvation, Lentz often gave vague, non-committal answers or avoided taking a clear stance, likely out of a desire to maintain popularity and avoid offending others.
The Bible, however, commands believers to "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) and to "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Jesus Himself declared, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). The true Gospel requires addressing uncomfortable truths, such as humanity's sinfulness, the need for repentance, and the exclusive nature of salvation through Christ. By avoiding these truths, Lentz offered a watered-down, feel-good message that failed to lead people to genuine repentance and faith in Christ.
3. Promoting a Man-Centered, Experience-Driven Faith
Lentz's ministry often focused on emotional experiences, self-empowerment, and messages of personal success, rather than on the centrality of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the call to take up one's cross and follow Jesus. His teachings often revolved around themes of self-improvement, living a "fulfilled" life, and achieving one's dreams, which led to a man-centered approach to Christianity.
The Bible teaches that the Christian faith is not about self-empowerment or achieving personal success but about dying to oneself and living for Christ. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). Paul emphasized that the message of the Gospel is "Christ crucified," which is "a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (1 Corinthians 1:23). By promoting a man-centered faith, Lentz led people away from the true message of the Gospel, which calls for self-denial, humility, and surrender to Christ.
4. Moral Failures and Lack of Accountability
In 2020, Carl Lentz was dismissed from Hillsong Church due to "moral failures," including an extramarital affair. While all Christians are capable of falling into sin, Lentz’s lifestyle and actions revealed a lack of accountability, integrity, and consistency with biblical standards for church leadership. The Bible clearly outlines the qualifications for leaders in the church, stating that they must be "above reproach," "self-controlled," "respectable," and "faithful to their wife" (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6).
The moral failings of a church leader do not disqualify them from God’s grace, but they do disqualify them from leadership, especially if there is no evidence of genuine repentance and a willingness to submit to accountability. By failing to live up to the biblical qualifications for leadership, Lentz demonstrated a lack of commitment to the high standards that God requires of those who shepherd His people.
5. Distorting the Nature of God’s Holiness and Righteousness
Carl Lentz’s teachings often focused on God’s love and acceptance while neglecting His holiness, righteousness, and the call for believers to live lives set apart for Him. While God’s love is a central aspect of the Gospel, His holiness, justice, and wrath against sin are equally important. Lentz’s tendency to emphasize one aspect of God’s character while ignoring others led to a distorted understanding of who God is and what He requires of His followers.
The Bible declares that God is both loving and just, "righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works" (Psalm 145:17). The call to holiness is central to the Christian life: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:14-15). By neglecting to teach about God’s holiness, Lentz failed to provide a complete picture of the Gospel, which calls sinners to repentance and a life transformed by God’s grace.
Conclusion from Scripture
The Bible consistently warns believers to be vigilant against false teachers who distort the truth and lead others astray. Paul wrote to Timothy, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4:3). Carl Lentz’s emphasis on popularity, celebrity culture, self-improvement, and avoidance of essential biblical truths aligns 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, Lentz’s teachings often directed people toward themselves, their desires, and the pursuit of success, rather than calling them to surrender to Christ.
For these reasons, based on the authority of Scripture, Carl Lentz should be regarded as a false teacher, and his teachings should be avoided. 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 believers to live lives of holiness, obedience, and submission to Christ’s Lordship, not to pursue fame, success, or cultural relevance. Therefore, believers should reject Carl Lentz's teachings and lifestyle, and remain faithful to the unchanging truth of God’s Word, which offers the way to eternal life, true spiritual growth, and genuine transformation through Christ alone.