But that’s not at all what this means. They believe they are a new and better type of Christian leader who can hear directly from God and get "downloads" of new information. The #wakeupolive story was a huge national story that made headlines for all the wrong reasons. We need to turn back to genuine, sound biblical doctrine. TGC Australia recently published an article examining the theology and practice of the Bethel movement. Here's a really embarrassing example: The word "repent" has nothing to do with penthouses-obviously! We have a sovereign God (Job 42:2, Psalms 135:6, Proverbs 16:4, Ephesians 1:11-12, Romans 8:29-30, etc.) Branham didn't believe in the Trinity. If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us. Branham was so detached from Biblical Christianity that even Word of Faith founder Kenneth Hagin called him a false teacher and predicted he would die two years before it happened from a car accident in 1965. We are, in contrast to Bethel’s teachings, to surrender to God completely, follow His desires, ask Him for forgiveness, and be satisfied with Him and His gospel alone. “Is it really all that bad if they are lying about their miracles and glory clouds?” he asks. In fact, even the Roman Catholic Church believes that we can't have a bunch of different people running around claiming to speak for God; that's why they have only one Pope. Unpacking Michael Brown – his ‘NARpostleship’ & involvement in the New Apostolic Reformation. Johnson continues using this unorthodox and unsophisticated Dr. Seuss-like style throughout his book, saying, “Renewing the mind begins with repentance…‘Re’ means to go back. 3. Bethel Music is a community of worshipers pursuing the presence of God. 6. He already decided to heal.”. Rise to the occasion and preach when it is convenient and when it is not. Many people are shocked when I tell them we don’t sing songs from Bethel because “their songs are the 5 biggest songs in the country!” That’s fine! The Reality of Christian Persecution in the 21st Century, God’s hands are tied but it is our prayer that frees Him, At What Price Awakening? Are you really comfortable abandoning what the Christian Church has taught, confessed and believed since its very beginning? There is nothing that ties Bethel Church to the Word of Faith movement, but since the Internet “discernment watchdog hacks” have been harping on WOF for so long, it is an easy slanderous title to throw onto a church that is targeted. Together, we express who God is and who we are in Him, capturing fresh expressions of worship in every season. Throughout the New Testament, this is proclaimed heavily. Read about it:  Bethel Church Tells Witch that She's "On the Right Path" and "God is So Proud of Her! Please check out A Biblical Guide to the Prosperity Gospel. James warns against the dangers of speaking for God’s will, yet having no control over such matters, “As it is, you boast in your arrogance. Benny Hinn is a showman and a huckster, and he knows what to say in order to retain as large an audience as possible. Bethel Church is an American non-denominational charismatic megachurch in Redding, California with over 11,000 members. But we don’t stop there. It should come as no surprise that the popular 'Passion Conference', led by its Apostolic leader, Louie Giglio, espouses the New Apostolic Reformation's dangerous 'little god' theology (also known as sonship). Check out these Bethel sayings and notice how murky, unbiblical and anti-intellectual the thinking is: 9. This is a very serious charge, and I’m very serious when I make it.”. Although we are Pirates, we respect your privacy and your info will be safe. Bill Johnson didn't have enough sense to know that he was getting scammed by Todd Bentley at The Charismatic Day of Infamy. Listen to these people "preach" and you'll hear lots of talking and stories, but the emphasis is never on the simple and finished Gospel message that Jesus Christ came and gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. In the case of Bethel Redding, they believe they are “to bring the Kingdom of God to every sphere of life.” It is important to note that this is not New Testament theology and it is actually goes against the clear teachings of it. Although he died on Dec. 24, 1965, Branham's followers refused to bury his body since they believed he would rise from the dead. After Todd Bentley abandoned his wife and children, Bill Johnson tried to restore him back to ministry-ignoring the fact that he was utterly disqualified by his despicable, sinful behavior. Senior church leaders have been supporters of conservative politics. Study the Bible and theology. Bethel is at the extreme end of continuationism. Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton and Bethel twist the Bible to make it say what they want it to say. -This article by Steven Kozar; check out his new and improved: The Messed Up Church website! ", 8. Jesus promised spiritual blessing (not material) to those that would follow Him. Examining the Theology and Practice of the Bethel Movement, “Johnson’s pursuit of signs and wonders has led to a deadly elevation of experience over Scripture. (Accessed July 4, 2019. Bill Johnson & Kris Vallotton (and other Bethel pastors) put their own words above the Word of God. Costi is married to Christyne and they have four children. There is no excuse for this, and if you are trying to justify this in your mind right now, you are part of the problem. Sign up with your name and email address to receive eNews and updates. A time when sound biblical doctrine has taken a back seat to a more attractive and appealing, self-focused “gospel” message. Who knows? This wicked desire to seek control of what God alone governs parallels Satan’s failed attempt to usurp God’s throne, as well as Adam and Eve’s failed attempt to “be like God.” Johnson goes so far as to speak falsely for God, saying, “How can God choose not to heal someone when He already purchased their healing…He made a payment for our miracle. Here's something he posted on his Facebook wall just recently: So Bill Johnson openly supports and endorses his friend, the fraud Todd Bentley. Go back to the previous point. Individuals are responsible for the facts and opinions contained in their posts. Theology. This is a complete fabrication and a deliberate twisting of God's Word. Once this belief is established, people feel free to make stuff up and do things that are weird, harmful and unbiblical. Please keep them coming. This "Encounter Gospel" teaches that people cannot believe in God unless we do some supernatural miracle for them, and it eliminates the need for a sinner to repent of their sins. Benny Hinn. He argues that God wants to take us farther and we can only get there by following signs…When Johnson sees the miracles of Jesus in the gospels, he doesn’t see a unique manifestation of divine power; he sees an example for every Christian to aspire to.”. For example, a foundational belief at Bethel is that "we must create a culture that welcomes risk-taking." There are countless false prophets and false churches thriving today, however, we will be focusing our attention on the enormously popular Bethel Church. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). Branham taught that Eve and the serpent had sexual intercourse and Cain was born, and that consequently every woman potentially carried the literal seed of the devil, so he always believed women to be inferior and untrustworthy. In addition to bad theology and unbiblical practices, Bethel Church promotes another Jesus; a complete counterfeit to whom the biblical Jesus truly is. Even today, Bill Johnson supports and promotes the fraud Todd Bentley. Branham believed he was the end-time "Elijah." After all, false teachers and teachings have existed for centuries. Then, as he was lying on the floor reflecting on this, Jesus appeared to him in a vision and took the blame, weeping and asking Dahl to forgive Him for the pain he felt. However, Scripture shows us that in the incarnation, Jesus was both fully God and fully man. I experienced all this at the increasingly famous (and, to some, infamous) Bethel Church, and I did so as an evangelical Christian of Reformed persuasion. Besides the bad theology in much of the music’s lyrics, the bigger problem lies in the music itself. This is no accident. Johnson also positions himself against Jesus, who said in Matthew 12:38-39, when answering the Pharisees who wanted to see a miraculous sign, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Instead of signs and wonders, we should look to the completed work of Christ as He died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead, conquering both death and the grave! One of the gospel messages that Bethel Church preaches is one of prosperity, where followers can declare specific material blessings into their life simply by praying it and believing it. Repent, then means to go back to God’s perspective on reality.”, Again, Kozar corrects this severe interpretive error by stating that, “The word ‘repent’ has nothing to do with penthouses, obviously! To claim that our sinless Savior, the God of the universe, would ask any human for forgiveness is to talk of another Jesus altogether. Johnson is misleading his followers with the false claim that unless one experiences a miracle, then the message presented is not true. He explains that a pastor he respected said something that hurt him and caused him great sorrow. Bethel is, like Hillsong, an international influence, gaining traction for the prosperity/dominion theology that undergirds it through the primary mechanism of music. Articles like this really help people both in and out of this movement. I will be posting these on our facebook (Bethel Church and Christianity)wall and my site www.heraldingtruth.com as well. In the video clip below, Johnson leads the congregation in an offering prayer that sounds nothing like what the Old or New Testament writers ever wrote. If the Bible is only a starting point (because we need to get new and better information) than this is not the historic Christian church. Bethel, led by its charismatic, fifth-generation pastor, Bill Johnson, is also known for its wildly unorthodox behaviors and practices, such as emphasizing “power encounters” (prophecies, healings, and ‘feeling God’s presence’), appearances of “glory clouds”(supposed angel feathers or gold dust floating in the air from the air ducts), practicing “laughing in the spirit” (drunken like laughter attributed to the Holy Spirit), and being “moved by the spirit,” (erratic motions, jumping around in circles and falling to the ground) a display that resembles a scene out of a horror film. This is horrendous Bible twisting from a man who either has no idea what he's doing (and Bill Johnson has no training in the ancient languages that the Bible was written in), or he's so confident that he's hearing new messages from God that he doesn't care. Simply put, this abuse of the Word of God is either the result of austere ignorance or a sinister intent to manipulate the Scriptures for personal gain. I am approached often regarding the ministry of Bethel Church in Redding, California (and subsequently, music that outflows through their musicians Jesus Culture).For weeks, I’ve prayed about how best to respond, not desiring to present a statement out of context, gossip, assault the true body of Christ, nor give any further attention to a ministry that is frighteningly far from biblical truth. 2. Over the last months we have received more than a few questions asking how we are thinking about the use of Bethel songs in our worship services in light of increasing and appropriate concern over Bethel’s theology, practices, leadership, and teachings.. The atmosphere at Bethel is charged with faith and exuberant joy, which manifests in all we do. Costi W. Hinn is a pastor at Redeemer Bible Church in Gilbert, Arizona, and president of For the Gospel. The Awakening Australia event—and its main speaker, Bill Johnson—are increasing the awareness of the controversial church throughout the continent. Many may perceive this viewpoint as judgmental and believe that critics of Bethel Church should “mind their own business.” However, as substantiated by the Bible, the gospel is no small matter to be overlooked. The word desire is made up of the prefix ‘de’ meaning ‘of,’ and sire meaning ‘father.’ Desire is, by nature, of the Father.”, Steven Kozar, a writer for the blog site, Pirate Christian, explains how this interpretation is false, explaining, “The Hebrew word translated into English as desire is ‘mishalah.’ It simply means ‘request’ or ‘petition,’ but Bill Johnson is telling people that ‘God is after their desires’ because de- and -sire means ‘of the father,’ according to him. It is littered with unbiblical truths and extra-biblical claims. There is no question that Bethel Music exists to make money, and to promote their ideology, false signs and wonders, and the so-called ministry of their leaders. Dahl’s message aligns with Johnson’s unbiblical teaching on Jesus. Sounding an alarm about Bethel Church, faithful men are bringing Bethel’s false teaching under the ‘microscope’ of God’s Word. In addition to bad theology and unbiblical practices, Bethel Church promotes another Jesus; a complete counterfeit to whom the biblical Jesus truly is. The opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the views of all contributors. (Maybe that's how he can afford an Aston Martin? The Toronto Blessing was so controversial that the founder of the Vineyard movement, John Wimber, went to the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church and told them they were in serious error. This dangerous teaching is an affront to the divinity of Christ, making this form of “Christianity” so man focused that God surrenders to man. ), Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com. I don’t use the word extreme lightly. Bethel is a community of worshippers in Redding, California. Seriously, that is enough to end the discussion. In a 2010 sermon, Johnson essentially claimed that his view of healing takes preeminence over Scripture when he stated, “I refuse to create a theology that allows for sickness.” The problem with this view is that one of the members of the Johnson family is currently battling cancer (despite the heresy of Bethel Church, we as believers need to be compassionate in this matter and keep her in our prayers). For example, Seth Dahl, a youth pastor at Bethel Church, claims he had a vision in which Jesus asked him for forgiveness. The Hebrew word translated into english as desire is "mishalah." The “apostles’ teaching” mentioned in Acts 2:42 is not necessarily the doctrine of Peter, James, and John, according to Bethel. Bethel Church presents some of the most shocking teachings on Jesus. Examining the Theology and Practice of the Bethel Movement, https://www.critlarge.com/articles/2019/7/19/bethels-false-gospel?fbclid=IwAR31scAFJZdFqv–o6UgDtN6oF0GexWvoSX1zo2zf_r_8MJBFh1c5eu6p1g. Here's an "NBC Dateline" segment on Benny Hinn from 2005: Heidi Baker imparts demons at Bethel (no big deal...), What a Bargain-Bill Johnson's $400 Thumb Drive!! Bethel Church is a charismatic megachurch … All of the "Apostles" of the New Apostolic Reformation gathered together to commission Todd Bentley as the great new leader whose revival meetings (the "Lakeland Revival") were a big deal for a few months of glory in 2008. Why? For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." In the thousands of people I’ve seen healed, I’ve never seen anyone healed from that kind of prayer.”. The original Greek word translated is ‘metanoia’ and it means ‘I repent, change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent,’ according to Strong’s Concordance.”. This is a recipe for utter confusion, and it lays a foundation for people to abandon their Christian faith, which should be based on God's Word. The church has always been strongest when marginalized. Bethel Church, from which Jesus Culture emerged, teaches salvation by grace through faith. Bethel teaches that we must have a subjective and mystical connection to the Holy Spirit that allows us to receive more than the clear meaning of the Word of God, because the Word of God isn't enough. So, Christology is what you believe about Jesus Christ,  Soteriology is what you believe about salvation and Pneumatology is what you believe about the Holy Spirit. Home › Uncategorized › ‘Bethel’s false gospel’ – many well-known pastors and theologians come out against Bethel Church. Thank you for signing up for our Pirate Christian eNews! Podcast. Plainly stated, this is a direct assault on the Body of Christ and this cannot be taken lightly. ‘Pent’ is like the penthouse, the top floor of a building. Johnson takes this heretical theology even further with his article, Is it Always God’s Will to Heal Someone?, saying that regarding prayer, “Pray for people, NOT – ‘if it be thy will’ kind of prayer. Bill Johnson: “I refuse to create a theology that allows for sickness” Apostle Paul: "Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. Go back to the previous point. In the first chapter of the Gospel of John alone, it is revealed that “the Word [Jesus] was God” (John 1:1) and “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). We also see in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians that in Christ “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…”. Bethel Music’s Cory Asbury hit it big with his song about the “the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.” “Reckless Love” reached No. On top of these new doctrines, Bill Johnson & Co. are always degrading the use of reason and elevating a mystical/gnostic approach to knowledge. Here is another article that can help you think more about this: Bethel is part of The New Apostolic Reformation: The New Apostolic Reformation Cornucopia of False Doctrine, Dominionism, Charismania and Deception. Bethel Church is a juggernaut of a megachurch located in Redding, California, known for its catchy chart-topping worship songs (such as “Reckless Love” and “Raise a Hallelujah”) that are played in many churches and on many Christian radio stations worldwide. Besides the fact that she’s a female pastor in a church, her theology alone should be enough to disqualify her as a teacher. In a tweet by Kris Vallotton, Senior Associate Leader of Bethel Church, Johnson claimed that “God is in charge, but he is not in control. There are many links in this article), Bethel Redding Fire Tunnel with Puppets (Bethel Pastor, Seth Dahl, is selling and biting a man on the neck with his $100 puppets, just watch this video because it can't be explained...), Victims of Bill Johnson’s SOZO Ministry speak out (This is another can of worms, and articles...). This is not accidental. However, healing for everyone was never a promise found in Scripture. This puts Johnson in opposition with generations of faithful, Bible-based churches and preachers. Although Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton and other Bethel pastors will claim to be focusing on "nothing but Jesus" the truth is that they don't. That is to say, just because there are sometimes a whole lot of bad things that happen in churches and theology is even used to justify it, that does not mean that the church as an institution or the theology used to justify the bad things is bad and that we shouldn’t have churches or theology. It's our goal for God's love to be manifest in signs, wonders and miracles. This idea adds a great deal of confusion and it conflicts with the Bible's teaching that the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God to convert people. Despite clear biblical teaching, other very well-known false ‘shepherds’ continue to endorse Bill Johnson and his movement, men like Brian Houston and Phil Pringle, recently sharing a platform with this false teacher at Hillsong’s 2019 Conference, as he preached his kenotic Jesus. So each church should and will have a different library of songs. We exist to ignite individual hearts until Heaven meets Earth. The youthful, up-and-coming artists are far too easily absorbed into the Christian music genre, and often given an ample amount of play time. He searches the dictionary, and sometimes apparently his imagination, for ways to insert new ideas that happen to align with his goals, regardless of their truthfulness.” This is why any reliable Bible translation is conducted by a large committee of biblical scholars and translators (specializing in various areas), from multiple denominations, to protect against any unintentional or intentional bias. © Steven Kozar for Pirate Christian Media & Messed Up Church. Is that who we should trust with the future of the Christian faith? 7. I implore believers to pray for anyone under the spell and allure of Bethel Church. Although miracles can and do still happen today, we must surrender to God’s will and accept the times he does not provide healing, knowing and trusting God’s perfect plan is superior and more loving than our ambitious thinking (Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 8:28). Here are nine things you should know about the Johnsons and the Bethel movement. Theology is just a word that means "teaching about God." Moreover, Bethel Church and Bill Johnson have also been accused of preaching a false understanding of God’s sovereignty. Simmons, left unchecked, has created a counterfeit “Bible” that is reminiscent of the heretical New World Translation “Bible” used by the Jehovah’s Witness cult. But if he did them as a man, I am responsible to pursue His lifestyle.”. Bill Johnson has repeatedly said that he wants Bethel to focus on only one thing: "revival." However, this claim goes against the core doctrines found in Scripture. What a Bargain-Bill Johnson's $400 Thumb Drive!! By the way, even that promo for Bentley's "revival" is fraudulent: that's a an old photograph of a Billy Graham meeting in Los Angeles. It simply means "request" or "petition," but Bill Johnson is telling people that "God is after their desires" because de and sire means "of the father," according to him. If you believe that "theology doesn't matter," you're a perfect candidate to fall for this bad theology. The term kenosis refers to the doctrine of Christ’s “self-emptying” in His incarnation.The word comes from the Greek of Philippians 2:7, which says that Jesus “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (ESV). Bill Johnson is a nice, seemingly kind man, but his theology kills. 5. Bethel Redding's Liturgical Prayer to the God of Mammon, The Lord Grabbed Jenn Johnson by the Hair and Sent Her Into Outer Space, Jenn Johnson: "The Lord Has A Reflector Mirror Under His Armpit", Jenn Johnson Got More Cute By Believing What God Said About Her, Kris Vallotton: "Wealth is the Magnetic Attraction to Prosperity", Kris Vallotton: Prosperity Preacher Exchanging Love for Wealth. The church was established in 1952 and is currently led by Bill Johnson. Bethel’s theology is very appealing to the masses as it twists the Word of God and shifts the attention that should be on God, to self. The Department of Biblical and Theological Studies builds on a strong biblical foundation that prepares you to serve and lead capably and knowledgeably. Bill Johnson of Bethel Church has made this self-emptying doctrine of Jesus the very backbone of his teaching and ministry. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9, “Bethel’s theology is very appealing to the masses as it twists the Word of God and shifts the attention that should be on God, to self.”, The time has arrived. Follow Us: Pastor Explains Why After Researching, He No Longer Allows Hillsong, Bethel, or Elevation Music in His Church. 4. The Apostle Paul said "I preach Christ and Him crucified," but the Bethel message is focused on what they're doing and what's going to happen next. To see more comparisons, visit Bible Gateway, where you can view parallel translations of The Passion Translation with the ESV (or any other reliable translation) side by side. “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3), © 2015 Pirate Christian Media, LLC“You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15), Powered by Squarespace  |  Made by MAXimprint, Encyclopedia of NEW Charismatic & Pentecostal Doctrines, 10 Reasons Why You Should RUN AWAY From Bethel Redding, they want the "mantle" of William Branham. Bill Johnson has established new doctrines that are not taught anywhere in Scripture, and these new doctrines have become foundational beliefs that have caused a great deal of confusion. Church Personal Revival, Kingdom Impact. He's an obvious false teacher who is known for his outlandish and luxurious lifestyle, his highly staged "Miracle Crusades," and his Prosperity Preaching (which only makes Benny Hinn prosperous). He also says that God’s hands are tied but it is our prayer that frees Him. One of her most popular songs, Forever, published by Bethel Music (the same outfit that produced Jesus Culture), contains some really aberrant theology. Strong words indeed to warn that there is only one true gospel. Bethel has some major issues to deal with. That verse literally means that God wants to be impacted by what you think and dream. We gather to encounter God's presence, where personal revival starts. Psalm 37:4 tells us: ‘Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.’ Like many pastors, I foolishly taught that if you delighted yourself in the Lord, He would change your desires by telling you what to desire. Remember, as soon as someone starts teaching about God, they are doing theology. He also warned us to build our treasure in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-20). They believe the Bible is merely a good starting point that has useful information about God, but to really know Him you must go further than the Bible-you need to go "off the map.". Please partner with us by clicking one of our friendly yellow buttons. More about local church 2 Timothy 4:3 reads, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”.