Jesus Culture's Dangerous Denial of Christ

Q&A: Bill Johnson & Bethel Church in Redding

The Berean Call

www.thebereancall.org

August 2012

Question: I don’t understand why Bill Johnson and Bethel Church in Redding are not classified as a cult (along with Word-Faith). They deny the deity of Christ, they deny the Scriptures and add to and subtract from them, their schools of ministry are lessons in how to operate in the occult and demonology (I was shocked when a friend told me what techniques they used). They are false teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing. What do you think?

Response:  Bill and Brenda Johnson are the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bethel Church is firmly aligned with the Word-Faith movement and identifies with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), or the Third Wave Movement with its “prophets,” “apostles,” and alleged manifestions. Bill Johnson is called an “apostle” by C. Peter Wagner (See  TBC  5/97, 2/07). His theology has amounted to what some call a “ de facto  denial of the deity of Christ.”

By this, they are referring to Johnson’s teaching that Christ set aside His deity during His earthly sojourn. Johnson has said, “Jesus was (and is) God. Eternally God. That never changed. But He chose to live with self-imposed restriction while living on earth in the flesh—as a man. In doing so, He defeated sin, temptation, the powers of darkness as a man. We inherit His victory—it was for us. He never sinned!” (Bill Johnson, Facebook 3/21/2011).

If Johnson had stopped at this point, his view of Christ would seem to be biblical—but he didn’t.

Consequently, that’s not all that he’s taught or all that his followers have said. Speaking of Jesus, Johnson wrote, “He performed  miracles , wonders ,  and   signs , as a man in right relationship to God…not as God. If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us” (Johnson,  When Heaven Invades Earth , p. 29). That’s human reasoning, and by implication opens the way for a deification of man.

Johnson’s view of our Lord’s “emptying Himself,” of which the literal meaning is “humbled himself” (Philippians 2:7), aligns very well with the Latter Rain/Word-Faith “little gods” teaching of Kenneth Copeland and others. Johnson has gone on to say,  “God gave every believer the power to heal as Jesus did”  (Johnson, “You’ve Got the Power,”  Charisma Online , March 2012). In line with Word-Faith teaching, Johnson and his followers speak of these presumed abilities in a way that sounds very much like mind science and departs from Scripture.

Though differing from Jehovah’s Witnesses, who deny the deity of Jesus, Johnson’s view of Christ is confusing at best, and he endangers his followers by leading them away from the security of the Word.

Johnson writes, “Those who feel safe because of their intellectual grasp of Scriptures enjoy a false sense of security. None of us has a full grasp of Scripture, but we all have the Holy Spirit. He is our common denominator who will always lead us into truth. But to follow Him, we must be willing to follow off the map—to go beyond what we know” (Johnson,  When Heaven,  p. 76).

In conclusion, Johnson is advocating extrabiblical revelation. Going “off the map” is forsaking the safety and sufficiency of Scripture.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua:1:8)

The human tendency is to focus on experience, which then can lead to a number of problems. The charismatic movement is full of examples of people who did not “prove all things” (1 Thessalonians:5:21), and it eventually led to pride, an attitude of superiority, imitating and covetousness by followers, and ministries full of error and imbalance. The works of God are indeed splendid  and hand tailored , but how we handle them must glorify Him and Him alone. Source

Many are Being Deceived || Jesus Culture, Bethel Church, Word-Faith

In Matthew 7:22, Jesus says that “MANY will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord, Was it not in Your name that we prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many wonderful works? Then I will say to them, I never knew you. Depart from Me, workers of iniquity." 

Jesus singles out their marks as to who these MANY people are:

1)  they will/or have prophesied (taught the Bible; preached sermons) in His name

2)  drove out many demons in His name

3)  have done many wonderful works in His name

Also, something similar in Matthew 24:5:  "For MANY shall be coming in My name, saying, I am the Christ and shall be deceiving MANY."

So again, who are the "MANY" today who preach sermons about Jesus; teach about Him in the Bible; rule over His people, all done of course, through and in His name?  Who are the ones who are sending away devils in His name?  Who are the ones who do MANY wonderful works in the name of Jesus Christ?  According to Jesus, just who are these MANY deceivers, as well as the MANY deceived?

Is it the Muslims?  Maybe the Jews?  How about the Chinese or Russians?  What about the Atheists?  

Do any of these people evangelize, preach, teach, drive out devils, and do many wonderful works in the name of Jesus Christ?

If not, then who are the MANY who do?  How about today’s local institutional church that we find on every street corner!  How about the millions and millions of professing Christians in the world today who belong to these churches and who teach and preach in His name, put forth devils and demons in His name, and doMANY wonderful works in His name!

These are the “MANY” that Jesus is warning us about.  But, is anyone listening?  

These are the people to watch out for; to be on guard against.  These are the people who are guilty of being“workers of iniquity.”

It’s the same issue when Jesus said in Matthew 24, “For MANY shall be coming in My name, saying, I am the Christ and shall be deceiving MANY."

MANY Christians today teach and preach that Jesus is in fact, the Christ.  They even proudly proclaim to be His mouthpiece and representative!  It is not only those who preach sermons and teach the Bible, who drive out devils, who do MANY wonderful works in His name who are deceiving and being deceived but also the MANY who teach in His Name, claiming to be authorized by Him, that Jesus is actually the Christ, the Son of God!  

Jesus said that it is THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEIVING THE MANY!

Now, dear reader, the Truth is at stake here, and perhaps for some of you, your life is at stake too.  What Jesus is saying here is either the Truth or He is full of hot air!  If you think it is the latter and you refuse to hear and receive His words, you might as well leave this site and find another that is more to your liking.  I can't be of any help to you.

Has Truth become so enfeebled that it fears honest and open examination?  Sadly, this is exactly the case.  If the millions upon millions of professing Christians attending their church services week after week are totally ambivalent to what’s going on, or worse; refuse to search for the Truth themselves, isn’t that an open exhibition to the truth of Jesus’ words?  How readily people are being deceived, swallowing poisonous false teachings and practices without question. 

Yet, many Christians convince themselves that this nicely ordered religious routine equals "spirituality" and now, this makes them feel righteous before God.  In this state, they are easily pacified, distracted from biblical reality, controlled by their leaders and easily manipulated by deceptive teachings. 

Today, those calling themselves “Christians” hardly know true men of God from deceivers coming in the Name of Jesus Christ.  This is because many of them do not have the Spirit of God to discern.  They are lost and without a shepherd.  They remain mere followers of men and will always be so, unless the Lord Himself intervenes on their behalf.  If you were to read “The Christian Church: Distorted and Deformed" and/or “Obey Them,” you would find far more than enough sure evidence that this is precisely the case.

But yet, the burning question must be asked again:  Is anyone listening?  

Jesus said that it is THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEIVING THE MANY!

Isn’t it absolutely amazing how many times we have heard or read these words of Jesus and rarely no one ever looks in the mirror at themselves, but always applies these verses of the “MANY” to other people outside of their particular group.  So many times they will hear, “….MANY shall say unto Me in that day…AND DECEIVE THE MANY….,” and yet they do not hear, see, or really believe what is said.  Perhaps there might have been a time where someone actually got serious and started to ask some questions, but when they were rebuked, or ridiculed for asking questions that caused division, they learned not to question anymore.  They learned to go along with the crowd. 

Brethren, this is NOT how it should be.  Each Christian has a command from God to "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15.  How many Christians who say that “the New Testament is a sufficient guide for our faith and practice”have ever really studied it? 

The problem with many Christians in our day is that they read their Bible, not expecting to be taught of God from it, but will get their teaching from their pastors, preachers, and commentaries, and then go to the Bible only expecting to find proof for what they have already been taught!  Can't we see how dangerous this is?

Every Christian needs to ask themselves if they know for sure why they believe what they profess to believe, and to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Peter 3:15

The fact that so many in our day carelessly and mindlessly accept a teaching or practice just because it comes from “my church” or “my pastor” is very troubling in light of the apostle Paul's words: 

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.  

Acts 20:29-31

The Spirit says clearly that some people will abandon the faith in later times; giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of devils.  1 Timothy 4:1

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Joel Osteen - Demonic False Teacher (Washer, MacArthur, Piper)

Jesus Culture One-Night: A Call for Discernment

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 

For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 

But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. ...

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 

~ 1 Corinthians 11: 3-5; 13-15

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Can there be counterfeit gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation in the Church today? Gifts of healing and prophesy and even counterfeit tongues? (False tongues, a counterfeit of real tongues). 

In Acts 16:16 we see a counterfeit gift of prophesy – a spirit of divination (fortune-telling). This is the same practice promoted at the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, and at the Jesus Culture "Power Evangelism" workshops at their conferences.

Amazingly, according to participants, this workshop does not teach participants how to preach the gospel, but focuses on fortune-telling and mind-reading, rather than the gospel, which is "the power of God unto salvation."(Rom. 1:16)  Men are not saved through the demonstration of occultic powers. They are saved through faith. Paul asks in Romans 10:14:  

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?  

Many of the elect now worship a different jesus, not our Jesus. They drive out demons and perform many miracles and healings in the name of this different jesus. Our Lord warned directly about this in Matthew 7.

According to Bill Johnson, who claims to be an "apostle" from Jesus Culture's Bethel Church, this jesus they believe in was a mere man, "smeared" by the Holy Spirit who performed miracles not as God, but "as a man in right relationship to God." After after taking on our sins, he needed to be born again. Is this your Jesus? 

This is the jesus they refer to when preaching 'in Jesus name' or 'Jesus is Lord' or when performing the most beautiful worship songs - it is their jesus, a different jesus – not our Jesus!

How does this false spirit, this “fire” or “outpouring” spread? By the laying on of hands! “Fire Tunnels” “Catching the Fire” “catching the glory” “ the anointing”......

A recurring theme that we see here is that a certain Pastor went somewhere to catch this “fire” or someone brought this “fire” to their Church. Is this "fire" true or false - of God or of another spirit?

As born-again spirit-filled Christians, we don't have to go anywhere to catch anything, because we have the Spirit of the living God in us already!  
                                       
                                              ~~~
This Scripture-based study is intended to equip believers to discern through God's Word whether the jesus of Jesus Culture is "another Christ"                  

(Read full article here)

Why I Left Bethel Church - Ryan

Why I left Bethel Church

Bill Johnson, IHOP, & Ancient Heresy Reborn

Bill Johnson, IHOP, & Ancient Heresy Reborn

This discussion is based on an article tha that Bob Dewaay wrote for Critical Issues Commentary that he hasn’t yet published entitled “An Invasion of Error: A Review of Bill Johnson – When Heaven Invades Earth“. Johnson is closely associated with IHOP in Kansus City. Much of what Johnson teaches is also promoted by IHOP.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:32 — 27.3MB)

An Outline of the Discussion

• Much of what was discussed revolves around a book by Bill Johnson, a pastor in Redding, California, called “When Heaven Invades Earth.” The book details formulas for performing miracles. Bob contends that once a miracle becomes the outcome of a prescribed formula, it is no longer a miracle, but a natural phenomenon.
• Jesus as portrayed as a person that could only do miracles in His Earthly ministry because He learned all of the proper formulas.
• A heretical view of Jesus is taught that says that He laid aside His divinity while on Earth. This is heretical because divinity, by definition, is not a quality that can be laid aside. If ever there was a time that Jesus was not divine, He never was divine to begin with, nor ever will be.
• Bill Johnson professes a teaching that is shared with IHOP (International House of Prayer) of an “Elijah Generation”, or an elite group of Christians that shows up at the end of the age, is greater than any other group of Christians in history, and do greater miracles than Jesus. Such teaching has its roots in the long-discredited Latter Rain movement that began in the 1940s.
• The ancient heresy of Kenosis is taught. Kenosis doctrine is based on a misinterpretation of Philippians 2, and teaches that Jesus “emptied Himself of diety”, and was merely a man during His Earthly ministry.
  • Deity cannot be gained, lost, laid down, or set aside. It either is or it isn’t.
  • Deity is defined as: non-contingent eternal existence.
• Johnson, et. al. operate under an anti-scholastic bias that downplays the importance of scripture in favor of spiritual experience. He states “The letter kills, but the spirit gives life”.
• The promotion of spiritual experience and special knowledge not found in scripture is a form of gnosticism, a heresy that dates back to the days of the Apostle Paul.
• The letter kills in that the letter is the law, and the law kills in that it points to Christ, but it is Christ that saves, not the law. The law is a schoolmaster as Paul says in Galatians 3:24
• Paul warned about gnosticism in his Corinthian letters, Colossians, and elsewhere.
• Gnosis is the Greek word for knowledge, and gnosticism refers to a special knowledge, not found in scriptures, nor available to all Christians.
• Gnosticism leads to a strange form of panentheistic worldview.
• Bob likes to say that “There are no extraordinary Christians, but being an ordinary Christian is an extraordinary thing.”
• The teaching that there are “elite” Christians parallels the Catholic teaching of super-irrigation, or works that go above an beyond that which is required by ordinary Christians.


• “Those who feel safe because of their intellectual grasp of Scriptures enjoy a false sense of security. None of us has a full grasp of Scripture, but we all have the Holy Spirit. He is our common denominator who will always lead us into truth. But to follow Him, we must be willing to follow off the map—to go beyond what we know.” (Johnson: 76)
• Docetism is a heresy that says that Christ only seemed to have a body.
• People who follow false teaching, especially of the sort that Bill Johnson teaches, often decry the “cognitive” as antithetical to “walking in the spirit”. However, they don’t realize that they make their own decisions and form their own beliefs based on a “cognitive” understanding of the world that they like. They merely use a different “cognitive” standard than that of Bible-believing Christians. Gnosticism uses a subjective cognitive standard, as opposed to the objective standard of the Scriptures.
• Johnson claims that reaction to error often leads to more error. This stands in contrast to much of the New Testament in which Paul, and other New Testament writers, wrote epistles meant to correct error (Galatians, Colossians, Hebrews, etc.)
• We don’t question a false teacher’s motives or sincerity, we question their doctrine in light of Scripture.
• Elitism is a heretical view that some Christians are more spiritual than others, and somehow better Christians.
• Pietism is a reaction to “dead orthodoxy,” and has a heavy emphasis on experience.
• Fideism teaches faith for the sake of faith. It de-emphasizes the object of faith and replaces it with faith itself.
• Panentheism is often mistakenly adopted by Christians who misunderstand omnipresence. It teaches that God is in everything (as opposed to Pantheism that teaches that God is everything and everything is God.)
• The Emergent Church movement is largely panentheistic, and they don’t necessarily deny it.
• Bill Johnson’s similarities to IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City include:
  • Common roots in Latter Rain theology
  • Both target young people
  • Elitism – The “Elijah Generation”
  • Manifested Sons of God
  • Bridal paradigm. A sensual relationship between Christ and believers.
  • “Deeper Life.” A gnostic idea that there is a secret that will lead you to a deeper life with Christ.
• Bill Johnson’s connection to IHOP appears to be informal, though he has spoken at many conferences held by IHOP.

Scripture References

• Hebrews 10:7
• John 5:39
• 2 Corinthians 3:6
• John 5:46
• Galatians 3:24
• Acts 17:11
• 1 John 4:1-5

Jesus Culture Theology - Christ not God - Heresy

Bill Johnson’s Christology Explained

In essence, Bill Johnson, Senior Pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA, a recognized “apostle” by some, teaches that at conception, or at least prior to the Virgin Birth, Jesus divested Himself of all His divine attributes thereby living a sinless earthly existence by being totally reliant upon the Holy Spirit while receiving the power to do miracles at His baptism.  

This divine self-emptying is known as the kenosis doctrine as discussed here.  The quotes used in this section are taken from six different books by Bill Johnson (and one sermon) to illustrate that this teaching undergirds his entire theology. 

Jesus did everything as a man, laying aside His divinity in order to become a model for us.⁸           

…Jesus did everything in His earthly ministry as a man who had set aside all His divine privileges and power in order to model the Christian life for us.⁹ 

..Jesus set aside His divinity, choosing instead to live as a man completely dependent on God.¹⁰ 

…He laid his [sic] divinity aside as He sought to fulfill the assignment given to Him by the Father: to live life as a man without sin…¹¹ 

The above quotes can be construed such that Jesus retained all His divine attributes yet chose not to exercise them; however, the following illustrates that He no longer had inherent deity:¹² 

Jesus Christ said of Himself, ‘The Son can do nothing.’…He had NO supernatural capabilities whatsoever!…He performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship to God…not as God.¹³ 

…Jesus had no ability to heal the sick.  He couldn’t cast out devils, and He had no ability to raise the dead.  He said of Himself in John 5:19, ‘the Son can do nothing of Himself.’  He had set aside His divinity.  He did miracles as man in right relationship with God because He was setting forth a model for us, something for us to follow….Jesus so emptied Himself that He was incapable of doing what was required of Him by the Father – without the Father’s help…¹⁴ 

Given that deity is by very definition supernatural, Johnson has, in effect, reduced Jesus to less than God.  

With Johnson’s claim that Jesus had no inherent ability to perform miracles in and of Himself, it is clear that Johnson means Jesus no longer had his divine attributes to utilize even if He so desired.  He “had NO supernatural capabilities”; He was totally and completely a man but “in right relationship to God” by the Holy Spirit

...Read FULL ARTICLE here

Bethel's Johnson Embraces Occult Errors & Abominations

It is endemic to the River branch of Christianity today to not be critical of aberrant teachers, but rather to embrace them. At the very top of the list of aberrant teachers (perhaps heretical) is John Crowder, the man who promotes among other things "toking the Holy Ghost." Crowder also embraces a strange form of necromancy that runs rampant in the "river."

As an example of that unabashed acceptance, here is a recent facebook exchange between David Williams and Bill Johnson:

Williams: So I presume that you and Beni have no issues with the teachings and actions of these (Crowder and Dunn) ministries?

Johnson: We are friends. For us agreement isn't a prerequisite for any friendship. We love them and honor them. Great people.

This is not unlike Johnson's response when he came to the defense of the indefensable Todd Bentley during the Lakeland fiasco.

"Have you spent time with Todd? Do you know him? Have you watched him with his wife? Or have you seen how he treats his kids?...I didn't think so. I have. And I'll continue to support those who I have walked with in life and ministry. He's my friend." -Bill Johnson

So, we can understand that Johnson places a high value on friendship, perhaps higher than putting biblical principals into action. He certainly does not know how to deal with leaven.

In another facebook exchange Dan Carlton asks Bill Johnson about Dunn and Crowder:

Carlton: Why would you entertain two crazy nutters like Ben Dunn and John Crowder?

Johnson: I'll stand with the accused anyday before I'll stand with their accusers.

Sounds like boasting, no? Let's see how the Word of God addresses this:

"Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough?" -1 Corinthians 5:6

You talk about a prophetic word to the church today! Yeah, I'll put a "thus saith the Lord" in front of that scripture. It's found in His Word. He said it.

Bill Johnson has voiced his acceptance of John Crowder. What does Crowder teach? How is that leaven spreading throught Johnson's Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM)?

Crowder, kneeling at the grave of Alexander Dowie and speaking to the camera says:

"And we've just come to the grave today to release to you an impartation of healing revival, of city building, restoration city-taking anointing, master-building apostolic anointing, and so we just rip it right out of the ground, we just suck it right off his dead bones, in Jesus name, and loose it to you., a healing-revival-glory-master-building-apostolic anointing glory..."

Other have commented on this, bringing up the shortcomings of Alexander Dowie. Quite frankly, this would be just as wrong if it were the grave of the Apostle Paul. There is no biblical basis for this practice and it leads people into error.

So just how do these "great people," Dunn and Crowder, impact the students at BSSM?

BSSM Students on ministry trip "soaken up the glory" at Maria B Woodworth-Etter's grave.

2nd Year BSSM students "sucking up the anointing" at the grave of Evan Roberts.

"So today I got impartation from Maria Woodward Etters
grand-daughter and soaked at the grave site..."

Bill Johnson could put a stop to this immediately if he wanted to. And yet he does not. Instead, he has launched an initiative to build "a library/museum called The House of Generals. It will be a place where people can come to see artifacts from past revivals..."

Yes, you too can suck the anointing right off of Kathryn Kuhlman's wedding dress!

Is this ancestor worship? Necromancy? A doctrine of mantle reincarnation? Has Bill Johnson crossed the line from abberancy into heresy?

Johnson can dismiss me as an accuser. I'm simply presenting the evidence. Again, Johnson can put a stop to this now. Or he can enlighten the church now with a credible, biblical explanation of the doctrine of "sucking the anointing off of gravesites."  I'm familiar enough with the story of Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21) to know that this is NOT what that was talking about. And if that WAS meant to be instructive, I say to the Johnsonites- "Here's a shovel, now go find a dead man." And report back to the class.

Read FULL ARTICLE HERE

 

History of the Jesus Culture Deception

 

Note: This book was published in 1995, before Bethel came to the forefront of the Word Faith movement.  

It is all the more remarkable how:

a) true its insights and warnings thoroughly chronicle the roots of the false teaching and practices of the Jesus Culture Conferences;
b) stern the warning is to those who are under this deception because:
c) this deception may, as the author argues, be a judgment upon them from God Himself.

The scriptures repeatedly warn of a huge departure from the faith which was once and for all delivered unto us by the apostles. They speak of a day when men would be swept away from faith in God by

a tremendous delusion. Even more amazing, is the fact that the source of that delusion would be God Himself, as a judgment on those who wouldn’t “receive the love of the truth.” The time has now come for those of us who have considered ourselves to be “spirit filled” and “full Gospel” and in some cases, even “cutting edge” Christians, to begin to take these warnings seriously.

Who do we think we are, anyway? Are we above deception? Are the biblical warnings of the delusion only applicable to those in obvious cults, like Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, or are

they for the elect?

Why I Write

The current “renewal” or “revival” that is being promoted by people like Rodney Howard Browne, the Toronto Airport Vineyard, and others, actually has the potential of taking people’s eyes off of the God of the Bible and turning them to sensual manifestations and mystical experiences. Unless some leadership is offered and discernment is applied, I predict that many of God’s people will be hurt,

disillusioned and even made shipwreck of their faith, as a result of this “Mystical Revival.” And to make matters even worse, all too many shepherds and leaders do not know whether to join, oppose, or ignore the growing movement. This lack of confident principled leadership has thrown God’s flocks into much consternation.

Many high profile ministries have endorsed this move. Unfortunately, peer pressure will sweep in many of the undecided. This book is written to challenge some of the prevailing notions, and to offer a different perspective to the public discussion. It is our desire to stimulate afresh, the vigorous Berean spirit (Acts 17) in the family of God.

Roots of the Renewal

This sensual revival has not just suddenly appeared out of the blue, however. Nor have these occurrences spontaneously burst out within the past year, as some would suggest. The idea that many have, is that it is like Pentecost which, suddenly, came with a rushing mighty wind. In the same way, people are being empowered by this intoxicating spirit. Rather, I would like to demonstrate for you

that people have been preconditioned for this “move” for at least 40 years now, whether those involved realize it or not.

The true roots of this revival go back to the now discredited New Order of the Latter Rain and Manifested Sons of God movement of the late 1940s and 1950s. Though the Assemblies of God denounced these movements as heretical then, they seem to have had a resiliency. The ideas that they have spawned have continually cropped up over the years, perhaps with different emphases or diverse names for concepts, but holding virtually the same erroneous premises.

Read Full Book Here.

Bethel’s Jesus Culture Awakening - Review from Personal Testimony

Posted on August 3, 2011 by mkayla

Jesus Culture Awakening – Bethel (from Inerrant Word)

Well, there is an event starting today called the Jesus Culture Awakening in Chicago. Jesus Culture are essentially the worship band from Bill Johnson’s Bethel church. This is a dangerous group to be associated with and to be caught up in – I know!

I have had personal experience with the effect of Jesus Culture and Bethel when my wife was caught up in their music and teaching. You can find her testimony (4 parts) of how she got out from under their influence here, here, here, and here.

There is something insidious about Bethel and its associates. Often they appear at face value, to say Christian things and they even appear convincing (though there are some so ludicrous that it is a wonder anyone buys into them). But, for me, I was often left with a very ill feeling in my gut. Then when you start hearing some of the quotes from people like Bill Johnson who say that if we preach a message which allows for sickness, we preach another gospel (in reference to Galatians 1:8). There are plenty of youtube videos which show this.
For the message of Bethel is this: health and wealth, sign and wonders are what God does for you. You should be seeking after these things and if they are not abounding in your life, then something is desperately wrong! They will deny it of course: “we never say such a thing!” Not outright but it permeates their sermons, and messages. It is clear, unless you are experience all manner of odd things and signs and wonders etc, then you are in trouble.

Their ministry has such things as “healing rooms”, soaking, etc. You can read some very interesting reviews of these here.

I know that my wife turned from being a joyful, contented mother and wife into an aggressive, belligerent, and antagonistic woman. I have had people say, “oh, she must have just got carried away” or the like. The fact is, she was not alone. I know several other people personally who got caught up with this sort of thing. They acted and changed in the same way. The fruit of the Spirit goes out the door. Jesus and the Word being the sufficient and satisfying saviour and focus has gone too. Instead this obsession with miracles, angle feathers, gold dust etc replaces it. There is no contentment – only a desire for greater and more fantastic “miracles”. A desire which becomes absolutely consuming.

Now some of the people whom they associate with are very dangerous. People like Todd Bentley, John Crowder, Joshua Mills etc. If you have not heard, Todd Bentley has been involved in a crazy, signs and wonders revival in Lakeland in the recent past. During which it turned out he had an inappropriate relationship with one of his staff (while he was married) and then he ended up divorcing quickly and marrying this girl. I believe there were other issues he suffered with at the same time. While this was happening (and before it was publicly known), Bill Johnson and other extreme Pentecostal heavyweights laid hands on him in service and proclaimed God’s anointing on him and how he was doing great things for the Lord and would outshine Moses etc. Well, if they were speaking for God (which clearly they were not for they are false prophets) surely He would have warned them to provide Todd help in the very least? But no, it appears they use God as a means to gain.

John Crowder is as weird as they come. He refers to himself as a “new mystic”. The only word I can use to give him justice is blaspheming heretic. I have seen him do things which would make your hair stand on end! Things like sucking the anointing from people in graves like a vacuum, smoking “holy ghost” drugs (toking the ghost he calls it), falling around like a drunkard (calling it the drunken glory of the lord). He speaks heretical trash and the most shocking thing is not necessarily the things he says and does (for we have always had nutcases around) it is the fact that so many people follow him and show themselves to be undiscerning, ignorant, and deceived. One day, he will give an account to the Lord and it will not be pretty! You can look up multitudes of videos on you tube which show off the show that is John Crowder. Here are some interesting reviews of this man, his ministry, and his behaviour (there are many more if you type his name into Google): Apologetics Index, Slaughter of the Sheep, and Apprising Ministries.

So these are the people that Bill Johnson relate with and associate with. Dangerous people who would lead the flock astray and bring them to calamity.


But some great sites which have a lot of information about Bill Johnson, his associates and their teachings are Heralding Truth, M’Kayla’s Korner, Closing Stages, Apprising and Crosswise. There are multitudes of articles, reviews, comments, and testimonies.

All I can say, is be careful of this ministry and his teachings. Make sure that you test the spirits (1John 4:1) and do not let anyone tell you to let go of your mind etc. God created us a rational, thinking, creatures whom he commanded to worship in spirit and TRUTH (John 4:23). He tells us many times to test what we hear (Acts 17:11, Rev 2:2) to know if it is truth or heresy. My wife’s testimony provides some links in there to a post on a blog which helped her incredibly when she realised what was happening to her. I pray that you also will benefit from this.

The best thing I can encourage surrounding this event is that even if you are curious or you have friends of family going, run! Do not go. I beg you to avoid this event at all costs for it is dangerous. I am not someone who has taken these people out of context – their ministry, life and teaching is out of context. You can find multitudes of material on them and what they teach in proper context in their books, sermons etc which are easily accessible. The mounting evidence of their false teaching is damning.

I pray God gives you wisdom and discernment and if you are caught up in this stuff, I pray He would open your eyes and draw your heart back to Him!

Jesus Culture Awakening || Signs and Wonders Discernment, Part 1

(the following is excerpted from John MacArthur's Charismatic Chaos, pp. 106--19)

A miracle is an event in nature, so extraordinary in itself and so coinciding with the prophecy or command of a religious teacher or leader, as fully to warrant the conviction, on the part of those who witness it, that God has wrought it with the design of certifying that this teacher or leader has been commissioned by Him. (Augustus Strong, Systematic Theology, p.,118)

...I believe that all the healings, miracles, signs, an wonders attributed to Jesus in the four gospels happened precisely as the evangelists describe them. I also believe the apostles literally performed all the miracles Scripture indicates.

I also believe that God is always operating on a supernatural level. He intervenes supernaturally in nature and in human affairs even today. I believe all things are possible with God (Matt. 19:26). His power has not diminished in the least since the days of the early church. Certainly salvation is always a supernatural act of God.

...I do not believe, however, that God uses men and women as human agents to work miracles in the same way he used Moses, Elijah or Jesus. I am convinced that the miracles, signs, and wonders being claimed today in the charismatic movement have nothing in common with apostolic miracles. And I am persuaded by both Scripture and history that nothing like the New Testament gift of miracles is operating today.

The truth is, those who claim miracles today are not able to substantiate their claims. Unlike the miracles of the New Testament...the types of miracles claimed, too are nothing like New Testament miracles. Jesus and the apostles instantly and completely healed people born blind, a paralytic, a man with a withered arm—all obvious, indisputable miracles. Even Jesus' enemies did not challenge the reality of His miracles! Moreover, New Testament miracles were immediate, thorough, and permanent. Our Lord and His disciples never did a miracle slowly or incompletely.

When Has God Used Miracles—and Why?

Most biblical miracles happened in three relatively brief periods of Bible history: in the days of Moses and Joshua, during the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, and in the time of Christ and the apostles. [A fourth period of miracles yet to come is described in the book of Revelation]. None of these periods lasted more than a hundred years. Each of them saw a proliferation of miracles unheard of in other eras. Even during those three time periods, however, miracles were not exactly the order of the day. The miracles that happened involved men who were extraordinary messengers from God—Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and the apostles.

Aside from these three intervals, the only supernatural events recorded in Scripture were isolated incidents. …

The reality is that though there were three eras of miracles, the first two were not like the third. The age of Christ and the apostles was unique. Nothing in all redemptive history even came close to it in the massive volume of miracles that occurred....When the New Covenant truth came and the New Testament Scripture with it all at once in one brief half century, God unleashed authenticating signs as never before. There had never been a time like it and there is no reason to assume there will be again.

All three periods of miracles were times when God gave His written revelation—Scripture--in substantial quantities. Those doing the miracles were essentially the ones heralding an era of revelation.

...Through miracles God repeatedly authenticated the messengers of His new revelation—in the time of Moses and Joshua, in the time of Elijah and Elisha, and in the New Testament times of Jesus and the apostles.

When the Old and New Testaments were complete, God's revelation was finished. (cf. Heb. 1:1-2). Through many signs, wonders, and miracles, God authenticated His Book. Is there an ongoing need for miracles to substantiate God's revelation? Can anyone with faith “claim” a miracle, as some teach? Does God do miracles on demand? And do the phenomena being hailed today as signs, wonders, and healings bear any resemblance to the miracles performed by Christ and the apostles?

The answer to all those questions is no. Nothing in Scripture indicates that the miracles of the apostolic age were meant to be continous in subsequent ages. Nor does the Bible exhort believers to seek any miraculous manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In all the New Testament epistles, there are only five commands related to the believer and the Holy Spirit:

“Walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25)

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph. 4:30)

“Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18)

“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thess. 5:19)

“[Pray] in the Spirit” (Jude 20)

There is no command in the New Testament to seek miracles.