Carl Lentz: Another Flashy False Teacher

The words in the Holy Bible are pretty clear.

And yet, as evidenced by the few comments in response to this post, those who object to the points and warnings I'm trying to make here today completely ignore them.

Let that be all you need to know as you continue reading this heartfelt plea to be careful when it comes to another flashy false teacher like Mr. Carl Lentz.

Matthew 7:15-17 (ESV) 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

Matthew 24:24 (ESV) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Mark 13:22 (ESV) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

2 Peter 2:1 (ESV) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Acts 20:29-31 (ESV) 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.

Galatians 1:6-10 (ESV) 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -- 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 2:1-2 (ESV) 1 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in -- who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery -- 2 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 (ESV) 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV) For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (ESV) 12 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

1 John 4:1 (ESV) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Jude 1:3-4 (ESV) 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Like I said, God's Word is pretty clear to us.

In other words, our focus today shouldn't be all that surprising to us...if we've been reading the New Testament.

Furthermore, our response to the things that will be highlighted today shouldn't be all that surprising either...since they have their source in the very holy and divinely inspired Word of God.

Chris Rosebrough's Fighting For The Faith Video Blog officially began with an expose on one of America's most popular "Celebrity Pastors" out there right now -- Mr. Carl Lentz.

Of course, he's absolutely spot on with everything he had to say about Carl Lentz.

See, this is what we must be on constant guard against. The Old Adam loves to have his ego stroked and his ears tickled (2 Timothy 4:3). It breaks my heart to think of the people deceived by this kind of teaching, which is Carl's brand of Christianity, and not Christ's.

My dear friends, this is what is masquerading as "Biblical truth" and "preaching" these days. So you wanna be a Pastor? Great! No formal education or training is necessary. Just get a few people together with deep pockets and open a "church" somewhere and just throw in some Christian words, but be sure to change their definition to suit the public and to suit your needs. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way I'm afraid.

Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time Mr. Lentz and I have crossed paths. Back in July 2013, before my conversion to becoming a Confessional Lutheran, I shared the following story and comment on my Facebook page...

NOTE: For what it's worth, in the picture above, which flashy fellow is the false teacher, Carl Lentz, if you had to guess? Here's a hint -- it's not the guy with the upside down "P" on his hat (although that would've been appropriate and a good guess I suppose if the "upside down P-like image" symbolized an "upside down Pastor" like Lentz!) because that young man is none other than Justin Bieber. Now, I realize that that little exercise may not be fair. I mean, I want us to KEEP OUR FOCUS firmly upon the content of Lentz's preaching and teaching and not his personal appearance and/or character as well as that of those he keeps company with. At the same time, how can we ignore the reality when it's clear that he is becoming "all things" (1 Corinthians 9:22) AT THE EXPENSE of a clear proclamation of Christ crucified for the sins of all of mankind? That's the point of this piece today, because such a disconnect is not Biblical whatsoever.

Unconventional Pastor Leads Booming NYC Megachurch

MY COMMENT ON THE ABOVE ARTICLE AT THE TIME: More "Emergent Church"/"Seeker Sensitive" nonsense, which breaks my heart whenever I see God's church being used as a carnival act. Someone once asked, "Why do we find it so easy to be amused by behavior that God hates and that Jesus Christ died to save us from?" I would add Paul Washer's comment here: "Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH." Lord, have mercy! Maranatha!

As you can imagine, that didn't sit well with some of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

One person simply cited Isaiah 55:11. Sure, Isaiah 55:11 and another specific example I believe the Apostle Paul commented on in one of his Epistles (sorry I don't recall the specific reference right now) explains how there can be some preachers/teachers in the world who may be in it for the wrong motivations/reasons (i.e., personal fame and fortune let's say), but we are to still praise God in such cases because the Gospel is still being preached to the world.

However, that's assuming it's the true Jesus and the true Gospel that's being preached. Any alteration, any distortion, any perverted version of Jesus Christ and/or His Gospel unto salvation is to be confronted by believers by speaking "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).

That article about Carl Lentz that I referenced above certainly falls into that latter category I'm afraid. As Rosebrough clearly demonstrated, his is definitely a false gospel.

Others came to his defense rather quickly...

Have you heard the message he preaches yet!? If its denying Jesus as the One true Christ and coming in the flesh then it's not of God. 2 John 1:7 We can't look at his appearance, his church style of music, or even the people he eats with. He might be trying to become all things, to all people for the sake of the Gospel. New York is a way different place than where I live. If salvation is truly happening then praise be to God. Just my thoughts. Not saying he is or isn't biblical. Haven't heard a message yet.


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People need to get over themselves and stop thinking they know the mind of God and judging others...I highly doubt this pastor has any other motive but to spread the gospel of Christ. He has a powerful testimony.


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I heard this guy speak. He is friends with Levi Lusko my pastor here in Montana and he is incredible. Many come to know Jesus through his preaching. He has a heart for God. I think we need to quit bashing each other. Satan loves that.


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I don't know Jeff...I listened to one of his sermons and I think he's spot on (Carl Lentz: That Girl Is Poison)

That last comment and the "sermon" referenced was from a dear sister in Christ...who attends the same LCMS Church that I do!

The "That Girl Is Poison" stage show that she referenced is Lentz's most famous "sermon" out there. It was the one and only time that I ever felt like Chris Rosebrough, because I had to force myself to sit through the ENTIRE performance taking copious notes so that I could put together a heartfelt and serious response to these people I care about who I had just learned were being seduced by Carl Lentz's brand of "Hipster Christianity" from New York City.

Let's just start by recalling that we are to be known for our confession of faith in Jesus Christ who saved us from our sins -- not our confession of how Jesus Christ gave us a better life and can give others a better life too. Jesus died for our sins to be forgiven and not for our worldly dreams to become a reality!

We should be baptizing and making disciples in His name -- not making disciples of Hillsong and Carl Lentz. We should be known for our desire to help others out of the mire of self-deception, self-righteousness, and sin -- not encouraging them that it's "ok" to sin since "God is love" and it's not that big of a deal to Him.

My dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, we must be more discerning and recognize that this is a classic case of style over substance, or "image over substance" like Mr. Rosebrough called it. In essence, it really about half-truths and outright lies over the uncompromising truth of God’s Word.

We must remember that there’s a reason why every Epistle in the New Testament issues a strong warning to us believers to be on guard against the reality of False Teachers who are so dangerous and deceiving because they look and sound the part as though they were the real deal (2 Peter 2, for instance).

It’s why we read in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

There’s really so much I could share, but this is a lengthy response already, so let’s just start with the final words in the original article I referenced from that Facebook post.

"Lentz declined to discuss same-sex marriage, a polarizing issue that young evangelicals have said in repeated surveys that they do not want to be a focus of church. Many evangelical pastors starting churches in New York avoid addressing the topic from the pulpit, a decision that has drawn criticism from evangelical leaders who consider the issue one of the most important for traditional Bible-believers. Lentz said he enjoys having critics. 'They give me fuel for the fire,' he said."

So now we have been shown not one -- but two! -- prime examples of why Carl Lentz is not qualified for be a Pastor just as Chris Rosebrough asserted. The first was this excerpt from the July 2013 article and the second and most recent was from his appearance with Katie Couric.

A couple of things should be readily apparent to us here.

First, any time any Pastor is reluctant to preach and teach on ANY truth from the Word of God because they're concerned about "offending" their congregation (whether it’s on what the Bible says about homosexuality or any other topic for that matter), or because they'd rather use "surveys" to "give the people what they want" rather than what the Lord says they need, then that’s a major red flag in regards to that Pastor.

Galatians 1:6-10 (ESV) 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Second, and in his very own words, Lentz says he enjoys having critics as if he relishes being the cause of the controversy, and it's not the kind of criticism that typically comes from non-believers for preaching the Gospel accurately and faithfully.

The sad irony? We know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is "controversial" by its very nature...but only when it’s preached faithfully.

   

Romans 9:33 (ESV) as it is written, 'Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'

We see Paul’s similar charges against the False Teachers in Galatia and his divinely inspired words about the "offense of the cross" in Galatians too (Galatians 5:11).

So, in essence, Mr. Lentz is choosing to be "controversial" for the wrong reasons -- out of pride and to gain man’s approval rather than God’s approval. Tragic indeed.

Since many Pastors like Carl Lentz are afraid to speak on anything the public deems "controversial" these days, the end result is that it's the culture that is capturing Christian hearts and minds by default when it is the Body of Christ that should be the salt and the light instead (Matthew 5:13-16).

Come to think of it, Christians should want to hear their Pastor’s perspective on relevant moral and social issues too, because they should expect and trust that their Pastor will merely point them straight to the Lord by parroting God's perspective on relevant moral and social issues while keeping personal opinion out of it.

Look, if the Bible is clear about a certain issue, then we should speak about it with boldness. Yes, with grace and in love, but with boldness and no shame or act like a particular topic is somehow "off limits" due to it's polarizing nature. Besides, people want their questions addressed. They want the nuances.

Believe it or not, there are some of us who actually want to represent our Lord and Savior well in our daily vocations -- both at home and in the culture (2 Corinthians 5:20). Seems to me that's part of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12), isn't it? It should be. 

There's one caveat though. Scripture, Jesus, and the Christian Church are to have a unified position. We are to be unified in love and unified in truth. Guys like Carl Lentz want to unify in love at the expense of unity in doctrine and truth. Such is the nature of Postmodern Christianity I'm afraid.  

So people are left to turn to NPR, Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, MSNBC, or even inward to themselves for the answers in life instead of to the Means of Grace, which are the Word of God and His Sacraments. What happens is that they’ll end up taking a "Politically Correct" position rather than a Biblical one.

Pastors need to fulfill the calling of their God-given ministries. Where the Bible is clear, they need to preach boldly, but lovingly. Where the Bible is silent, the need to preach humbly, but with continued reverence. But they should never shy away from preaching on certain passages and topics simply because they're deemed "controversial" or because some "survey" said people in their congregation and community won't like it -- of course they won’t like it when sin (and their acceptance of it) is challenged, confronted, and exposed!
For me, that’s my main concern with Carl Lentz based on his own actions and his own words that are a matter of full public record. Such a non-response is not a "loving" response to people who are dead in their sins. That's loving them to Hell actually by giving them a false sense of security, a false hope.

Worse, he has the only cure that can be found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It's a cure that can be rightly explained and taught through faithfully preaching the proper application of the Law and the Gospel while also rightfully administering the Sacraments.

For someone like Him who claims to know that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all mankind and that this is the one thing we all need to hear about (Christ crucified for our sins so that we may be forgiven and have eternal life), and yet, he refuses to give proclaim His name and His ministry of reconciliation to the sinner is downright despicable.

Normally, that would be enough and we could stop right there. However, given his continued rise in popularity (as evidenced by the numerous comments below defending him), this is a very serious issue and there are a few more things I'd like to call attention too.

Chris Rosebrough mentioned the affiliation with Hillsong. Unfortunately, any quick Google/YouTube search will also reveal that the Hillsong churches that Lentz is a part of are also of the "Prosperity Gospel" and "Word of Faith" variety, particularly its founder and Lentz’s mentor, Brian Houston, which we all know is truly un-Biblical. Again, this is why we must be careful and learn to exercise discernment, especially in these cases when a so-called "man of God" is loved by the world.

By the way, that sermon by Lentz ("That Girl Is Poison") was first delivered at the Jesus Culture Conference in 2012. For those who haven’t been exposed to Jesus Culture, please take some time to do a quick search with your Bible open and in hand.

I also have to question Lentz’s repeated admission that he is a huge secular Hip-Hop/Rap fan who still attends concerts whenever he can, and who regularly hangs out and tweets photos of himself with celebrities like Jay-Z.

I'm no Pietist. I know we all probably like certain artists/music/songs, books, movies, and TV shows that we shouldn’t (Philippians 4:8; Matthew 6:24). I know I do! I'm not bragging about that. I'm just sayin' so that you don't think I'm being a hypocrite here.

Still, is that the kind of Christian Pastor we should be imitating? After all, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, and Philippians 3:17 all speak to the need for Christian Pastors to set an example of Christlikeness for us to follow (see also 1 Timothy 4:12; Hebrews 13:7).

Wouldn’t you have to agree that it’s impossible for Carl Lentz to fulfill those commands given to Him from God when he regularly exhibits a worldly lifestyle and an affinity for secular artists and their music, or those who constantly sing about blatantly anti-Christian and sinful themes all the time?

If you're going to respond with the whole "Yeah, well, Jesus ate with sinners too!" bit, then let's also keep in mind that He also preached the cold, hard truth to them at the same time. Has Carl Lentz fulfilled his vocation as a minister of God's Word by preaching the Law to those who he routinely hangs out with so that they might respond to God's Word with repentance?

I'm sure he has, but I still think it's fair to ask our Pastors to BE CAREFUL about the company they keep, especially in light of 1 Corinthians 8:9, don't you?  

This is what we see all throughout the "Hyper Grace" movement today -- a license to downplay and minimize sinful behavior to the point where we're not convicted by it anymore since it's almost akin to nothing more than a "pet peeve" rather than the true offense that it is to our Lord. Worse is when sin isn't even mentioned at all!

Dearly beloved, I'm sure Carl Lentz is a nice guy. He might even sincerely love our Lord and Savior. I have no idea. But just because men like him are sincere, flashy, gifted speakers doesn’t mean we should blindly accept, believe, and follow their every word.

Remember, the Bereans tested what the Apostle Paul himself taught them and they did so on a daily basis (Acts 17:11). That was the Apostle Paul for crying out loud! That's the Biblical approach we always need to take.

Why? Well, isn't it obvious by now? Sincerity and the ability to communicate effectively does not "automatically" equal Biblical truth or give you a free pass when it comes to preaching.

People must be preached the full weight of the Law followed by the full hope of the Gospel. They need to see their unrighteousness and need for forgiveness, mercy, and righteousness found only in the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice on their behalf on the cross at Calvary.

A failure to talk about sin, and the need to repent from that sin, or to be baptized and to place your faith in Christ is short-changing the glorious Gospel at its foundational level.

At the end of the day, such men like Carl Lentz and their messages noticeably do not include consistent mention of sin, repentance, or sanctification, but only love, self-righteous works, and supernatural experiences.

The focus is on "lifestyle" and "vision" and Jesus Christ is merely a means to that end. That is not the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and that is not what we find in the Holy Scriptures. Again, Jesus died to save you from the wages of your sins, not to fulfill all the dreams of your heart.

I know I haven't specifically addressed every point in that "sermon" of his that I mentioned earlier, but I’ll say this: "That So-Called Pastor And His Man-Centered False Gospel Is Poison So Buyer Please Beware!"

Sure, the message was sprinkled with a Bible verse or two here and there, and Christian words with the occasional mention of Jesus, but where is the preaching against sin, about grace and justification by faith, or of sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit, let alone just a mere reverence for Him and His Word? There were more references to worldly people, places, and things than to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the holy Word of God.

Since when is this life about "your vision" too? I thought we were made to serve Him and to be faithful in our daily vocations. I thought this life was about His vision for our lives as revealed to us in the Bible (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Finally, while I’ve already pointed out how we should be very cautious when it comes to Carl Lentz due to his association with Brian Houston/Hillsong, his love for the world more than the Word, and the un-Biblical messages he's been preaching, did you catch when he said that one of his "closest friends" is Pastor Judah Smith? Please let that be another clear warning to you!

Why? Because of things like this and this. That's why.

Surely, it further shows a disturbing lack of discernment on the part of a man who should know better. Otherwise, I guess you're content with saying that blaspheming the name of God isn't a big deal anymore even when a Pastor gets caught doing it.

As always, please don't just take my word for any of this. Be like the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1) to see if what I'm simply relaying to you from His Word is true or not.

You can start by identifying what God's will is for each and every one of us, which is not what men like Carl Lentz preach and teach.

No, His will for us is actually everything guys like him don't preach and teach about -- sin, repentance, grace, justification, sanctification; they don't preach or teach Christ crucified.

Heresy can never be restrained with force. It must be grasped in another way. This is not the sort of battle that can be settled with thee sword. The weapon here to be used is God's Word. If that does not decide, the decision will not be effected by worldly force, though it should drench the whole world with blood. Heresy is a thing of the soul; no steel can cut it out, no waters can drown it.

*- Martin Luther

In a Lutheran Layman's terms, yes, wolves in sheep's clothing do exist among us, and it's never wise to pet and play with wolves.

Now, go warn a family member or friend about this flashy false teacher named Carl Lentz and pray that he repents of his false teachings and returns to "the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people" (Jude 1:3).




NOTE: I'm not a called and ordained minister of God's Word and Sacraments. I'm a layman or a Christian, Candy-Making, Husband, Father, Friend who lives in the "City of Good Neighbors" here on the East Coast. To be more specific, and relevant to the point I want to make with this note, I'm also a newly converted Confessional Lutheran who recently escaped American Evangelicalism a little over a year ago. That being said, please contact me ASAP if you believe that any of my "old beliefs" seem to have crept their way into any of the material you see published here, and especially if any of the content is inconsistent with our Confessions and Lutheran doctrine (in other words, if it's not consistent with God's Word, which our Confessions merely summarize and point us back to) so that I can correct those errors immediately and not lead any of His little ones astray (James 3:1). Finally, please be aware that you might also discover that some of the earlier pieces I wrote on this blog back in 2013 definitely fall into that category since I was a "Lutheran-In-Name-Only" at the time and was completely oblivious to the fact that a Christian "Book of Concord" even existed (Small/Large Catechism? What's that!?!). In addition, there are some entries that are a little "out there" so-to-speak since the subject matter was also heavy influenced by those old beliefs of mine. I know that now and I'm still learning. Anyway, I decided to leave those published posts up on this website and in cyberspace only because we now have this disclaimer, and only to demonstrate the continuing work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in my life (Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 1:6). Most importantly, please know that any time I engage in commenting on and/or interpreting a specific portion of the holy Scriptures, it will always closely follow the verse-by-verse notes from my Lutheran Study Bible and/or include references to the Book of Concord unless otherwise noted. Typically, I defer to what other Lutheran Pastors have already preached and taught about such passages since they are the called and ordained shepherds of our souls here on earth. Finally, I'm going to apologize ahead of time for the length of most entries. I'm well aware that blogs should be short, sweet, and to the point, but I've never been one to follow the rules when it comes to writing. Besides, this website is more like a dude's diary in the sense that everything I write about and share publicly isn't always what's "popular" or "#trending" at the time, but is instead all the things that I'm studying myself at the moment. For better or for worse, these posts tend to be much longer than most blog entries you'll find elsewhere only because I try to pack as much info as possible into a single piece so that I can refer to it again and again over time if I need to (and so that it can be a valuable resource for others -- if possible, a "One-Stop-Shop" of sorts). Thank you for stopping by and thank you in advance for your time, help, and understanding. Grace and peace to you and yours!

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