Former Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz Defends Hillsong From Accusations of Being a Cult

On a recent episode of the “Lights On” show, Carl Lentz responded to viewer questions alongside his wife, Laura, including one question Lentz said he is asked frequently: Is Hillsong Church a cult? 

The Rise and Fall of Carl Lentz at Hillsong NYC

Lentz was once one of Hillsong’s most promising pastors, launching Hillsong NYC in 2010. Under his leadership, the church grew to become a multisite congregation, and Lentz served as pastor to a number of star athletes and musicians.

However, in 2020, Lentz was dismissed from the church after admitting to an extramarital affair. Later, Lentz was accused of spiritual and sexual abuse, allegations he has vehemently denied.

Hillsong’s Widespread Scandals and Leadership Fallout

The scandal surrounding Lentz’s leadership and conduct was one among many that plagued Hillsong in a span of just a few years. These scandals spanned several Hillsong churches, as well as its college. In 2022, Brian Houston, who founded the church in 1983, resigned in disgrace amid allegations of sexual misconduct and substance abuse. 

As such, the global megachurch, which produces worship music used by congregations of diverse theological stripes around the world, has come under scrutiny from legal professionals and journalists alike. The church is even the subject of at least two investigative docuseries, “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” and “Secrets of Hillsong.”  

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Carl Lentz Responds: ‘Is Hillsong Church a Cult?’

“Is Hillsong Church a cult?” Lentz read from a list of questions in a video published Wednesday. Smiling, he said, “I mean, the question is tossed to us a lot.”

“Easy answer is of course it’s not a cult,” Lentz said. “And this is my perspective. And my perspective is probably different than anybody else’s. But first of all, we gotta talk about, ‘What is a cult?’ Everyone has their own definitions now.” 

Lentz defined a cult as a religious community a person cannot leave “without fear of death or ridicule or extraordinary manipulation.”

“A cult is known for its welcoming arms in and closed doors when you wanna get out,” Lentz said. “That’s a very, very layman’s definition of ‘cult.’”

RELATED: ‘I Don’t Identify as the Disgraced Former Pastor’—Carl Lentz Reflects on Scandals in New Podcast

“I think why our church—our former church—got hit with that so much is just because it’s influential,” he continued. “And our Taylor Swift fans—are they in a cult? They are way cultier than any church I’ve ever seen. Beyoncé’s fans? Way cultier.”