Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Hillsong Healer Update

So I just found out that the story behind the song "Healer" is not true. The writer Mike G. is not suffering from cancer and he is not terminal.

The first reaction is one of sorrow and anger, sorrow that he lied and anger that he made us look like fools to the world.

However, when you see the true intent of the song, it changes things, when you realize that he came forward to confess, he wasn't caught in a lie and forced to confess, he knew that he needed to be clean and needed to break free. He lied to his wife and his parents about this, that is how bad off he was.

I think we all should be praying for him to be able to trust in God's power to break him free from
the sin of lust. The first step I'm sure was the hardest and I think in some ways he is an example of courage, losing everything for the truth.

The words of his father I think explain the situation best. The addictive behavior that is talked about is an addiction to pornography that he had hidden from the time he was 12.

Original Here

THE father of fallen pastor Michael Guglielmucci, Danny, read this brief statement to a packed congregation to explain his son's actions.

"Today is a very sad day for our family and church family.

For many years our son, Michael has suffered from unexplained illnesses. We have been worried as we have seen him suffer and spend periods of time in hospital.


Two years ago our lives were totally turned around by the sad news of our sons' cancer diagnosis. The love and support shown by our local church and all of our many friends around the world helped us get through a very difficult situation.


During the last two years we have experienced the favor of God, his love and grace, and also the constant pain of the possibility of losing a son.


On Tuesday 12th of August we received a call to come and meet with Mike and Amanda but weren't ready for what we were about to hear. Mike began to share how he has lived a lie for the last 16 years of his life because of addictive behavior he couldn't break free from.



He loved God and would throw himself into prayer, worship, and serving God with full energy and enthusiasm but still couldn't break free.



In September in 2006, Mike had an accident and went to hospital. It was at this time, because of his torment of living a double life, Mike thought he could escape the pain by creating a diversion from his addiction to adult pornography, so he created the cancer scenario.



The pain of this addiction was so deep that he started something he couldn't stop and proceeded on a downward spiral that led to him experiencing pain and suffering that resulted in constant vomiting and many other symptoms of a genuine sufferer.



Sharonne and I witnessed these episodes and pained and wept over his suffering. Michael wrote the song Healer because he wanted God to set him free from his addiction but hid it behind the lie of a fabricated illness.



Once he had started down this track he felt he couldn't stop so he continued to act out this sickness, feeling he had gone too deep into the lie.



I can't begin to tell you how much this is hurting us on the inside. A few weeks ago Mike had a dream of Jesus on the cross looking down on him saying, 'the truth will set you free' and so he decided to confess and bring everything out into the open.



I immediately contacted our National Executive and submitted to their advice and council. Church, our family needs your prayers at this time. We are so, so sorry to bring you into this.



I have lead you with openness and integrity and declare that we have not lived a lie before you. We fully understand the questions, shock, disbelief and even anger you may feel over this announcement. Please pray for us and we will pray for you.



Michael is struggling with a different kind of illness and is receiving professional help and will do so as long as is needed. On the council and advice of our executive and board, after our up and coming Edge conference, we will take time to be with Mike and get him all the professional and spiritual help he needs to come to full recovery.



We have an amazing team. Thank you, executive, board, staff and church, for your love and support. We will do what is right before God and man and see this situation turned around for the glory of God. We love you. "

6 comments:

Adiel said...

I've been meaning to comment on this for almost a week now. When I first read this I was a bit ticked off at this guy using everyone and living a selfish lie, but then I remembered that there really is no difference between Mike G.'s sinful nature and my own. Our sin may display itself in different ways (and his was more public than any sin I've commited) but we are both in the same boat when it comes to our desparate need of a Savior.

I'm glad you posted this, Jonathan, and I'm still glad you posted the video of "Healer" earlier. Now knowing the full meaning behind this song makes it even more moving and heartwrenching at the same time. I do pray that Jesus would continue to heal this broken man and bring him back to life.

Anonymous said...

Guess he lied about his dream - meeting Jesus, too

Anonymous said...

No. The TRUTH has really set him free, even from any secret critics.

Anonymous said...

To God sin is sin and there are no better or worse sins. I respect this guy because he faced up to his sin. He never had to but he did which tells me he has a good heart, but was simply trapped by sin i pray that God truly sets him free from sin. We are no better than him, the bible said we all are all saved through grace and not faith and that all men have sinned against thee. I think if we all analyse our lives we will see how often we may have sinned in the past or even in the present. Whats important is that he has seen the light which i believe is a true testimony to God'd love for us all.

Anonymous said...

woops i meant through by grace thorugh faith

Anonymous said...

sin is a form of cancer, and it was eating up his life. remember no one is perfect.