Hillsong Church's founding pastor Brian Houston is calling on Christians to stop keeping score. In a candid new message released on JesusFollowers.TV, the former Hillsong founder delivered a passionate appeal for forgiveness, reconciliation, and church unity-while also taking direct aim at pastors who compete with other churches, believers who refuse to forgive, and Christians who allow offense to shape their lives.
Preaching from 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Houston said every Christian-not just pastors-has been given "the ministry of reconciliation." He argued that restoring broken relationships is not optional but central to the Christian faith.
"God has entrusted you with the ministry of reconciliation," Houston said. "It's not a suggestion. It's not multiple choice. It's obedience."
Throughout the message, Houston repeatedly urged believers to stop "counting trespasses," explaining that forgiveness is not based on emotion but on a deliberate decision to obey Christ.
Drawing from the Lord's Prayer and Jesus' command to forgive others, he argued that reconciliation often requires believers to act before they feel ready.
"You'll possibly never be ready," Houston said. "But it was never on your timetable."
Houston also challenged what he described as territorial attitudes among church leaders.
Speaking candidly about pastors who become offended when another church opens nearby, Houston said insecurity has no place in Christian ministry.
"Somehow they think that city belongs to them," he said. "None of us have that kind of right over a city."
Instead of viewing new churches as competition, Houston recalled churches that actually received offerings to bless new congregations-including when Hillsong launched churches in cities such as Los Angeles.
"That's the power of the high ground," he said.
One of the strongest moments of the sermon came when Houston argued that Christians should stop seeking revenge and instead imitate Jesus by taking what he called "the high ground."
Referencing Jesus' command to turn the other cheek, Houston insisted that forgiveness is not weakness but the source of genuine spiritual authority.
"There's power in refusing to descend to the level of offense," he said. "Grace instead of retaliation."
He pointed to Jesus praying, "Father, forgive them," while hanging on the cross as the ultimate model of reconciliation.
Houston also admitted he has personally struggled with reconciliation.
"I've failed in that myself on plenty of occasions," he acknowledged, while encouraging believers not to allow old wounds to dictate the rest of their lives.
The former Hillsong leader warned that unresolved offense often spreads far beyond the original conflict, damaging marriages, families, friendships, and churches.
He described victimhood as becoming "like a black hole," pulling everyone around it into ongoing pain, and urged Christians to seek healing in Christ instead of allowing bitterness to define them.
Houston also emphasized the importance of honoring others, even after disappointment or conflict.
He shared the story of a woman who claimed that 14 different churches had hurt her, suggesting the deeper issue was not simply the churches themselves but an unwillingness to reconcile.
"Offense will always dishonor," Houston said. "Honor chooses to see the God parts in the one who wounded you."
Closing the message, Houston reminded viewers that reconciliation is not a one-time event but a lifelong lifestyle rooted in the Gospel.
"Freedom is a beautiful place to be," he said, praying that those watching would experience "breakthrough, overcoming, new beginnings, and restoration" in the week ahead.
