How God Rescued Me From Bill Johnson’s Cult
by Shofar B. From ClosingStages.net
Last year around Christmas time, I was part of a prayer group where I live. It was a small group that met 1-2 times a week. All of us were DESPERATELY seeking God. It was a good fellowship. One evening after the session ended, I was tinkering around on the drums when one of the brothers, Dan came up to me with a look of soft urgency in his eyes.
Seeming not to notice that I was in deep focus trying to perfect a drum rudiment, he proceeded to interrupt me with a question…in a notch above whispering my name he asked me, ”have you ever heard of Bill Johnson??” Still working out drum patterns and attempting to simultaneously reply, I answered…”I ‘ve heard the name before. I know he’s in California but I don’t know much about him.”
At this response, I saw Dan’s face light up as if he had just received a shot of adrenaline. I knew he was ready to share, so sensing this, my drumming gradually teetered off into a complete silence. It was then that Dan began to advise and enlighten me about Bill Johnson’s Bethel Church in Redding Ca. Also he gave me the scoop about the churches School of Supernatural Ministry. [Side note: I hate typing for long periods of time so this is going to be a truncated account and I’ll add more details over time.] Okay, so Dan who has no binding ties to Bethel, suddenly sounded like one of their top recruiters/ pitchmen.
He began to tell me about how the presence of God permeated and saturated the campus at Bethel. He RAVED about the school. He RAVED about the music in the worship services. He RAVED about the teachings of Bill Johnson and Kris Vallatton. He raved about everything from the prayer tower to the coffee shop. After about an hour and a half of what could’ve EASILY qualified to have been a top notch infomercial, Dan made me an offer that two weeks later I found out…”I couldn’t refuse.” Dan told me that he was so confident that my walk with Christ would intensify by leaps and bounds by going to Bethel, that if I agreed to go, NOT ONLY would he pay my transportation there…he would also PAY THE $9000.00 Tuition required to attend the School of Supernatural Ministry.
At the time it really sounded cool, but I was comfy here at home and saw no need to make any rash moves. However, later, some things were being shaken up at home and I began to lose peace. I remembered Dan telling me of the intense peace that was present aroung the Bethel atmosphere. Being that he contacted frequently to pitch me on Bethel after that prayer meeting night, it was during one of the times we made contact…I succumbed. I said okay Dan…I’ll go check it out. The next day we were at the Greyhound station. However, I got cold feet and asked for more time to think about it. After all this was new territory for me, new town, nowhere to live, new people was no big deal…I’m as gregarious as they come. I LOVE PEOPLE!!! Anyway, after thinking about it, I took the dive. The next day I was off to Redding. Set up with a nice motel, I found my way to Bethel the next day, and this would be the beginning of the road to my NIGHTMARE. Please note though, it didn’t start out that way.
When I attended Bethel for the first time it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!! And that ”love” would continue for the next two months. I immediately called Dan to tell him how right he was about everything. I even went on to tell him that he UNDERSTATED his description. I SWORE that I had died and gone to heaven. People seemed to really love Jesus. The view from the top of the mountain was ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING!!! There was something going on ALL OF THE TIME…LITERALLY 24/7. Being one that’s GREEDY FOR GOD, it was the perfect milieu for me and my insatiable appetite for HIM. There were ubiquitous house groups within the community and I loved attending them. It reminded me of the New Testament church in Acts.
I went to EVERY possible function that I could, and there were ”ZILLIONS”. During a house meeting I was offered a place to stay…for FREE. And that was just in the nick of time as I began running out of money. A few days later, I began living with students from Bethel’s school. Still floating on a cloud, I just seemed to see God’s hand moving at every turn I made. Even from my first visit, I would get myriad ”words of knowledge” spoken to me by many people EVERYDAY. I still have them written down. I think maybe ONE came true, but I know NOW that it was just a lucky guess..the rest em’?? UN-lucky guesses…lol.
So to make a long story short , I absorbed every thing Bethel offered I dove in seven days a week. I had my first ”fire tunnel” experience at a house…my first impression…OVERRATED!! While everyone else that went through it laughed and convulsed hysterically, I was unaffected EVEN in spite of the countless attempts of others to ”IMPART” (one of their buzz words) into me what they were feeling.
Also, I found it strange that I couldn’t even communicate with people even about simples matters like the weather or a basketball game without them jerking, shaking or convulsing…these convulsions were so profuse within the cult that for me it QUICKLY became overkill.
Another idiosyncrasy was the constant belting out of the phrase…”’WHOA” OR ”WOE” This is heard constantly. Still seeing through rose colored glasses though, I overlooked the weird behavior and justified it by concluding that ”God loves it when his kids are having fun with Him” Gradually though, I started deducing that this wasn’t mere fun…it was borderline mockery, the shaking, the jerking, the laughing, the cackling, the convulsing….it just went on TOOOO MUCH!!! If it were done in moderation, it may have gone undetected by me, but this was INSANE!!!
Later, I started noticing a LOT of name dropping from the pulpit (mostly from Bill Johnson) of false prophets and wolves like Bob Jones, Patricia King, Todd Bentley, Heidi Baker, and a plethora of others… This was constant, and when these names were mentioned, cheers went up with the fervor and magnitude of a Super Bowl touchdown reaction. During my entire time there, I NEVER ONCE heard Jesus get even a fraction of that type of praise,worship, or delightful frenzy. I might add that NEVER ONCE did I hear salvation, repentance, holiness, righteousness, judgment, or wrath preached, neither from the pulpit nor when I’d travel the streets with them. The whole business plan (because it’s NOT a ministry) is to focus on LYING signs and wonders….impotent magic tricks. I’ve always wondered why Bill would rave about all of these so-called and UNDOCUMENTED ”miracles” happening through Bethel around the world, YET, when it comes to home, we never get to see any of em’ manifested. For instance, Bill and his wife both wear prescription glasses…where’s the healing?? Bill had a hernia surgically removed…WHAT??? No miracle?? Bill’s son Eric is deaf and has a speech impediment…C’mon Bill…that’s your son..HEAL HIM!!!…Bill and his wife have gray hair (a sign of zinc deficiency)…but no ”supernatural” intervention has taken place, yet all of this GREAT stuff is happening EVERYWHERE ELSE EXCEPT HOME ON BETHEL’S TURF!!! Gimme a break!!!.
The real thing that got me though was the death of little J.C. the infant of two dear Korean friends of mine. He died from cancer at two years old. Prayers went out for him every second of the day. People jerked, shook, laughed, convulsed, spoke in (FAKE/DEMONIC) tongues over him…the works…and when he died, we were left with feeble excuses like ”God needed him more” kind of CRAP!!! Around this time
I had already stopped going to the church. When I first got there, for the first two months, because God gifted me with charisma, celebrity looks (and I don’t say that arrogantly) and the ability to draw people, I instantly became EXTREMLEY popular. By the time I left Redding, I was considered a pariah in some circles and cliques within. Even though I lived with Bethel students, I began to expose Bethel, Bill Johnson, Kris Vallaton, Danny Silk, and ALL of the celebrity WOLVES in their within their evil and deceptive cabal. People that used to ”love” me (so they said), snubbed me on the streets. They unfriended me on facebook. They’d give me looks of sheer disdain whenever we’d cross paths…we’re talkin’ some of the same people that I’ve prayed with, broke bread with, and had gotten venerably intimate with. When I stopped going to the church and began staying home and listening to REAL MINISTERS OF GOD like Michael Boldea and Mike Hoggard, Paul Washer and David Eells, I got flack from my roommates saying that those guy were mad and didn’t know God.They asked me not to play their sermons But I’d ignore their comments and continued to feed on what was REAL GOSPEL. I would often challenge my roomies and other Bethel ”robots” on Bill and Kris’ theology and their twisted new age ”sermons” WITH SCRIPTURE and it ceased to surprise me anymore that they’d rebuttle my challenges with quotes from one of Bill or Kris’ books. IMAGINE THAT!!! They ALWAYS tried to refute GOD’S WORD with quotes from books written by their false teachers. Can you say MIND CONTROL???
So after 2 months, I stopped going. I continued to live with the students because it was a ”phat crib” OR, a nice house for those who are linguistically challenged in ”SLANG”…LOL I was paying rent by this time in a new home and different students. The landlord approached me one day while shooting ball in the yard and told me that if I didn’t start attending Bethel and doing what they call ”SOZO” classes (which is simply /new age mysticism/chanting/ contemplative prayer or ”soaking” kinda stuff) that I would have to find somewhere else to live. It was my 4th month in Redding and that was my ”Q” to leave. My wife was on the phone when this happened. I had my bluetooth in my ear and the landlord wasn’t aware that I was on a phone call at the time. My wife COULD NOT BELIEVE HER EARS!!! We both knew it was time to ”GIT OUTTA DARE”.
I became good friends with Mike Hoggard while going through that trying period, and he REALLY helped sustain me in prayer and encouraging words. I initially was going to relocate to where he is and get some discipleship and restoration. But God led me home. Let me give you one more story here before I close. There was a class held every Sunday called ”Fire Starters” birthed out of the Toronto Blessing movement. This class was supposed to ..get this…”TEACH” PEOPLE HOW TO PROPHESY…LOL!!! Yes…I laughed too!! So anyway, every class people were randomly called to the front of the room, they were lined up, and asked to pick someone in the room and give them a word of knowledge…BUT THERE WERE RULES…WHAT EVER YOU SAID HAD TO BE SWEET, KIND, AND MAKE THE PERSON ”FEEL” GOOD…Those are the rules verbatim!!!
After weeks of seeing this nonsense and people stating the obvious and touting it as hearing from God, out of frustration, one Saturday night, I decided to MAKE UP, FABRICATE a ”word of knowledge” just in case I would be picked out to prophesy in tomorrow’s class. And whaddaya know…I get picked. When my turn came, I shared my FABRICATED ”word’. It was this, ”there’s someone here who’s been strategizing suicide, and the devil is tormenting you. If you’ll raise your hand, we can pray for you and you can be released.” Much to my surprise, a hand went up…WOW….I’m like okay God, you used my prank to REALLY get someone’s attention. ”Praise You”.
But I was about to get an even BIGGER surprise, because, I immediately thought the room would shut down and people would bombard this poor girl who planned to take her life, so they could pray and labor over her soul, but NO!!! That’s NOT what happened. Instead, I got reprimanded by Kevin Dedmond, one of the ”leaders” (you can see his crap on you tube w/Sid Roth),and I was told that I’m to only say things that make people feel good. And they resumed right back into letting people perform their exercises of divination, cause that’s what it REALLY is.
More upsetting is that when class dismissed, out of a room of about 150ppl, I only saw 2 people (excluding myself), a couple go minister to that girl…everyone else??? Well, they were too anxious to go through the FRUITLESS ”fire tunnel” so that they could appease their flesh…and so they did…THEY LAUGHED, THEY JERKED, THEY SHOOK, THEY CONVULSED, THEY WRITHED IN THE FLOOR, and to this very day…they call it GOD.
When they finally DO meet God they’ll not be laughing anymore!!! I’d like to thank Pat Rogers from ”ANGRY SHEEP” for encouraging me to share this with you all. Believe me, there’s soooooooooo much more to share and I’ll add on as things come to mind. You have to realize that I only hunt and peck 20 wpm, so typing , for now anyway, isn’t my forte. Getting ready to take classes though. Please forgive any type-o’s. Love You All in the Lord and I pray that in some way you were blessed, edified, or educated through this writing. God Bless You, Shofar
Also read
https://puresola.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/why-i-left-the-pentecostalcharismatic-movement/
DiscernIt 
93 comments
May 15, 2014 at 5:10 pm
Timothy J. Duffy
I been to Seattle. You really can see everything on the space needle.
May 19, 2014 at 1:48 am
End Times Prophecy Headlines: May 19, 2014 | End Times Prophecy Report
[…] A Testimony: How God rescued me from Bill Johnson’s cult […]
May 21, 2014 at 8:56 am
Are inner healing "SOZO," and "Theophostic" ministries biblical? - Stand Up For The Truth
[…] A Testimony – How God Rescued Me From Bill Johnson’s Cult (kimolsen.wordpress.com) […]
May 27, 2014 at 11:49 am
Isaac Dorsey
Interesting read! Never been to Bethel. I have only heard of it. But a couple of points. Your experience is proof positive alone of what happens when you take your eyes of God and focus on man. Well you yourself says you were chasing the anointing and miracles that was allegedly occurring. Once there you loved it initially, that’s enough to tell me that You could have gotten something out of if you would have remained focused on what God was trying to do for you and not others.
Fabricate a Gift of the Spirit, now that’s laughable Who was playing whom, where you play with the Holy Spirit or was the Holy Spirit playing with you. Be careful with that my brother, when you point one finger at someone else you always have four pointing back at you.
May 29, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Timothy J. Duffy
Isaac, I would urge you to go to bethel to check out their church, bssm and healing rooms and see if what they do is biblical. You see we don’t want to see their followers going to hell for following a church thats false. Thats why we warn people about bethel.
June 9, 2014 at 6:13 pm
G.B.
That reminds me of another church I was involved in in California, called the Living Word Fellowship, or the Walk. Same sort of thing, not the laughing phenomena, but the essence is the same. People put in charge that have no idea what they are doing, the exaltation of man. They were one of the origional Latter Rain, apostols and prophets, manifest sons of God, yada yada yada.
July 1, 2014 at 9:57 pm
Daniel
I go to bethel, I prophesy, I get words of knowledge and lemme tell ya about something that happened ON BETHEL’S CAMPUS. I was suicidal and a cutter for the longest time, I had a scar on my leg tha thurt so bad whenever I touched it and one night, in worship it just disappeared because I asked God to IMPART healing onto my leg, my brother got shot in the eye with a paintball gun when he was 15, he was said to be partially blind after the accident, now almost 3 years later his eye exam came back 20 20 after going to the healing rooms, my sisters leg grew out!! My best friend was healed of cancer!!! And you say that it is all fake or “lucky guesses” HAH! And there’s documented proof of these pally!!
July 2, 2014 at 10:41 am
Kim
Hi Daniel,
Praise God for the help you have received.
God does heal. I know of some amazing instances so I do not doubt it. One for sure is that Biblical healings are deep and lasting.
But yet I have concerns.
We are test all things because not all comes from God. There is evidence that even the shaman can heal. It is not a healing from the Holy Spirit… it is demonic. From some of my studies some healings are what are called psychical…that is an organic illness is shifted into another realm. They are not healings at all but transferences..
What usually follows though is spiritual oppression and depression. This person then usually has no desire to read the Bible and finds it difficult to spend time in prayer. That is why the signs and wonders movement has it appeal….it is very emotional.
Long ago my uncle was “healed” by Oral Roberts. His leg grew..but many mental problems surfaced along with some mediumistic abilities. His spiritual life was short-circuited and he began to rely on false teachers like the Copelands. He was a kind man but never really mentally recovered.
Jesus came to save us from our sin. The matter of salvation is the real issue not physical healing. Today there are many who call themselves healers who use the name of Jesus but yet one day they will be rejected by the Lord who will say, “I never knew you”…”you evil-doer”. These are times when much discernment is needed…Can you tell the difference? Which healers will praised as a servant of God and who will be rejected?
Always remember that the Giver of the gifts is most important. That is why as soon as I started to read your comment my first impression was that it is was about you.
God’s Word is our spiritual armor, Bible Study, fellowship, prayer, edifying others is what will strengthen us or we will not be able to do battle.
I pray you leave this false church because many at Bethel love the Lord but are being mislead by false signs and wonders, and lots of false theology.
I hope your friends and family are well but I am not impressed by what you told me….as a Sunday School teacher I am impressed by the saving of souls and living for Lord, and learning about being redeemed, justified..and sanctification.
There is a cost to following Jesus and one of the costs is to make yourself small and only glorify Jesus. The cross becomes offensive and many no longer want to teach and preach the Savior of our sin, but instead focus on healings….
Proof of living for the Lord is hating your sin and repenting of it. There is a transforming of the mind and we are changed and our desires change. No longer do we live like the rest of world…holiness is being separated from the world.
July 6, 2014 at 2:07 pm
Dameon
i have read a lot of the comments. And I love how when someone is discussing how they or family were healed someone comments back with a…..”praise God BUT……shows that they have little regard for Gods goodness and more regard for being right and justified by their own opinions. And even worse they use the scriputure test all things way out of context and only to further promote their own insecurities and fears of a Good and loving Father that may just be outside their religious box and bigger than their finite mind can understand. People always ridicule things they dont get then use scripture to justify their own opinions. Its so sad someone cant praise God and embrace His goodness anymore without other brothers and sisters trying to tell them they are deceived or even calling Gods finished work demonic??!! Makes me sick to my stomach to see this in the body. We are more aware of a devil and empowering Him than God in us the hope of Glory! RIDICULOUS! If you wanna test something test your own heart and renew your mind because thats where your slanderousness and carnality come from. Seems to me people are being ruled by fear and jealousy rather than love. Dont ever discount someones testimony by trumping it with a Praise God……BUT! Instead of celebrating with them you’re more focused on how they are deceived! Tell me who is more deceived…….the one focused on God and His goodness and healing or the one focused on fear, and the devil? Shadow boxing with a defeated fow isnt a wise use of a new identity. And obviously shows there is no understanding of righteousness.
July 8, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Kim
Dameon,
Bethel is a cult and is loaded with false teaching. Not addressing the issues is indeed “empowering Him” instead of God.
I was once deceived myself and came out of the deception by testing the experiences.
Would you please explain how testing all things is being used out of context?
July 8, 2014 at 6:27 pm
hollysgarcia
We don’t ‘test our own heart”, because it is the Lord who tests the heart, Jeremiah says our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked, and what does the Word say about the renewing of our minds?
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:2
We are to mark and avoid anyone who is bringing a doctrine contrary to the one we learned (Rom 16:17). Why is that? It is so we can take heed to the flock, saving/delivering them from trouble. Why all the warnings in the epistles of deceivers? Because the Bible says there are many. And many deceived. You speak a lot of your own Word, and even misused His Word Dameon. Be careful there. Be careful of those who think of men beyond what is written (1 Cor 4:6). Even Jesus answered the devil with, “It is written”, three different times.
July 10, 2014 at 8:14 am
Kim
As I was thinking about and praying about Dameon’s bluster…sometimes I find it helpful. Am I remaining poor in spirit, gentle and respond with soft answers?
I easily recall my past. “Words” began flowing into my mind. This spirit told me to write this stuff down. Ohhh… I thought I was being used so mightily of God…I was sooooo special. I was filled with inexpressible joy and wept…
But…..I was listening to the enemy. The emotions were not a valid test.
Therefore I can say that God is so very good because I never stopped praising Him but He brought me out of deception.
What I was “receiving” started out as generic and positive but Satan being who he is, began to twist the scripture and gave me a prophecy that did not come to pass. I had doubts all along but then I knew for certain that something was wrong. Because I was steeped in God’s Word and not men …. the scales fell from my eyes.
By testing the spirit against the Word of God I was freed. I used Deuteronomy 18:22 for the conviction. Later the Lord showed me I had been in rebellion. 1 Samuel 15:23.
I love Hebrews 11. We are to walk in faith to please the Lord. Not signs and wonders which will deceive.
1 Timothy 4:1 says though that many will abandon faith and follow deceiving spirits. Let this not be any of you.
Blessings.
July 11, 2014 at 12:25 pm
Phil Oxford
Hi we’ve just returned from a trip to Bethel to seek God’s presence. Forget judging the people, could you not feel God’s Presence? I too have no visible signs of healing from my time there. Does that mean God does not heal? No. Others did “manifest” physical healing. I am not a shaker/howler/whooper etc (could say it’s cos i’m a Brit) but I do sense The Holy Spirit on me and He was so present there. Would the Holy Spirit inhabit these places? We weren’t attending a school or class, just seeking God’s presence. I can honestly say that each time Jesus was given all the Glory. Sorry you had a bad experience there, that’s a real shame. God loves you so much so please don’t speak out bitterness; don’t give the devil any foothold. Bless those, the bible says, who persecute you. It’s all about Jesus and His love for us. God is good…all the time.
July 11, 2014 at 7:37 pm
Kim
Hi Phil,
Did you travel specifically to seek God’s presence? Does not the Holy Spirit reside in us?
I like this article about the role of spirit.
http://www.gotquestions.org/Spirit-today.html
Question: “What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today?”
Answer: Of all the gifts given to mankind by God, there is none greater than the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has many functions, roles, and activities. First, He does a work in the hearts of all people everywhere. Jesus told the disciples that He would send the Spirit into the world to “convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:7-11). Everyone has a “God consciousness,” whether or not they admit it. The Spirit applies the truths of God to minds of men to convince them by fair and sufficient arguments that they are sinners. Responding to that conviction brings men to salvation.
Once we are saved and belong to God, the Spirit takes up residence in our hearts forever, sealing us with the confirming, certifying, and assuring pledge of our eternal state as His children. Jesus said He would send the Spirit to us to be our Helper, Comforter, and Guide. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16). The Greek word translated here “Counselor” means “one who is called alongside” and has the idea of someone who encourages and exhorts. The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the hearts of believers (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 12:13). Jesus gave the Spirit as a “compensation” for His absence, to perform the functions toward us which He would have done if He had remained personally with us.
Among those functions is that of revealer of truth. The Spirit’s presence within us enables us to understand and interpret God’s Word. Jesus told His disciples that “when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). He reveals to our minds the whole counsel of God as it relates to worship, doctrine, and Christian living. He is the ultimate guide, going before, leading the way, removing obstructions, opening the understanding, and making all things plain and clear. He leads in the way we should go in all spiritual things. Without such a guide, we would be apt to fall into error. A crucial part of the truth He reveals is that Jesus is who He said He is (John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3). The Spirit convinces us of Christ’s deity and incarnation, His being the Messiah, His suffering and death, His resurrection and ascension, His exaltation at the right hand of God, and His role as the judge of all. He gives glory to Christ in all things (John 16:14).
Another one of the Holy Spirit’s roles is that of gift-giver. First Corinthians 12 describes the spiritual gifts given to believers in order that we may function as the body of Christ on earth. All these gifts, both great and small, are given by the Spirit so that we may be His ambassadors to the world, showing forth His grace and glorifying Him.
The Spirit also functions as fruit-producer in our lives. When He indwells us, He begins the work of harvesting His fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not works of our flesh, which is incapable of producing such fruit, but they are products of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.
The knowledge that the Holy Spirit of God has taken up residence in our lives, that He performs all these miraculous functions, that He dwells with us forever, and that He will never leave or forsake us is cause for great joy and comfort. Thank God for this precious gift—the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives!
****
July 11, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Kim
New Article
https://kimolsen.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/the-present-of-his-presence-by-pastor-larry-debruyn/
July 12, 2014 at 7:49 am
Kim
For those who are not familiar with the kundalini spirit which has infiltrated the church…watch this short video from Andrew Strom.
August 13, 2014 at 5:28 pm
justin
The sad thing is I hear a lot of anger and bitterness in your blog. Instead of walking the Jesus walk in a healthy way. I think this is the main problem with believers they bash each other head on and that causes so much friction and comes up against the unity that is the body. I never once heard Jesus say “I dont believe in their theology so I’m gonna throw them out” , thats just not the God of the NT. Love your brothers and sisters and forgive and let go of bitterness its better to say nothing at all than to walk in chains of bondage and bitterness regardless of whose right or wrong.
August 16, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Kim
Well…I do agree that it is better to be silent with someone who is not open to the truth. Matthew 7:6
August 29, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Anonymous
I prefer to remain anonymous here because I used to have ties with certain influential people in the ministry and some related organizations.
From what I have seen, the leaders of these churches/ministries are as corrupt as they come. I have heard stories of Heidi and Roland Baker not paying themselves salary, or only paying themselves a salary to cover living expenses. There is absolutely no way that this is true. By the way, I’m relating this to Bethel School because IRIS Global’s corporate offices are located on the second floor of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministries. I say that their claim of a meek salary isn’t true because of their habits, multiple homes, and lavish lifestyle. I have been to the Baker’s home in Redding. Needless to say, it is not one that you purchase on a “cost of living” salary. The home is build as a geodesic dome on the side of a mountain about 45 minutes north of downtown Redding, CA. It overlooks a valley and is probably elevated 1,000ft above the surrounding terrain. They have, by Mozambique standard, a mansion in Pemba. It doesn’t take much to have a house in Pemba that is considered a mansion by the natives, but this house is incredible by my standards here, complete with guest house, 24 hour guard, Land Rovers, and the most beautiful ocean view I have ever seen. They buy houses in the surrounding LA area at the drop of a hat. I hated to think that people were donating to orphans when instead the money goes to multiple Baker family homes, cars, music recording studios, first class international travel, resort vacations in Hawaii and Australia, etc etc. Buy they get away with it by listing adjusting numbers on the balance sheet. I feel like I have said too much already, but this kind of stuff just kills me.
September 2, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Anonymous
I recently went on a young adult trip with my new church. I would say they are a similar church to Bethel and very well-known. It was great! However, towards the end, well, the jerking, convulsing, grunting, etc. began. At first I thought, ‘Why isn’t this stuff happening to me? Does God not want to touch me?’ I felt like an outcast as I sat and watched my new friends falling to the floor. None of this is new to me. When I first got saved, I witnessed this. Actually, I don’t recall it being so extreme. Anyways, I sat there feeling incredibly uncomfortable. I just shrugged it off and excused it with, “It’s only the Holy Spirit.” However, nothing about it was holy. In fact, while everyone was groaning and falling over, I felt the most demonic presence. The next day after the trip, I had a nightmare that these people belonged to a Satanic cult and tried to kill me! Crazy, huh? Yeah. Now, I do believe that they truly love the Lord. I HIGHLY doubt that they are Satan worshippers lol but, I also believe that Catholics truly love the Lord. However, similar to Catholicism, I believe there is much deception from the devil himself in the church. In ALL churches, actually. C’mon! The devil is everywhere! He is a snake in the grass! The church is his target, guys! It should be no surprise that there is deception and false prophets in the church. Thank God that Jesus warned us about this!
I would like to do more research on the whole “kundalini spirit” thing. From what I witnessed while on my church retreat trip, it seems so scary similar to those people on that video. But God is good and enables us to test these spirits!
Now, I read your entire post. From what I read, you seem to be holding bitterness against these people. Remember, Jesus called us to walk the same walk He did. Forgiveness is a huge part of that walk. Bethel may have a ton of junk going on, but there are people there who truly love the Lord. Just pray for them, especially Bill Johnson. See, this is why it is SO GOOD to KNOW YOUR BIBLE! Once you know God’s Word, not from the teachings of man, but from the teachings of GOD, you are able to recognize and distinguish the Truth from the deception! Praise God for His Word! Now, I do not rely on mere men, but on God who is my Strength and my Salvation. I put my trust and my hope in Him. I have faith in Him that He is faithful. His Love never changes, nor does it fail. Jesus is the only way. There is no other who is worthy. Praise the Lord Most High! 🙂 Sorry, I just felt like praisin’ Him. 😀
September 3, 2014 at 11:18 am
Kim
I remember when I first walked into a church and the congregation began to manifest into convulsions, jerks and could not rise from the floor. They had ushers dressed as nurses who came and loaded up people on cots and removed them from the aisles. The Lord impressed upon me that day that this from not from Him.
I really do not see any bitterness in this article or blog toward those who continue to listen and follow false teachers. Many who comment or post their testimonies have been freed from such things. Why do they tell of their experiences? They love the church and want to warn others. Sometimes the warnings sound harsh.
I cannot find any passage that says we are to just pray for false teachers…but there is one that says we are expose darkness. Ephesians 5:11 says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
I too have felt that there are those in these false ministries that truly love the Lord…but those with the Holy Spirit, who are born again will be led out by the Spirit of truth. I liken it to those who become born again in the Catholic church…they eventually leave it.
Kundalini is just a false belief system of serpent power along with the supposed wheels of energy Chakras and false anointings. Satan custom deceives in many ways.
September 3, 2014 at 4:01 pm
jessicalinaje
Kim,
I agree with you.
I would like to point out that Jesus did say to pray for your enemies and those who persecute you. Now, I’m not sure if one would qualify a false teacher/false prophet their “enemy” per say, however, I do believe that common sense would tell us to pray for these people because they are in a position of leadership and they are leading many down the wrong path.
September 23, 2014 at 9:11 am
Deborah
Thank you for sharing your experience with integrity and character… its refreshing and sparks hope in me for the body of Christ.
September 23, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Myrna
Healing and Speaking in tongues are GIFTS from God. I am 77 yrs. old and have been a Christian for 69 years. In my recollection, I believe the Gospels where Jesus commanded the disciple go into all the world and preach the gospel. It says nothing about Teaching people to speak in tongues an healing. The Gospels would have recorded this type of event. Not everything spiritual is of God. There are other forces at work that come from Satan and all his demonic spirits. Seasoned Christians are discerning enough to see what is happening. All we need is the God’s truth which is the Word of God. If people are looking for something more, I suggest they spend more time studying the Bible and praying for discernment. Read Revelation 22:18-20. I pray if this ministry if not from God, He will deal with it and all those who leave their “first love”,, the Lord. He is sufficient for me. I don’t need any human being to dictate to me what to believe an don’t believe especially since we have the Word of God to guide us.
September 24, 2014 at 10:06 pm
Amanda Frison
I am not going to pass judgment on Bethel. I have never been there to know. I do know from my military experience and moving a lot and going to different churches and witnessing all sorts of different things; that some got Jesus and the Holy Spirit and some don’t! Now Jesus was accused of healing and casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. He told His accusers that a house cannot stand divided (Matthew 12:22-30). I mean someone’s extremities growing back and sight restored, I don’t see why Satan would do that, knowing the person was going to glorify God. Now as far as mental issues coming on later and unable to read God’s word and no desire to be in His presence. Jesus did warn us that a clean, but empty house could be reoccupied by demons (Matthew 12:43-45). So possibly, the devil came back and manifested as something different if that house (his body) was empty.
Jesus said signs and wonders will follow the believer. Now personally, from my studies, I do not believe that I need to have all the signs and wonders follow me specifically to prove I believe, but the Church should have them all. Yes, He did say that a day will come when He refuses people that thought they had it right and did miracles in His name. What He says is “I don’t know you, away from me.” This leaves me to believe that these are people who used and took advantage of the power in His name, because their is power in the name Jesus. They just never spent personal time in His presence and His Spirit did not reside in those people. They just used Him for their own glory. This does happen! That does not mean the person who received the healing did not believe and have faith in the right Jesus.
This is not to take lightly the warnings of false prophets and teachers. Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. Well if they have the Spirit of God, then they should have the fruit of the Spirit. This is how I examine myself as well. If I start to lose my peace in the middle of the storm I know I have to get in the presence of God. Yes, His Spirit lives in me, so I do not have to go far, but sometimes life gets our eyes off the prize for a moment. I know that happens when my peace and joy are threatened. This does not mean that all spiritual manifestations are Satan. This does not mean that my experience and yours will be the same, our gifts will not even be the same.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 how to have unity in the diversity. God created diversity, but not division. The division we have in the Church makes my heart so heavy. Division comes from pride, thinking that my way and the way I experience God is the only right way or is the best way. How we can contain and restrain God like that is beyond me. Paul tells us that the Spirit gives the gifts how He sees fit. We cannot all be the hand and we cannot all be the foot, but the entire body is necessary. We have to stop telling people with the gift of miracles and healings or tongues and prophesy that their gifts are no longer needed and they are not as important as the gift of knowledge and wisdom. Personally, anyone who tries to downsize God or take away is not very wise. Once we stop telling people about the things we do not understand and realize that one of us cannot possibly understand it ALL (God is infinite), and realize we need each other for this body to operate at the capacity of His will done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Of course, salvation and grace are important. We need to preach that gospel every chance we get to the nonbelievers, but once you are among believers then that becomes preaching to the choir. Now the elders should be teaching the babes of the power and glory so they walk in it with boldness. But leaders do not want to do that. They want to keep us as weak sheep only following them. There is a reason the Bible did not stop at just the Gospel of Salvation. There is much more to it!
September 25, 2014 at 8:19 am
john
To Daniel with the documented proof of a eye being healed a leg growing back and someone you know that’s been healed from cancer.Prove it pally.It would be easy enough to do and it didn’t happen so you can’t prove it.My guess is your a Bethel Church troll drinking the kool aid.John
September 26, 2014 at 11:07 am
Kim
We cannot pass judgment on people’s souls but we sure can test teachings and we are told to inspect the fruit.
Indeed Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. But Jesus answered them saying a house would be divided by Satan casting out Satan. He was forcing the Pharisees to explain how Satan would benefit and how then did their own Jewish exorcists cast out demons.
But we would be foolish to say that only God can heal…If you have ever studied the shamans or the gurus you have to acknowledge that healings can take place outside the church. Kurt Koch has documented many such healings based on the occult. They are usually temporary and they can not heal organic diseases but often produce fluctuations in symptoms. Jesus healed totally and told the people to go the temple and the priests to show themselves clean.
We also need to base all things on the written word of God and not a feeling we have. I once had a peace when I received false words..I also had a joy…but these proved false. I opened my Bible which told me I was in rebellion. I Samuel 15:23….:”For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,..”
Fruit of the Spirit is a test but not the only one….Jesus taught we should be, ‘poor in spirit’, and should hunger and thirst for righteousness, we should be meek, pure, merciful, we should mourn for our sin, we should hate the world and be not be like it but separate
….oh indeed there is so much more.
The Apostles were given the power to authenticate the Gospel message and then there is no record of the miraculous in the next century. The historians do not record much after the death of John. So God did use signs and wonders to identify the message. Today we are to walk in faith which is more pleasing to the Lord. “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
Today we see a lot of sensationalism and young people get caught up in it. But it does not create a real desire to know the truth of Christ, to die to self, and to live for the Lord. Instead we see demands for a sign. Jesus condemned this as “wicked and adulterous.” Matthew 12:38-39
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