In a recent CWC article, the ‘jet-set/yachting’ lifestyle of C3 ‘pastors’ Phil and Chris Pringle was brought to the attention of our readers. Included in the article was a reference to their cliffside home overlooking the ocean that came at a cost of $3.4 million back in 2012. That’s an extraordinary amount of money for a pastor’s home even back then, so it begs the question – where does this sense of entitlement come from? And more importantly, is this the lifestyle of ‘sacrifice and suffering for the gospel’ we see portrayed in the bible?

^“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:16-18.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“I believe many church goers would be shocked if they could comprehend the real attitude their pastor has towards them. From my experience with both the cults and these money-focused churches, it is my impression that instead of being looked upon with love, these pastors see their congregation as farm animals to be milked.” (Link)

“There has been a subtle shift within Christianity toward a version of the gospel that the apostles would not recognize. People are becoming biblically illiterate and are thus easily swayed by preachers who appear to know Scripture but who are perverting it to make it sound more appealing. These preachers are attracting huge crowds, just as Jesus did when He fed the thousands (Matthew 14:21), healed the sick (Mark 1:34), and performed miracles (John 6:2). But when Jesus began to teach the hard truths of the gospel, “many of his disciples turned away and no longer followed him” (John 6:66). Waning popularity did not cause Jesus to water down His message. He continued to teach truth whether people liked it or not (John 8:29). Likewise, the apostle Paul exonerated himself before the Ephesians with these words: “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26–27). If today’s prosperity teachers would follow the patterns of Jesus and Paul, they could be confident that their works will not be burned up on judgment day (1 Corinthians 3:12–15)“. (Link)

Should we be surprised to see such an ostentatious display of wealth and comfort for those who claim to represent Christ today? Are they taking their ‘cues’ from the lifestyles of Joel Osteen, Stephen Furtick, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes and Kenneth Copeland? And it seems we can add Beth Moore to this list as well….

Beth Moore.

Lifestyles of the mega-rich pastors with estates and private jets: You’ll be shocked to see who is among them (OK it’s Beth Moore)

Elizabeth Prata writes:

I know that we’re all familiar with the ridiculous extravagance of some of the word of faith preachers. Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen with their jets and mansions and vacation homes and gold commodes and the like. Occasionally when someone comments on their over-the-top lifestyles of these supposed men and women of God, especially the private jets, replies often veer to the extreme in defending their purchase and use for a ‘ministry’. Duplantis said he needed the plane so he could work. Copeland said the same, the private plane is his sanctuary. They agreed they could talk to God better and there would not be distractions of people coming up to them asking for prayer. They needed the plane so they could work. Remember these reasons later. For work.

Can you picture Paul spending ministry money to hire this palanquin, the Lear Jet of the day?

We chortle and giggle at these obvious extremes, and wonder how much money could be spent elsewhere if only the preacher would cut down on the luxury living and donate the funds to worthy ministries, their own congregation, or anywhere else except to support their self-indulgent lifestyle choices.

The Bible is clear on life and doctrine. Ministers and leaders must be pure, humble, and Godly. It is not a sin to be rich, not at all. Abraham and Job and Solomon and Joseph of Arimathea were extremely wealthy. Lydia was rich. Joseph and Mary were nearly peasants and many of the disciples were simple fishermen. The Bible runs the gamut on the sliding scale of wealth, showing us many different people and lifestyles in its pantheon of heroes and villains. The point isn’t having the money. The point is what you do with it.

The Bible does warn, however, that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to gain heaven. (Matthew 19:24). Barnes’ Notes explains well:

The difficulties in the way of the salvation of a rich man are:
1. that riches engross the affections.
2. that people consider wealth as the chief good, and when this is obtained they think they have gained all.
3. that they are proud of their wealth, and unwilling to be numbered with the poor and despised followers of Jesus.
4. that riches engross the time, and fill the mind with cares and anxieties, and leave little for God.
5. that they often produce luxury, dissipation, and vice. that it is difficult to obtain wealth without sin, without avarice, without covetousness, fraud, and oppression, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:17; James 5:1-5; Luke 12:16-21; Luke 16:19-31.
Still, Jesus says Matthew 19:26, all these may be overcome. God can give grace to do it. Though to people it may appear impossible, yet it is easy for God.

When we think of mega-rich pastors and leaders living luxuriant lifestyles, we usually think of Copeland, Duplantis, Dollar, Meyer, and Osteen. Yet there are other leaders who live similarly to the megapastors I’ve just mentioned. I’d like to bring your attention to Beth Moore’s lifestyle. Yes, Beth Moore.

Moore puts forth the deliberate image that she is just a sister to us all, living a struggling life with her man, eatin’ Ramen, and listening to the crickets for entertainment. The lifestyle image she carefully cultivates is a Ma Ingalls type. Here’s her description under her photo of the creek by their home on their property. It’s true. Read for yourself.

We have a tiny little sliver of water not far from us that you could call a creek if you were in a particularly generous mood. It’s got some sand by it that the kids really like. Be blessed that this is not a scratch and sniff picture because the creek doesn’t always smell all that good, especially if it hasn’t rained in a while. But if your nose is slightly stuffy, it can be pretty fun.

Here’s her description of her home they moved into several years ago:

So, three years to the day later, we’re making it out in these modest woods. These acres would not be beautiful to everybody but they’re beautiful to us. Life has been brand new out here. I won’t kid you. It’s been an adjustment. A lot less eating out. A lot more cooking. A lot more driving to work. The cars stay filthy. The raccoons won’t stay out of the trash. Fed Ex never can find us. But we don’t mind. Because it was time to make a move. For us, it was out where the dawn breaks to the crow of a rooster.

She presents that veritably, she’s scrimping and saving, eating peanut butter sandwiches by firelight to save on electricity but sighing contentedly amid all this hayseed hardship. What Moore doesn’t tell you is that the Moore property in Tomball TX, these “modest woods,” as she puts it, that “would not be beautiful to everybody,” is part of a 46 acre enclave with its own road, two houses with total of 7 bedrooms and 7 1/2 baths, custom outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, a combined square footage of 6600 sf, and assessed by Harris County TX at $1.8 million dollars. What she wants to evoke in your mind with her carefully worded PR is this:

When what her property really is, is this:

Note the size of the lot compared to surrounding lots. Ahem. Modest? No.

Clip shows about a quarter the actual size of the lot

It’s an enormous private property. The house isn’t as large as other mega-rich pastors’, to be sure. Her home, house A on the tax map, is 4500 square feet, (still 10X the size of my home), with 4 bedrooms, which does make sense as a family with two grown daughters and lots of grandchildren running around. But the land is a huge parcel, YUGE. The other home, House B, is for the in-laws, a 3BR home 2,200 sf in size.

To be fair, Moore moved to this enclave of 46 wooded private acres with creek and two homes, according to her blogs, was so that she and her husband Keith could give Keith’s father a quality of life in his final days, close to the family and away from the busy city. I say if you have the means to provide a house and atmosphere for elderly parents close to the nuclear family, more power to you. It honors the mother and the father as the Commandment said.

But the down-home, aw shucks lifestyle is an image, not the reality. It’s PR, and it’s not honest. The reality is, Beth Moore is President of a globally known corporation, with a constant annual salary of a quarter of a million dollars, and its net worth last year of 15 million, living in a large home in pristine wooded enclave of 46 acres outside a major city, held in a trust, with all the toys and machines one could hope for in this enclave like tractors and golf carts etc. Her social-collegial sphere is populated with other mega-rich pastors and leaders, hobnobbing with the glitterati, and flying by private plane, just like Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, and Benny Hinn do. This is NOT a “modest” lifestyle.

This is a screen shot from the tax return FY ending 2015 for net worth of Living Proof Ministry.

Below, Moore with mega-rich pastrix Victoria Osteen and friends. Joel Osteen’s net worth (and his wife Victoria’s, pictured below) is estimated at $40 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Meanwhile, BeliefNet has Osteen, 54, listed as the fifth richest pastor in America. Source heavy.com, Aug, 2017. Friends of a feather.

Source

I’ll tell you what’s “modest”. Modest woods and filthy cars and sandy creeks, bah. Let’s get real about these terms Moore uses.

Me, I live modest. All my clothes are hand me downs. I drive a 20-year-old car that’s constantly in the repair shop. I live paycheck to paycheck, most of which is gone the first day I receive it each month. My domicile is a 400 sf apartment. A luxury for me would be to get my hair styled in a salon, and not the assembly line barbershop I usually go to. Or, not having to buy food that is expiring because I can save a dollar, is modest. My sphere is populated with other lower middle to middle-class folks who are just trying to make it, too. My sphere does not include private planes, fellow rich friends, wooded enclaves, and custom outdoor kitchens. It’s populated with middle class folks who really scrimp and save.

My concern is not so much the income or the large property Moore lives on, but the carefully curated image designed to deceive people into thinking she is less well-off than she is. It’s the hypocrisy. But wait, there’s more.

Beth Moore does not own a private jet, (yet) but she is given one to use. LifeWay, who partners with her in producing the Living Proof Live events, jets her around on a private plane, half the cost of which is paid by LifeWay and half by Living Proof Ministry. Is this any different than Kenneth Copeland or Jesse Duplantis jetting around in their jets for “ministry,”? Is this how LifeWay spends its ministry money, jetting Beth Moore from state to state?

These screen shots below are from publicly available Living Proof Ministry’s posted tax returns. Their returns are open for public inspection.

The screen shot below says “President Beth Moore on ocassion [sic] traveled by private plane to events as the ministry saw necessary. LifeWay, a partnering nonprofit, paid for 50% of the cost of the private plane, the remaining 50% was paid by Living Proof Ministries.”

Below, is this what Hillsong congregants expect their tithes and offerings to go, subsidizing a celebrity speaker’s luxury travel?

“Elizabeth Moore flew first class for a speaking engagement to Australia for the Hillsong Conference. Her daughter Melissa Moore, who is also an employee of Living Proof Ministries, traveled with Mrs Moore as her assistant. As per contract, Hillsong reimbursed Living Proof for the price of two coach tickets. Living Proof paid the difference. The benefit was not included as taxable compensation since it was ministry related, allowing Elizabeth and Melissa Moore to both work on the flight and continue working immediately upon arriving in Australia.”

Oh! Just like when Jesse Duplantis said he needed a private plane. For work. Or when Kenneth Copeland said he needed a private plane. For work.

LifeWay Christian resources is under the umbrella of the Southern Baptist Convention, as is the International Mission Board. (also here).

I want to relate these facts I’ve shared to the Bible. Paul sent Timothy to the baby church at Corinth. (1 Corinthians 4:17). The Southern Baptist Convention through its sub-arm International Mission Board sends missionaries abroad to plant churches and to help baby churches. Same-same. So far so good.

Last year (2016) the IMB recalled about 1000 missionaries in a cost-cutting measure. Not good. The other part of the SBC ‘body’, its sub-arm Lifeway, subsidizes private planes for Beth Moore.

Would Paul recall Timothy’s mission from Corinth in a cost-cutting measure, and then turn around and use the money the very poor church in Macedonia collected (2 Corinthians 8:1-3) to fund his luxury travel? Would he? Think on this: while the SBC-IMB is calling missionaries home to save money, the SBC-Lifeway is spending money for Beth Moore & family’s private plane.

This should not be.

When Beth Moore traveled to Hillsong Australia with her daughter, Hillsong paid her Coach plane fare, but that wasn’t good enough. Beth Moore then used her LP Ministry money to upgrade herself and her daughter’s travel to luxury First Class. For work.

The Living Proof Ministry does donate to worthy causes, their philanthropy is clear and present. It’s not all bad. But the hypocrisy evident in Beth Moore’s carefully presented down-home image and the reality of the money-money-money that includes private plane travel for her and her daughter needs to be exposed.

It’s a fact that Moore is not a down-home sister, but is in theology and in lifestyle more similar to Joyce Meyer and Victoria Osteen.

Paul had advice on how to engage with Believers and Gentiles.

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

Paul did not say he needed a pillowed palanquin, for work. He did not take the Macedonian church’s ministry offering and upgrade himself to a first class cabin on the ship. He did not pretend to sew tents for work by a sandy, smelly creek while actually writing his epistle from a palace filled with luxury comforts on the personal estate of Felix. Paul was real. His life was transparent and open, and he well knew how it would look to present one image while living another. It’s called hypocrisy.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:18,
What is my reward then? Truly that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Paul had a right to be supported. All true ministers do. It is good for the minister to be supported and good for the hearer to give. But for the sake of those who are weak, and for several other reasons, Paul chose to give up his right, for the sake of the Gospel. Gill’s Exposition says of the verse,

that I abuse not my power in the Gospel; his right of having a maintenance, whilst he was preaching the Gospel; to have made use of which would have been an abuse of it, since it would have given occasion to the false apostles to reproach and calumniate, and might have been an hindrance to the Gospel of Christ, and a stumbling to some weak minds.

Leaders must make wise choices about their lifestyle for the sake of the Gospel and not appear to be abusing it like Beth Moore does for self-indulgences and personal luxuries.

I’m a reasonable person. I know that weather, illness, and emergencies sometimes impact the travel plans of a busy and sought-after speaker. Earlier on in Moore’s ministry, the tax records show an occasional chartered plane. I understand this. Sometimes you’ve got to get to where you’re going in order to honor a commitment. However, Moore’s upgrading herself and her daughter to first class on the Living Proof Ministry’s dime for the excuse that she can “work” isn’t any different from the word of faith preachers’ excuses. Also, using ministry money for private jet travel on both Lifeway’s and LPL’s dime is extremely questionable. This is how a person gets to be a Jesse Duplantis or a Kenneth Copeland. This is how it begins. And for Beth Moore, it has  begun.

Source: Elizabeth Prata, ‘The End Time’ blog, https://the-end-time.org/2017/12/02/lifestyles-of-the-mega-rich-pastors-with-estates-and-private-jets-youll-be-shocked-to-see-who-is-among-them-ok-its-beth-moore/. Published December 2, 2017. (Accessed October 24, 2019.)

It became a “watershed moment” for the body of Christ when John Macarthur told Beth Moore to “go home”. Despite scripture’s clear word on the role of women, we are now seeing men, who encourage women into their pulpits, guilty of ignoring a clear command of God Himself and as such are not to be recognised themselves. A command that’s based on God’s order of creation:

“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” 1 Timothy 2:11-15

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:33-40

It’s the goal of Church Watch Central to always back up articles with clear scriptures in context, something surprisingly lacking in those who see themselves as ‘apologists’ for proven false teachers and prophets, as ardent supporters of those who oppose biblical truths. And it’s the discerning believers who are beginning to see these false movements start to align together, waging their own personal war against God’s clear Word – and in doing so, demonstrate a lack of love for both their wives and other women allowed to lead in their churches, exposing themselves to the ‘stricter judgment’ of God.

Just as God’s Word clearly teaches that both men and women are to share the ‘good news’ of the redemption won for us by Jesus Christ through His atoning work on the cross, His Word clearly teaches that the pastoral role is for men only, that the ‘church assembled’ is to be taught only by men, because God has ordained only male leadership in the church, with women serving in supporting roles.

“Men and women are equally valued in God’s sight and plan. Women are not inferior to men. Rather, God assigns different roles to men and women in the church and the home because that is how He designed us to function. The truth of differentiation and equality can be seen in the functional hierarchy within the Trinity (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:3). The Son submits to the Father, and the Holy Spirit submits to the Father and the Son. This functional submission does not imply an equivalent inferiority of essence; all three Persons are equally God, but they differ in their function. Likewise, men and women are equally human beings and equally share the image of God, but they have God-ordained roles and functions that mirror the functional hierarchy within the Trinity.’ (Link)

Which brings us to a recent Instagram ‘narrative’ where we see a series of bizarre and totally unbiblical posts by C3 San Diego’s lead pastor Jurgen Matthesius, trying to justify a ‘biblical’ role for women pastors in the church. All this done to show support for not only Beth Moore, Jurgen also included Paula White, Lisa Bevere, Christine Caine, Joyce Meyer and Bobbie Houston – despite none being ‘qualified’, not only on the basis of gender but for their aberrant false teaching as well.

And if there was ever a case for disqualifying Jurgen Matthesius from the pastoral role? His scripture-twisting puts him right in the ‘firing’ line:

Jurgen Matthesius – lead pastor, C3 San Diego and The C3 Americas.

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” James 3:1

Jurgen Matthesius’ bizarre pink Instagram ‘narrative’.

In follow-up Instagram posts both Jurgen Matthesius and his wife Leanne continued their false narrative.

From Jurgen Matthesius:

Jurgen Matthesius: “So God created man in His image, male and female…” Genesis 1:27. Every healthy home has the voice of a mother and a father. Both are unique. Complimentary, even when they seem to be contradictory. This is two book ends and creates a buffet of thought and perspective under the beautiful flow of authority flowing from God to Christ to the man to the woman. Both are required to teach/train/equip the children. A mother and father shape the morals, values, and manners important to a fruitful healthy life. Just as the father may teach economics and practical skills to the children, the woman also teaches etiquette and appropriate behavior.

The man will model strength, the woman compassion. The man how to win, the woman how to play fair, the man how to conquer the mountain top, the woman how to enjoy the roses along the way! Only through this divinely ordained interplay do her sons learn how to treat a woman (their future wives with respect and honor) and their daughters what respect and honor looks like, and by that the woman empowered by her husband.

The church is ALWAYS presented throughout the New Testament as the bride of Christ….A female. Jesus, after redeeming and washing her, EMPOWERED her (Acts 2) and then commanded her to make disciples of all nations and peoples. If we truly pray “on earth as it is in heaven” then we ought to see that if Jesus empowers his bride to preach and teach and do whatever is necessary to disciple the world, then our churches and our homes should congruently reflect the same.

Watch what these misogynistic teachers miss; when Jesus bride (called Ekklesia – the church) teach and preach we teach and preach HIS WORD. See how that works? Authority and submission working simultaneously speaking his words = submission and at the same time authority! When a woman teaches in our church, she is UNDER my authority covering, and she is under heavens authority and covering when she is speaking the word of God.
Don’t be fooled by those who poorly interpret the scriptures. Remember Satan also quoted scripture but it totally contradicted the rest of the Bible. (Link)

From Leanne Matthesius:

Leanne Matthesius: Today is a great day to Honor and Esteem the incredible women who have shaped my life as a believer! These Women have stood in churches on a SUNDAY and taught and ministered to ALL Gods people, their words have born great fruit the world over! These women have inspired and challenged me in my faith, enlarged my thinking, and built the lives of BOTH men and women through their teaching! So its been sad to see the attacks launched on women in the church and their God given influence and place. Every Healthy Home has the voice of a mother and a father!

And I for one am SO grateful for the example and courage of these women….literal mothers in the faith who have pioneered and tilled ground that I have been blessed to reap a harvest from!! None of these women have exalted themselves or clawed doors open for themselves but instead obediently and courageously followed the leading of the Lord….The FRUIT of their lives speaks to the calling and anointing upon them to minister to the WHOLE body! “Please Honor a woman of God today who has blessed and built you!”

Matthew 7 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit” (Link)

Again note the wicked twisting of scripture, suggesting godly shepherds are false – when they themselves are the false prophets, the ferocious wolves.  This is a line drawn in the sand against the true body of Christ. The complete and utter apostasy in the last days is exactly what the scriptures declare will happen. A loving command to ‘go home’ by a gracious and kind older ‘shepherd theologian’ to a woman who claims to love God’s Word yet walks in complete disobedience to it – who could have foretold that two simple words could possibly be the catalyst for the much of the visible church to ‘refuse to love the truth’, leading to an open rebellion against God’s clear commands?

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12But

A reminder that this is the ‘fruit’ of Phil Pringle’s leadership – but be encouraged ‘ChurchWatchers’, the Lord will separate the sheep from the goats, their judgment already made as they stand before Him on that great, dreadful yet wonderful Day.

“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22:20

In his latest article Reverend Anthony Wade, a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God, exposes false teacher Kris Vallotton’s unbiblical defense of the role of women and leadership:

“In order to get it right, you need to obey the world of God and stop eviscerating it in order to be disobedient. Beloved, I do not wish to rehash the arguments against Christo-feminism. This was to show the breadth of the deceit and depth of Kris Vallotton’s biblical ignorance.”

Kris Vallotton – an exercise in getting nearly everything wrong.

Rev Anthony writes:

I am just amazed that people actually follow this guy and think he is remotely biblical. He is most certainly not. I recently dissected an article he wrote defending women in leadership within the church as it seems he is hawking a new book on this subject. Within his article he offers two of the chapters free to download and all was quiet on the heresy front this morning so I took a peek. The level of inaccuracy and asinine conclusions were quite frankly staggering. I will try and review the fifth chapter here, entitled, Jesus: Founder of the First Women’s Liberation Movement. The title alone should warn anyone with discernment that we are in for quite a heretical ride but I want to stress that nearly everything he wrote was false. It is only for the sake of time, that I am highlighting the lowlights so we can better understand how horrifically bad Kris Vallotton is with theology. Let us reason once more beloved. All quotes are from Kris Vallotton.

“For the most part, the Church has domesticated the Lion of the tribe of Judah, relegating Him to a household pet or imprisoning Him behind the bars of some religious zoo. But the truth is that when Jesus walked the earth, He was a countercultural radical who not only healed the sick and raised the dead, but also liberated the oppressed and set the captives free. Women were at the top of His list!”

Yes, Jesus was a motorcycle riding free radical in His days, sigh. The truth of course is that Jesus did not come to end nor change the law whatsoever. He was not “counter cultural.” He was anti-false teaching. The captives set free were those oppressed by sin. The argument Kris is trying to set up here is that Jesus came to liberate the oppressed women in His culture and that point is ridiculous and absurd at the same time. By the way, Jesus came as the lamb, not the lion. When He returns for the second time it will be as the lion and Kris will have plenty to answer for.

“I guess we should not be surprised that most Gentile women were much more powerful and respected in their cultures than women in Judaism were. In Macedonia, women built temples, founded cities, engaged armies and held fortresses. They served as regents and co-rulers. Men admired their wives and even named cities after them. Thessalonica was such a city, and there women were given inheritable civic rights. It was the Macedonian businesswoman Lydia who founded the church at Philippi after Paul led her to Christ (see Acts 16:14–15).”

I do not even want to get into the absolute butchering of history that Vallotton traffics in. I highlighted this solely for the butchering of the story of Lydia. Kris states that Lydia founded the church at Philippi. Here are all of the bible verses regarding this woman:

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. — Acts 16:14-15 (ESV)”

So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. — Acts 16:40 (ESV)

Is there any mention of Lydia starting the Philippian Church? Of course not. Why does Kris rob this from Paul, who actually did found the Philippians Church? Because Paul is a man, Lydia is a woman, and he was hoping you would be too lazy to check his lies.

So what is the Lord saying to Martha? Most likely He’s saying, “Martha, you and Mary are both welcome to sit and talk with Me. I didn’t come to your house to get a free meal or to have you serve Me. I really value your friendship and enjoy your company. You’re accustomed to men using you and requiring you to serve them. Mary is more familiar with My heart than you are. Why don’t you come sit and talk with us? We can eat later.”

Huh? This is from the story of Mary and Martha. Most likely He is saying? Is that how we do hermeneutics at Bethel Church? Jesus was not a radical feminist talking to His female friends about all of the abuses they suffered under Jewish Law. Kris Vallotton is just making this garbage up as he goes along. What he is doing is evil. He is putting words and motivations onto our Savior that the text never comes close to in order to poison the minds of those who wish to be disobedient to the word.

“This passionate moment is almost lost in the testosterone-filled environment as the men begin to complain about the poor stewardship of wasting expensive perfume when it could have been sold to help the poor. Judas wants to sell the stuff and steal the money. But Jesus says, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. . . . Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her” (Matthew 26:10–11, 13). There Jesus goes, protecting the feelings of a woman, valuing Mary’s passion, validating a $60,000 experience over meeting the practical needs of the poor that pressed against their souls.”

Kris continues to emasculate the Savior and Christianity. His rationale continues to be absurd. He does not seem to care why these stories exist in scripture at all. Doesn’t he find it odd that Jesus would do all of these acts to “liberate women” yet never utter one teaching word about it? Of course not because Vallotton is not interested in what God is saying, he just wants to use God to push his pre-conceived point and sell as many books as possible.

“It is all starting to make sense to me, things like the reason the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus but did not bring the man. If the Pharisees were simply trying to see if Jesus would extend grace to a person who broke the Law, they could have just as easily grabbed the guy. But they were not only upset about Jesus forgiving the guilty; they were angry that He was honoring and empowering women.”

Says no biblical text anywhere. What Vallotton is doing to scripture is criminal. The Pharisees could care less that Jesus was nice towards women. Vallotton’s entire argument is supposition born out of his wickedly deceitful heart. The only empowerment Jesus came to deliver was His power over sin in their lives, period. Everything else is Vallotton’s NAR obsession with this world, which he idolizes. He idolizes this world because in it, he gets to play as a king in the religious system he has created, drive fancy cars, and make a lot of money.

“Women saw Jesus as their deliverer from cultural oppression, their liberator from religious bondage and their knight in shining armor. He came to deliver the oppressed and to set the captives free. Women loved Him because He valued them, protected them and taught them. He treated women as equals and refused to bow down to the male dominated, religious boys’ club that had ruled the Jewish world for centuries.”

This is infuriating because of the truth he is keeping from people. The real oppression both genders wanted was deliverance from Rome and Jesus did not even come for that. His kingdom is not of this world. Think about what nonsense Vallotton is selling here. Instead of focusing on sin and repentance he is teaching that Jesus came to break up the old boys club in Jerusalem and empower the poor oppressed women. There is not one iota of truth nor proof for his claims. The erotic-romanticized knight in shining armor should be an insult to women everywhere. They needed deliverance from their sins, just like men. We all still do.

“There He goes again, rescuing a woman from the clutches of another religious leader. Jesus defended a woman who obviously broke protocol by inviting herself to the dinner party of a powerful leader. As if that were not bad enough, instead of quietly blending into the crowd, she makes a huge scene and becomes the center of attention. What does it look like when a woman of ill repute is hanging all over Jesus, kissing His feet and wiping them with her hair? Why does He let her do it when He should be protecting His reputation? After all, He is supposed to be the righteous Son of God who will die for the sins of the world. Why not make a clear statement to the religious community that nothing is going on between Him and these women? And maybe the most profound question is, why are these women attracted to Jesus? What is the draw? Why all the fanfare?”

Gee, I don’t know Kris. Maybe because He was the Son of God? Maybe because they saw the miracles too? Maybe because they realized He was the coming Messiah? Does any of this matter to you at all or has the cause of selling your Christo-feminism book blinded you to everything the bible actually does say?

“I have to admit that before I wrote this book, I never understood the radical message of gender equality that the gospel writers were trying to convey through the life of Jesus. Yes, I knew that Jesus hated religion. I was aware that He was a countercultural radical who overturned the deceptive tables of hypocrisy and drove the money changers out of the Temple. Having read the Bible every day for thirty-plus years, I understood that quite a few women hung around Jesus. Yet because I did not have a real grasp on the oppressive culture of first-century Judaism and the massive mistreatment of women during the days of Christ, I totally missed one of the most profound messages of the gospels–that Jesus championed the equality of women.”

The other Bethel boogeyman is religion. They claim anyone who insists on biblical accuracy is too “religious” and they reinvent scripture to pretend that Jesus believed this when He clearly did not. The issue with the Pharisees was not a hatred towards religion but rather an utter disdain for false teaching. The Gospel writers did not write one jot or tittle about gender equality. Jesus did not hate religion! He established Christianity! He did not overturn the “deceptive tables of hypocrisy!” Those were the moneychanger tables who were price gouging visitors to the temple and robbing people in the house of God! You should know plenty abut that Kris! You claim to have read the bible every day for thirty plus years and your big takeaway is that Jesus championed the equality of women without mentioning it once? Ugh.

“Look at what is happening here. A Samaritan, a woman who has been married five times and is now living with her boyfriend, whom the religious world would not even allow to step foot in the synagogue, just became the first evangelist in history. This woman, who would never qualify as an elder in anyone’s church, has just turned a Samaritan city upside down after one encounter with her Messiah. I am telling you that disqualifying women from leadership is costing us our cities!”

Dear Lord. She was not the first evangelist in history! She naturally went and told her people what had happened. That does not make her an evangelist. There is also no record that her doing so turned her city upside down. That is Kris just trying to usurp a quote attributed to the male disciples evangelism work. Insisting that women be obedient to scripture is not costing any cities.

This entire incident flies in the face of the kind of thinking that says the Church should universally apply Paul’s exhortation to Timothy: “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Timothy 2:11–12). It is ridiculous to argue that Mary (a woman) did not instruct and influence the Son of God. This quick peek into the life of Jesus and His mother is a clear indication of the way in which He allowed Mary to influence His life.

Kris is basing this on the fact that Mary instructed the men at the wedding to listen to whatever Jesus told them regarding the wine running out. No consideration for respecting ones mother and father, you know, one of the Ten Commandments. Nope, instead it proves in his abased mind that because Mary instructed her Son that women can now instruct men in the church, despite the bible strictly forbidding it.

Even the Pharisees harassed Jesus by accusing Him of being born out of wedlock. When Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:41, “You are doing the deeds of your father,” they answered back, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” Their implication was that Jesus is an illegitimate son born of an affair. He was no stranger to the scorn such situations brought on.

No Kris. That was not their implication. No one in recorded history has thought that was their implication. They were responding that they were pure descendants from Moses with no bastardization in their genealogy. Try picking up some commentaries before you spout off any more silliness from that wicked heart of yours.

“Whom do the three characters represent in this parable? The shepherd is God. The lost sheep represents those sinners the religious leaders are complaining about. And the 99 sheep are the Pharisees and scribes, who see themselves as righteous.

Here we go again–whom do the three characters in this parable represent? The prodigal son represents the sinners Jesus is hanging out with. The father who runs out to meet him represents God. And the elder son who wants his brother punished instead of pardoned represents the religious leaders who want everyone to pay for their sins.

Let’s do this one more time–whom do the characters in the parable represent? The lost coin represents the sinners whom Jesus is looking for and whom the Pharisees are complaining about. The nine coins represent the Pharisees and scribes that view themselves as righteous. And whom does the woman represent? You guessed it–she represents God. The connotation is obvious to the religious onlookers who were familiar with the Creation story. I have quoted this verse several times already, but here it goes again: “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27, emphasis added). Jesus is clearly saying to the Pharisees and scribes that it takes both the femininity of women, whom they oppressed, and the masculinity of men to represent God. In oppressing women fashioned in the image of God, religion blinds people to the feminine side of God. This relegates people to a one dimensional relationship with their Creator, and it robs them of seeing the full spectrum of the nature of God.”

This is how badly Kris Vallotton is willing to mangle scripture to try and prove his unbiblical points. He wants to make the point that Jesus once used a woman as a representation for God. Why? Because in his twisted heart he thinks that will allow him to argue that God is both male and female, when in fact He is neither. So he turns to the three related parables about how God wants the lost to be saved and corrupts them beyond recognition. The 99 sheep are NOT the Pharisees. The prodigal’s brother is NOT the Pharisees. Talk about a lesson in missing the point! Vallotton only makes them represent the Pharisses so he can pretend that the woman with the lost coin represents God. Jesus was not even remotely hinting to the Pharisees that it takes the oppressed femininity and the toxic masculinity to represent God. That is so idiotic I am amazed he had the nerve to publish it. The Genesis verse does not mean what he thinks either. The image of God is not the physical image of humanity. God is spirit. Now, I do not expect someone without the indwelt Holy Spirit to grasp that concept. The level of hubris by Vallotton masks how blasphemous he really is in these teachings.

“Many people are quick to point out that when Jesus chose His twelve disciples and later promoted them to apostles, none of them were women. I think given the historic content of Judaism and Jewish culture in general, it is easy to see why it would have been impossible for Christ to commission women with leadership titles and formal positions.”

So Jesus is this radical counter cultural dude when it is convenient for your argument and then a strict by the book cultural wimp when it doesn’t suit you? Got it.

“It is therefore confusing to me that somehow, in the Church that Jesus is the Head of, women are not considered qualified to talk, teach, shepherd or even help lead a congregation of thirty people. Something is wrong with this picture, and it is time that we got it right.”

In order to get it right, you need to obey the world of God and stop eviscerating it in order to be disobedient. Beloved, I do not wish to rehash the arguments against Christo-feminism. This was to show the breadth of the deceit and depth of Kris Vallotton’s biblical ignorance. Keep in mind this was only one chapter in one book! This is what is taught at Bethel Church and it ought to give everyone pause to make sure they are marked as the demonic cesspool off false teaching that they clearly are.

Reverend Anthony Wade — November 1, 2019

Source; Rev. Anthony Wade, ‘828 Ministries’ blog, http://www.828ministries.com/articles/5/Kris-Vallotton–An-Exerc-by-Anthony-Wade-Christianity-191101-807.html. Published November 1, 2019. (Accessed November 2, 2019.)

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

When a pastor truly believes his bible is ‘the inspired, inerrant, sufficient, and clear revelation of God’ then his preaching will reflect what he believes as he enters the pulpit on the Lord’s Day. And despite the ‘modern day downgrade’ in churches across the globe, the Lord still has His ‘voices in the wilderness’. John MacArthur is one such very strong voice, a man who is ‘a picture of faithfulness to the truth of God’s Word, never wavering with the ways of the world’.

“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” Mark 1:2-3

John MacArthur Preaches a Sermon Rebuking Beth Moore, That “Woman Preacher”

Jeff Maples writes:

John MacArthur made headlines two weeks ago when he publicly and blatantly told Beth Moore, the Southern Baptist Jezebel false prophet to “go home.” During a Q&A session at Grace Church, MacArthur was asked his thoughts on Beth Moore, and his answer was simple, “go home,” and “there is no biblical case to be made for a female preacher.”

This sparked outrage from the SBC beta-male elitists like J.D. Greer who mocked John MacArthur and welcomed Beth Moore into his home “anytime.”

In the wake of the controversy sparked by MacArthur’s comments, MacArthur doubled down this past weekend preaching an entire sermon against Jezebel women like Beth Moore referring to her as that “woman preacher” who is tolerated in churches.

Source: Jeff Maples, ‘Reformation Charlotte’ blog, https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/11/05/john-macarthur-preaches-a-sermon-rebuking-beth-moore-that-woman-preacher/?fbclid=IwAR1YzbJUcDIVeuajpbSxq_cUuu1T1_aNVMcDIzanpcLJ2e8iOG_9hxKgdp4. Published November 5, 2019. (Accessed November 6, 2019.)

“This sermon is the biblical support that we have that shows women cannot be pastors or preach. MacArthur does an excellent job using Scripture not his own wisdom to show this truth.” (Link)

Transcript will be added when available.

Source: Walking In Truth Ministry, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m9HXjW6V-w&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0AnTKghOSvK3lMGvJvQ6fkdYT8niBhV0h94oYTyIt_pZx5xaBrUFAYVcw. Premiered November 4, 2019. (Accessed November 6, 2-19.)

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

When Ps. Chris Rosebrough critiques false teachers on his program ‘Fighting For The Faith’, he consistently asks his listeners to uphold the following biblical standard:

“Don’t take my word for it, I need you to listen to me with an open bible and if you haven’t figured it out, the segments that I choose, I choose them because it gives me an excuse to teach the Bible. Learning discernment requires you to be in the Scriptures so that at the end of the day, you know when somebody is twisting God’s Word. There’s so many different ways in which to twist it, the focus of my program for the most part is, they’re saying ‘this, and this’ is what they’re doing with the biblical text but when you look at the text it’s not saying ‘that’. The idea here is that I can’t review everybody, there’s so many different false teachers out there – what I’m looking for are ‘archetypal’ ways in which people are twisting texts, which then gives me an excuse to get into the Bible so that people can hear how amazing the Bible is. That’s the idea then, that once you’re hooked on the Scriptures rightly taught, you know how to look for whether or not it’s being rightly taught – then what happens is that you’re inoculated against the false teacher, whoever it might be.”

With the above quote included in the latest YouTube episode of ‘Fighting For The Faith’, Pirate Gang Ps. Chris Rosebrough, Steven Kozar and Amy Spreeman have a conversation about good vs. bad discernment:

Pirate Gang vs. Dirty Smear Merchants.

“The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.” Acts 17:10-12

Source: Pirate Christian Media, ‘Fighting For The Faith’ Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOy52t7pWGE&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2haefHU9pEC5M5USQHONJUxcm8IkAnvDMf7R2EPzE8mh62hdmMi–FVFI. Premiered November 8, 2019. (Accessed November 8, 2019.)

Podcast available here.

Included in the episode is a discussion about an article ‘Discernment Tips’ (linked below) from Steven Kozar’s ‘Messed Up Church’ Blog – helpful tools for the Berean believer:

Steven Kozar writes:

When Christians begin the process of leaving the Messed Up (Apostate) Church, they encounter a whole new batch of difficult issues. Going too quickly to the next thing is a common problem. Let’s call this being too “reactionary.” In the search for certainty, one can often latch onto a teacher or teaching too quickly because the uncertainty appears to be unbearable. People often react against one thing and then grab onto something else that appears to be the opposite. This is understandable, but it’s still a bad direction to go. The Pop Evangelical Church has been telling you for a long time that theology is unnecessary, but now you’re confronted with the truth that your lack of theological training has left you confused and unsure of what to believe.

You are not alone.

This anti-doctrine “doctrine” has been a very harmful component of Pop Evangelicalism for a long time, and many layers of bad teaching have been stacking up on top of it. You will need to peel back the many layers of half-truths and bad ideas if you’re ever going to make real progress. Take your time because these issues are incredibly important!

Here are some common categories of bad discernment:

1. 1. “Discernment is a mystical process where you ‘feel what is true.’”

      No, it’s not! Discernment means digging into God’s Word and being lead by the Holy Spirit to understand what it says. The Holy Spirit does not give you a version of truth that is different from everyone else’s version of truth (no matter how you feel about it). Here’s a really helpful article on this issue: Jennifer LeClaire Gets Discernment 100% WRONG!

   2. “Discernment starts with abandoning all previous theological systems and avoiding all previous teachings from church history.”

      It might sound exciting in a “DaVinci Code” sort of way, but this is a really bad way to think. God has given us His Word and we’ve had almost two thousand years of teachers to help us understand it, so why would you want to throw that all away and start from scratch? Here’s an article to help you think through this issue: The Gigantic Problem Beneath the Really Big Problem.

   3. “Discernment means latching onto the teacher who is the most extreme ‘smear merchant.’”

      Yes, there are some really bad things going on in the Christian Church, but some people just enjoy driving by the scene of the accident too much. If everybody is a raving heretic (except you and your tiny little group) you probably need a more balanced perspective. This will be hard, but do your homework anyway. Sweeping generalizations can only go so far.

   4. “Discernment means ignoring proper categories and using ‘guilt by association.’”

      Now we’re getting to the problem of a number of discernment ministries: they tend to take the easy way out and make assumptions about a pastor, teacher or ministry based on things they never believed or taught. Common example: “Pastor X is a guest speaker at this one conference, and another speaker there is Pastor Y-and everyone knows that Pastor Y is a false teacher! Therefore, Pastor X is also a false teacher.” There are lots of different conferences on many different topics organized for lots of different purposes; sometimes a speaker is invited without knowing exactly who the other speakers will be, or even exactly what the topic will be. Now if a pastor is invited to speak at the “World Dominion Prophecy Awakening Apostolic Signs & Wonders Miracle Event” they know what they’re getting into, obviously. But sometimes we need to get more information-directly from the person in question-before making assumptions about their beliefs. We live in a pretty dumbed-down culture that promotes easy and overly-simplistic answers. Our Christian faith is way too important to take that approach, and our Christian brothers and sisters are way too valuable to treat with such disregard.

   5. “Discernment means reacting against the your previous belief so strongly that you now believe the exact opposite.”

      Here’s an example: “I grew up Roman Catholic but now I don’t believe that way, so if I see a pastor with a clerical collar I know he’s a heretic!!” It is much better to base your beliefs on scripture alone. When you’re coming out of a really bad church, it’s understandable to be a reactionary for a while, but you need to move on and develop a more thoughtful, careful, and biblical approach to what you believe. In the real world, there are people all over the place, theologically, and it’s best to deal with their own exact beliefs, instead of just lumping them into a category based on outward appearances or unproven assumptions.

   6. “Discernment means throwing the word HERETIC around like a wrecking ball.”

      The term heretic is very specific, and too many people use it without really knowing what it means. Here’s the definition from Webster’s: Heretic. Here’s the definition of heresy from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Heresy. There is another term that isn’t used very much called “heterodoxy,” and a lot of times people should use this word instead of heresy. Here’s a definition from Webster’s: Heterodox. Here’s a definition from Theopedia: Heterodox. Basically, it’s a step before heresy. It means that an idea is not biblical, but it’s not so extreme that it’s heresy. Lastly, there is a term called “adiaphora” that is really useful to understand. It’s a term that describes something that isn’t specifically promoted in Scripture, but neither is it be condemned by Scripture.

Here’s a helpful article with more links: Heresy at Theopedia. Here’s a useful definition from the Christian Cyclopedia: Heresy.

Here’s the podcast that Amy Spreeman mentioned in the above video: https://awordfitlyspoken.life/podcast/doing-discernment/

Source: Steven Kozar, ‘Messed Up Church’ blog, https://www.themessedupchurch.com/blog/discernment-tips. Published November 7, 2019. (Accessed November 8, 2019.)

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

A new article from Elizabeth Prata, with a timely reminder for women who ‘pride’ themselves as pastors and leaders within the visible church. The example set here by Beth Moore is not surprising for those who have access to the social media posts of women who have usurped the pastoral role given only to men – Chris Pringle, Leanne Matthesius and Bobby Houston being just a few examples. Given these particular women love to post pictures of themselves with an open bible, do they ever read and apply its commands to themselves?

Beth Moore.

Elizabeth Prata writes:

Regarding the strange video Beth Moore made of herself and posted on Instagram. She filmed herself working out in pajamas, slippers, and bed head. The point of her video was to reassure her followers just how normal she is.

She panned the camera to show her slippers working the step on her elliptical machine, took care to pan up to the lump of bed hair that wouldn’t lay down, and to note that she is still in pajamas, to which she gestured.

Moore opened the video by saying she thought she would share with us how “glamorous” she is, how “glamorous the ministry” is, of course meaning the opposite. She explained to no one who had asked, that she had taught the night before and well, when you arrive home you’re wound up. Beth said you have to wash some clothes and clean the kitchen and all that. Who can sleep? And well, when she awoke this morning she “ministered through a little devotional thread on social media”. She coyly explained that was why she was still in her PJs and she had to work out before going to work. “You need to see me on my elliptical in my house shoes” Moore said. So she thought she would just share.

If you think this is a humility, it isn’t. It is a video actually demonstrating the enormous quantities of pride she has in herself. How? What she is really doing is reassuring her followers that she is just like them. She really isn’t exceptional, admirable, or dare we say, godlike as we probably think she is. She is really just like us mere humans, not so very different from us commonplace minions. Yet because she made an entire video about how normal she is, of course she believes the opposite is true. The lady doth protest too much. The unintended message of the video is pride.

False teachers and pride

False teachers’ hearts contain a huge amount of pride, and a huge amount of greed. (1 Timothy 6:5). When people say “You can’t say she or he is a false teacher, because you don’t know their heart,” the Bible tells us exactly what is in their heart. If you have determined that they teach another Gospel or another Jesus and are therefore false, then their hearts WILL be known to us, at least to the extent the Bible reveals- and it reveals a lot. Let’s take a look at the false teacher’s prideful heart.

1 Timothy 6:4 says that those who teach contrary to good doctrine are conceited and know nothing. A synonym for conceited is prideful. Beginning in verse 2,

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions

As a side note, if you wonder why Beth Moore is always in the news, it isn’t because the mean people won’t leave her alone, it is because she does exactly as the verse says false teachers do: stir up controversies. In fact, false teachers have a unhealthy interest in quarrels and they promote malicious talk and evil suspicions. As for the pride issue, Bible.org explains

Like Satan declaring that he will be like the Most High (Is 14:14), false teachers are consumed with themselves and their ideas. Peter described false teachers as “speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice” (2 Peter 2:17). They may do this by boasting about their wealth, their spiritual experiences, or their new revelation. They commonly exalt themselves before others.

William Barclay (1907-1978) said of the pride of the false teacher:

His first characteristic is conceit. His first aim is self-display. His desire is not to display Christ, but to display himself. There are still preachers and teachers who are more concerned to gain a following for themselves than for Jesus Christ. They are more concerned to press their own views upon people than they are to bring to men the word of God. Source: Commentary – Teacher’s Outline and Study Bible – 1 Timothy: The Teacher’s Outline and Study Bible.

False teachers are wordsmiths adept in manipulating language to come across as who they want to appear. Because they need to gain a following and because they rely on their followers’ money (followers have been made merchandise of) this means the false teachers normally want to be seen as sincere, trustworthy, kind, and relatable. They work hard to appear so, even making ridiculous videos. In fact they are rapacious, prideful, greedy, godless, insincere liars. Such is a Beth Moore.

Rapacious : Matthew 7:15
Prideful :1 Timothy 6:4
Godless : 2 Timothy 3:5
Greedy : 2 Peter 2:3
Insincere liars : 1 Timothy 4:2

It’s with great sadness the body of Christ is witnessing the increasing moral decline in secular society, particularly with the gay agenda. This same decline is now being mirrored in the church as Christians are being forced to accept women as pastors and preachers – a role only given to men, clearly revealed in God’s Holy Word. And just as it’s an unnatural union that can only reproduce further perversion in the secular world, women leading in the church eventually produces perverted doctrine and practice – as there’s much evidence coming to light that demonstrates the link between the ordination of women and the increasing ordination of unrepentant homosexuals to the office of elder or pastor:

 ‘Just as barriers to women and homosexuals have been removed in other areas of civic life and the workplace, the same demand is made on the church.’ (Link)

Unqualified – 1 Timothy 2:11-14

“Distorting the office of elder is an attack on the Church and an affront to the gospel itself. It is like opening the gates of a sieged city. Perhaps the one who snuck into the city opening the gates is not killing any residents of the city with their own bare hands, however, they are weakening the city’s defense, leaving them helpless to the onslaught of their enemies. Female Pastors will do the same. Female Pastors will only lead a church into apostasy.” (Link)

The Ordination of Women and Ecclesial Endorsement of Homosexuality: Are They Biblical?

“Opponents see these moves as a clear and certain denial of biblical authority and an overturning of foundational moral truth, while champions of these changes see them as necessary steps for the sake of the church’s mission. What is recognized by all is that change threatens the unity of the church. Those promoting change often argue that changes in church order to allow for the inclusion of homosexual men and women in the church’s ministry are on the same level as previous decisions to ordain women.”

“Church office and sexual fulfillment are seen as matters of entitlement. Just as barriers to women and homosexuals have been removed in other areas of civic life and the workplace, the same demand is made on the church. This is especially true in church bodies where social justice is seen not as a work of God in the government of the left hand but as a part, perhaps even the most important part, of the church’s mission to the world. Here it is argued that the church must enact social justice in its own midst by removing barriers to equality. In fact, Krister Stendahl argues, “It seems to me almost impossible to assent – be it reluctantly or gladly – to the political emancipation of women while arguing on biblical grounds against the ordination of women.” (345 Link)

“Those who celebrate these changes rightly see that they have created something new. Else Marie Pedersen, from the University of Denmark, argues that the ordination of women has humanized the church, yielding a new understanding of the church:

“so that ministry will be about the pastor’s authenticity, rather than about who, on the surface is a normal male. Authenticity and honesty as well as a solid education ought to be more important than whatever sex or sexuality a pastor has, given that the gospel is proclaimed in Word and Sacrament.”

“This vision of the church with a ministry grounded in the “authenticity” of the pastor presents quite a different picture from the one given in the New Testament.” (358 Link)

Source: John T. Pless, ‘The Ordination of Women and Ecclesial Endorsement of Homosexuality: Are They Biblical?’. http://ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/PlessOrdinationofWomenandHomosexuality.pdf

Also included below, the latest article on this topic from Pulpit & Pen:

Battling Against Five Dumb Reasons for Female Preachers.

Pulpit & Pen News Division writes:

You simply cannot find reputable Bible-teachers who advocated for female preachers or pastors throughout most of church history. There is a reason for this, and it’s not misogyny. It’s because the notion is Biblically untenable.

The latest article from one of our favourite polemicists, our good friend Rick Becker from the ‘Famine In The Land’ blog. In this post Rick addresses the idolatry found in Bethel Church Redding ‘pastor’ Theresa Dedmon’s use of the ‘creative arts’. Rick states:

“I thought it worthwhile, to examine two examples from scripture that Dedmon uses as justification for God to use “your song, your art, or your poem.” Perhaps I should just clarify that God can indeed use something we say, write or create, in order to inspire, motivate, and point others to Christ. Some are certainly gifted in the natural sense, with various forms or creativity, which can be used to glorify God.  But as we will notice, Dedmon takes this to an imaginative whole new level that I would describe as idolatry.”

Rick Becker writes:

Theresa Dedmon is the creative arts pastor at Bethel. Dedmon claims that in 2002, she received a “prophetic word” that she would lead a “worldwide arts movement.” Dedmon believes “Anointing and healing flows through what we touch and create” You may say she’s a dreamer, but she’s not the only one. Bethel is cultivating a generation of followers attempting to create heaven on earth so that we may all live as one. Co creating with ‘Papa God’ is one of Bethel’s strategies to influence and transform society. While scripture teaches that conditions in the world and the visible church will decay, Bethel clings to the  false doctrine that conditions will improve. One of their methodologies to infiltrate culture and transform society is the use of creative arts. In Bethel’s world, balloons, cookies, prophetic pizza and paintings play an integral role in releasing the supernatural and transforming society. In reality, Bethel is playing an integral role in deceiving millions. They are preparing a generation of biblically illiterate people who lust after false unity, false peace, signs and power. These are a people being prepared to be mesmerized by the antichrist.

Dedmon compares this creative move through a worldwide arts movement to the Renaissance because it “touched every sphere of life and brought innovation and prosperity to every sector of society.” One would expect a “pastor” to commit to preaching the gospel, and making disciples, but like “papa Bill,” Dedmon is under the impression that society is in need of some kind of transformation instead of the gospel. In her “About Me” page on her website, Dedmon writes: “Now, this Kingdom Creative Renaissance will touch every person in society as they see God’s desire to partner with them in creativity.” According to Dedmon, God apparently desires a planet full of co-creators instead of saving sinners and building his church. The seven mountain mandate is the motivating force behind Bethel’s desire to influence and transform society. The arts, is one of the spheres or mountains the New Apostolic Reformation believes they will transform: “We want to raise up world changers to go into every realm of society: church, family, business, arts and entertainment, media, and government. As this happens, God’s presence will not only transform the Body of Christ, but also all of culture.”  – Theresa Dedmon, Born To Create.

Dedmon makes no bones about the fact that she is a vital cog in God’s machinery. Two more quotes from Dedmon’s website: “I was born to be a catalyst, activating believers to release God’s power as they create.”
The word “activate” is one of the New Apostolic Reformations catch words. It’s not in scripture, but it gives NAR leaders a semblance of power which in reality belongs to God alone.
Naturally, your ability to be effective in this move comes at a cost: “All these years of experience led to the development of Kingdom Creative E courses to further serve and activate the Body of Christ in their supernatural creativity…Come join the Kingdom Creative Renaissance that brings heaven to earth!”
Dedmon’s  28 Lesson Journey Into Unlocking Your Creative Potential” will set you back $129. Part of the sales pitch is that it’s value is worth $1500, and in her own words, you will get the “Opportunity to travel as part of Theresa’s ministry team upon completion (value: priceless)”

In a sponsored Facebook post, Dedmon writes: “Have you seen God move powerfully through your creativity? He absolutely can. Our job is to simply step out and trust that he can use anything. If he can use Paul’s handkerchief to heal this sick, why not your song, your art, or your poem, right? So, if you’re hungry to grow in your Kingdom Creativity, I’ve helped thousands to step out and see people touched by God and their creativity. That’s why I created this free Creative Blueprint Download. It’s designed to help you partner with Papa God while giving you a practical road map to active those dreams inside of you.”
Dedmon’s “freebie” Creative Blueprint Download is an eleven page document that includes an assessment, questions, and as usual, a story. Ultimately it’s just a means of getting the biblically illiterate to purchase a course. Dedmon prefaces the download with this mouthwatering possibility: “You might be wondering “I want to learn how to co-create with God but I don’t know…where to begin…the steps to move to move forward …and how people can be touched by God through what I create”

I thought it worthwhile, to examine two examples from scripture that Dedmon uses as justification for God to use “your song, your art, or your poem.” Perhaps I should just clarify that God can indeed use something we say, write or create, in order to inspire, motivate, and point others to Christ. Some are certainly gifted in the natural sense, with various forms or creativity, which can be used to glorify God.  But as we will notice, Dedmon takes this to an imaginative whole new level that I would describe as idolatry.

The first example is from the sponsored Facebook post – “If he can use Paul’s handkerchief to heal this sick, why not your song, your art, or your poem, right?”

Let’s examine the text: “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.” Acts 19:11-12
We observe that these were special, or extraordinary miracles. We know that signs and wonders authenticated the message and ministry of the Apostles (2 Cor 12:12)  Paul did not join an international apostolic coalition with membership fees in order to function as an apostle, he was called by God (1 Cor 1:1) and taught God’s gospel (Gal 1:11-12) not the New Apostolic Reformations twisted doctrines.

Four glaring differences between what took place in the text compared to the methods that are found in modern day movements:
• Paul was not praying over handkerchiefs.
• Paul was not selling handkerchiefs.
• Paul was not training people or “activating” them to perform this extraordinary miracle.
• God was doing the miracle, the handkerchiefs did not have magical powers.

There were some in Ephesus who thought they could emulate the exorcisms taking place under Paul’s ministry: “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Acts 19:13
Most of us should recall the outcome, as scripture paints quite a vivid (and painful) picture of their failure: ““Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.  And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.” Acts 19:14-19

Ultimately, God was glorified, and people repented of something that could well describe Bethel’s methodology -the practice of using “magic arts.”

The second example Dedmon refers to, can be found in her Creative Destiny blueprint. Dedmon tells the story of painting live with a fellow artist during a service: “we painted live in worship at Tree of Life church. As I saw Simon’s painting after worship, I knew God wanted to release healing to those suffering with eye problems. So, after my husband and I spoke, I shared God’s heart for healing eyes through looking at Simon’s painting (read Numbers 21 for a story of healing through art). As those with eye problems came forward andlooked at the painting, God’s presence began to touch them and the result was miraculous. Cataracts and floaters disappeared, stigmatism was healed, and people’s eyesight improved. This time, I introduced Simon to another way of painting with the Holy Spirit’s direction. I was able to give Simon the gift of seeing new ways his art can release physical healing.”
Some may ask, well what’s wrong with God working in this manner? The answer is that we don’t enact descriptive passages in scripture to receive a miracle. James gives instructions for the sick: “Is any sick among you? let him look at a painting call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”James 5:14

Dedmon justifies her methodology of receiving healing by looking at a painting because  the Israelites were healed “through art” when they looked at the brazen serpent. Numbers 21 recounts the story of the Israelites, who at that stage spoke against God and Moses. God’s punishment for this rebellion was lethal:
“ Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” Numbers 21:6-9

This was of course symbolic of the work of the cross: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
The Israelites were healed because they had followed God’s instructions. God spoke, whoever obeyed was healed by God – not the brazen serpent. To use such a miraculous and significant event to justify healing (if there were any real healing’s) by looking at a piece of art is idolatrous. Israel made the same mistake with the bronze serpent. After the incident in Numbers, it’s purpose expired, apart from the fact that it was a type of Christ. The Israelites held on to this piece of art, and what was merely symbolic, became an idol: “In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign.  He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.  He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan)”
2 Kings 18:1-4

The seven sons of Sceva trusted in a formula, the Israelites placed their faith in a piece of art, what Dedmon is doing is no different.

Dedmon is however blinded to the fact that Bethel thrive on teaching formula’s: “There is no formula, only relationship! Jesus never healed anyone the same way for a reason. He was looking for what the Father was doing for that particular person and situation. Our minds tend to want things to be the same because then we can follow a procedure. But we need to follow Jesus’ footsteps of dependence on the Father.” – Theresa Dedmon, Born to Create: Stepping into Your Supernatural Destiny.

The fact is, this method of receiving healing by looking at art is clearly becoming a modus operandi for Dedmon. In this video on Dedmon’s Facebook page, she once again refers to the story of the bronze serpent, followed by the statement that they are going to “release healing” to the sick in the audience. Dedmon is holding a small image of a tree she painted, and approaches one of the young ladies standing up front.  Dedmon: “so Lord we just release them, so that when they look at this picture, that God is going to heal…. whoooaaaa…whoooaaa.. (mild contortion as in stomach cramps – supposedly a sign that the anointing is upon Dedmon) yeah, just go ahead look at the picture, and see that…we say pain go.”

In this blog post, Dedmon tells more stories of people receiving healing by looking at paintings. The focus is not on Christ, but on the artworks, and the ability of Bethelites to dish out portions of presence: “There were countless other miracles because my team listened to the Holy Spirit and creatively released His Presence to bring healing to others who were physically in pain or who needed a breakthrough from depression and other issues.”
Releasing God’s presence is not taught in scripture. God is not a genie in a bottle that needs periodical release by his handlers in order to achieve something.

Bethel are so steeped in the new age and mysticism they won’t recognize staring at a painting in order to receive healing is a form of hypnosis and idolatry. Dedmon describes her mystical process of painting in her book “Born to Create: Stepping into Your Supernatural Destiny.” (All the quotes that follow are excerpts from the Kindle edition of this book, emphasis mine) Dedmon was invited to exhibit at a doctors office in Redding during an “Art Hop” evening.
Dedmon: “..as I usually do when I paint, I soaked in God’s presence and asked for a supernatural anointing to be released through my paintbrush. Since I was painting pictures for a doctor’s office, I asked for an anointing that would heal those who entered the office and looked at my paintings.”

Paintings are not the only creative tool that Dedmon utilizes : “I train people to prophesy and call out the gold in people through every way imaginable because it’s legal to be creative in the Kingdom of God! One of these creative expressions is balloons—that’s right, balloons! I train people to prophesy with balloon crowns and to knight men with balloon swords. It is such a powerful medium!”

The only medium in this instance is Dedmon. Prophecy is a gift, you cannot train people to exercise a gift that has not been given. Even those who hold to continuationism will struggle to find prophetic words in scripture that “call out the gold in people.” But because Bethel conjure up “prophetic words” and teach that people are inherently good, they have no problem calling evil good, and good evil. Jesus did not return to heaven and leave us with balloons or paintings as mediums, the real power is in the gospel, and the working of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 1:16; John 16:7-8) Bethel talk about ‘hosting the presence’ of God, but in fact they are always searching for and relying upon some external medium for power and authority. From seeking the mantles of false teachers such as William Branham, to utilizing puppets, destiny cards, stretch pants, balloons and paintings, Bethel have turned their backs on the all sufficient word of God; the finished work of Christ; the real operations of the Holy Spirit, and embraced a different gospel.

Imagination forms the bedrock of Dedmon’s philosophy, in fact she believes the imagination is a vehicle for transformation. Dedmon writes: “We need the whole Body of Christ to realize the potential lying dormant in the imagination.”
As an example of someone who left a “legacy” because he used his imagination, Dedmon points to King David : “The life of King David provides a great example of using the imagination to transform the world…Aren’t you glad David used his imagination and taught other psalmists to do the same?”
We could all agree the the book of Psalms resonates with just about every conceivable human emotion, and that David was a gifted psalmist. However, David was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and scripture is incomparable to anything written by a Bethelite after a soaking session in their Alabaster prayer house. David’s imagination did not “transform the world” and neither will the continual use of Bethel’s catch phrases that contradict scripture achieve anything.
It gets worse: “We were made with imaginations that reflect the heart of Creator God, who imagined you and me into being! The more we release our imaginations to dream and visualize from Heaven’s perspective, the more God can create things through us to fulfill His purposes!”

God’s purposes on earth are limited by our imaginations and creations?

Dedmon: “The enemy comes to kill, rob, and destroy. He wants to divide families, nations, churches, and people’s lives. When people are creative, the enemy fails to have power because he has nothing that can stop God’s creative sound.”
Dedmon believes that Gideon’s trumpet, David’s harp, and Paul and Silas praising God in prison are proof that creativity makes the Devil tremble as these sounds are released. Dedmon has obviously been influenced by one of the most heretical and new age books sold by Bethel – The Physics Of Heaven. Bethel’s description of the book is telling: “Read what some of the most beloved leaders in the Christian charismatic movement have to say as they explore the mysteries of God hidden in sound, light, vibrations, frequencies, energy, and quantum physics. Contributors include Bill and Beni Johnson..”
(For an excellent 6 part review on this book, click here)

Dedmon: “In May of 2011, Bill Johnson spoke in the School of Supernatural Ministry and said that creative miracles will happen when creative sons and daughter begin to create. Why is this? I believe it is because we have to “see” the greater glory before it is released. Art, songs, writings, fashion, music, and dance have the capacity to usher in the supernatural, unseen realm of the miraculous.”
Do you need any more evidence that Bethel have placed their faith in creative expressions instead of God?

Dedmon: “Now I understand how creative expressions can not only enhance the Kingdom message, but also can embody it. They not only deserve a platform, but they also have relevance for others who need to understand who God is through a different creative expression. A prophetic painting can be worth a thousand sermons. Transformation happens in our imaginations, whether or not we “get it” at the time. My imagination painted a vision of what my life was like through my restricted religious lens. I needed an adjustment to embrace my full destiny. God knew I couldn’t receive it in word form, so He gave me a picture that could not be forgotten. God used my imagination to awaken me to the role of creativity in communicating and receiving the Kingdom of God.”
One sermon that correctly divides the word of God, is worth all the “prophetic paintings” Dedmon’s team could create. “Adjustment” or transformation comes through the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) That takes place as we study the word of God, not through entertaining our imaginations.

What would a sermon or book from a Bethelite be without tall stories – it would be half the length for starters. This tall story takes a leaf out of Revelation:
Dedmon: “When we take risks, God shows up and moves in and through us. I ask my students who go out weekly to release creativity and ask the Holy Spirit what He wants them to do. One person received the same Scripture I had received from Revelation 22:2 and felt the Holy Spirit wanted them to go outside and find leaves to anoint. The group went out with the leaves and asked a man they met if he needed healing. He said that his foot was in continual pain. The girl who had anointed the leaves shared the Scripture and what God had shown her. Before she had even given him the leaves, all of the pain left his foot! They looked down, asking him to move it around to confirm the healing and saw that a leaf had fallen on the healed foot! No matter how hard he tried to get the leaf off by shaking, it clung to his shoe. He stomped his foot, jumped around, and was completely healed.”

This story is the envy of struggling artists who run short of paint:
Dedmon: “A student named Kimberly Humphrey asked the Holy Spirit what she should bring on her trip to Mozambique, Africa, and she brought four 8-ounce tubes of paints. She miraculously painted four murals in prisons during the time she was there! Some of the walls were 10 feet by 8 feet. When she returned, there was still paint in those tubes. If God can multiply food to feed the hungry, He can multiply paint to save the nations! As prisoners look at the murals, they are coming to Christ.”

Balloons, leaves, murals….what’s next? Apparently Food!
Under the sub heading “If You Give A Revivalist A Cookie” Dedmon writes:
“I know that everyone is excited about this creative expression: food! Wait, you can prophesy through food and see people get healed? Yes. Food not only invites our senses to encounter God’s goodness, but it can also be a way to prophesy life to others. I know all the chefs out there will love it! The basic concept is that you can ask the Holy Spirit for a recipe or a prophetic word that goes along with the food you prepare. This is also powerful because you anoint the food with your hands and with love!”

Fortune cookies, tea, and revelatory pizzas…
Dedmon: “At the School of Creativity’s culinary arts booth, they prophesied over others through cookies with a prophetic message of encouragement inside. They offered soothing tea for healing and made prophetic pizzas.”

In the words of Brian Houston, there is more.  According to Dedmon “dance changes the atmosphere” and is a “way of bringing freedom and His presence everywhere you go!”
But don’t settle for less when you can have a double anointing. How so you ask –  is this double anointing acquired  through prayers, fasting and meditation? No, remember this is Bethel, so according to Dedmon “drama Improv brings double anointing!”
Lets not forget Dedmon’s  tarot destiny cards: “A supernatural art card is a pictorial representation of what you see in the Spirit over a person, and it usually requires an interpretation.”

Sadly, the children at Bethel are not spared the indoctrination of this Charismatic cult. From a young age, they are taught to rely on their feelings, images and voices in their minds. Instead of teaching children from the scripture – what God has said, Bethel are encouraging a form of channeling. What may start out as acting upon the imagination, can end in acting on demonic influences.
Dedmon: “Did you know that children could be taught to prophesy and heal the sick? As children are taught who God is and how to listen to His voice, they create things that transform people’s lives. After all, there is no “junior” Holy Spirit. We need to cultivate faith in our children so they can hear from God and experience the miraculous, laying the foundation for their history with God. At Bethel, children are taught to ask God what He is saying and then to express what they hear in dance, singing, drawing, and writing.”

There is no junior gospel, children need to hear the same message of repentance as adults. Dedmon prefers to work on children’s self esteem:

“As I have mentioned before, we want to bring value to the children in our community. We prophesy and bless children through face painting, balloon animals, and destiny art. We declare their destinies as we knight and crown them with balloons, signifying that they are royalty. We have everyone stop and clap after we announce, “Everybody, we have a princess or we have a knight.”

No Theresa, you have a child that needs to hear the gospel!

It seems as if Bethel’s spirit can’t get by without a little help from its friends. Dedmon has enhanced the waiting area at Bethel’s healing rooms by introducing arts such as painting and dancing.She believes these creative expressions have contributed to healings: “People are now getting healed in the waiting room before they receive prayer from anyone, just by being in His presence through the atmosphere that has been created! They call the waiting room, “the Encounter Room.” The healing rooms are lined with volunteers who can’t wait to create and release His presence creatively so others can be healed.”

Where was God’s presence before the paintings and dancers arrived? Did Jesus (after whom Bethel model their ministry) need a creative team from Nazareth to accompany him. Was James selling us short by neglecting to tell us how important the atmosphere was before praying for the sick? Did Paul leave behind a sick Trophimus in Miletus because he failed to release the presence?

In this excerpt from one of the countless testimonies, another unbiblical practice unfolds. Beni Johnson is deluded enough to think she can wake up angels when they take a break or are idle. While angels are “ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Heb 1:14) we don’t have the authority to command them, let alone “release them.”
Dedmon: “Here is another testimony from Louisa Barry, who paints in the healing rooms: I began painting for a woman who had never seen prophetic art before. I explained that I was releasing angelic breakthrough. I didn’t want to control or shape the image, as we can’t control the angelic presence that brings healing.”

Automatic painting releases angelic breakthrough and healing? You don’t have to be a bible scholar to know that what Bethel teach and practice is bizarre, mystical, and not taught in scripture.

Perhaps influenced by Mark Batterson’s mystical book “The Circle Maker,” one of Dedmon’s students tries another formula by partnering with a myth instead of obeying scripture.

Dedmon: “One of my students, Francesco Sideli, who has a degree in art, came to the school hungry for the supernatural and to encounter God. As he began partnering with the Holy Spirit, his creativity became supernatural. People were healed when he drew a circle with chalk and they stepped into that circle.

Like their heretical friends over at Christalignment, Bethel like to blend in at new age festivals. Real disciples were hounded, persecuted, chased out of cities, and many ultimately martyred. But Bethel blend in with the pagans to such an extent there’s little difference between the two.

Dedmon: “Another time, we did destiny art at a New Age festival in Shasta City, California, inside a large gymnasium. As we came in to set up destiny writing and art, we could hear chanting going on over the loudspeaker. As we were busily drawing, all of a sudden, I heard one of our team members playing the congas and singing in the Spirit over the loud speaker. The New Agers liked it so much that they invited her back for another hour! It’s amazing how much God wants to get in to the world’s parties and show off!”

In 2010, Dedmon’s school held a one day arts festival in a park. Some folk are ashamed of the gospel, they know the truth but are reluctant in sharing as they fear they might offended people. In one sense, that’s the sign of the true gospel – it’s offensive to the natural man. In Bethel’s case it’s not that they are ashamed of the gospel, the issue is that they have a different gospel.

Dedmon: “My team strategically created booths that would make people aware of the needs of the children in Africa, but would also covertly bring the Kingdom into people’s lives and carry the power of the supernatural to transform them. We set up booths for dream interpretation, destiny writing, destiny cards, hourly crafts for children, destiny makeovers (makeup and hair), healing, and massage,“

The future is bleak, for the world and the false church, both are under God’s judgement, and both are getting progressively worse by the day. Those who have been captivated by the current delusion in the visible church, will view anyone who is prepared to contend for the faith as a “bully.”

Dedmon: “We need tomorrow to be strewn with innovative ideas because our children were taught God’s plans and were able to infiltrate His core values into the systems and institutions of this world. The future is not bleak—our Dad is around to beat up every bully of religion, fear, or inferior thinking and living.”

In conclusion, I’d like to expound on this sentence by Dedmon : “The enemy comes to kill, rob, and destroy. He wants to divide families, nations, churches, and people’s lives.”

Dedmon is referring to John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Jesus identifies the “enemy” or “thief” and it’s not the devil, it’s false teachers and Dedmon is an example of one. Dedmon is profiteering through fleecing ignorant sheep and inquisitive goats. It is God who brings a necessary division within families: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36
It is God who brings a healthy division between a false church, false teachers, and the body of Christ. Scripture instructs us to mark and avoid those who bring a different doctrine. The world peace and false unity Bethel seeks will come, but under the rule of the antichrist, someone they would probably identify as having an apostolic anointing.  Dedmon and Bethel are playing their role in this current mass delusion by rejecting truth, introducing deceiving spirits and propagating doctrines of demons.

Source: Rick Becker, ‘Famine In The Land’ blog, https://fitl.co.za/2019/11/21/bethels-creative-renaissance-idolatry/?fbclid=IwAR3HEXTZSwFkuqG0m9mCyehl_a4n68ZeWm2Yviru1jYUyZQyMEPhGVxPA4E Published November 21, 2019. (Accessed November 22, 2019.)

Church Watch Central recently received an encouraging email in response to our articles posted as to why women are not to usurp the pastoral role, a role given only to men – as declared in God’s Word:

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:33-35

“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” 1 Timothy 2:11-14

The email also requested that we offer a biblical alternative. Our reader writes in part:

“Thank you for upholding Biblical truth and calling out the many dangerous and incorrect teachings that happen in the church today.

I’ve noticed that several of the last articles you’ve posted centered on women being strictly forbidden from pastoral ministry and I’m curious as to what you believe women are called by God to do for the Body of Christ. I believe that proper correction in the church does not merely stop at declaring what is wrong, but offering beneficial instruction in how to honor the Lord by following His path of life.

Out of the love for true, righteous, and pure worship to the Lord I ask that you may further build up the church by expressing what you deem to be the proper alternatives to the wrongs you address in your articles. Give the women and pastors who read your material a point of reference and set a goal for them to transform sinful behavior into righteous obedience.”

We offer the following article in response.

Why Women Are Critical To the Mission of the Church.

Katie McCoy writes:

While Scripture teaches that God has given the responsibility of the pastoral role to men (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:1-13, Titus 1:6-9),^[1]  there are a myriad of meaningful ministries for women. Unfortunately, many women mistakenly associate being “out front” or “in charge” with being more valuable. However, when we shift our focus away from the few roles God has assigned to men, we’ll find that the ministries available to women are part of the lifeblood of a local church’s witness to the world.

A Long Legacy

From its earliest era, Christianity gave meaningful ministries to women. Women like Priscilla were fellow-laborers in the faith (Romans 16:3). Women like Lois and Eunice nurtured future leaders in the church (2 Timothy 1:5; see also Acts 18:2). Phoebe was a trusted and valued helper (Romans 16:1-2). Junia was a pioneer missionary (Romans 16). Women struggled for the cause of the gospel (Philippians 4:2-3), provided house churches and hospitality (Acts 16:40), and were known in their communities for acts of kindness and charity (Acts 9:36-42).

The trend continued in the following centuries. Ancient Christians in eastern cultures like Syria and Persia assigned substantial responsibilities to female deaconesses––women who served other women in concrete, tangible ways. Their ministries included evangelism to other women, teaching and discipling new female converts, caring for women who were ill, and assisting in the baptism of new female Christians.^[2]

These significant ministries are among the reasons Christianity drew so many women in ancient cultures.^[3] Michael Kruger, an expert on early Christianity, explains that the number of women who converted to the Christian faith in the early church was disproportionate to the gender ratio of the Greco-Roman world, so much so that the pagan philosopher, Celsus, mocked the Christian faith as a religion of women. Among the reasons for Christianity’s popularity is that the church gave women opportunities for honorable and dignified ministries. Kruger notes the presence of women in even the earliest source of Christian history, with ministries of caring for the poor and imprisoned, missions, hosting home churches, and funding the work of the kingdom.^[4] And all of this happened in harmony with 1 Timothy 2:12.

But there’s something about these facts that is easy to miss, and it just might turn the conversation about what women can and can’t do in the ministry on its head.

A New Perspective

The ministries in which women participated are among the markers of genuine Christianity in a community and these ministries led to the growth of the early church. Whether carried out by males or females, these ministries are the boots-on-the-ground assignments for any body of believers. They are at the heart of the church’s mission––meeting spiritual, physical, and material needs in our communities!

Consider how important these ministries were to the New Testament church:

• • Evangelism and Discipleship – Three words to sum this one up: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)!
  • Serving the poor –  The Jerusalem council charged Paul to serve the poor in his ministry to the Gentiles, the very thing he was “eager to do” (Galatians 2:10).
  • Caring for the sick –  Historically, caring for the sick distinguished Christians from pagans.^[5] Jesus even made caring for sick and imprisoned believers synonymous with caring for Him personally (Matthew 25:35-40).
  • Meeting material needs – Paul praised the believers in Macedonia for sacrificially giving to the work of the kingdom despite their material lack. Meeting the material needs of other believers also demonstrated unity in the church (Acts 4:34-35).
  • Hospitality – The ministry of hospitality, or “love of a stranger,” was deeply valued; both Peter and Paul commanded all believers to practice hospitality (1 Peter 4:9; Romans 12:13).

This is the ministry of the church.

Some Practical Suggestions

Now, to clarify, this is not at all to devalue or downplay the priority of the preached Word or the high calling and responsibility of a pastor. Not in the least. Yet, like all other spiritual gifts, the role of a pastor is only one (albeit vital) part of the body of Christ, and it is a calling given to a relatively few number of Christian men. The church’s mission, on the other hand, is the task of every member of Christ’s body, and it is carried out not only during corporate worship on Sunday, but at all times.

Women, consider some practical ways you might join in this critical work:

• • Evangelizing and Discipling. – All other ministries provide opportunities for these two. Ask your neighbor or co-worker how you can pray for her, and look for opportunities to initiate spiritual conversations. Join in the evangelistic efforts of your church or go on a mission trip next summer. Find a younger Christian woman, pick a book of the Bible, and study it together (also, see Titus 2:3-5). Teach a Bible study for women.^[6] Memorize Scripture with a group of friends and talk about how God is using it in your lives. Be the listening ear for a younger mom who’s in tears over raising her toddler and share your wisdom. The possibilities are endless!
  • Serving the poor and vulnerable. Volunteer at a pregnancy center, where so many women considering an abortion are in poverty. You might serve in organizations that help women cultivate life skills or find jobs, or ministries that help women rescued from human trafficking. Or, you might speak up for the unborn by advocating for certain legislation.
  • Caring for the sick. Make a hospital visit or take a meal after a surgery. Clean the house of a woman recovering from chemo treatment or take care of her kids so she can rest. Drive her to an appointment or pick up some groceries. You could even bring a younger woman with you and teach her how to take care of others who are ill.
  • Meeting a material need. Help a college student go on a mission trip or fund a ministry of the church. Help a single mom buy school supplies for her children. Pay a month’s bills for a family whose father just lost his job.
  • Showing hospitality. Host a Bible study in your home or have your neighbors over for dinner. And Christian hospitality doesn’t just happen in the walls of your house.^[7] It can happen when you help a new family in your church find their way around town, or when you help a family of refugees learn and adjust to American life, or when you help children learn to read in an after-school program.

Our spiritual foremothers transformed their communities doing the very ministries that grew the church. And so can we.

Source: Katie McCoy, ‘For The Church’ blog, https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/why-women-are-critical-to-the-mission-of-the-church?fbclid=IwAR396S8zxSiYyhn-1Pvw_V10PWX_EnYJlPpzHgQAfCd7D0XL4egWccH89Gw Published November 20, 2019. (Accessed November 23, 2019.)

‘An inconvenient truth is what it sounds like: Something that’s true but inconvenient. Typically the inconvenience comes down to having to take responsibility for something, or at least in admitting that the excuse you’ve been using doesn’t hold up.’

Whether it be his knowledge of a potential White House invitation or Frank Houston’s access to pulpits, after being stood down from ministry for paedophilia, it’s clear that Brian Houston’s ongoing deceptive dance with the truth is taking its toll on his reputation. The following clip from the ‘Salt And Light’ YouTube Channel clearly points out some ‘inconvenient’ disparities!

Exposing Brian Houston- An inconvenient truth

“A politician may lose credibility with his supporters, but an under-shepherd that exhibits flaws in his integrity jeopardizes the health of God’s flock and clouds the honor of his Lord. In so doing, he brings into question whether or not he belongs in the pastoral ministry at all.” (Link)

2GB Radio Interview – Hillsong founder Brian Houston addresses rumours.

Source: Salt And Light YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMX4AVIB9-0 Premiered November 23, 2019.

Source: 2GB 873, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyY7YEid6Zs Published October 23, 2019. (Accessed November 24, 2019.)

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

Looking back through history there’s obvious evidence of women successfully ‘leading’ in secular society. Moving forward in the western world, more progress for ‘women’s rights’ has been made, whether it be the right to vote, the right to education or the ability to lead governments wisely.

However the push-back from men who want women to ‘lead’ in the church has become one of the most troubling symptoms of our society today. An example being the recent Instagram ‘narrative’ where we saw a series of bizarre and totally unbiblical posts by C3 San Diego’s lead pastor Jurgen Matthesius, trying to justify a ‘biblical’ role for women pastors in the church. All this done to show support for not only Beth Moore, Jurgen also included Paula White, Lisa Bevere, Christine Caine, Joyce Meyer, Chris Pringle and Bobbie Houston – despite none being ‘qualified’, not only on the basis of gender but for their aberrant false teaching as well.

This problem is also reflected in the LGBTQ etc movement where we see a parallel attack on the pulpit – for example the push to accept and ordain practicing homosexuals in the church. As CWC noted in a recent article:

 ‘Just as barriers to women and homosexuals have been removed in other areas of civic life and the workplace, the same demand is made on the church.’ (Link)

And it’s also interesting (as shown above) that the men demanding this role be given to women are, more often than not, part of the movements we critique here at Church Watch Central – Hillsong, C3 Church, Elevation Church and Bethel Redding just to name a few. The men leading (and attending) these same movements claim to love God’s Word yet by their own ‘vocal demands’ prove they do not love their wives enough to warn them of God’s clear commands. Don’t they want their wives to ‘grow in godliness and holiness’? Has the ‘feminisation’ of their unbiblical worldview corrupted their thinking, or has the Lord Himself given them over to a corrupt mind?

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.” 2 Timothy 3:1-8

From a series of articles from Michelle Lesley where she addresses the role of women in the church, the article below is very relevant for today.

Michelle Lesley writes in response to a question:

‘How can you say women aren’t to preach to, teach, or hold authority over men in the church? What about Deborah, Esther, Huldah, Phoebe, Priscilla, and the women at Jesus’ tomb? Didn’t they all preach to men, teach them, or hold authority over them?’

That’s one of the arguments often put forth by people who reject what God’s word plainly says about the biblical role of women in the church. And the short answer is very simple: Yes and no, and so what?

But maybe a longer answer would be better.

First of all, there’s a proper way and an improper way to understand Scripture. We want to make sure we understand Scripture the proper way. When we look to Scripture to find out how we should behave – what we should do and not do – we do not look first, or primarily, at the biographies of people in the Bible and what they did or didn’t do, and model ourselves after them.

Broadly speaking, there are two main types of Scripture: descriptive and prescriptive. Descriptive passages describe something that happened: Noah built an ark. Esther became queen. Paul got shipwrecked. These passages simply tell us what happened to somebody. Prescriptive passages are commands or statements to obey. Don’t lie. Share the gospel. Forgive others.

If we wanted to know how to have a godly marriage, for example, we would look at passages like Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Corinthians 7, and Exodus 20:14,17. These are all passages that clearly tell us what to do and what not to do in order to have a godly marriage.

And when looking for instruction about the role of women in the church, we look to clear, prescriptive passages which tell us what to do and what not to do, notdescriptive passages about various women in the Bible.

Descriptive passages may support, but never trump, the clear instruction of prescriptive passages.

But just for funzies, let’s take a quick look at these ladies so often trotted out in defense of Christian women disobeying Scripture. (If you’re unclear as to what God’s word says about women’s role in the church, you might want to check out this article and this article before reading further.)

Deborah, Huldah, and Esther:

The very first thing we need to remember about these ladies is that they were under the old (Mosaic) covenant of the Old Testament, not the new (grace) covenant of the New Testament. There are a lot of things about the old covenant that no longer apply to Christians in the New Testament because Christ fulfilled the law of the old covenant (Bacon and poly-cotton blends, anyone?). Likewise, there are things about the new covenant that did not apply under the old covenant (The church? Evangelism? Nowhere to be found in the Old Testament), or for which there are no reasonable precedents in the Old Testament because the church is a new covenant institution.

None of these women were pastors. None taught men the Scriptures in the church (or even temple) setting. None assumed authority over men in the church (or even the temple).

Deborah was a judge. She decided disputes between Israelites and discussed with Barak battle instructions that God had already revealed to him. When Barak refused to stand up and fight like a man, God used Deborah, a woman, to show him that another woman, Jael, would get the glory for killing Sisera. In a patriarchal society a woman in leadership and a female war hero would not have been seen by men or women as a positive thing, but rather as shaming men who were too cowardly to step up, lead, and protect their women and children.

Huldah was a prophetess. She was sent for during the reign of Josiah when the temple was being repaired and the priests hadn’t even been able to find the book of the law for years. Again, what does it say about the spiritual condition of the most important men in the country – the king and the high priest – when they, in a highly patriarchal society, have to humble themselves and seek out a woman to tell them what God says? Huldah repeated to them what God had told her, and that was it. Since we now have God’s written word and He no longer speaks through direct revelation this way, there is no parallel between Huldah and New Testament women preaching, teaching, and exercising authority.

The Women at Jesus’ Tomb, Priscilla, and Phoebe

The women at Jesus’ tomb were sort of Old Testament-ish, too, if you think about it. The church didn’t yet exist when they saw Jesus resurrected and ran back to tell the disciples about it. Still, this was not preaching, teaching, or holding authority over the disciples even in a non-church setting. This was a) giving eyewitness testimony of what they had seen and b) carrying a message from Jesus to the disciples. There was no commentary or instruction from the women to the disciples, just a report on what they had seen and a message of where Jesus and the disciples would meet up. And, really, don’t people usually see “messenger boys” (or girls) as subservient to the people they’re carrying messages between?

Priscilla (or Prisca) might be the best known Christian woman in the church era of the New Testament. When people try to use her as an argument for female preachers, teachers, and authority, they usually go to Acts 18:26 which says that she and her husband took Apollos aside and fully explained the gospel to him. This was a private meeting among the three of them, likely in their home over a meal or other casual circumstances, not preaching or teaching in the church. Additionally, the Bible makes absolutely no mention of how much, if any, of the actual “explaining” Priscilla did. It’s quite possible she just sat by as Aquila did the majority of the explaining and contributed only here and there or when Aquila forgot something.

Phoebe is mentioned once in the New Testament, in Romans 16:1-2. Paul commends her to the church at Rome and asks them to help her out because she has been a good servant of the church at Cenchreae. That the word “servant” can also be translated as “deaconess” in no way indicates that Phoebe (or Priscilla or any of the other women mentioned in Romans 16) preached to or taught men or exercised authority over men, despite the fact that male deacons today might do such things. The Greek word diakonos simply means “servant.” Acts 6:1-6 gives us a glimpse at some of the services the early deacons likely provided- “waiting tables” and meeting the physical needs of the believers. The apostles even drew a distinction between their preaching of the word and the need for others to minister to the material needs of the people.

And one more thing about Priscilla, Phoebe, and the other women of Romans 16: Who – under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – wrote the book of Romans? Paul. Who – under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – wrote 1 Timothy 2:11-15? Paul. Would the Holy Spirit have led Paul in Romans 16 to praise women who were rebelling against His word in 1 Timothy 2? Have you ever known God, anywhere in Scripture, to praise people who unrepentantly break His word? Would it make any sense, logically, for Paul to praise in Romans 16 women who were habitually and rebelliously disobeying his instructions in 1 Timothy 2.

While there are numerous, important ways God wants Christian women to serve Him in the church, the Bible is clear that we are not to preach to or teach men or exercise authority over men in the assembly of believers. We are to follow in the footsteps of godly women like Esther, Priscilla, and all the others by humbly submitting to His word and obeying it.

Additional Resources:

Bad Examples of Women Pastors (But Great Examples of Godly Women) by Gabe Hughes

“I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that women grow in godliness and holiness. Listen to the preaching of the word, and do what it says. Your selfish frustration in reading “quietly with all submissiveness” will cause you to miss the instruction “let a woman learn!” A strong woman of God is supposed to be a woman educated in the ways of God. Feminists hate this. They don’t want women to be strong in the faith. They want them to be weak (2 Timothy 3:6). Strong women aren’t easily manipulated by their lies – the same lies of that ancient serpent who hissed at Eve, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1)” Ps. Gabe Hughes

Source: Michelle Lesley, ‘Discipleship For Christian Women’ blog, https://michellelesley.com/2017/10/12/throwback-thursday-rock-your-role-oh-no-she-di-int-priscilla-didnt-preach-deborah-didnt-dominate-and-esther-wasnt-an-egalitarian/ Published October 12, 2017. (Accessed November 26, 2019.)

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

In his latest article Reverend Anthony Wade, a credentialed minister with the Assemblies of God, addresses the New Apostolic Reformation’s ‘false authority paradigm’.

Reading his article reminded CWC that this teaching is eerily similar to that taught by NARpostle Phil Pringle.

In light of this paradigm has anyone ever wondered why the Lord, in His great mercy, is leading so many of His Sheep out of C3 Church Global, away from this ‘vision-casting’ authoritarian leadership? Of course there will be ‘nay-sayers’ about the number of those leaving C3 and similar movements. Much like the ‘LGBTQetc’ movement who refuse to acknowledge true conversion to Christ by those who were once practicing homosexuals, ardent followers of Pringle refuse to express concern for those who leave their movement but instead accuse the ‘Berean’ believers as being ‘the problem and not the answer’ – then point to ‘numbers’ as a sign of their success! All this very much part of the unbiblical ‘leadership’ model heavily promoted by Phil Pringle and C3 Church Global.

From Pringle’s book ‘You The Leader’, the following ‘word-salad’ may offer some explanation:

“If we ask, “Who’s the pastor around here?” we generally mean, “Who’s the boss?”…  The leader of a church need not necessarily be the pastor. Many of those so called to lead churches today attempt to be pastors when, in fact, that is not their primary calling.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 260-1.

“I don’t approach Sundays with an attitude of, “What message shall I preach?” but rather, “What do we want to achieve in our church at this time?” That desired end result determines what and how I preach. Then, within the particular message, I ask myself, “What am I trying to achieve here? What one thing am I attempting to say? What do I want these people to have or do at the end of this time?’ Then I follow the plan.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg. 234.

“We all know we need leaders. Without leadership, anarchy ensues. But we need more than just leaders. In fact, we even need more than just good leaders. We need great leaders.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 11.

“In short, we need leaders because they see things that others don’t. When we follow great leaders, their  vision becomes ours. We start to see what they see, and we begin to own a vision larger than ourselves.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 16.

“Leaders actually conceive realities within themselves before the events have happened.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 33.

“Vision could be just as well described as “vibration.” The leader feels the vision as a vibration. He or she then imparts the feeling to others, who accept the vision and run with their leader to make it happen. The leader has seen something that ignites fire in their souls.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 43.

“When you have to set down the rules all the time, you know people have not caught the dream. People who have caught the vision instinctively know what is appropriate and what is required. They don’t care what it takes; they live to make the dream reality. At the risk of sounding unrealistically romantic, I have to say that unless the hearts of the team members beat with the pulse of the leader’s dream, it’s never going to fly.”  – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 44.

“The leader is the bell ringer, the trumpet blower, the drum beater, the vibration maker, and the vision caster… A great leader imparts the burden, inspires commitment, and sets the pace for achievement of God’s purpose.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 45.

“When a particular teaching comes forth, it is just as foolish to denounce it simply because it differs from what we have been accustomed to. When Kenneth Copeland began preaching on prosperity, it seemed out of balance to many. Maybe it was, but few prophetic messages come forth as balanced thoughts. God often has to push the pendulum to the opposite side to get us back in balance. However, for whatever reasons, a lot of preachers took up arms against Copeland and began preaching against his message.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg 140.

“I have a simple philosophy of “rolling with the punches.” This takes the heat out of a lot of the punches we take. I simply rolled with what a lot of others thought was a threat to the local church. In fact we had Brother Copeland come twice and preach in our church. We’ve only been blessed by the message. If there are any extremes, we as leaders are able to address them and graciously bring whatever balance we feel is needed. However, we need to be careful that we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 141.

Dr. Robert Schuller was preaching in our church. Out in the back room before the service, he asked me what I thought about particular things that were happening in the church around the world. I was still only a  young pastor at the time, yet this world-renowned figure was asking for my opinion.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 175.

As well as promoting false teachers, Pringle’s book is endorsed by like-minded false teachers:

“Phil Pringle is an apostolic leader par excellence. He is also one of the many few leaders who knows how to mentor others and to communicate what he knows. You The Leader is crammed full of extraordinary insights that will help you become the dynamic leader God wants you to be! I highly recommend it.” – C. Peter Wagner, Wagner Leadership Institute, Colorado Springs, Colorado USA.

“You The Leader is a “must-read” for any person who feels called to leadership.”– Joyce Meyer, Joyce Meyer Ministries, St. Louis, Missouri USA.

“Phil Pringle’s outstanding leadership skills have been proven over many years, and so he is well qualified to write this exceptional book on leadership.” – Pastor Brian Houston General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Australia / Senior Minister, Hillsong Church.

“I would like to recommend You The Leader by Dr. Phil Pringle.  All true Christians are called to use their talents and gifts in a position of authority in the body of Christ. This book will help each Christian understand his or her role in the body.” – Dr. David Yonngi Cho, The Yoido Full Gospel Church, Seoul, South Korea.

Source: https://www.amazon.com.au/You-Leader-Phil-Pringle-ebook/dp/B00INS2B9Y

Rather than heed the words of a ‘hired hand’, take comfort the words of your true Shepherd:

^“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” John 10:11-16

“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

Rev Anthony Wade writes:

Beware the NAR false authority paradigm.

Source: Rev. Anthony Wade, ‘828 Ministries’ blog, http://www.828ministries.com/Diary/Beware-The-NAR-False-Autho-by-Anthony-Wade-Christianity_Faith_God-191126-951.html?fbclid=IwAR0wocHUR-aB9sLFns9MfTOuL2jT6qBrL5ccvqfu9KJvPrGwAgZnHqwlWE4 Published November 26, 2019. (Accessed November 27, 2019.)

 ^“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30

Earlier this year Dr. Michael Brown announced he’s heading up a team of senior leaders to investigate the sordid allegations against Bentley.

“Senior leaders in the body eh? I wonder who that might be? Is it from the same clown car that went down to Lakewood in 2008 to anoint Bentley a prophet only to see him fall from grace after God exposed the affair with his nanny? Do you even care the damage you wreak upon the body of Christ Dr. Brown? I mean at all? It is sadly ironic that you keep using 1 Corinthians 6 but I fear you are looking at the wrong half of that chapter. Read the second half about fleeing sexual immorality. The reputation of the church is at stake but while you play Columbo you make a mockery of the church because Todd Bentley should have never been a part of the church.” Rev. Anthony Wade. (Link)

Pulpit & Pen contributing author Dustin Germain brings us up to speed on the latest developments in the article below.

An Update On Dr. Brown’s Investigation into the Bentley Scandal (And It’s Bananas).

Dustin Germain writes:

A few days ago Dr. Michael Brown gave an update on the Todd Bentley tribunal, which was convened to investigate numerous salacious accusations that had been publicly lobbed at Todd during the summer, and which included tales of adultery, sexting, pornography use, and various sundry perversions.

The update from Dr. Brown was essentially a plea for patience, informing that they were in the final phases of the investigation but needed a bit more time and would soon post their findings. The text of that update has been posted below.

Consequently, Todd Bentley released a two-hour live Facebook video titled “THE INSIDE STORY ON MY CALLING, MY TRIALS, AND MY PATH OF RESTORATION: In-depth Interview w/ Todd Bentley and Michael Fickess”

“Compassion is not the same as empathy or altruism, though the concepts are related. While empathy refers more generally to our ability to take the perspective of and feel the emotions of another person, compassion is when those feelings and thoughts include the desire to help.” (Link)

With that quote in mind, Church Watch Central takes a look at the recent update from “A Current Affair” on C3 and Phil Pringle. This latest update, now being broadcast around the world via social media, reveals among other things, a ‘Christian leader’ who refuses to ‘pastor and counsel’ his followers as he proudly declares, “I have no empathy bone in my body!”

The ‘pastor’ who made that public confession is none other than Phil Pringle, a well-known false prophet and false teacher within the Charismatic Movement.

It’s important for Christians to remember that having ’empathy’ can be likened to Christ’s command to love one another, that being ‘loved’ by a pastor comes with the pastoral role, that by having ’empathy’ a pastor understands the feelings and experiences of others in their pastoral care:

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14

With Phil Pringle’s proud declaration in mind, we remind our readers of Christ’s ’empathy’: 

“And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” Mark 1: 40-42

“Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.“ James 5:11

“Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:13-14

“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34

 ^“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

‘Empathy is like a compass, it directs the pastor into the unknown world of the Christian’.(Link)

This latest “A Current Affair” update on C3 Church Global points out the serious flaws in Phil Pringle’s ‘pastoral’ character, C3’s serious neglect by failing in their duty of care to those on medication, and Pringle’s cruel lack of pastoral support for a grieving family.

In closing we remind our readers that the most serious problem not being reported is the false teaching that runs rampant through this movement and others like it. Of course nobody expects a secular program to pick up on false theology but it’s interesting to note that the Lord is using secular media to begin to expose these wolves.

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:13-15

“It’s the church that sells miracles for money, and now the Prime Minister has been dragged into a scandal.”

Source: Dan Nolan, ‘A Current Affair’, https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2534259840144658 Premiered December 5, 2019. (Accessed December 5, 2019.)

Phil Pringle hasn’t got an empathetic bone in his body?

“You gotta know what your sweet spot is and what your sweet spot is not. I have found that my life is more about the “to-not-to-do” list than the “to-do” list.

When I became a Pastor there were all kinds of expectations on me. In my own head mostly I felt what a Pastor is meant to be. He’s meant to visit people in a hospital. He’s meant to counsel people. He’s meant to bring a sermon. He’s meant to sit in committee meetings. He’s meant to do this and that. And all of these things were in my head.

But the first time a person came to me for council, I felt, the whole anointing that I had go. Everything left me.

My shoulder’s slumped, all the energy went out on me. When this woman started talking to me I felt like I had no answers I didn’t know what to do, I was so tired. She’d be speaking for two minutes and I was worn out. So, I put my hands in my head as though I was deeply concerned, but I went to asleep.

The weird thing was when I woke up she was still talking. It kills me. I am not a councilor, do not come to me for council, you will be worse at the end of the session.

I have no empathy bone in my body. I feel for some things, but I don’t ever make decisions. And I can’t be worried about all the little feelings of people all the time. I’m sending people into war, I’m sending couples like this to cities I’ve never been to, San Diego. They come up and say, “Oh what’s going to happen, oh… GO!”

CWC includes the following from C3 (where they once again deemed it important to include their ‘good works’ at the bottom of their response):

“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:22-23

Response to A Current Affair Program 5 December 2019

Related articles:

Ps. Chris Rosebrough proves that Phil Pringle does indeed ‘sell miracles for money’.

C3 Church Oxford Falls – why another media blackout? (Updated, with evidence of second media blackout.)

Defending the indefensible.

C3’s ‘Media Response’ to the ‘A Current Affair’ investigation ignores the victims.

‘A Current Affair’ demonstrates that Phil Pringle is not ‘above reproach’ – Part 1.

‘A Current Affair’ demonstrates that Phil Pringle is not ‘above reproach’ – Part 2.

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

Reinhard Bonnke has passed into eternity, and with his death comes both acclaim and criticism. No doubt his ministry will continue as his protégé Daniel Kolenda takes over leadership of Christ For All Nations – however the fruit of that ‘legacy’ must continue to be biblically scrutinised.

From South Africa’s ‘Famine In The Land’  addressing the recent death of Reinhard Bonnke on their FITL Facebook wall:

“The passing away of Reinhard Bonnke has stirred many emotions, with some celebrating 75 millions “decisions” for Christ under his ministry, some skeptical, and some condemning him. What we are instructed to do, is test his doctrine, God alone will test his works and salvation. What we do know:”

 75 million decision cards do not amount to 75 million conversions (God in his mercy and grace may have saved some under Bonnke’s ministry)

His emphasis on certain teachings deceived many, one example being that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is marked by speaking in tongues.

His endorsement of false teachers such as Benny Hinn, Todd Bentley, Bill Johnson and Kenneth Copeland once again will have caused millions to be led down the wrong path.

CFAN is now a ministry to be marked and avoided, and is part of the New Apostolic Reformation. (Link)

Bonnke made some confusing, and even heretical statements, whether due to ignorance or lack of proficiency in English, the message is dangerous, example below:

“Reinhard Bonnke passed away today, sadly he was caught up in the NAR and endorsed many false teachers such as Todd Bentley, Bill Johnson, Benny Hinn etc. It was just a matter of hours until the word “double portion” popped up, expect to see claims of his mantle being passed on, although his protégé Daniel Kolenda might claim sole mandate on Bonnke’s non-existent mantle.” (Link)

Source: Rick Becker, ‘Famine In The Land’ Facebook post, https://www.facebook.com/679286202242353/photos/a.692331907604449/1377407515763548/?type=3&theater. Published December 9, 2019. (Accessed December 10, 2019.)

The legacy of Reinhard Bonnke.

As has been rightly stated by many discerning Christians over the years, many Charismatic/Pentecostal believers are ‘technically biblically illiterate’ – and this is a world-wide problem. Many ex-Charismatics can sadly attest to their own biblical illiteracy once they have been exposed to sound doctrine and teaching.

What is the legacy of Reinhard Bonnke’s many evangelistic crusades over the years, from 1967 until his retirement in 2017?

Reinhard Bonnke oversaw almost 79 million conversions to Christianity, his organisation claims. Where are those approximate ’79 millions conversions’ today? Are they truly saved and flourishing under sound teaching or were they just ‘decision makers’ – false converts, numbers added to a boastful list? Is the impact of this ‘charismatic christianity’ continuing to deceive many in Africa today?

Reinhard Bonnke crusade.

Testing the legacy.

Pastor Conrad Mbewe – the African ‘Spurgeon’.

There is one highly respected pastor, Conrad Mbewe (also known as Africa’s Charles Spurgeon), who addresses the topic clearly in the following articles and podcast:

Strange Fire – The African Import of Charismatic Chaos.

“My concern is this: that when a lot of people look at the full-to-overflowing churches in Africa, the apparent excitement in the churches, they cross back to the U. S. and say, “There’s revival there!” The churches are packed, multiple services, churches multiplying, but I do want to say to you tonight that it is not Good News. It’s bad news.” (Link)

Why Is The Charismatic Movement Thriving In Africa.

“I think that one reason why the Charismatic movement in Africa has been like a wild bushfire is because it has not challenged the African religious worldview but has instead adopted it. It has simply baptised it with Bible verses and Christian words that previously meant something totally different.” (Link)

Conrad Mbewe also speaks of Bonnke’s early evangelistic crusades, held in the 80’s where a gospel message of repentance was preached and some of Ps. Mbewe’s own associates were converted to Christ and remain so to this day. Fast forward to 11min 30sec mark on this podcast:

Strange Fire & Crusade Evangelism – click here to listen. 

With an acknowledgement of a gospel message being preached in his early years, and despite his later extremely troubling association and ongoing endorsement of false teachers, Todd Bentley among others, it is our hope that Reinhard Bonnke did indeed have penitent faith at the time of his passing and is resting with his Saviour, having not trusted in his ‘works’ and man’s acclaim. No one is privy to his final destination, for God alone ‘will test his works and salvation’.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Once again we remind our readers that the right way to address his passing is to test his doctrine, as we are commanded to do by scripture.

CWC research articles on Reinhard Bonnke’s association with the New Apostolic Reformation and endorsement of false teachers (note: in the first article, the question asked ‘was he really a brother in Christ?’ A reasonable question given his later associations and endorsements):

Reinhard Bonnke: A New Apostolic Reformation Apostle?

This second article addresses Bonnke’s promotion of the kenotic Christ:

Reinhard Bonnke demonstrates how a false baptism leads people to confess a false Christ.

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

When Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, Church Watch Central predicted that the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) Apostles and Prophets would try to gain access to this ‘Christian’ President. Lance Wallnau and other ‘prophets and apostles’ have since labelled Trump as ‘Gods Chaos candidate’, proving the obvious nature and motivation of the NAR. What no one could have predicted was President Trump’s recent appointment of the self-proclaimed NARpostle (and notorious scam artist) Paula White to be his aide and ‘spiritual advisor’!

The outcome of this now sees the New Apostolic Reformation apparently fulfilling one of its ‘Seven Mountain’ mandates, having ‘dominion’ over the United States, primarily through the White House and the Oval Office (called ‘The Government/Law Mountain’).

With that particular ‘mountain’ claimed, we remind our readers that NAR Apostle Brian Houston had previously been the subject of much scrutiny regarding the Australian Prime Minister supposedly inviting him to the White House. Which brings us to ask why had a legitimate invitation been extended to Brian Houston – after his previous ‘denial of entry’ to the White House dinner with Prime Minister Scott Morrison?

We offer the coverage of this latest event at the White House below.

BRIAN HOUSTON’S #INYOURFACE MOMENT

On December 7, 2019 Brian Houston uploaded the following video to Instagram, stating:

“WHITEHOUSE!
#neversaynever”

Watch the video here:

https://churchwatchcentral.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pedofender-in-whitehouse.wmv

[Click to Download]

Source: Brian Houston, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/B5vyOEJHCkT/, Published December 07, 2019. (December 07, 2019.) 

WHY WAS THE INVITATION EXTENDED?

This latest White House invitation went out to certain individuals, in particular ‘worship leaders’ – all who appear to hold to dangerous cult theologies such as ‘restorationism and dominionism’, with the belief that the restoration of Apostles and Prophets has been restored to the Church. This ‘restored’ Order of end-time Apostles and Prophets are to take dominion over the nations and subdue them, ushering an end-times revival and Christ’s return. This very dangerous teaching is taught specifically within the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a ‘spiritual’ cult where people like Brian Houston and Paula White hold the title of ‘Apostle’, relying on their ‘apostolic networks’ to bring about ‘influence and change’ in prominent places.

“The New Apostolic Reformation’s roots can be traced back to the New Order of the Latter Rain, a dominionist cult that declared that God was restoring Apostles and Prophets to govern his end-time church to judge and rule the nations. The NAR cult believes they are to influence Seven Mountains of society: Arts/Entertainment, Business/Finance, Church/Religion, Dissemination/Media, Education/Science-Tech, Family/Health, Government/Law. So it no surprise that a number of those that were invited are already recognised leading Apostles, Prophets or figures of this movement.” [Read more here]

What cannot be determined was the invitation’s source. Was it influenced by NAR Apostle Paula White or someone higher up within the Trump administration?

It’s interesting to note that it was Vice-President Mike Pence, a conservative evangelical, who appeared with the gathering of ‘worship leaders’, a man who describes himself as “a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order.”

Nevertheless, the outcome of this ‘worship gathering’ are seen in the below posts across social media.

Vice-President Mike Pence may have been led to believe what he was witnessing were true Christians worshiping at the White House. Nothing was more further from the truth. In fact, this type of publicity (and apparent influence) is not what the Trump administration needs if they wish to maintain their integrity with mainstream discerning Christians.

Paula White retweets Vice President Pence’s tweet demonstrating his presence at the event (you can also see Brian Houston behind VP Pence’s hand).

WHO IS SEAN FEUCHT?

Below is a Instagram video of the event shared by Sean Feucht, where it soon becomes evident that there’s no resemblance to orthodox Christian worship. Instead, what is on display are ‘Apostles and Prophets’ showcasing their unbiblical NAR manifestations (shouting, writhing, flinching, twisting, etc). This behaviour (and shouting) on their part is in line with their ‘dominionistic strategy’ to take over the Government Mountain and change the nation of America, through what is known as ‘Strategic-Level Spiritual Warfare’, originally taught by the late Apostolic leader of the NAR, C. Peter Wagner.

[Click to Download]

Sean Feucht is now a worship leader at Bethel Church, after joining the Bethel Music Collective in 2016. In addition he is a founder of the grassroots global worship, prayer and missions organization Burn 24/7. It’s also important to note that Sean Feucht is now running for Congress. Feucht states:

“I’m doing this because I’ve been praying for so many years that God would bring revival and that he would bring an awakening to America, that government officials would be elected that would be righteous. But I think what happens is that you reach a point to where your prayers don’t carry a lot of weight unless there is action behind them. And that’s the place where I am right now.” [Source]

Worship leaders as politicians are not new, he points out.

“If you look at the life of King David, for example, he was a rancher and a farmer and then he was in the infantry and then he was a politician and he led an entire nation. And all through those phases and seasons of his life he never lost the heart of worship. That’s really my desire, to carry that heart into everything that we’re called to do.” [Source]

A good example of Feucht’s NAR ‘fanaticism’. In one Instagram post Sean boasts, “We were invited by this administration to worship inside the White House today.” The question is – by who?

Sean Feucht is also a recognised ‘Prophet’ of the NAR who was previously involved in the globally recognised and dangerous iHOP cult. To get an idea of how he fits within the New Apostolic Reformation, it is important people see how he previously  advertised both his events and himself on the ‘prophetic’ Elijah List NAR network:

COME READY TO GET LIT AFLAME WITH THE BURNING FIRE OF GOD’S LOVE! We will have two nights of going after God’s Presence through worship and prayer with Sean Feucht and Rick Pino. We will be asking God for dynamic breakthrough and revival across the Northeast! There will be times of strategic impartation and commissioning for university revivalists to take their college campuses for Jesus! THIS EVENT IS FREE!

*We will also be hosting a “Watchmen’s Roundtable” on Saturday from 10am-12pm and 1pm to 4pm with the goal of praying, strategizing, sharing our hearts and building authentic relationship among leaders on their university campuses for a beautiful convergence and move in the fall of 2010. All leaders are welcome…

SEAN FEUCHT is the founder and director of the Burn 24-7. He is a prophetic psalmist with a vision for planting Davidic houses of vertical worship and prayer and ?resting places? for God in cities and nations all over the earth. Sean has a passion to see people of all nations come into their destiny to release the sounds and fragrance of Heaven through night and day worship and prayer that will usher in the Presence of God transforming, block by block, city by city, region by region and nation by nation until all of the world burns with the Glory of God.

Schedule
May 21-May 23
Also join us for a special “Watchmen’s Roundtable” on May 22nd (Saturday) two sessions 9am – noon and 1pm-4pm. All leaders are welcome!”

Source: Join Rick Pino and Sean Feucht, Elijah List, http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word/8711, Published Apr 29, 2010. (Accessed Dec 07, 2019.) [Archived]

And if you’re bemused by what Sean said his vision is, you would not be alone – discerning Christians do not recognise this language/doctrine/belief system as biblical.

“For planting Davidic houses of vertical worship and prayer and resting places for God in cities and nations all over the earth,”

However, as a ‘Prophet’ in the NAR, this is strategic level spiritual warfare (SLSW) talk.

Feucht explains that his ‘spiritual strategy is to,

“usher in the Presence of God transforming, block by block, city by city, region by region and nation by nation, until all the world burns with the Glory of God.” 

That declaration clearly describes the NAR domioninist mandate on how to literally ‘take over’ the world for Jesus to return. And to get an idea what worship can look like in NAR churches, this is an example of the worship to expect with worship leaders like Rick Pino and Sean Feucht get together. (Yes, this is Rick Pino leading worship – and no, this is not satire.)

Another example – in 2018, Sean Feucht can be seen engaging in this NAR theology at the ‘Take The City’ event. Midway into this promo, you can see his arms outstretched on stage, flying like an aeroplane.

[Click to Download]

SEAN FEUCHT’S APOSTOLIC BACKING

As stated above, Sean Feucht is running for congress. So who will he seek endorsement from? Politicians? Social workers? True Christian pastors or New Apostolic Reformation Apostles? If the NAR, which major apostles are backing him?

The leading apostle of the New Apostolic Reformation, Che Ahn (and one of the three apostolic pillars of the global NAR movement), recently commended Sean Feucht on twitter.

Apostle Bill Johnson (another of the three apostolic pillars of the NAR), also had no qualms standing with and promoting him for congress:

You will notice Sean Feucht’s ‘apostolic’ language – calling Bill and Beni Johnson ‘spiritual parents’. This is NAR code talk for ‘Apostle’, male apostles also being called ‘Papas’, ‘Pas’, “dads’ “spiritual fathers’; female apostles called ‘mamas’ or ‘spiritual mothers’.

Sean Feucht has publically made known whose final authority he submits to: his NAR Apostolic leaders at Bethel Church.

POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SOME NOTEABLE ‘OTHERS’ AT THE EVENT

Sean Feucht staging his own worship moment at the White House here:

Other people noted ‘worshiping’ in the White House video – Relentless Church pastor, John Gray (formerly from Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church with John Osteen being the founding Apostle of the Lakewood cult, Osteen rising in prominence through the 1950s apostolic network known as the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI)). Obviously NARpostle Paula White can also be seen at the event. And of course, the worship leaders of Bethel were also present as seen in the video above.

BETHEL’S JENN JOHNSON SEES ‘ANGELS ON ASSIGNMENT’?

It’s obvious that this White House event was all about NAR-related ‘strategic-level spiritual warfare’ – with Jenn Johnson’s claim to seeing “angels on assignment” giving the ultimate insight into their truly unbiblical ‘spiritual’ beliefs.

“Brian & I were invited to lead worship @ the #WhiteHouse yesterday! We attended a #FaithBriefing w/ other leaders & got to meet our president @realdonaldtrump & lay hands on him & pray!The presence of God was so strong in worship & prayer. We DECLARED some things.I saw angels on assignment! We heard from our Vice President @mikepence @ivankatrump & other staff members. Hearing them speak was exciting about the good that’s happening that you don’t hear about on bias media & heart breaking at the same time to hear of all they are fighting w/ #HumanTrafficing #ReligiousFreedom #Abortion #Communism & so much more. Sobering. This administration needs us. They need our prayer & they need grace. No one is perfect, ourselves included. They literally have the weight of the world on their shoulders. It’s detrimental to judge someone or think you know their heart. So pray. Pray for our president. Pray for the staff. Pray for Gods will to be done in our nation. Don’t criticize, mock & curse. Write your congressman & pray. That’s what changes things.(So glad our son @braden.tyler.johnson was with us for such an incredible moment.)@stephenjameshart” (Link)

THIS IS THE SAME JENN JOHNSON WHO COMPARED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ‘THE BLUE GENIE FROM ALADDIN’.

FROM AUSTRALIA – THE ‘EAGLE’ HAS LANDED:

Brian Houston also present as a recognised Apostle of the NAR. You can Sean Feucht endorsing and promoting Brian Houston after the event here:

“Tryna play it cool *but geeking out inside* with the boss, the big eagle @BrianCHouston at the White House yesterday. What an honor be with such incredible faith leaders!”

Regarding this tweet, people were calling out Sean Feucht’s appalling endorsement of Brian Houston:

“Glad to see you running interference for a man who protected a paedophile, told the victims to go away & is trying the same caper with police investigating him. You’re a sad example of a new generation’s leader standing with a peddo protector. Shame on you.”

“@seanfeucht @BrianCHouston adlı kullanıcılara yanıt olarak
Pedophile protector.”

“Nothing more inspiring than a guy worth millions who refuses to sign his church up to the Redress Scheme and protects his paedophile father by refusing to talk to the police! Praise money!!… I mean Jesus!!”

“Brian Houston knew that the founder of his church raped children and did not hand him over to police. He also blamed the victims for the rape & sent members of his church to harass them.”

“This isn’t #Christianity nor leadership of any kind in Christian sense.All who turn a blind eye to hypocrisy? It never ends well. Read your #Bible over protection of children & what happens to those who refute teaching. So sad, & your eagle..will fall. #FalseProphets,  always do.”

“Dude, he defended his father after he was caught with underage kids.”

“@seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
The man is a pedophile enabler
Tax religion
Tax cults”

“กำลังตอบกลับถึง @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
yes, Sean, God bless all the pedophile enablers.”

“Yeah, must be great to hang with a person who protects a paedophile and blames the victim.”

“กำลังตอบกลับถึง @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
It won’t  do your image any good to be pictured with that pedophile protector. Just saying…”

“กำลังตอบกลับถึง @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
Who manages your media? Whomever it is ain’t doing their research…”

“กำลังตอบกลับถึง @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
Oh, NOW I get it. This is a parody account! You’re illustrating the worst of the worst of hypocritical pseudo-Christians like this guy who covered up his father’s pedophilia and is now pretending he has dementia so he can avoid responsibility.

AHAHA! Good job.”

“กำลังตอบกลับถึง @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
He. Protected. A. Child. Rapist.

He refused to answer police questions.

He refuses to sign Hillsong up to the National Redress Scheme for the victims of institutional abuse.

Dunno who YOUR God is mate, but I’m pretty certain he’s not mine.”

“กำลังตอบกลับถึง @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston

Stay away from Houston he is under investigation because it was it was revealed in a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he failed to report his father’s sexual abuse of children. He shouldn’t even left Australia, perhaps he ain’t coming back.”

“Replying to @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
The big eagle? Seriously? At best he’s a grifter preying on the credulous. At worst?”

“So the protecter of a child rapist “prayed” in the White House with you? What has this country come to? The separation of church and state is being challenged, by mysterious and loosely affiliated “church” businesses who are more political than pious. Time to revoke 501(c)(3).”

“Replying to @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
So you like hanging out with a guy who protected a paedophile. In the name of God.”

“Replying to @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
You are geeking out over hanging out with a paedophile defender?
That’s pretty bad man.”

“Svar til @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
Cool. Hanging with the Paedo enablers”

“Svar til @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
A paedophile enabling grifter who tried to blame the child.”

“En réponse à @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
Is this the guy who ran interference for a child molester? Better not follow those footsteps my dude.”

“En réponse à @seanfeucht @BrianCHouston
You mean the Brian Houston who is still being investigated by NSW State police for concealing his father, pastor Frank Houston’s sexual abuse of children. That boss?”

How does the Bible proclaim our Saviour’s birth? 

In Luke 2:1-20 we read:

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

^“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,”

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

So we ask the question – how will Hillsong Church UK demonstrate this most holy occasion to the secular world?

“The Christmas season is upon us and we are so excited to spend it with you! Carols at The SSE Arena is a night that is focused on celebrating what Christmas is really about – JESUS!” (Source)

“It’s a great pleasure to invite you to enjoy the amazing Hillsong Carols London 2019 is an event that is focused on celebrating the real meaning of Christmas.” (Source)

With thanks to “Salt And Light” YouTube Channel for their latest exposé of the 2019 London Carols promo – presented by Hillsong Church UK:

“If you use carnal means to attract men, you’re going to attract carnal men. And you’re going to have to use greater carnal means to keep them in the church. So what has happened is this – we have these large churches filled with many unconverted carnal people. But, in those churches, we also have this small group of people that honestly want Christ… all they want is Jesus. But the pastor, in order to keep this larger group of unconverted people, he caters to them; so, while he is feeding these carnal men and women with carnal things, he is letting the sheep of God starve to death. The leadership is catering to the carnal and letting the Bride of Christ starve to death impoverished. That is wrong, and there is going to be judgment for it.” Paul Washer (Source)

Source: ‘Hillsong’s Carnal Christmas’, ‘Salt And Light’ YouTube Channel, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGYbPPFcOGo&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2vkyVpWB2p8w13OpwPXwHKDzi3i-kZNK00RTgrM-o4Oc1l2rFuJg9QtSs Premiered December 14, 2019. (Accessed December 15, 2019.)

Related CWC Hillsong Christmas articles:

Hillsong: from Silent Night to Sordid Night.

Hillsong Wishes You A Merry Christmas (Parody).

Simila’s comeback: Hillsong’s Naked Santa Puts Hillsong’s Naked Cowboy To Shame.

Are there no ‘wise men’ at Hillsong?

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

In her latest article Holly Pivec from ‘Spirit Of Error’ writes a disturbing report about a school of Bethel Church Redding masquerading as an Assemblies of God Bible Instiute.

“…my claim that the AG’s BSSD is actually a school of Bethel Church may seem difficult to believe. But, below, in what follows, I highlight key facts that show that BSSD is, essentially, a Bethel school – through-and-through – as opposed to an AG institute.”

Holly Pivec is the co-author of A New Apostolic Reformation?: A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement and God’s Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement. She has a master’s degree in Christian apologetics from Biola University.

Holly writes:

You’ve probably heard of a single church being taken over by an individual or group from within. But have you ever heard of an entire network of churches within a denomination being taken over? As unprecedented as that may sound, that is exactly what appears to be happening now in the Assemblies of God (AG) denomination in Northern California and Nevada.

The flashpoint for this takeover is a discipleship school now also functioning as an AG Bible institute, housed at Lifehouse (an AG church), in Eureka, California. While the school has existed for 10 years, it recently began offering all the classes required for a person to become licensed and ordained as an AG minister. And this AG Bible institute is pumping out the next generation of AG leaders into Northern California, Nevada, and AG churches in other areas. But what’s wrong with that?

The problem is that the school appears to be a Trojan horse. It is heavily influenced by the teachings of Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, and other “apostles” and “prophets” from the controversial Bethel Church in Redding, California. To those who are paying attention, the name of this AG institute, the Bethel School of Supernatural Discipleship (BSSD), may be the first thing to give it away.

But that’s not where the connections end.

Not What It Seems

Despite the AG label and licensing, BSSD is not actually an AG school – not at its heart. Rather, it seems more accurate to describe it as a school of Bethel Church, intentionally modeled after Bethel Church’s own Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM).

Anyone who knows the rocky history between the AG and Bethel Church will understand why a Bethel school passing itself off as an AG school would concern some people within the AG denomination.

Bethel Church split with the AG denomination in 2006 to pursue what it saw as a different and distinct calling. That calling has included the promotion of many teachings that have been publicly repudiated by the AG, including the teachings that modern “apostles” and “prophets” must hold governing offices in the church; that miraculous gifts are not distributed by the Holy Spirit as He wills, but rather that every Christian can learn to work miracles; and that it is the church’s task to set up God’s physical kingdom on earth prior to Christ’s return.^[1]

In short, the AG’s officially stated doctrines and position papers are in direct conflict with many of Bethel’s teachings. And Bethel teachings have caused significant conflict in AG churches. (See my article showing how this conflict recently played out in one AG church in Northern California.)

In light of this troubled history and doctrinal conflict, my claim that the AG’s BSSD is actually a school of Bethel Church may seem difficult to believe. But, below, in what follows, I highlight key facts that show that BSSD is, essentially, a Bethel school – through-and-through – as opposed to an AG institute.

BSSD: Bethel Born and Bred

• • “Sister Schools”: The current BSSD website — which is remarkably similar in structure and content to Bethel Church’s BSSM website – describes BSSM as a “sister school.” And an older BSSD blog, which can still be found online, described BSSD as a “sister campus” to BSSM. Likewise, BSSM staff members reportedly refer to the two schools as sister schools.
  • Same Founders, Core Values, and Culture: The BSSD website also speaks to the key connections between BSSD and Bethel Church, noting the role that Bethel prophet Kris Vallotton played in the AG school’s conception. The BSSD site also declares that BSSD and Bethel Church share the “same core values and culture.” What are those core values? You would expect the BSSD page to list the core values and note, in addition, that these are the same core values as those of BSSM. But what do they do instead? They refer people to the BSSM page for the list of their own core values. The BSSD states:

“In 2009 Kris Vallotton, Senior Associate Leader of Bethel Church, and Marty Pronovost, a Senior Leader of BSSD, envisioned a discipleship school on the North Coast. The school would be a sister school to Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry where students and young revivalists alike could to [sic] take part in kingdom culture, experience the love of God together for growth, receive healing and discover their identities as children of God…. We share the same core values and culture of Bethel Church in Redding, CA.”

• • The “instrumental” and “ongoing” roles and influence of Bethel’s Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, and Bethel Church: A WordPress blog that served as a repository for information in BSSD’s early days remains active. It provides a deeper window into the relationship between BSSD and Bethel Church, boldly proclaiming the centrality of the start-up and ongoing support of BSSD by Bethel Church’s Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton. It states, “BSSD has an incredibly strong relationship with Bethel Church in Redding, California under the direction of Senior Pastor Bill Johnson and Senior Associate Kris Vallotton. Bethel has been instrumental in the start-up and on-going support of BSSD as a sister campus.”
  • Family Ties: One of BSSD’s two co-founders and current senior leaders, Marty Pronovost, has close family ties to Bethel. He is the son-in-law of Kris Vallotton. Marty Pronovost’s wife, Jaime Vallotton Pronovost, is Vallotton’s daughter and the school’s “Third Year Director.”
  • Shared Applications: There is a clear sharing of student applications between BSSD and BSSM, as can be seen in a comment posted to the BSSD website by a former student named Jed Laub. See the comment here (found in the rotating comments at the bottom of the page), where Laub describes how his application sent to BSSM was forwarded to BSSD (seemingly without his knowledge). And this sharing of applications is not a one-off. On her personal blog, another BSSD student reported an experience of applying to BSSM, being rejected, and then being asked for her permission to forward her application to BSSD (where she was accepted). And two other students report similar experiences on their blogs: here and here. What is especially significant here is that the same application is accepted as a basis for being admitted at both places.
  • BSSD, A “Prep School” for BSSM: Apparently, BSSM has made a practice of sending applications they have rejected to BSSD. According to one of the rejected BSSM applicants, BSSD is seen as a “prep school” for BSSM — a school that is “functionally equivalent” to BSSM, but smaller — where students can go to resolve some personal issues before entering BSSM. This perception is confirmed by the BSSM website, which describes BSSD as “an affiliate discipleship school” of BSSM, a school for people “looking for a place to rehab or people who are coming out of lifestyle sins.” The BSSM site also provides a direct link to the BSSD site. But, regardless of the rationale, such application sharing seems to establish an ongoing direct link and influence administratively from Bethel’s BSSM to the AG’s BSSD.
  • “Feeding School”: A Facebook post, written by BSSD co-founder Willy Bowles prior to the school’s launch, stated that BSSD would be “more or less a feeding school” for Bethel Church.
  • Shared Speakers: Many, if not the majority, of the speakers at BSSD hail straight from Bethel Church. These speakers have included Kris Vallotton, Bill Johnson, Eric and Candace Johnson, Chris Overstreet, Dan McCollam, and Anthony Skinner.
  • Direct Bethel Endorsements: Kris Vallotton is featured in a promo video for BSSD, endorsing the school.
  • “Spiritual Fathers”: BSSD co-founder Marty Pronovost refers frequently to Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton as his and Lifehouse Humboldt’s “spiritual fathers.” (Lifehouse Humboldt is a network of AG churches, including the church that houses BSSD.) For example, listen to Pronovost’s message titled “Keys to Unity, in which he refers to Bethel’s leaders as “our fathers” (starting at about 27 minutes).
  • Confusing the Schools: BSSD is so closely tied to Bethel Church that multiple BSSD students have referred their school as being a school of Bethel Church. See examples of three different students raising funds to attend BSSD who make no distinction between BSSD and Bethel Church: here, here and here.
  • Shared Teachings: Like Bethel Church, BSSD teaches that all Christians can learn to work miracles, such as prophesying and healing the sick, in a classroom setting – along with many other Bethel Church teachings. These shared teachings are no surprise given the organizations’ shared founders, values, and speakers.

The Significance

The significance of the above points can’t be overstated. This is not simply an AG school that appears to have a casual connection to Bethel Redding. This is a Bethel-born school, conceived directly by Kris Vallotton, with the support of Bill Johnson, and with Vallotton’s son-in-law Marty Provonost (an ordained AG minster), along with Willy Bowles (another ordained AG minister and a district presbyter for the AG’s Northern California and Nevada District). Said differently, it is the brainchild of leaders at Bethel Church, working in partnership with some AG pastors and officials in the AG Northern California and Nevada District who have close personal ties to Bethel Church. And these individuals have, from the beginning, intentionally modeled BSSD after Bethel’s BSSM. This is a deep-seated connection, and Bethel plays an ongoing and important role in all aspects of the school.

And now BSSD is dispatching, into AG churches, pastors who have been molded theologically by Bethel Church — a church theologically at odds with the AG. This is a brilliant strategy for penetrating and taking over a denomination: seize the hearts of a whole generation of denominational pastors, give them networks of similarly envisioned people from the get-go, and you get more than just a few churches – you gain access to an entire network and denomination.

A Wake-Up Call for AG Leaders (and Other Denominations)

So, an important question is: how did this Bethel born-and-bred school ever receive official recognition as an AG institute in the first place? The school has clearly found support at the denomination’s district level, as seen by the fact that district leaders have had roles in founding the school, endorsing it, and teaching at it.^[2] Is it possible that the other leaders in the district are simply unaware of the depth of the connections and relationship between the schools?

The school certainly warrants a closer look by those who may share concerns about Bethel’s influence, and those in leadership positions in the AG who are charged with maintaining the denomination’s doctrinal purity, given what has been coming to light about Bethel Church and the larger New Apostolic Reformation movement of which Bethel is a part.

In one sense, a takeover of the AG, at the district level, has already begun. Thus, it seems that, if the AG wants to reverse this takeover and prevent its spread to the AG at large, its leaders have no choice. They must act and intervene given the growing Bethel influence and the fact that this school claims to be an AG-sanctioned school preparing students for ministry according to AG General Council educational requirements.

What’s taking place right now in the Assemblies of God Church should be a sobering wake-up call – not just for those in Assemblies of God leadership, but also for leaders in other denominations who must remain vigilant. Historically, the Assemblies of God has taken a commendable stand against aberrant teachings, including teachings now being promoted by Bethel Church.^[3] As a concerned onlooker, I pray they will take a similar stand again.

Notes

^[1] These Bethel teachings can be found in the sermons and literature of Bethel’s leaders, including Bill Johnson’s book When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles. The teaching that, biblically, the proper church government consists of apostles and prophets can be found on the church website in the “About” section under the tab titled “Our Mission.” The teaching that all Christians can learn to work miracles is the foundation of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, where students are taught to work miracles. See the following AG position papers, which refute those teachings: “Apostles and Prophets,” “End-Time Revival: Spirit-Led and Spirit-Controlled,” and “The Kingdom of God.”

^[2] Consider this e-mail — dated Sept. 3, 2019 — sent by AG District Presbyter Willy Bowles to AG churches in the Northern California and Nevada District. Bowles introduces the church’s pastors to the school and describes it as “an approved Bible institute for the Assembly of God denomination.” Since Bowles was then acting as a district presbyter,  he presumably had the authority to declare that BSSD is an AG-approved Bible institute. He also informs pastors that, through the school, their parishioners can receive an AG minister’s license. And he states that some of the school’s classes are taught by AG district leaders, including the district superintendent, Brett Allen, and the assistant superintendent, Sam Huddleston. The message of the e-mail is clear: this is an AG school, and it is endorsed by the district’s top leaders.

^[3] For example, on September 13, 1949, the General Council of the Assemblies of God in the United States passed a resolution denouncing the extreme teachings and practices of the Latter Rain movement. (See Resolution No. 7.) The Latter Rain movement was a precursor to today’s New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement. Like the NAR movement and Bethel Church, it  taught that present-day apostles and prophets must govern the church.

Source: Holly Pivec, ‘Spirit of Error’ blog, http://www.spiritoferror.org/2019/12/a-bethel-redding-school-masquerading-as-an-assemblies-of-god-bible-institute/8675, Published December 15, 2019. (Accessed December 16, 2019.)

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

The last few days have been incredibly sad for a young family who are part of Bethel Redding’s music ministry – with the announcement that their two year old daughter was pronounced dead after ceasing to breathe. Despite objections to Bethel teaching and theology there’s been nothing but prayer lifted up for the family, by Christians around the world – not that she be raised from the dead, but that the parents would find solace and comfort knowing their daughter is in Christ’s precious care.

Four days later as this precious child still lies in a morgue, Bethel Music leader Jenn Johnson (who sees the Holy Spirit as the ‘sneaky blue genie from Aladdin’)  is still decreeing and declaring ‘Lazarus/Olive Day #WakeUpOlive’.

An attached comment on the Instagram feed speaks the sad but harsh truth:

“You guys need psychological help and are doing more harm than good for the name of Jesus and for the grieving mother. A true friend would never encourage this false hope with “visions” and “dreams” that you have had about her child who has been in the morgue for 4 days. While I believe in Jesus and prayer, you are simply delusional if you think she is going to come back from the dead and telling the mother that God revealed to you that she is, is one of the coldest most heartless things I have ever witnessed.” (Source)

From Pulpit & Pen:

“No individual is credibly reported to have been raised from the dead since Paul raised Eutychus in Acts 20. This miraculous feat was done by God through the prophets and Apostles (there are ten reported cases in the Bible, other than Jesus). However, Bethel Church is a part of the New Apostolic Reformation, which believes they are modern-day prophets and Apostles, complete with all their power.” (Source)

Rev Anthony Wade writes this strong article below where he states, in part:

“Since I know few will say it, I must. You cannot expect miracles when your base is actively working against God. The bible says that we are either gathering people to Christ or scattering them away.”

Toddler death at Bethel reveals the true damage from NAR theology.

Bethel Redding’s “dead raising” team.

Rev. Anthony Wade writes:

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 

https://www.charismanews.com/us/79206-bethel-worship-leader-asks-for-prayer-that-daughter-who-died-would-come-back-to-life

When practicing discernment regarding false theologies we often here the lament, “what’s the big deal?” Joel Osteen has encouraged millions of people, leave him alone. Joyce Meyer has helped countless women, don’t pick on her! In defending Bill Johnson and Bethel Church, Dr. Michael Brown once told me, “You do not know them, they love Jesus.” It has always saddened me that people who call themselves Christians seem overly focused on protecting the wolves and show little to no compassion for the sheep being devoured. I think the reason for that is that the truth of the devouring gets lost in the analogy. We can look at a cartoon of sheep being bloodied but not realize that it represents a real person. You see the truth about the key verses is that our hope in death is no longer found in this life. Our hope in Christ is in the eternal life He died on the cross to give to us. Many of the false teachings of today, including the NAR is a love of this life. A virtual obsession with this life. Their hope seems not in the eternal but in usurping the power of God to extend this life.

Ground zero for the false teachings of the NAR is Bethel Church in Redding California. Their NAR dominionism values this world. Their false signs and lying wonders misappropriates scripture to convince people that they have the power of God. It is the same sin of Lucifer. It is the same sin he then tempted Eve with in the garden; to be like God. They pretend our words create as the spoken word of God does. The evil practice of grave sucking the anointing of dead charismatics started at Bethel. They operate a dead raising team that claims they have resurrected 15 people, with shockingly no witnesses. When Dr. Brown defends them by claiming they love Jesus he cannot see that the jesus they love is false. Their jesus is wing man, not a Lord. He is the buddy jesus not the Savior Christ. Google to read the stories of those who have escaped the cult of Bethel Church the next time you think there are no victims. Or sadly, listen to the story of two-year old Olive Heiligenthal.

Olive was the daughter of Bethel worship leader and songwriter, Kalley. Olive died four days ago. I tread lightly because I cannot imagine the overwhelming sense of loss in losing your two-year-old child. What has been done to Kalley however by Bethel is spiritual abuse. You see, instead of dealing with the normal stages of grief, Kalley has been taught to place her hope in this world and has called for prayer to resurrect her deceased child. Let’s get the initial reactions out of the way. Can God resurrect Olive? Of course He can, He is God. Just because God can do something however, does not mean He will. As a worship leader at Bethel, Kalley has been wrongly taught that she is prophetic by nature. Seriously, they train all of their worship leaders to engage in emptying their mind and blaming whatever pops in on God. While that also may sound harmless, it is not. It conveys to people that they have a spiritual gift they may or may not have. It teaches people to speak on behalf of God when He has not spoken. Let us reason through the above linked article from Charisma and see how Kalley Heiligenthal has been victimized by Bethel.

‘Bethel worship leader and songwriter Kalley Heiligenthal asked for urgent prayer yesterday after doctors pronounced her daughter dead. In an Instagram post, Heiligenthal said her daughter stopped breathing Saturday and was officially pronounced dead. “We’re asking for prayer,” she wrote. “We believe in a Jesus who died and conclusively defeated every grave, holding the keys to resurrection power. We need it for our little Olive Alayne, who stopped breathing yesterday and has been pronounced dead by doctors. “We are asking for bold, unified prayers from the global church to stand with us in belief that He will raise this little girl back to life. Her time here is not done, and it is our time to believe boldly, and with confidence wield what King Jesus paid for. It’s time for her to come to life.”‘ — Charisma News

Please, this is not an exercise in being insensitive to the family but in protecting the sheep everywhere who will see this story and be led astray. Jesus did indeed defeat the grave and holds the key to resurrection power. That power is in redeeming us back to the Father. Before Calvary, death meant eternal separation from the Father but now because of the finished work of the cross, our resurrection will not be to this world but to the next. Then we see the effects of the false word faith teachings Bethel also traffics in. Her time is not done? We have no power to declare or decree anything beloved. King Jesus did not pay for the resurrection of our loved ones in this life. God is the author and finisher and yet Kalley thinks nothing of essentially overruling God and declaring it is time for her child to come back to life. Instead of someone speaking the word of God into her life, the apostate church rallied to her cause:

‘Several prominent Christian pastors and leaders–including Rich Wilkerson Jr., Darlene Zschech, Britt Nicole and Mack Brock–commented on Heiligenthal’s post, saying they were interceding in the name of Jesus. Others shared Heiligenthal’s bold call for resurrection prayer. Bethel pastor Kris Vallotton shared Heiligenthal’s message on Facebook, saying, “Please join us as we pray in bold faith for a miracle for our own Kalley and Andrew Heiligenthal.” His post has 1.4K shares as of this writing. Prophetic revivalist Christy Johnston also shared Heiligenthal’s plea for prayer, adding her own faith-filled cry of intercession: “Friends, we are joining the Bethel family in a global movement of prayer for this little one, Olive. Ever since we heard yesterday morning, I have been praying prayers of resurrection over this little girl. We serve a miracle working God, and all night in my sleep, I kept hearing the words, ‘Talitha Koum’… little girl, I say to you, get up from the sleep of death in Jesus Name and WALK! I looked up her name meaning just now, Olive Alayne. Olive- ‘evergreen’, which speaks of LIFE in EVERY SEASON. Alayne – ‘AWAKENING’ and ‘dear child.’ ! Lets decree together over her, O-LIVE the AWAKENING breath of Jesus, dear child!”‘ — Charisma News

Since I know few will say it, I must. You cannot expect miracles when your base is actively working against God. The bible says that we are either gathering people to Christ or scattering them away. Which do you think Kris Vallotton does? What about ecumenicalist Darlene Zschech? Rich Wilkerson? Really? I do not know who Christy Johnson is but she declares she is a prophetic revivalist and has now decreed that Olive means evergreen and evergreen means life in every season and therefore the two-year-old must come back to life? This is not Christianity. It may even be insulting to pagans to call this paganism. This is the end result of poor and spiritually abusive teaching. It also destroys some popular false Bethel teachings. Bill Johnson is fond of teaching mandatory healing and claims if someone is not healed, then it is their fault for a lack of faith. Did two-year-old Olive have a crisis of faith Bill? Where is your famed dead raising team and why were they not dispatched to help Kalley resurrect her daughter? Why didn’t you call for the glory cloud to come?

Beloved, there are victims all over this story. The parents of little Olive have been taught so poorly. They attend and assist one of the worst apostate churches on the planet. The tragedy they suffered four days ago is bad enough without compounding it with false hopes in this world. When all of the declaring and decreeing has subsided. When all of the wannabe prophets pack up their revival tents and move onto the next tragedy. When Bethel returns to their business and the dead raising team returns to their deception. When all of this occurs, Kalley Heiligenthal will have to make arrangements to bury her child. We mourn for Kalley. We pray for Kalley. We pray first and foremost that she awakens from the slumber Bill Johnson has cast into her eyes and that she see the darkness all around her. We pray that she comes into the light and finds comfort and salvation in the true Christ. We pray secondarily for all of those watching this story. We pray that God uses it to reveal Himself to those lost in the Bethel haze. Do not doubt for a second beloved that there are always victims of false teaching. Discernment is not an abstract intellectual exercise. It is triage on the battlefield.

Rev. Anthony.

Source: Anthony Wade, ‘828 Ministries’, http://www.828ministries.com/Diary/Toddler-Death-at-Bethel-Re-by-Anthony-Wade-Faith_Prophet-191217-743.html?fbclid=IwAR00ngrnDvyWt89Q_YFeH5HGxywUdbSrpUf487VxXIdlaFsYTIo6hoGM_zI Published December 17, 2019. (Accessed December 18, 2019.)

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None of us are privy to the events surrounding Olive’s death but God’s Word does remind us of King David who, when his sin was exposed and judgment pronounced, gives an example of his strong faith in a God who will reunite him with his child in eternity. The parents of dear little Olive will also be reunited with their precious daughter, when they are allowed to find true solace from their pain and grief, by turning and trusting in our great Saviour Jesus Christ, and not the ‘god’ that holds Bethel in such dark deception:

“And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick.David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:15-23

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

^“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16