Hillsong United is a contemporary Christian music band that originated out of Hillsong Church in Australia. The band quickly grew in popularity in the 2000s and 2010s, becoming one of the most influential groups in Christian worship music. However, in recent years, Hillsong United has faced mounting criticism and controversy leading to cancellations of their tours and albums.
Background on Hillsong United
Hillsong United was founded in 1998 by several youth ministry leaders at Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia including Joel Houston, Marty Sampson, and Donia Makedonez. The band started leading worship sets for Hillsong Church’s youth services and conferences. Their music style was designed to appeal to young people with a contemporary, rock-inspired sound.
The band released their first album, One, in 2001 and it was well-received in Australia. As Hillsong United’s popularity grew, they began touring worldwide and attracting larger audiences. Their 2004 album, For All You’ve Done, debuted at #1 on the Australian Christian albums chart.
Hillsong United’s international breakthrough came with their 2007 album All of the Above which climbed to #1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart in the U.S. They continued releasing hit albums over the years including 2009’s Across the Earth and 2013’s Zion which both reached the top 10 on Billboard’s overall albums chart, a rare feat for a Christian band.
At the peak of their popularity in the 2010s, Hillsong United was playing sold-out arena tours and their albums were being certified Gold. Their success paved the way for other Christian groups to cross over into the mainstream music world.
Controversies and Criticisms
Despite their meteoric success and influence, Hillsong United has faced numerous controversies and criticisms over the years that have fueled cancellations of their tours and albums.
Concerns Over Theology and Lifestyle
One major issue for critics is the theology and lifestyle associated with Hillsong Church which Hillsong United is closely tied to. Hillsong Church has been accused of promoting a “prosperity gospel” that emphasizes material wealth as God’s blessing. The church leaders and band members live a glamorous, celebrity-like lifestyle that some claim is at odds with Biblical principles around modesty and generosity to the poor.
Hillsong Church has also been charged with holding a lightweight, simplistic theology focused on positivity and blessings rather than the full Gospel message. Critics say their lyrics lack depth and substance.
LGBTQ Stances
Another flashpoint is Hillsong’s stance on LGBTQ issues. The church believes marriage should be between a man and woman only. As a result, protests and boycotts have occurred claiming Hillsong is anti-gay. Hillsong United has avoided taking a clear stance either way on LGBTQ inclusion leading to accusations they are fence-sitting on an important social issue.
Scandals
Hillsong Church and its music ministry have faced various scandals over the years fueling increased backlash and cancellations.
- In 2015, Hillsong pastor Brian Houston failed to report his father’s sexual abuse allegations to the police leading to an investigation from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
- Carl Lentz, the charismatic American pastor of Hillsong NYC, was fired in 2020 for “moral failures” including adultery.
- Worship leader Marty Sampson publicly announced he was leaving Hillsong and renouncing Christianity in 2019 over theological concerns and hypocrisy he saw in the church.
These scandals involving key Hillsong leaders contributed to moral outrage and disillusionment with the church and its music groups.
Racial Controversies
Hillsong has also faced accusations of racism and lack of diversity over the years. Despite their global reach, the church and its music ministry are predominantly led by White Australians. High profile Black Christian artists like Kirk Franklin and Lecrae reportedly declined invitations to join Hillsong tours over racial concerns.
In 2020, Michael George Hodge, a former Hillsong Dallas pastor, spoke out on Instagram claiming he experienced racism from the church and Hillsong United that stifled his advancement and creativity. This sparked renewed discussion about systemic racism in the institution.
Tour and Album Cancellations
As controversies, scandals, and criticisms against Hillsong mounted over the 2010s, various live performances and album releases by Hillsong United were impacted.
2022 USA Tour Cancelled
In January 2022, Hillsong United was set to launch a U.S. tour visiting 16 cities to promote their new album. However, the tour was abruptly cancelled just weeks beforehand. Organizers cited “local church engagements and disruptions caused by the pandemic” as the reason. But many speculated it was due to poor ticket sales stemming from the controversies surrounding Hillsong’s reputation.
2022 Album Release Postponed
Hillsong United also delayed the release of their planned 2022 album. The record titled “Whole Heart” had a filming shoot scheduled for October 2021 followed by a release date in February 2022. But in December 2021, the band announced they were postponing the album indefinitely to “take time to focus on internal work as a team and church.”
Industry insiders saw this as a clear sign that the band felt now was not the right time to release a major album given the public perception challenges plaguing Hillsong Church.
Michael George Hodge Leaves Mid-Tour
In 2019, Hillsong United embarked on their massive “People” world tour. However, partway through, one of the lead singers Michael George Hodge abruptly left the tour. It was later revealed this was linked to his racial discrimination experiences that would become public in 2020.
The sudden unplanned departure of Hodge left Hillsong United scrambling and needing to quickly adjust their line-up and stage show, hobbling the remainder of the tour.
Declining Public Support
The accumulation of controversies and scandals has clearly impacted public support for Hillsong United in recent years leading to cancelled events and albums. Despite their past success and influence, many Christian music fans have turned against them.
Hillsong United’s album sales have steadily declined over the 2010s compared to their peak popularity in the late 2000s. Their tours have shifted from sold-out arenas to more modest church venues.
In a 2019 survey conducted by The Gospel Coalition, over 70% of respondents said Christians should avoid Hillsong entertainment groups given their associations with Hillsong Church.
Hillsong United has lost the widespread adoration of many American evangelicals, particularly younger Christians seeking more doctrinal substance, racial diversity, and socially progressive stances in their music and institutions.
Future Direction Uncertain
Given the myriad controversies and waning public support, the future direction of Hillsong United appears uncertain at this point.
Some speculate the band might break away from Hillsong Church altogether and rebrand as a more independent entity. But their music has always been intrinsically tied to Hillsong worship services and ministries.
Others wonder if Hillsong United will simply fade from prominence, overshadowed by newer bands with untarnished reputations. Their albums and tours could dwindle without mainstream promotion and support.
It’s also possible Hillsong United will remain mostly unchanged, content to focus on creating music for the loyal Hillsong Church membership. But their days as a Christian music powerhouse selling out arenas appear over.
Hillsong United faces a long road to redemption and restoration of trust if they want to recover their former stature. Given current trends, the cancellations they’ve faced so far may only be the beginning.
Conclusion
In summary, Hillsong United has faced growing backlash and cancellations in recent years due to recurring controversies, scandals, and criticism of Hillsong Church. Racism allegations, sex abuse cover-ups, anti-LGBTQ stances, prosperity gospel messaging, and more have fueled moral outrage and boycotts. As a result, tours have been cancelled, album releases postponed, and public support has rapidly declined. The future of Hillsong United remains hazy as the band faces an identity crisis. Their ability to bounce back from the failures of their parent church appears uncertain. Nevertheless, Hillsong United’s fall from grace stands as warning for other Christian institutions about the importance of transparency, integrity, inclusion, and responsible leadership.