Hillsong Pastor Dodges Social Issues

Last December Christian Post reported that Carl Lentz, pastor of Hillsong New York City, isn’t interested in publically stating his position on social issues like homosexuality. 

According to ChristianNews.net some Christian leaders have expressed concern that the Pentecostal preacher is concealing his thoughts on such weighty issues.

In an interview with Katie Couric, covered in tattoos and sporting a mohawk haircut, Lentz said Jesus “very rarely” discussed “morality and social issues.”

In a sermon that was covered by the Huffington Post Lentz proclaimed, “My Bible says, be attentive to individual needs. So I’m not gonna make polarizing political statements about certain things in our Christian community right now. No matter who says what, we won’t be pressured into giving blanket statements to individual needs. Never.”

In a recent blog post Ken Silva, a Christian minister and author who often writes on important matters facing the Church calls Lentz’s silence “…typical of the cult of a celebrity megapastor because to grow their little kingdoms they cannot risk offending anyone.”

Silva says it is actually “unloving” to withhold biblical truth.

“It’s God’s word which judges (cf. Hebrews 4:12); but if [Lentz is] not telling people what the Lord has said in Scripture, then people are not going to know,” Silva wrote. “And if Carl Lentz isn’t going to do so, then he needs to stop pretending to be a pastor; stop calling what he does ministry, and just be a full-on entertainer.” 

Known to attract celebrities from time-to-time at the New York church, Lentz recently baptized popstar Justin Bieber. 

Publication date: June 12, 2014