SHOW: The Secrets of Hillsong

By FX | Hulu | Four 1 hour episodes
^{_{Published in May of 2023}}

SUMMARY: A four-part docuseries that begins with the investigation of the resignation of Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Letnz in November of 2020 following the revelation of an extramarital affair, but pivots into the incarnation of the Hillsong empire and its founders Brian Houston and his father Frank Houston. This is a cautionary tale that churches should not be run like corporations putting profit and power over people and that if we put our faith in humans, instead of Christ, it is bound to fail.

The docuseries suggests it is the mega-church system that is poisoned. Holy Post podcast co-host Skye Jethani calls this the Evangelical Industrial Complex (EIC). The EIC values growing bigger, collecting more resources, and consolidating power. The ministry is protected at all costs. At the expense of covering up sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and spiritual abuse while devastating hundreds, if not thousands, of congregants.

Similar to the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast series, “The Secrets of Hillsong” provides an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the church culture we are participating in. Does the church you are a part of require non-disclosure agreements? Is leadership insulated and never questioned? Are proper accountability procedures in place with the board? Does the board represent a diverse set of views?

KEY QUOTES: “When your church turns inside out and you see how much it was built around the benefit of this individual instead of this ‘mission and vision’ you signed up for the disillusionment is incredibly painful.” – Mike Cosper

“Failing people on a mass scale is hard. I let down genuinely a lot of good people and I can only apologize and change. My story is now one of recovery. And it hasn’t been one without failure. It’s not like we are on this road and all of a sudden our family is perfect (and) I am good. So it’s a pretty humbling road to be on every day.” – Carl Lentz

MORE: Watch Skye Jethani’s 5-minute video, Why Are There So Many Celebrity Pastors? and read Jethani’s tweet thread on Twitter.

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