Hillsong Pastor Responds to ‘Naked Cowboy’ Controversy - from TRUNEWS

(TRUNEWS) – Megachurch pastor Brian Houston of Hillsong took to the internet to respond to the rising wave of criticism due to an appearance of someone impersonating the famous Times’ Square ‘Naked Cowboy’ at a recent Christian women’s conference:

In a statement released June 1:

Have You Heard the One About the Cowboy?

So how did someone come on stage resembling a cowboy, (during a fun moment involving lots of other people), at the Colour Conference in NYC? It’s a good question, I’ve been trying to work that out myself.

I do know that Bobbie – my wife – who was convener of the conference was clearly unaware that this was going to happen and was taken back by it.  She was at the dress rehearsal and there was no sign of a cowboy there. Carl and Laura Lentz were also not part of the decision. I can only guess at this point, that someone thought it would be funny and sent him out there without thinking about the ramifications.

What I do know is that those who perpetuate the story, do so mainly with the help of a video, no context,  and a good dose of what the bible describes as hearsay and rumour. He was wearing proper shorts, not underwear, and he had a flag draped over him – perhaps inappropriate, certainly unexpected and unathorized but not naked.

What I also know is that talk of apostates etc., is nonsense. Some well-meaning person just made a silly decision. It won’t happen again.

Brian

Brian Houston, we have a problem.

First of all, the tone of the article itself is one that is not one of seeking to genuinely respond to the overwhelming negative reaction to ‘The Naked Cowboy‘.  The title seems to scoff at the legitimate concerns having a man, a youth pastor in the church no less, parading around in ‘proper shorts’ in a church meeting.

Nowhere in this response does Houston take personal responsibility for what happened.  Rather, the tone of the response itself suggests that nobody was responsible; not Houston, his wife, his staff.  No, it was ‘someone’ (unnamed) who made a poor decision.

Instead of responding to the legitimate concerns of a prominent Christian church featuring a nearly naked man on the platform, the tables get turned.  Houston goes on to blame those who point out the story, describing it as hearsay or rumor.  Just to review, here is what is seen on the platform at the conference.  Watch the following clip:

Judge for yourself:  is what you just watched hearsay or rumor?

Houston further goes on to MINIMIZE the issue, by saying this nearly naked man was wearing ‘proper shorts’, and had a flag draped over him.  Inappropriate?  How about ‘WRONG’?

Hillsong may find humor in all of the controversy stirred up by this event, but this obvious slide into apostasy is no laughing matter.  Houston fails to recognize that in his response by calling it ‘nonsense’.

The post Hillsong Pastor Responds to ‘Naked Cowboy’ Controversy appeared first on TRUNEWS with Rick Wiles.

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