Several short years ago I wouldn’t have had any concerns about Bethel or Bill Johnson or his head honchos at all. I’d never been to Redding, I’d never really been directly influenced by them but, somehow, I’d still have struggled to believe that they were a viper’s pit of demonic/New Age activity and deception.
About a year ago I did a quick, 30 min vlog responding to Bethel’s attempt to defend their theology. I’d evidently only dealt with the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
Please now see the most recent video in which I briefly allude to three ‘case studies’ that demonstrate the profound lack of discernment and biblical literacy from senior church leaders here in the U.K.
It is time for public repentance because “when the LORD would heal His people, He reveals iniquity” (my paraphrase of Hosea 7:1 cf. Ephesians 5:11).
I also strongly urge you to watch Mike Winger’s January 2023 work on these latest revelations here.
A year later, (Jan 2023), Mike Winger has kindly done the more substantial leg-work to expose the fuller extent of extraneous spiritual activity that is essentially nothing other than New Age occultism with Jesus’ precious Name slapped on top.
Many have been deceived and are being deceived.
Over the course of the last decade, Mairi and I have actually sat privately with senior pastors who have held Bill Johnson high and aloft as ‘the’ man to listen to and follow and read. We have sat within local churches in Edinburgh who promote “Bethel students” whose indoctrination by the hands of Johnson and Bethel have been endorsed and encouraged. We have even led gatherings with people who lap all this demonic mysticism up (while ourselves not knowing the full extent of the tentacle-reach of the Satanic influence at the time).
In all instances, our paths have since separated because I had the courage to call out the unbiblical teaching and, in some instances, spiritually abusive behaviour.
This is nothing other than the profound work of Satan and if you have been in agreement with Bethel/Johnson— directly or indirectly — you must flee and you must repent.
May God have mercy.
I strongly urge you to watch Mike Winger’s January 2023 work on these latest revelations here.
Finally, against any lazy accusation of “anger” and for those who truly have ears to hear, please read this devotional from T. A. Sparks.
firebrandnotes.com 
In 2010, I wrote an article titled ‘When Bethel Invades Your Curch’.
It’s appallingly bad.
look, man, i’m astutely against bethel, too but you can’t combat them for fearmongering when this article is doing essentially the exact same thing. you wanna convince people? you wanna encourage them to leave bethel behind? try being a little welcoming. leaving a place like that is hard enough—they get their hooks into you. what you’re doing, the tone you’ve taken? “leave and repent” “may god have mercy””? i wouldn’t exactly run your direction either. check yourself before you prepare to speak with authority on other dangerous religious organizations.
Your being, “astutely against bethel” and claiming that this blog is, “exactly the same thing”, (especially when what you’re offended by is diagonally opposed in doctrinal terms), doesn’t mean anything! You are simply perpetuating the age-old trope of, “it’s not what you say it’s how you say it”. Check your own plumb-line for what actually constitutes Christ-likeness in the seriousness of the given context before rejecting a word of warning that certainly does potentially include repentance and God giving mercy.
I have mixed feelings about these critisms. Any of us can pick apart many churches and denominations based on them emphasing certain areas and not stressing other important areas. I have heard so many anti-Joel Oelsteen for similar accusations. Most people have never even listened to a single sermon of his, but feel led to criticize him to the whole church.
Christianity is the only religion that eats its own. We are very good at criticizing others not from our brand. JN. 17 Jesus prayed with his Father that ‘they may be one as we are one’. Very few people rejoice with the areas we are in agreement. We like to highlight our differences.
If you remember New Testament advise by both Jesus as well as one key wise church leader, who in essence said ‘leave them to God to straighten out. If their message is from God, who can hold it back? And if it is not from God, it will fall apart on its own’. To me it is okay to review such doctrinal concerns, but personally I would be slow to tear it down and throw the baby out with the bathwater. Most people who have been positively affected by Bethels worship well known songs, they only are finding themselves greatly blessed by the worship. Why do we need to suck the life out of their joy and peace which they find agrees with their spirits. Its like finally finding a nice peace of steak you enjoy, and a vegitarian comes along and critizes you as you take your first and subsequant bites after that. Do we really need to intervene? Are we doing God a favor? I don’t think so. At least affirm the things they are doing excellently. It is so easy to tear down, and not as easy to encourage. Just my humble opinion
Your opinion is neither humble or respectable let alone intelligible:
1) If your claim, (that anyone could “pick apart” doctrinal/theological error and deception), was true, there would be a glut of quality conversations in churches helping many people (including leaders) to see the seriousness of false Bible teaching and doctrine. But, proven by the innumerable examples of “churches” that teach and promote false/contradictory doctrine, that isn’t the case at all. You are grossly underestimating the seriousness of doctrinal error as well as the biblical command to disssociate oneself from, (and even work hard to expose the awfulness of), the darkness of sin.
2) The exposure of error is not merely a criticism; one might issue criticism of something/someone that isn’t necessarily in error; but, again, you’re minimising the consequences of false teaching which the prophets, Jesus and the apostles spoke of in the most serious of terms.
3) Seeing as you mentioned him, Joel Osteen and others who preach the “prosperity gospel” are preaching profound error, deceiving tens of thousands of people and therefore are, knowingly or unknowingly, wolves in sheep’s clothing. You’re perfectly at ease with that. If, for the sake of identification, you do not draw a line on a false gospel, (which is an issue of salvation for many), where do you actually draw the line? (See Galatians 1:8). Would you say that you are able to personally define the gospel in terms of what the Bible actually says? I have never commented publicly on Joel (and, yes, I have listened to him speak), but I’d encourage you to listen to Mike Winger’s considered pieces on both his teaching and the conduct of his church.
4) You’re entitled to your opinion, humble or otherwise, but what you’ve written is misguided and reflective of so many so-called Christians who themselves fail to recognise the seriousness of false teachers and their teaching. You want to reduce the call to “renounce all for Christ” (Luke 14:33) to a muddy soup of “subjective perspective” or “private emphasis”, expecting everyone to opt for their preference and just hope for the best. What a very poor religion indeed! This neither faces the problem (just let Jesus sort it when He comes back!) nor truly honours the glory (before He does). Relativism like this has resulted in the idolatrous abomination that the Church has become in its myriad of often contradictory denominations.
5) Your claim that Christianity is the only faith in which there is disagreement and clamour is manifestly untrue; one only needs to consider Islamic schisms between muslims to know that.
6) Your main concluding comment, again, is misguided and itself symptomatic of the chaos of the Church. You’re actually mis-quoting Gamaliel in Acts 5 when he addressed the Pharisees (v38). Gamaliel indoctrinated Saul into a hateful murderer of the Church before Christ revealed Himself to him in Acts 9 and straightened his thinking (and doctrine) out. Gamaliel’s words are not advocating for a soft attitude towards error but rather themselves rooted in unregenerate (not saved) error. Even donkeys will, when needed, speak prophetically that which is true. (See Caiaphas in John 11:50). Are you honestly telling me that when you read the New Testament your summary of the apostles and Jesus Himself is just, “leave them to it”? What do you do with Ephesians 5:11 as just one example? Or Paul’s thrust in his final writing to the church from prison? (2 Timothy).
7) I take exception to what you’re saying for all the reasons above but, mainly, for the great ignorance you display when you reduce Bethel/Johnson to being harmless, predicated by their “excellent worship” and “blessing” through times of worship as though they should be endorsed for their song-writing or technical expertise! This is so wearisome! Shockingly, you reduce doctrinal correction as “sucking the life out of their joy and peace” as though I was a “truth humbug” or motivated by meanness. You’re basically saying that if people “feel” good then biblical doctrine (what it is that disciples of Christ believe to be true) doesn’t matter.
Stop pedalling this garbage, Stephen! You should be thanking me for this blog not regurgitating all the false things you’ve been taught. Spend time actually thinking, reading and listening to what I’ve pointed you to,(including to Mike Winger’s linked video dealing with the occult practices of Bethel) before leaving inane comments like this.
Finally, it is further fruit of delusion to claim that it is “easy to tear down” and “not as easy to encourage” — tell that to Jeremiah or Hezekiah. Let me tell you, when you start to read your Bible and recognise that not everything that is claimed to be true can possibly be true in the Church, you might begin to understand what it actually means to be a disciple of Christ and help others to be as well. The truth is that you can not even begin to reconcile what you’re saying with this: https://firebrandnotes.com/2021/12/01/an-open-letter-to-the-church-is-your-church-faithful/
I can tell you put much thought in your writing here and clearly it would be not only unproductive, but further dividing the already disunitied church. I am sure Bethel leadership genuinely thinks they are being unfairly marginalized (and worse) by you and your comrades. I am fascinated how every one I speak to thinks that their approach is nearest to what the God of the Bible is ‘clearly’ saying.
I do believe there is a role for people like yourself to remind us to dig deeply into what we are believing. To maintain the integrity of our faith. Having said that, your spirit should include a compassion and deep sorrow for those you believe are not truly Biblically sound. Just keep in mind that you have a huge responsibility to model true Christianity not only with your well thought out words, but more deeply, it must reflect the compassion that Jesus had when he look over the crowds and saw how lost they truly were.
I encourage you to pray for Bethel and its leaders. Pray for Joel O. And also examine your heart and mind, knowing what a huge responsibility you are taking on in essence saying YOU know what the Scriptures are truly saying. For years there has been huge calling out of religious leaders (Scribes and pharasee’s) and churches (Revelations) who sincerely believed they could see clearly but in fact they were missing some of the major tenants of the gospel (‘You whitewashed…’). Remember to pray for these leaders who you believe are misleading their congregations. Beware also yourself to not be puffed up in pride as knowledge is nothing with out compassion (Love). I have listened to preachers criticizing Joel O. from their pulpits, to thousands in attendance. Every one laughs at Joel in unision, yet why do we need to tear him down? Why mock him from the pulpit? I think it to be hubris and unChrist like to tear fellow leaders from other congregations. I do not believe anyone who has listened to ten sermons from Joel, they would think him to be a prosperity gospel person. He acknowledges injustice in the world, divorce, losses of jobs and much more bad things really do happen to believers. He has hope however that if you cling to the truth of Jesus deeply caring about you, you won’t give up. He is one of the few people from the pulpit who are encouraging. I think we are so used to standing in judgement of each other, no one really cares to try and win these ‘lost souls’ to truth. We just say to boycott them and publically destroy them.
Look at Jesus with the women caught in adultery or the Rich man who honestly believed he had done all the commandments since his youth. Jesus did not address that huge fallacy. He saw through to the main impetus of this man’s heart issue. He loved money more than anything else. And the men who were ready to stone the women caught in adultery, were asked ‘which of you has not stumbled like this women. And each person oldest to youngest dropped their stone and slowly walked away. Jesus’ preistly prayer was ‘may they be one as we are one’. Why not seek out areas of agreement. Ask Pastor Johnson to go out for a meal when time permits. Win him with your love for his soul and in a spirit of humility ‘so you yourself does not fall’.
Thank you for your time
For the record, it took me about an hour to reflect on your comment and reply but I did so mainly for the benefit of others who would read. The only hubris here is your gross assumption that I do not daily experience the pain and prayerful discomfort of gut-wrenched splagchnizomai. You won’t relate yourself because you are pedalling the chaos of the Church with deceptive spiritual words. Repent and stop your nonsense. Christ is coming.
p.s. You won’t ever know this blessing while you continue limping between two different opinions:
“Elijah and other men of God in the OT who with radicality and severity — to the dismay of entire generations — made their appearance and to many seemed to be subverters. Enthusiasts do not arise on their own initiative. They think of themselves as called and ordained for their service, which excludes all purely personal interests. An intolerable burden rests upon them.” (Hans-Joachim Kraus)
If Jesus was suppose to be in this blog, I sure couldn’t tell. To be honest, reading this reminds me much of the Pharisees response to the ministry of Jesus. Accusing him of working for Satan. Speaking of only legalistic puffed up knowledge rather than the heart of things. To be honest, I really do pity you. I pray that you would have a genuine encounter with the LIVING JESUS CHRIST. The Holy Spirit is a person. He is ALIVE. He is Speaking. He is the one who guides us into ALL TRUTH. Maybe you should not be so prideful to assume that you have to do the Holy Spirits job of leading people into Truth. Within the church I have witnessed both hyper charismatics and ultra legalistic cessationists on both side of the spectrum tearing each other apart and taking things way to far. The reality of it is that both sides have some things that they are very right about and some things they are very wrong about. The Truth is something in between the two. As I was reading these posts and comments here are some scriptures that came to mind.
Romans 14:4 KJV
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”
Mark 9:38-41 KJV
“38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
1 Corinthians 12:3 New King James Version (NKJV)”Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
Many of these men that you have slandered and torn apart in your post have all said and continue to say that Jesus Christ is Lord. According to the word of God, no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
-Blessings my brother. I pray that God would remove all the hatred in your heart that you have towards your brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that he would grant you humility to realize that like us all, you don’t know all the answers. All the more reason we all, myself included, have to seek him daily. He is our everything. Jesus is our Lord, He is our comforter, He is our protector, He is our provision, He is our wisdom, He is our understanding. Every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord. Every evil spirit, including every religious spirit must also bow to the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
For the benefit of the thousands of other people reading this blog and this demented comment from a so-called “Christian”: what is really the work of Satan here — a spiritually-tongued man (whilst quoting Jesus’ words concerning the Holy Spirit and “all truth”) attempting to conflate a chaste standard of biblical clarity and uncompromising exegetical principle with legalistic death (!!!) or a biblically-literate man, counting the cost of such predictably inane thinking, holding high and aloft the standard of Scripture for which Christ Himself suffered and died? Thanks to Chris’ contribution, never have I been more convinced of the demonised nature of this form of spirituality masquerading as Christian discipleship, and yet I pray for his conviction, repentance and turning. BEWARE the inversions of Satan that calls good ‘evil’ while calling evil ‘good’. (Isaiah 5:5). The LORD rebukes you, Chris. (Any further comment will be summarily dismissed because, as with the immoral brother involved in all manner of sexual immorality in 1 Corinthians 5, you have been warned in the same gospel-grace that you neither recognise or receive.)