Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz Says 'Religion Is Dead...has No Power' (VIDEO)

Hillsong NYC's Pastor, Carl Lentz, explained why they do not use the word religion at his extremely popular mega-church.

"We don't use the word religion, because it's hard to get people excited about religion," said Lentz to the NY Daily News, "Religion is dead. I don't know anything about religion; I couldn't help you. Religion has no power. But a relationship with God is a superpower."

Lentz further expressed his views regarding how inclusive his church is, as compared to other stereotypical churches.

"In church, people treat you like you have to change or else," said Lentz, "Our approach is, 'We love you, nothing else.'"

His church is a branch of the Australian Hillsong church (created by Brian and his wife Bobbie Houston in 1983) that has attracted the attention of many celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant and Vanessa Hudgens, to name a few.

"Young people are far more open and excited to share fellowship with one another when they don't feel as if there is a Bible being smacked upon their heads," said Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford's daughter Cassidy, "Hillsong fosters a completely opposite environment, one of love, openness that is borderline infectious."

Lentz echoes Gifford's sentiments regarding his unconventional church that resembles a club scene, instead of a traditional place of worship.

"What you see around you can be a little unorthodox. You don't have to believe to belong here. We just talk about regular life. Regular marriage, what it means to be a Christian in New York," said Lentz, "A pastor who likes chess and orchestra, that's great, but we're from this generation."

He also talks about why he spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the gritty streets of NYC.

"New York City is hollow, an absolutely hollow place," said Lentz, "So what we have is deep, and it matters."