by 
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island.
That, of course, is just a myth. The Sirens were said to be creatures that were either mermaids or half-bird, half-bare-breasted women. Not your typical island lassies featuring in rather more credible folk stories. For female company starved sailors, however, the lure of these enchanting voices would have been enhanced by the visual attraction of the Sirens appearance.
Sadly, with their senses and curiosity piqued by what they heard and saw, they threw caution in the wind and ran their ships aground.
I thought of the Greek myth the other day when I was watching a Hillsong music video. Hillsong, but also the other two big let’s call them Worship Churches, Bethel and Elevation, often produce and play captivating music that attracts the youth and, as a result, lures them to concerts and, sometimes, to church. The attractiveness of the setting, lights, music and the lyrics all work together to make this a very attractive proposition to the young and not so young (among whom myself).
Nothing wrong with that. However, we should be aware that not all theology preached in those churches is sound. And truth seeking visitors, like the hapless sailors steered by their senses, may run the danger to perhaps not shipwreck, but at least endanger the seaworthiness of their spiritual boats.
The other day I watched a video by Allen G. Parr about this very topic. Parr is an conservative Christian and excellent teacher who has a Youtube channel called The Beat which aims to encourage especially young Christians and to educate them in the Gospel truth, and with it, doctrine and morality.
In a 19 minutes long video published on 20 June 2020 he discusses the pros and cons of the Hillsong, Bethel and Elevation churches .
He offers some important BEWARES:
- They may have some heretical doctrines, like Bethels’ Bill Johnson, who does not believe that Jesus was God when he performed miracles
- There have unbiblical practices, like grave soaking, healing on demand,
- They are not equipping people with theological tools to enable them to distinguish between what is truth and what not;
- They lure young immature Christians to that false doctrine via their music;
On the other hand he observes that the churches’ statements of belief as presented on their website are generally sound when it comes to core Christian doctrine. And, as to the writers of the lyrics of the music, they may be doctrinally sound, yet they are in a church that is not sound in all aspects of Christian doctrine.
Whether or not he finds that listening to the music and the message produced by the 3 churches will shipwreck your ship of faith, I am not going to say here.
Watch for yourself and let us know your verdict: are these churches unwitting Sirens, or just well-voiced Saints bringing glory (and unsaved people) to God?