"We don't use the word 'religion,' because it's hard to get people excited about religion," Lentz says in an article posted by New York Daily News on Monday. "Religion is dead. I don't know...
anything about religion, I couldn't help you. Religion has no power. But a relationship with God is a superpower."
"In church, people treat you like you have to change or else," Lentz added. "Our approach is, 'We love you, nothing else.'"
The pastor reflected that Hillsong, which often includes rock performances and giant-screen TVs in its gatherings, intentionally uses modern approaches to minister to people.
Read how it was reported by christianpost...
"A pastor who likes chess and orchestra, that's great," Lentz,
added. "But we're from this generation."
"What you see around you can be a little unorthodox. You don't
have to believe to belong here. We just talk about regular life.
Regular marriage, what it means to be a Christian in New York."
Hillsong has attracted several celebrities to its worship services,
including popstar Justin Bieber, actress Vanessa Hudgens and
NBA star Kevin Durant.
Lentz, 35, has in the past explained that he will not take a public
stance on hot-topic issues like homosexuality, because he has
argued that is not the example Jesus Christ models in the Bible.
He is not the first young evangelist to announce his dislike of
the word "religion," however, and in 2012 a video by spoken
word artist Jefferson Bethke titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love
Jesus" sparked a faith debate online.
"What if I told you, Jesus came to abolish religion?" Bethke
asked in the video. "If religion is so great, why has it started so
many wars? Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed
the poor?"
"Religion says slave, Jesus says son," he added. "Religion puts
you in shackles but Jesus sets you free. Religion makes you
blind, but Jesus lets you see."
The evangelist, who described himself as a "messed up dude
addicted to grace," claimed that Christianity is God's search for
man, while religion is the opposite – man's search for God. He
explained that this is why salvation is free for the taking –
forgiveness is His and not something based on "effort, but
Christ's obedience alone."
"So I know I hate religion, in fact I literally resent it," Bethke
said. "Because when Jesus cried it is finished, I believe He
meant it."
8 comments:
The man doesnt even look like a pastor of such a large congregation, but to some extent I think he's making a whole lot of sense. I agree with him.
The man look like rock star to me. Are u sure he has that much congregation tessy or u just dey hype the guy cos he don pay you
He's right we don too dey use religion to cover alot of things. I think i kinda like the relationship with God better.
Ok now, this man kind of make sense oooo even if he doesn't look like a pastor one bit.
I just google the guy, he's what he says he is. He has more than that 6000 self. Hes loaded.
True talk. Like it
Religion or no religion all na grammaer and cosmetics to cover up.
Ok, we don ear. but everything still na religion either relationship with God or not, it's just the english that change. period!
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