Thoughts On Bethel & All Associated With Them

After having been approached and dealing with people about it, and being asked doctrinal issues about it by others as well as those in my own personal life over many years regarding the ministry of Bethel Church in Redding, California and churches associated with it (some of which I have and used to personally attend), I have debated back and forth over how I would attempt to address the issues at hand and discuss some of the most serious problems that I have with the ministries like Bethel, Blue Flame 47, and all others associated with these ministries. I hope to only be sharing the truth on this and as far as a rebuke, yes this is somewhat that but at the same time, I believe that you the reader must be the one to make up in your mind for yourself about whether or not what I say is true and applies to you and these ministries. If it does and you feel convicted, run far and leave it behind (I would say run to Eastern Orthodoxy but that’s my bias coming out. At the very least I wish for us all to get in line with scripture and the traditions of our fathers of the one true faith) and run to the one true Christ and the true and historic faith. And as a disclaimer, if this is a little scatterbrained of a written post I apologize and hope you can follow along without much of a problem. Lastly, to my friends reading this that do associate with this, I hope we can still maintain our friendship. I believe in sharing the truth and I don't believe I would be a great friend if I was continually allowing a lie to keep happening. 

It is not my intention to mock these churches but at the best I believe those associated with these ministries to be theologically immature for lack of a better word and at the worst (this will come off strong) demonic. I’m a firm believer in the gifts of the Holy Spirit by all means but when experience is emphasized above proper doctrines, the normal Christian safeguards which protect against the attacks of fallen spirits can be and are removed/neutralized, and the passiveness and “openness” which characterize new cults can literally open one up to be used by demons. Writing this I seriously and honestly pray that God enlightens us and them all to truth and that what results out of this is meaningful discussion and debate.

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 “We’re reaching to a new level…”. “Close your eyes and imagine…” “I’m getting a word of knowledge right now”. If you’ve heard any of these phrases before in church you have probably been in or involved with a charismatic church or more specifically Bethel Church. What you might not know is these phrases are phrases most often found in false religions like Kabballah, Hinduism, yoga, and other New Age ideas, philosophies, and religion that are not found in Christianity. I believe that churches like Bethel do a lot of these things and mix the occult with Christianity. By doing so, they can appeal to the senses and pull you into their web. The occult so often do this to manipulate you and make you susceptible to demonic influences and I have found Bethel to be guilty of the same. Whether they do this intentionally or unintentionally (I believe it intentional), I will let you be the judge and discern that but the truth of the matter is we should not be doing that ever if it is so.

Being charismatic in origin, we see things being taught by Bethel in their classes called Firestarter where according to their website “…you will learn to walk in your God-given identity and purpose, and experience the power to heal, prophesy, and live a victorious life”. The claim is that they will teach you how to heal people and prophesy and live a victorious life. While the victorious life is a great one to me personally, one cannot teach one how to use gifts from God like prophesy nor teach them how to heal people. This is because Christians do not all get the same gifts. Christians also do not have the ability to use all the gifts. This is because God does not give us all the same gifts. Christians were designed like the Trinity to live in community and communion with one another. Thus, God granted us all different gifts so that we have to work together as a group to walk in this faith instead of alone, for the Church aka as the Ekklesia is a group of individuals, not one sole individual.

Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 more specifically make it clear that each Christian is given spiritual gifts according to the Lord’s choice.

“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:3-8). “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all for one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophesy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Cor 12:7-11).

A ministry requires functioning together in diversity and Scripture clearly supports the gifts being given by God, not man. Thus, man may have the gift of teaching but he cannot teach someone to use a gift they may or may not possess because God only gives us each certain gifts. One also cannot cultivate prophesy. Prophesy cannot be taught because it comes from God. We find this historically shown as well by St. Basil the Great among others that are Church Fathers saying: “A charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit given for the benefit of others. But no person possesses all the gifts”. As far as that gift goes, I want to ask you if you have been given a prophecy or given a prophecy yourself in these churches or during service if you can honestly look back and tell us how many of these things did or did not come true that you or anyone that did, said to you or someone else. If one word is found wrong then it was and is a false prophecy from a false prophet. If you are guilty of this yourself you must repent immediately for it is a grave sin to prophesy falsely. The Lord has a lot to say on that subject and I believe has a lot of forgiveness for it but nonetheless one should consider this passage “The prophet that presumes to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:20). Something to consider.

Truthfully, I do find Bethel and associated churches to be a lot like the Corinthians. They rightfully believe that there are gifts of the Holy Spirit which He still gives us, the Church today. However, like the Corinthians, they were ignorant of how these gifts given to them were to be used in service to God. The Corinthians got carried away like Bethel does and were led into error which Paul had to end up correcting them for, since not all gifts are from the Holy Spirit (since demons lurk everywhere and create counterfeits). Religious ecstasy or enthusiasm is not and has never been proof of spirituality nor proof that it is from God and Bethel has plenty of it.

Scripture is clear there is no such thing as tattoo reading which Bethel has been found to be notorious for as well. I don’t pretend to understand why anyone would try this in church except to promote the occult and as teachers, the ones in charge should know better. This is akin to palm reading which is of the occult and is forbidden by all means according to the Scriptures, and all of Christianity historically has rejected this practice as well.

Among other things taught are the speaking of tongues. Historically this has always been known as a gift for speaking other known languages like for example me speaking Spanish when my native tongue is English and me not knowing one lick of Spanish but speaking it perfectly to a Spanish speaking speaker without a problem. However, I will leave this up to debate somewhat as the gift could still be in use by God for all we know. One thing will be evident however. An interpreter. Scripture is clear that: If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Cor. 14:27-29).

Usually during these services one might see the pastor or speaker touching the individual on the forehead to put an “impartation from the Spirit” like the video below. The effects are shaking, convulsing, and acting similar to animals at times screaming and making strange noises. If put on as an impartation, it is eerily similar to the practice that Hindu priests put onto their followers; a special Hindu incantation that has the same results as these churches do. I will go further into this below.

Scripture tells us that “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the Prophets” and also tells us that “God is not the author of confusion but of PEACE [a big one there], as in all the churches of the saints”.

It also says to “Let all things be done decently and in order”. (1 Cor 14:32-35, 40) which clearly doesn’t happen amidst disorder and chaos.

All of this “impartation of the Holy Spirit” as Bethel and associates like to term it, of course has its origins in Hinduism which I shall now cover as briefly as possible.

Hinduism & Bethel

A good book for anyone of the Christian faith I highly recommend to read is “Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future” by Fr. Seraphim Rose. In it, Fr. Seraphim Rose discusses in great length and detail having been a former follower of Hindi that what is going on today in many churches and will continue (he wrote this in the 70s before his passing) is called prelest – a term which I will use often here (which means) for false gifts being given by a demon. This prelest comes from mixing the one and holy faith of Christianity and tainting it with other religions like Hinduism, New Age religions, etc. thus being a false faith producing a counterfeit power in people from demons because when we give to a counterfeit we are getting power from one not of God (the devil). For most, it becomes all about experience and moving the senses and regularly (masquerading as God) coming into contact and hosting and entertaining a demon (which may be masquerading to them unaware and unknowingly as God).

Before I go deeper into Bethel I think it wise I discuss the Hindu practices and go into some of this further so that one might better understand. In Hinduism, there is an eastern mysticism practice where they worship a “serpent spirit” called the Kundalini. This in Hinduism resembles a false version of the Holy Spirit and many Hindus attempt to “awaken it” through meditation and other techniques. They try to elevate this spirit of the devil to the top of the skull. Sometimes Bethel messages will have this same technique but more often than not, Bethel employs a New Age technique (I will delve deeper into) called visualization or use other techniques under the disguise of Christ to do it. The Guru in Hindi practice of the Kundalini spirit will often tap you on the head or lay his hands on you to impart the “gift”. The person will often start to shake, wail, act animalistic, fall backwards, and etc when this takes place much as Bethel and most Pentacostal and charismatic churches are also doing in their churches under the guise of Christ and a pastor. If this sounds like a strong wording it’s because it is to me. We are not to mix pure Christianity with other religions but many do it anyway (which I am guilty of as well) and need to repent of it, returning to purity.

Another thing to note is that in Hindi, the Guru invites his disciples to prove their religion true or false by his or her own experiences. The student will then receive powers or “siddhis” often and will often find they can then sometimes: read minds, heal/destroy, produce objects, tell the future/prophesy, and so on… Bethel often does this too in practice if one compares the two producing “angel feathers from heaven” and “gold dust” which are not found in the bible nor Church Tradition as anything other than material coming from demons to tempt and destroy mankind. I am not one to claim that these manifestations that happen in Bethel and Co. can’t be really happening. As a matter of fact, I think it is happening sometimes and it is the result of prelest. However, for the people in these churches, they don’t question which spirit is actually giving these gifts and are ignorant (not in the derogatory sense) of the foreign practices being taught in their churches.

“Don’t believe every spirit. Put them to trial” (1 John 4:1).

Fire Tunnels

In Bethel, there is often a practice called fire tunnels done which is also found in the Hindi practice but more so this is actually from the Toronto Blessing event that has been passed down as a practice to Bethel.

A little out of the context and certainly me making an eisegesis here on this scripturally, I just want one to consider that the bible does say “You slaughtered my children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass through the fire (Ezekiel 16:21)… Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him” (2 Kings 17:17).

And most damning against it “They shall not make their children pass through fire or witchcraft” (Deut. 18:10).

To me, this all appears to be part of a business plan based on lying signs and wonders, and parlor tricks you would see in magic shows truthfully at times.

Against Bethel and Co.’s Leadership

On Bill Johnson: He willingly associates with a man and false teacher named Todd Bentley – a divorced man who cheated on his wife and married the woman he was having the affair with. Rightfully removed from his role in ministry, Bill Johnson allowed him back into his own ministry letting Bentley associate with Bethel Church which I find absolutely deplorable personally. Among others would be Mike Bickle, Rick Joyner, "prophet" Kris Vallaton, and the heretic (who personally needs a good slam to the face for even suggesting we can use the Holy Spirit of God as a smoke and using it as a marijuana reference) John Crowder who “tokes the Holy Spirit”.

In particular, Todd Bentley fails in many categories for a proper pastor. He should be devoted to ONE wife, be a one-woman man if he decides to marry (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:2) which he clearly has not. He also gets “drunk in the Holy Spirit” just like Crowder and others associated and Scripture says he must be sober and in control; not a drunkard (Titus 1:7-8; 1 Tim 3:2-3). This is not just overindulgence in alcohol but is idiomatic for any behavior that fuels addictive responses.  A pastor must be self-controlled (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2). Self-control is a characterization of every area of a pastor’s life: diet, time, mouth, exercise, relationships, sex, and money and be upright and devoted to holiness and have integrity (Titus 1:8). Clearly none of these things apply to Bentley and cannot apply to Johnson as well when he willingly okays things like this in his ministry.

Back to Bill Johnson: He openly discusses and promotes “opening portals to heaven”. Something that should be heavily noted is that the Necronomicon in witchcraft elaborates on a ritual aimed at letting demons through. Johnson claims that we are opening heaven but that isn’t the case since one cannot find opening portals in the bible and can only find this in witchcraft and New Age religions instead of Christian practices. Counterfeits only produce counterfeits unfortunately and new agers produce this all the time by “opening portals” to let what many New Agers call the Ascended Masters through. Again prelest seems to be very actively being done here and in other locations and this is not only wrong but deeply rooted in witchcraft and heresy.

This is only further proven by the practice of visualization that is always being done in these churches. Visualization is a New Age practice and is found in “The Law of Attraction” actually. In it, you are to visualize what you desire and take it. Bethel guises this up as God wanting to give you gifts.

Furthermore, Cold and warm readings are done ALL the time and practiced by Johnson and others he associates with. This is without a doubt heretical and a dangerous teaching that the occult do. Here we have a cold reading being done by Beni Johnson, wife of Bill Johnson.



How can one watch this and not see that this is not of the occult unless they are just ignorant of the fact that psychics and fortune tellers do this all the time like John Edward, a famous psychic who once had a show called Crossing Over or the likes of Sylvia Browne who frequented Montel William’s old show often, or most recently, the Long Island Medium show?

These both run the same show going shotgun style asking general questions or making general statements, waiting for a response, and then going from there, usually having a hit or miss technique going on. If each party hits a warm reading, they go about with general things and say something like “I’m sensing a motherly/fatherly/brotherly figure” or “The Holy Spirit is leading me to ask if anyone is feeling depression [or whatever comes to mind]”. The very fact that there is a miss at all should be clear to anyone that it is NOT coming from God. God should be clear. NOT a hit and miss. Deuteronomy 18 says 100% or death and we should not take that lightly at all like Bethel and Co. do. 

Magic is the unlawful use of the energies of God in Creation. What disturbs me most is that former Wiccans I have talked to often matched up what Bethel does with what they were taught as part of the craft. I have been told to me that the visualization techniques are not just akin to witchcraft but that it IS witchcraft. Before every ritual and spell work, Wiccans would sit cross-legged under a tree and behind their closed eyes visualize themselves gathering energies by sucking it from the earth and furthermore would visualize a white light coming down upon them for universal energies at the same time. This is how they visualize the gathering of energies before any magical work taking place. They also have candle burning techniques. This to me and some of the former Wiccans I’ve discussed this with have seemed to show me pretty positively that Bethel's grave sucking thing is akin to what they would do as a Wiccan since it was "sucking up energies from the earth" whereas Bethel soaks in or sucks or absorbs a deceased saint’s gifts. For reasons listed above about the gifts this is completely and totally false. "Sucking the passed saint's gifts and glory" up is heresy and blatant witchcraft and not of the true God. I feel that the evidence is piling up more and more that Satan is at work in all this and that Bill Johnson and his associated pastors like Kris Vallaton are all New Age and do intentionally or unintentionally practice a form of Satanism. Pieces of the puzzles connect way too well and that worries me because I know plenty involved in these practices. Hell is not worth pleasing our passions. These churches all use various forms of manipulation and like to throw around the words “honor” and “respect” when one disagrees with the pastor or the elders. This is also unbiblical no matter what they say because no one is above reproach. If you’re reading this know I care about you and think you should leave these behind no matter what it costs you.

Brief History to Understand Why, How, and Where Bethel and Co. got it from and Concluding Thoughts

I decided to include some history as well in this so as to show where in the world these false doctrines and false things came from and how it even came to be in a place like Bethel so here goes. Originally, this can all be partially traced back to a Hindu Swami Vivekananda in 1893 who came to America and eventually impressed Harvard and many people gathering many disciples in the Chicago area primarily and also in the West Americas. Vivekananda was instrumental in getting what are called Vedantic ideas into some academic areas and making them more popular among academia. This greatly ended up influencing a Roman Catholic mystic who was very into Gnostic beliefs and Hinduism named Thomas Merton. Merton would carry some of these ideas into his own Roman Catholic ministry and ultimately assume that “mystical experiences” in every religion can be and are probably true. These ideals became incorporated into Protestantism and modern churchianity going through churches ever since and promoting a dangerous ecumenism, ultimately with the goal (as Fr. Seraphim Rose teaches in his book) of a universal religion (which can be argued is in the book of Revelation) until finally reaching Bethel thanks to the Toronto Blessing. All of this power and prelest is given through Satan as the medium in some way, shape, or form. This can all be verified in “Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future” for one by Fr. Seraphim Rose of the Russian Orthodox Church and also with other various folks if one is willing to dive in and verify these claims for themselves. A pastor Andrew Storm discusses at length in his videos how this all plays out as well if you would like a visual. It is most definitely a history we should be aware of.

It does not really surprise me that this is happening and people are being deceived in the church and allowing false things into the churches. It’s been happening a ton since the 60s and 70s and will continue to do so because the Christians have let prelest in and really done nothing to stop it, rather, just moved more and more towards it, adding Eastern mystical religions (mostly Hindi ideas) and mixing them in with Christianity so people can practice forbidden things such as yoga which is not actually just an exercise. In actuality, it is a practice by the Hindi to establish oneself in a complete silence, emptying themselves of all thoughts and illusions, discarding and forgetting everything but one idea: that being that Man’s true self is Divine and that Man is God and that the rest is silence. Zen does this as well since you do positions for meditation that can actually be like drugs and make you decide to explore your mind and go inner. The Beatles were strangely enough notorious for making this a popular thing and spreading its popularity into American and British Christianity further. During the 70s Eastern religions got a lot more native and pervaded the Americas and honestly has created a “new Christianity”.

Like yoga and zen, in prelest, Christians are doing evil, striving for holy and divine feelings, opening themselves up to being “seized” by a spirit, seeking spiritual consolations, and ultimately engaging in pseudo-spiritual states.

I don’t want it to be so and think it unfortunate but I believe a new deception has come and is coming; a demonic outpouring being loosed upon mankind. We are gradually coming to an unfortunate time period where arenas will be opened up for the numerous and striking false miracles and it will be full of examples of prelest or spiritual deception for the Church where a person will strive for a high spiritual state or spiritual visions without having first purified themselves of passions and thus relying on his or her own judgements instead of the Holy Spirit’s. I find it enormously something that in the entire history of Western and Eastern Christianity it knows nothing of any such “ecstatic” experience produced by the Holy Spirit like what is being described in our time by some churches. This “New Christianity” is nothing more than shamanistic paganism in a lot of cases letting spirits possess folks (not necessarily always demonic possession) and producing in them fruits like physical and psychic disorders (and because it being mediumistic, is and can be temporal and partial). And thus that brings me to tell you the reader…

If you are involved with these things, I want you to pray, read the Word of God, study history of Christianity a little bit, and seriously consider what I am saying. Discern whether what I’m saying is just the words of a crazy man with too much time on his hands or whether this guy might actually have a point that you haven’t considered before. I’m more than willing to discuss or debate these things and I hope the reader knows truly this was and has been all said out of love and want for us all to be in Christ our Lord and Savior. God bless and may the Lord have mercy on us all.

Below are videos I am sharing to sadly expose more of the lies coming from Bethel and Co. See for yourself and decide for yourself. Peace be unto you all.

If one has the time this one is worth a watch.