 You hear a song that touches you, blesses you, maybe even brings you to tears. But then you find out that the song that moved you so much was from elevation or from Hillsong or maybe another church that promotes false teachings. What do you do? Should you stop listening to them? Is it okay for Christians to listen to elevation worship or Hillsong or any other group that maybe the church promotes false teachings? Hey, welcome back to Mark Christians. I want to touch on something today that kind of depend upon who you are, how you feel, what camp you come from. You may have different feelings on this. And just to be clear, we want to use scriptures as much as possible. But the truth is, we cannot really find a definitive scripture that tells us we should or should not listen to certain songs. Now, are there scriptures that give us guide? Sure there are, and we'll cover those. Now, there's really two camps on this whole issue of should we listen to Hillsong or elevation? And we're saying Hillsong or elevation, there are other churches just like them, other organizations just like them who also are looked at because of the heretical teachings of their home church pastor or church. And then you've got some that say, well, it doesn't really matter. I don't care about what they're teaching. It's just the words and the words are godly or biblical and they move me. So which view is correct? Should we listen to those? Or should we avoid those? Because they also may promote heretical teachings. Well, the first question is, why would we avoid Hillsong or elevation worship song? Is it because of their lyrics? Well, if it's their lyrics, there will be a lot of different groups who aren't heretical, but whose lyrics probably aren't also biblical as well. Aren't as sound as they could be. Now, there are some lyrics from Hillsong and from elevation and other groups whose lyrics are absolutely okay. They're fine. They're doctrinal. But then they also have some, maybe questionable, some kind of not necessarily unbiblical lyrics, but kind of weird, almost R&B like, almost rock like, almost pop music like. Is it because of their pastor or their church's doctrine? Well, here's another conundrum. Oftentimes you're going to find that a lot of the people who you don't associate with as being heretical like a Hillsong or elevation church, their home church also has some false teachings as well. Many people across the country saying I'm a friend of God. Well, that's from Israel Houghton. Where did he get it started from? Lakewood Church. Who's the pastor of Lakewood Church? Mr. Phil Good and Prosperity teacher himself, Joel Osteen. Can we listen to a song that was originally written by Hillsong or elevation church that someone else is seeing? Which brings to the next question. Can we listen to a cover song? Meaning a song that was originally written by or sung by Hillsong or elevation or any other group like that. That's now sung by a different group, a different rendition. So mighty, so such a nice... Many people won't know who the originator of a song is. More than likely they'll know who popularized that song but maybe not the person who originally wrote the song. Well, do we still avoid singing that song? Are we avoiding them because we believe the singers aren't Christian? Well, here also raises a problem. When you go back to your home church or any church, do we think that every person in the praise and worship team or in the choir that they're actually Christian? We hope they are, but the thing that they all are might be a little bit naive on our part. Is it that we want our songs to come from someone who was also pure in heart as well as pure in their thoughts and their motives? Well, if that applies to Christian music, then doesn't it also apply to secular music? And if it applies to secular music, does it also apply to secular entertainment, television, news, magazines? If we take an anti-secular stance, does that mean we can no longer be on YouTube or Google? Does it mean Facebook is not an option? The problem is if I'm only going to consume what comes from godly people, won't be a lot of consuming that I'll do, right? But surely there's got to be a line that we draw on the sand. We can't just allow any and everything to come into our eyes and to our ears. And there's some people that have a problem with the style of worship, what they seem to be promoting. You look at some of these groups and maybe they are dancing around too much. Maybe they're jumping around too much. They're having too much fun. If it becomes an issue of style, remember, style is not the standard. Some people are more emotionally and physically involved in their singing. Some people are more reserved. There is no right or wrong way to how we sing a song. It all depends upon the heart. Now that's an issue that obviously God judges. We do too, but ultimately, God is going to be the one that's going to determine did that person have the right heart and the right motive. For people who say you should not listen to Hillsong or Elevation or Bethel or any of these other groups like that, they do offer some very compelling arguments. One, obviously their church promotes false teachings. And if you're going to listen to that group at some point in time, you're probably going to find out who the teacher is, who the pastor is behind the group that's singing it. And you may become more familiar with this false teaching and not recognize it. So he was born through Mary, the virgin, and then he was born again in resurrection. The first one to touch him was Mary, the virgin, when he was born naturally. The first person to touch him when he was born again was Mary Magdalene. If you are an immature or inexperienced Christian, how easy would it be to be sucked into their way of thinking? Which is point number two. Young believers are easily tempted and swayed by the allure of the sound, the lights of some of these groups. And if it makes them feel good and this doctrine is a feel good doctrine, then it will be real easy for them to become part of a heretical church. Third, some of these lyrics that they sing just simply are not biblical. There are people that you'll find that may actually go to speaking in tongues and speaking about things that are just not doctrinally sound as a matter of fact are also heretical in teaching. Fourth, when you download their songs or when you sing their songs even in their churches that these people are being financially supported and so the money goes back into the coffers of the false prophet, the false teaching church. Quick side note, there is a such thing as licensing and copyright when people in church sing some of these songs. But here's the other side of that. Most churches who sing a hill song or a Bethel song or elevation song don't pay royalties to them even though they probably should but let's just be honest, the overwhelming majority of churches in America who sing their songs do not pay or send royalties. In other words, hill song, elevation, Bethel churches like that, they're not getting paid because the majority of churches in America are singing them. Although they should. Now the other side is gonna be, are we being consistent? Is there a hint of hypocrisy in what we're saying or is it just that we don't like how a certain group sings or moves on stage? Also, is it possible for us to just focus on the individual song, the lyrics, how that particular song moves me rather than who happens to be behind it? Because in many cases, we just don't know. Not always, but for example, I have never heard Brian Huston, the lead pastor of Hill Song Preach, never. But have I heard of any of Hill Song's actual worship songs? Sure I have. So what do I think a person ought to do? Well, if eating meat offends your brother, then what? Don't eat meat or don't eat meat in front of them? Don't eat meat in front of them? Why? Because of the weaker person. So maybe what might be beneficial or harmful for you may not be an issue for the other person. And so full disclaimer, I do listen to some Hill Song worship songs as well as elevation worship songs and songs from other people who their doctrine just isn't square. Why? Well, because I believe that I have the ability to separate the good from the bad. Now, everyone else is also gonna say the same thing. And so if you are a newer Christian and if it's by any chance possible that you can ask someone, hey, what do you think about this? What do you think about that song about this group? Ask them, see what they say. Just in case you don't want to be swayed. And if you know of someone who also is probably a younger Christian and may not want to listen to that, make sure that you at least warn them of the doctrine behind them. Paul says something in Philippians that I think may help in this regard. And what I'm going to do is I'm going to exchange the word preach for sing, the same message, but you'll see what I'm getting at. In verse 15 of chapter one, he says, some indeed sing Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. The latter do it out of love knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former sing Christ out of a selfish ambition, not sincerely, but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, at least Christ be proclaimed in song and in that I rejoice. So here was an instance of the word of God or Christ being preached, some with bad motives, bad intentions, and I'm pretty sure bad doctrinal views versus a person who has pure motives, good intentions as well as good doctrinal stances. And what was Paul's conclusion? At least Christ be preached. It would be wrong and misguided to say that heretics are who they are and they get their following base off of the music. Do choirs, do praise and worship teams? Do they usher in people to them? They sure do. If elevation worship was a part of a different church, would Stephen Ferdick, would Brian Hillsong still have an audience? They sure would. Which is why you ought to be careful as the consumer. Paul says in Ephesians 5, he says, verse 11, take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them. Are the lyrics that elevation sings, are they unfruitful works or deeds of darkness? Is there motive behind them possibly? Could be. Do I think that there's anyone at Elevation Church or specifically the praise and worship team? Do I believe they have some Christians there? I do. I have seen God bring Christians out of places with bad doctrine. Happens all the time. People from the most conservative leaning types of churches to the most, let's say Charismatic or Pentecostal churches and those in between. God still through His power works its soul. Somebody each week in those denominations, in those groups, come to Christ. How is that? Because of what Paul said. Nevertheless, at least Christ be preached. So my suggestion is if you are personally bothered by that, then obviously don't listen to them. We've had praise and worship before there was a Hillsong and Elevation, a Beth or anyone else. If listening to the Gathers is what you'd like, well then fine. And if you think it's a problem for a friend of yours, well then also let them know, share your concerns, nothing wrong with that at all. My suggestion would be just proceed with caution with everything. Christ is going to get glory no matter what. And because of the way that music and musicians work, many of them do not understand how heretical that the preacher is. And if you look at many of their doctrinal statements, most of their doctrines line up. Now, do they preach that? Is that how it is in practice? No, that has to do with the pastor. But if I can take the lyrics of an Elevation worship or Hillsong or whomever, if I can say those exact words without music and they are edifying, they are godly, but then I put music behind it, I'm fine with who's saying the truth for me. For me, the truth is the truth regardless who says it. And if that truth blesses my soul, well then amen. If it bothers you, amen also. But the goal is to be one godly but also consistent. And so whatever line you draw on the sand, make sure that line extends to everything else. There might be the difficulty right there. So whatever it is, if there's any question, if there's any concern, any hesitation, I would say don't do it, don't listen to it, don't watch it. Be it something on TV that you watch, be it something on the radio that you hear, be it something online. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. And so I know someone is probably wanting me to come down one side or the other to be definitive, either in saying, do not listen to them, do not share in what they do, do not even sing their songs at church. And someone want me to say, definitely it's okay. Well, I won't do either. I'll say you make the choice for yourself, make sure that you are convinced, make sure that you have prayed. And if there's any sort of hesitation, well then simply don't do it. But most importantly, whether you listen to it or whether you don't, make sure that your motives for doing so is pure and godly. Amen.