Is this teaching biblical?
Brett Sengstock was sexually abused by pastor Frank Houston from the age of seven. When the abuse was finally exposed in 1999, Frank Houston met Sengstock at a McDonald's and signed a napkin agreeing to pay $10,000 — money Sengstock describes as hush money. Brian Houston, who by then led the merged Hillsong Church and served as National President of the AOG, never reported the abuse to police. The institution chose silence, money, and reputation over justice for a child. This is the antithesis of everything Scripture demands.
What did Brett Sengstock (victim) say?
"I was paid for my silence."
Speaker: Brett Sengstock (victim)
Source: Brett Sengstock, describing the $10,000 payment from Frank Houston at McDonald's
What does Scripture actually teach?
Ephesians 5:11-13
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light."
— NKJV
Paul commands believers to EXPOSE the works of darkness — not cover them up with $10,000 payments at McDonald's. The Assemblies of God, Brian Houston, and the church executive did the exact opposite: they concealed child rape under the euphemism of 'moral failure,' paid for silence, and protected the institution. Scripture demands exposure; they chose darkness.
Proverbs 28:13
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
— NKJV
Those who cover sin will not prosper. The Houston family and the Assemblies of God covered these crimes for years. Frank Houston received a pension instead of a prison sentence. Brian Houston framed it as a 'moral failure' rather than serial pedophilia. The institutional cover-up is itself a sin that Scripture says will not prosper — and Hillsong's eventual collapse bears witness to this truth.
Isaiah 5:20
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
— NKJV
Paying a child abuse victim $10,000 and calling it pastoral care. Using the word 'moral failure' to describe child rape. Thanking a serial pedophile for his 'immeasurable contribution to the church.' Telling a victim 'you tempted my father.' This is calling evil good and good evil — and it carries a divine woe.