Who is Louie Giglio?
Louie Giglio was born on June 30th 1958. [1] Giglio is the founder and Pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, GA. [2] Giglio is most well known for starting the Passion Movement.[3] To understand what a pastor or teacher believes and promotes it is always good to start by looking at their organization’s beliefs. To understand what Louie Giglio believes we are going to be looking at what he promotes in the belief section of his church. We have attached screen shots below. ( The original can be found at http://www.passioncitychurch.com/2.0/#/us/beliefs-4/).
Looking at this statement of belief the very first notation that should be made is the lack of any biblical reference to scripture. This in its self should be a warning flag to any discerning Christian. If a church like Passion City Church cannot base their beliefs on scripture what are they basing them on? This means that if their beliefs are not grounded in Scripture than they are not grounded in anything. Thus, they are open to whatever direction the doctrinal winds of popularity are blowing in at any given time. This lack of Scripture and lack of adherence to the citation of Scripture is what gives Giglio the ability to merge a social Gospel with other various forms of pagan “christianity.”
Upon a closer examination of the belief statement, one can see a mixing of biblical Christian terms. There is a mixing of such biblical beliefs from the Westminster confession in the "His Reown” section. With the unbiblical beliefs of the New Apostolic Reformation in the "Spiritual Awakening" section. The language of this section is full of NAR terminology and meaning.
What Giglio has done with the belief system at Passion City Church is essentially set up this church for ecumenicism, or the merging of multi-religious belief structures. These merged structures include the NAR, Seeker Driven beliefs and the Emerging Church.
One of the biggest issues with Giglio is his adherence to the SD (seeker driven) church movement. He has had associations with such pastors as Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Steven Furtick and Perry Noble over the years. Falling right in line with his associations, Giglio preaches and holds to the typical synergistic gospel of the Emergent Church / Seeker Driven Church movement. This gospel consists of man’s good works and social deeds at its core and denies the true atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Sadly, many who follow Giglio believe that what he teaches is the Gospel. However, in reality the fact is Giglio has very cleverly mixed truth in with error turning what he teaches in to a false gospel. This false Gospel is known as the Social Gospel. The social Gospel is not the Gospel that is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
1 Cor 15:1-4 ~"1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ."
Other problems persist with Giglio and the theological positions and teachings he holds to. Giglio holds to the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) theology, or what is better known as Dominion theology. In short, this is the belief that we must take back dominion over the planet and make the earth acceptable for Christ’s return. (For more information, please read: An Overview of Joel's Army). Giglio’s association with the NAR and Dominion theology is more prevalent more now than ever within the Passion Movement.
What has made Giglio the most famous, the Passion Movement / Passion conferences has also made him the most questionable. From its beginnings in 1995, the Passion Movement has hosted close to 1 million university students at events ranging from the first Passion Conference in Austin, TX (January '97) where 2,000 people attended to this year, 2013 where nearly 60,000 students attended in Atlanta GA.[4] These numbers may seem to give the illusion of success to the Passion Movement. After all, in the SD/EC movement if the numbers are there than it must be a success, right?
Wrong! These numbers would be great if Giglio and the Passion Movement held to a biblical view of the Gospel and a proper presentation of that Gospel. Sadly, this is not the case, over the years these events have been lined with a social gospel of good works and men centered theology. For example, this year in 2013, the Passion conference hosted in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta GA featured such EC/SD & NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) favorites as Bill Johnson’s worship group Jesus Culture, pastor Judah Smith, Beth Moore and sadly even John Piper to name a few.
Over all, Giglio, his church and the Passion Movement are riddled with theological problems and inconsistencies. Yes, Giglio’s church and movement might have passion in them, but they don’t have the Biblical Christ in them. Instead, they are based on a false theological premise and a false movement that under minds the word of God. This false premise does not lift up God but instead puts man deeds first over what Christ has done on the Cross and in, His work in the atonement.
[1] Birthday wish. (2010) "Shelley Giglio " Accessed: June 30, 2010.
[2] NewReleaseTuesday], Accessed: July 22, 2010.
[3] Christ Notes. (2007) Louie Giglio Books and Ministry Accessed: September 29, 2007.
[4] Passion’s 2013 generation 268 website.
What has made Giglio the most famous, the Passion Movement / Passion conferences has also made him the most questionable. From its beginnings in 1995, the Passion Movement has hosted close to 1 million university students at events ranging from the first Passion Conference in Austin, TX (January '97) where 2,000 people attended to this year, 2013 where nearly 60,000 students attended in Atlanta GA.[4] These numbers may seem to give the illusion of success to the Passion Movement. After all, in the SD/EC movement if the numbers are there than it must be a success, right?
Wrong! These numbers would be great if Giglio and the Passion Movement held to a biblical view of the Gospel and a proper presentation of that Gospel. Sadly, this is not the case, over the years these events have been lined with a social gospel of good works and men centered theology. For example, this year in 2013, the Passion conference hosted in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta GA featured such EC/SD & NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) favorites as Bill Johnson’s worship group Jesus Culture, pastor Judah Smith, Beth Moore and sadly even John Piper to name a few.
Over all, Giglio, his church and the Passion Movement are riddled with theological problems and inconsistencies. Yes, Giglio’s church and movement might have passion in them, but they don’t have the Biblical Christ in them. Instead, they are based on a false theological premise and a false movement that under minds the word of God. This false premise does not lift up God but instead puts man deeds first over what Christ has done on the Cross and in, His work in the atonement.
[1] Birthday wish. (2010) "Shelley Giglio " Accessed: June 30, 2010.
[2] NewReleaseTuesday], Accessed: July 22, 2010.
[3] Christ Notes. (2007) Louie Giglio Books and Ministry Accessed: September 29, 2007.
[4] Passion’s 2013 generation 268 website.
