The Kenneth Hagin Festival of Demonic Idiocy

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Kenneth Hagin is the "father" of the Word of Faith movement; the movement that brought us Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar and a million other false teachers spreading heresy. Although he died in 2003, he's as influential and important as any man could possibly be, in the charismatic world. Hagin plagiarized many of his ideas and writings directly from E. W. Kenyon, who lived a generation earlier.

This video shows him casting a spell (or something) to this audience. He never actually preaches; in fact he rarely even talks. Most of the time he just laughs and hisses at people. Here's a longer, unedited version of this same event, which happened in 1997. Here are some quotes from Hagin on the Zedekiah List.

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Kenneth Hagin (or any other popular teacher) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

If you're having a knee-jerk reaction to try and defend Kenneth Hagin, check out: Confirmation Bias: Why You Are Protecting Your False Beliefs.

Finally, here's an article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

Confirmation Bias: Why You Are Protecting Your False Beliefs

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"Confirmation bias" is the name for a very common trait that all human beings share. When we favor information that validates our pre-existing beliefs but refuse to consider information that threatens our pre-existing beliefs, we are demonstrating confirmation bias; other names are confirmatory bias, myside bias or subjective validation. 

Here's a very short video explanation:

 

It is very difficult for people to change their mind; this is part of our fallen condition as sinners. There isn't much difference between Christians and non-Christians in this regard; we all tend to stick with our pre-existing ideas (also called our presuppositions, the things we "pre-suppose"). On top of this common human trait is the way we stick to whatever "our group" says, especially when "our group" is closely connected to our essential spiritual development. 

For example, someone who has become a Christian in a particular church will feel a strong attachment to that church and its particular beliefs, especially if the pastor keeps reinforcing those particular beliefs, week after week. In many churches, the Sunday service is specifically geared towards reinforcing the importance and validity of that church, and its particular beliefs.  How many times have you heard testimonials about how wonderful your church is? Add in some emotional background music to those tearful stories and it becomes almost impossible for anyone to objectively evaluate the things being taught. Is your pastor and/or church teaching sound doctrine that actually comes from the Bible? Most people want to believe that, yes, their church is really Biblical, and usually that's all that is necessary: if you really believe your church is Biblical, you'll never check your Bible to see what God's Word actually says. And if you're presented with Biblical evidence that threatens your beliefs, you'll ignore it and explain it away. To do otherwise would be very uncomfortable.

So an unwavering belief in your church and your pastor is, all too often, a self-contained cluster of presuppositions based on years of personal experience. What does that personal experience entail? Much of it is listening to your pastor at your church tell you how to understand God, the church, the Bible... pretty much everything. This kind of "thought loop" is very hard to escape from; it's a type of blindness that disguises itself as clarity and certainty.

Additionally, the emotional tug of nostalgia often prevents you from learning the truth. If you've formed your essential spiritual beliefs at a church where you have fond memories, you will probably ignore whatever false doctrine you might have learned there; in fact, you will defend that false doctrine regardless of what the Bible says. But please understand:

God's Word is high above the teachings of any man, and your emotional attachment to any pastor, teacher or church needs to STOP at the very point where the two collide.

Are you interested in finding out if what you believe is actually in the Bible (or not)? Here's an article where a bunch of commonly held "Christian" beliefs are compared with the Bible: 

"Bible-Believing" Christian??

On the subject of nostalgia, have you noticed how pastors will preach "sermons" with topics that will appeal to your feelings of nostalgia? "Gag Me With A Spoon: An 80's Approach to Knowing God's Will" is a fake sermon title I just made up, but it might as well be real. The exaggerated claim to "make Christianity relevant" is most often just an attempt to keep you: 

  • showing up (for the entertainment/spectacle/novelty),

  • signing up (you better get involved, because you've been sent on a guilt trip) and finally,

  • shutting up (because you've been told to be an obedient part of the team).

Your function is to conform to the pastor/leader, and then he confirms his particular beliefs week after week (as he waves a Bible around like a prop). This is how the monster of your confirmation bias gets well fed. 

On top of this appeal to your nostalgia is the even more emotional appeal (and near-constant repetition) of the worship songs. Is it really necessary for the praise band to repeatedly play the Dsus, Em7, C2 chord progression quietly in the background while the pastor wraps up his sermon? Yes! How else can a non-Biblical point be reinforced? How else can you "feel" the Holy Spirit? This is Manipulation 101; it's a form of hypnosis.

If you've read this far into this article and these ideas are new to you, you're possibly experiencing some "cognitive dissonance." This is what happens when we try and hold two different beliefs at the same time; it's like saying "I believe two plus two equals four, but I also believe it equals five." Our minds have a hard time doing that (which is a good thing!), but we tend to blame someone or something else instead of admitting that one of the thoughts has to be deleted. Here's an article that goes into more detail about this:

 

Most Christians will proclaim that they believe the Bible, first and foremost; and they're certain that their pastor or favorite teacher is following the Bible, too. If that describes you, let me issue a challenge to you (see if this applies to you):

When you are confronted with undeniable proof that your favorite pastor/teacher is actually saying stuff that isn't in the Bible at all, and when you discover that they're actually contradicting the Bible, you will say something like, "Well... I know pastor so-and-so, and he knows what he's doing; he's a good man and I trust him!" When you are doing this, you are putting the teachings of a man above the Word of God. You are just exhibiting a spiritualized version of confirmation bias. Many of the most popular and famous pastors/teachers in the world of pop evangelicalism are "teaching for shameful gain the things they ought not" and they are getting away with it, all the way to the bank.

  • They are getting filthy rich, flying around the world and living like rock stars.

  • They are accountable to no one, except a board full of yes men (often other mega-church pastors).

  • They live luxuriously in gigantic mansions.

  • They teach the false doctrine of "tithing as proven investment scheme" in order to get your money.

  • They manipulate people by constantly claiming to "hear from God," while ignoring and/or twisting God's actual Word.

  • They make millions on the conference/book-selling circuit because they are part of a "club" where they speak at each other's mega-churches and receive sacks full of tax-free cash they call "free will offerings." That's also why they never criticize each other ("you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours").

  • They don't actually study the Bible very much, instead they focus on make convincing speeches that continue to suck people into the bondage of false teaching. Hyper-emotionalism, made-up stories, plagiarism, stand-up comedy ripoffs... whatever works.

  • They are driving people away from true Christianity and setting them up for a life of deception, confusion, false promises and a false Gospel.

  • And you're the reason they are getting away with it.

“For there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may have become evident among you.”
— 1 Corinthians 11: 19
“And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
— 2 Thessaloninas 2: 11-12

Maybe it's time for you to take a stand and agree with the "Manifesto of Christian Discernment"

 

Here's an amazing sermon/article written in the mid 1800s by C. F. W. Walther called, "The Sheep Judge Their Shepherd;" which is even more applicable for today's church.

Here's an article to help you see through all the deception in the church today: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

Here's an article that the mega/super pastors don't want you to read: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

Here's an article that proves that many pastors/teachers are twisting the Bible: Frequently Abused and Misused Bible Verses. 

This article by Steven Kozar; check out his new and improved: The Messed Up Church website!

John 10:10, The Thief Comes to Steal, Kill and Destroy? WWUTT Video

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Chris Rosebrough teaches more on this same topic (in the review of the horrible and confusing "I am a Sheep" sermon by Robert Morris at 01:27:28): Fighting for the Faith April 28, 2016

Also, here is another post with more content along these same lines: Frequently Abused and Misused Bible Verses

The Hillsong Day of Infamy

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Hillsong Church has very serious doctrinal and theological problems, such as its corporate take-over strategy for church growth, its use of worldly entertainment to draw gigantic crowds (and then avoid proclaiming the Gospel in order to keep those crowds), and its clearly un-biblical Word of Faith/prosperity/New Apostolic Reformation teachings. But there is an event that you are not supposed to know about-a very disturbing and sickening event. And if you do know about it, you're only supposed to know the Hillsong version of it.

This day occurred in late October of 1999. This is the day Frank Houston told his son, Brian Houston, that he had sexually abused a child in the church-he admitted to being a pedophile. Brian Houston kept this a secret and eventually became the new pastor as he protected his father; but today he claims that he was open and transparent about his father's sin. Brian Houston has since become an Evangelical Superstar (and millionaire). He has become one of the most influential pastors in the world. He has become a best-selling author. The one thing he hasn't become is honest about what really happened. 

Here's an amazing article with more details from our friends at Churchwatch Central: Brian Houston Leverages Off Father's Reputation & Hides Paedophilia to Promote Himself & Hillsong

And another HUGE article, full of detailed research: Timeline & Source Material: Related to Frank Houston’s Pedophilia Coverup

Here's another article from Churchwatch Central about the number of children who may have been involved in this paedophile scandal: Brian Checked Granddad Hadn't Touched Own Kids Over "One-Off Incident"

 

Read more about Brian Houston and Hillsong Church: The Brian Houston and Hillsong Cornucopia of False Doctrine, Abuse, Obfuscation & Money Generation

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Frank or Brian Houston (or any other popular teacher) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

If you're having a knee-jerk reaction to try and defend Hillsong, check out: Confirmation Bias: Why You Are Protecting Your False Beliefs.

Finally, here's an article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

Frequently Abused and Misused Bible Verses

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God's Word is getting beaten and bloodied all the time by phony "pastors" who really don't care what it actually says, or what it actually means. Often, these false teachers don't even bother to quote the whole verse. Here's a quick look at some of the most popular Bible verses getting abused and misused:

 

1.) Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This verse is often printed on greeting cards and plaques (or used in a peaceful looking meme); it works really good as a “feel good” saying, but it’s not meant to do that; no verse in the Bible should be removed from it’s proper context just to make us feel good (and sell stuff). This verse is a promise to the ancient tribe of Judah in a particular time when they were being held captive in Babylon because of their rebellion against God. God was assuring them that they would eventually be freed-which finally happened 150 years later.

This is not a universal promise from God for all believers in all times, no matter how many times you “declare it” or “claim it.” Here's a great WWUTT Video on this verse; and here's a hilarious satire piece on this verse. This is very similar to the next one… 

 

2.) 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Again, this is not a universal promise to all believers in all times. This verse starts in the middle of a sentence-that should give you a clue that it is being taken out of context. This promise is given specifically to God’s covenant people Israel, and it shouldn’t be universally applied to the church, or especially to any nation. 

Truthfully, we are blessed much more so in our time, because of Jesus and His sacrifice to atone for our sins-no matter which country we live in, or how much worldly prosperity we have or don't have.

Here's a more detailed article from Pulpit and Pen on this verse; and here's another article from Empowered by Christ Ministries.

 

3.) Proverbs 23:7 “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”

This one is, perhaps, the all-time most abused and misused verse in the whole Bible. It’s used to prop up the pagan heresy that we can “speak things into existence,” and that “our thinking determines our future” or something like that. This is one of the very few verses that “Word of Faith” teachers can use that appears to validate their ridiculous teaching (which comes from the world of sorcery-not the Bible).  

     First of all, it has to be quoted from the King James Version in order to say what they want it to say; read it in the NIV and it says, “for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost.” In the ESV it says, “for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.” Not exactly a “positive thinking” statement…

     Secondly, it’s the second half of a sentence (just like the previous verse)-it’s not even a complete thought by itself. Here’s the same verse (in bold) in the ESV, with the proper context of the verse before and after:

     “Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.” 

Any pastor/teacher who knowingly misuses this verse to teach the “power of positive confession” or the “law of attraction” or any such thing, is completely disqualified for ministry. You may need to let that sink in for a while, because this means that what many very popular pastors/teachers are saying is 100% wrong. Completely and utterly WRONG. Here's a great WWUTT Video on this verse. 

 

4.) Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish”

This half-of-a-verse must also be quoted in the KJV in order to be misunderstood and abused. “Vision-casting” pastors often use this verse to prop up their false teaching, which says that God gives them special visions that everyone else is required to follow. It can also be used to make people think that whatever idea they have in their head must be a vision from God, and that idea (or “vision”) is what keeps them alive. This is just a spiritualized version of the business/success teaching that encourages people to be focused and excited about their long-term business goals, because that enthusiasm produces positive results-or something like that.     

     What’s crazy is that false teachers who twist this verse are actually doing the very thing this verse condemns! Here’s the whole verse: 

     “Where there is no revelation (or prophetic vision), the people cast off restraint; but blessed (or happy) is he who keeps the law.”

     This verse is really about people casting off the restraint of God’s Word (His revelation or prophetic vision); which is contrasted against those who are blessed because they keep the law (or listen to God’s Word). 

     It is the height of blasphemy to twist God’s Word to change the meaning of this verse so that it no longer condemns us for twisting God’s Word; but instead it demands that we follow the “vision” of a man! By the way, having goals for your life and/or business is fine; just don’t emphasize it above your faith and trust in God.

Here's a great WWUTT Video on this verse. Here's an Old Testament passage that these false teachers should be using:

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you;’ and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”
— Jeremiah 23: 16 & 17

 

5.) Habakkuk 2:9 “Write the vision, and make it plain (on tablets, so he may run who reads it).”

This is the other verse that “vision-casting” pastors twist in order to maintain their authority. Also, there are false teachers using this (partial) verse to encourage people to write personal vision statements or to construct vision boards with pictures of what they want (sometimes called a “dream board”). 

     This verse is a specific thing that God told the Prophet Habakkuk at a specific time-it’s not a universal promise from God that you’ll get whatever you want if you just write it down. In fact, the LORD told Habakkuk to write down a vision of the Israelites being taken into captivity by the Babylonians-because they had rebelled against the LORD, not because He was so excited about giving them their dreams! 

 

6.) Malachi 3:8-10 “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Bad pastors will often use these verses to drum up business in their church. It’s usually a lose/lose situation for parishioners; either you’re a bad Christian because you don’t give enough (and you’re hindering the work of God with your lack of faith) or you’re a broke and confused Christian, because you “gave until it hurts” (like you were supposed to), but the windows of heaven haven’t opened up for you yet. 

The simple explanation is that this verse is not to be applied to people in churches today. Again, this was God speaking to specific people in a specific time. Simple question: If this was a universal promise from God to the churches today, don't you think Jesus or the Apostles would have mentioned it in the New Testament? Here's a great WWUTT Video on tithing.

 

7.) Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."

Like a lot of the verses on this list, this one is often used as a "feel good" saying on a plaque or poster. But in its proper context, this is not a good news verse; it's an Old Testament warning to the armies that oppose God and His people. Here's a great article to explain it: "Be Still and Know That I Am God" is Bad News.

 

 

8.) Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Whenever a false teacher/prophet is exposed (because of unbiblical teachings, blatant sin, corruption/greed, prophesies that don’t come true, etc.) they can often maintain the unquestioning support of their followers by the using this verse (taken out of context, of course). This verse is not saying: “don’t ever judge anyone ever!” In reading the whole passage, it’s easy to see that this verse is warning against unjust, hypocritical judgment in our personal dealings with others. It’s not about evaluating the teachings that are being taught by a teacher. Christians have been systematically programmed to ignore all scripture about the accountability of leaders… because their leaders said so. Ironically, the false teacher ends up judging his theological critic who is (supposedly) guilty of being judgmental. Here's a great WWUTT Video on this verse. And here's a longer article on this topic: Does the Bible Tell Christians to Judge Not?

 

It's time to stop listening to false teachers & pastors who abuse and misuse God's Word-no matter how famous and popular they are! Here's something that Bible-twisting false teachers don't want you to read: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know!

This article will be updated with more verses in the days ahead. Here are some other good resources on this vital topic:

Grace To You Blog: Frequently Abused Verses

Entreating Favor: Misused Bible Verses

When We Understand The Text: Website and YouTube Channel

Here's a great little three and a half minute video from the White Horse Inn called "How to Read the Bible:"

Which of These Crazy Quotes Did Jennifer LeClaire NOT Actually Say?

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The following quotes from Charisma Magazine editor Jennifer LeClaire are all real, except for one that is totally fabricated. Remember, Dr. Michael Brown fully endorses Jennifer LeClaire, and has gone to great lengths to protect her from criticism. Have fun guessing, and we hope you don't get nightmares from reading this: 

 

 1. "I believe people can release witchcraft word curses against you. I more than believe it, I know it because my inbox is full of them every week. People curse me, my family, my ministry and more with the wicked words of their mouth—most of the times these are Christians. A witchcraft word curse from a Christian, I believe, is more powerful than any curse from a witch because a believer's words carry an anointing."

2. "New Testament prophets consumed with the spirit of Jezebel continue to release fearful death threats in the form of judgments and curses that are not from God. Ashtoreth and Baal were married. So these spirits often share one another's characteristics. We must discern what we are dealing with. The prophets of Jezebel were puppets, probably among her messengers of doom."

3. "The Holy Spirit showed me that we are entering a season of shifting atmospheres, because the witchcraft spirit of Jezebel is merging with the spirit of religion. It's time to get prepared for the prophetic battle that will enable us to secure God's victory, but we cannot grow weary and become complacent. Jezebel is more patient, most of the time, than we are. We can curse our victory before it is secured-by our negative words."

4. "There was a prophet-killing spirit on the loose that had successfully muted the voice of true prophets and turned them into spiritual eunuchs. Without any true power or authority of their own, eunuchs live vicariously through Jezebel and draw their strength from the approval of Jezebel-or more specifically those flowing in a Jezebel spirit-rather than the approval of God."

5. "After this squid spirit attacked my friend, I went to her home to help her battle it. The attack was severe, but when I laid hands on her and commanded the squid to be bound, the most violent symptoms would cease. Of course, when you stand in the gap, you often take a hit. That squid spirit started stalking me. I ended up with a migraine during the battle—a manifestation of that mind control spirit—and was attacked in my mind for days afterwards."

6. "The Holy Spirit showed me that many times witchcraft against your mind can cause you to focus so much on the symptoms attacking your body that you can't extend your faith to receive God's healing power. In other words, if you aren't careful, when witchcraft attacks your mind you will wind up speaking and thinking about the infirmity rather than speaking and thinking about your healing, allowing the enemy to maintain the stronghold." 

 

Learn more about Jennifer Leclaire, Dr. Michael Brown and the "Sneaky Squid Spirit" on this fascinating episode of Fighting for the Faith: The Calamari Discord

Dr. Michael Brown Ruins His Credibility on His Own Facebook Wall, Then Deletes All the Evidence

Dr. Michael Brown (Sort of) Approves of These "Fine Christians..." Watch at your Own Risk!

"Beware of the Sneaky Squid Spirit" Says Jennifer LeClaire!

Jennifer LeClaire's Hypocritical Goofy Prophetic Pimping

For those of you who think it's mean and un-loving to criticize Jennifer LeClaire (or any other popular teacher) here's a list of Bible verses to consider: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

Finally, here's an important article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

It's Time to Talk: 10 Reasons You Should Break Up With Joel Osteen

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Yes we know, he makes you feel good... and he's sooo nice. But let's be honest: he's not good for you. 

 

Here are 10 reasons why you should break up with Joel Osteen (and find a real pastor):

1. He takes Bible verses completely out of context and changes the meaning of God's Word. A lot of times he only uses half a verse! This is not a mistake, girl-he's doing it on purpose! No real man of God would ever do that. Ever! Anybody can hold up a Bible and wave it around, a real pastor dedicates himself to studying it, and then carefully and faithfully explaining it in context. A phony pastor uses it like a prop and pulls stuff out of it to make it say whatever he wants.

2. He tells you all the things you wanna hear, but they aren't really true. He's appealing to your selfish "felt needs," because he doesn't care enough to tell you the hard truth that would actually help you. He's promising you all sorts of earthly comfort, prosperity and happiness, but those are empty promises-and you know it. He's leading you on!

3. He isn't giving you the really good news-the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You know, the message of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. He should be promising you the one thing a pastor can promise you: the free gift of salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ; but instead he's puffing you up with false dreams of worldly success. You're falling for that? Once he has ignored the true Gospel, he replaces it with the crazy "God wants to bless you, but He can't-you have to do you're part" teaching. Is he talking about the sovereign God who made the whole universe out of nothing, or is this a genie in a bottle who needs us to figure out the secret password??

4. He's getting rich off of you-that's not what pastors are supposed to do! Now, it's true that he's getting rich mostly from his book sales and other income sources (he doesn't need to take a salary from his church anymore), but without the huge audience he gained from his church and it's TV program he never would have become so famous and sold so many books. He is not really helping others to be successful like he claims-unless they all go out and start mega-churches that have TV shows and big-time book publishing deals. He's at the top of the pyramid!

5. He has become so huge in popularity and influence, that people think he represents true Christianity in America. You know that's not right! He teaches a "Word of Faith" version of Christianity that doesn't come from the Bible at all-it actually comes from Kenneth Hagin, who plagiarized E. W. Kenyon, and Kenyon was getting ideas from Phineas P. Quimby-the same guy whose non-Christian metaphysical ideas influenced Christian Science. When Osteen says we can "speak things into existence" he's talking about sorcery-not Christianity!

6. You're falling for all that bling? Really?? A big fancy stadium, a TV Show, best-selling books... that doesn't mean he's telling you the truth! Are you gonna trust someone with your very soul, just because they're rich and famous? Did you know that Joel Osteen only went to college to study radio and television communications-but he never even graduated? But worse than that, he never studied the Bible or theology at any Bible school, college or seminary-ever! He's making it up as he goes! Real pastors are carefully trained in good doctrine-otherwise they end up saying things about God that aren't true, and they lead people away from the true God!

7. He's not gonna be there for you when you need him! He's not a real pastor, he's a millionaire celebrity! A real pastor sits down with you and carefully explains God's Word, week after week after week. This guy is flying around the world, hobnobbing with Oprah and who knows who. A real pastor takes care of his sheep-he doesn't just go onstage and give a little motivational speech once a week. These mega-pastors are completely isolated from the "regular" folks-just like rock stars, big politicians and movie stars.

8. He's setting a bad example of a Christian pastor, and you're setting a bad example by following him. Most unbelievers can see that this guy is kind of a joke (or worse), but way too many gullible Christians are propping him up, and we should know better. Basically, having an unqualified, Bible-twisting, multi-millionaire celebrity described as a "pastor" is a very big embarrassment to the Church. If we are going to be credible followers of Christ, we should have credible pastors; pastors who will "contend earnestly for the faith" and who will "speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine,” not a guy who scratches people's itching ears and tells them what they want to hear.

9. Admit it-you like being part of something really really BIG! It's one of the oldest tricks in the book: you're with all those like-minded people and you get to say "I'm a part of something really important and exciting!" It's like you're at the Super Bowl or something. It's no accident that these mega-churches have exciting rock bands with light shows and giant video screens-they are manipulating you until you can no longer resist. Get a grip! This guy will never even know you're name-you're just another seat filler. A real church with a real pastor is not like this. You deserve better!

10. Here's a list of shocking things you're not supposed to know; Joel Osteen will NOT mention these Bible verses because he's not a real pastor. Break up with him, and find a real pastor at a real church. You will be so glad to hear the true Gospel of Jesus Christ!

“And I, when I came to you, brothers, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
— 1 Corinthians 2: 1-2
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
— Galatians 6: 14

 

Here are a whole bunch of episodes of Fighting for the Faith where you will see for yourself that Joel Osteen's sermons and ideas are not Biblical. 

 

Here is an extensive article that will really help you to be more discerning and less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

 

Want to know where all of this prosperity, "Word of Faith" teaching came from? Read this: The Word of Faith Cornucopia of False Doctrine.

This article by Steven Kozar; check out his new and improved: The Messed Up Church website!

Hillsong: First They Do a Makeover, Then They Do a Takeover

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Who wants Mr. Rogers when you can have Carl Lentz, right?

Recently, the Hillsong marketing people looked at Phoenix mega-church pastor Terry Crist and thought, "hmmm, he needs a little work, but we can make him Hillsong compatible." 

 

Now look at the ordinary pastor on the left; notice how ordinary he looks? He's just not cool enough to lead people with vision. Now notice the pastor on the right-he's cool and relevant enough to cast a vision from Phoenix all the way to Sydney! Here's the miraculous part-it's the same pastor, but the one on the left is a photo from when he was younger! That's one of the many benefits that a Hillsong takeover provides; this pastor is finally free to get some, um, "cosmetic enhancement." (Thanks for being an upstanding proponent of the "youth above all else" church growth program, Pastor Terry!) 

Once people are convinced that their pastor is "real" enough, and "relevant" enough, he can become the vision-casting super pastor that God always hoped he would be! Thanks Hillsong!

 

 

 

 

 

Hillsong New York has set the bar very high for coolness and relevance with the extremely cool pastor Carl Lentz. Pastor Carl has the distinct advantage of actually being young, whereas Pastor Terry has to pretend, by dressing up, dyeing his hair and getting that pompadour thing going across his head. Here's a nice montage of that role model for all pastors who demand nothing but the highest standard of coolness, Carl Lentz (you may want to bookmark this and send it to your pastor): 

Okay, enough of this silly stuff. Here's the cold hard truth; Hillsong is a global corporation that is taking over churches all across the world. They don't teach orthodox, Bible-based Christianity; they are spreading the Word of Faith Gospel and the New Apostolic Reformation. The takeover of City of Grace in Phoenix is just the latest. The internet has been (apparently) scrubbed clean of City of Grace-it's like that giant church never even existed. And City of Grace was a merger of a couple other fairly large churches in 2008. These are large, professional organizations lead by CEO pastors/leaders that bear little resemblance to church congregations of the past-and they have no precedent in scripture. Newer. Bigger. Louder. More modern. No hymnals, choirs, crosses, organs... and frankly, not a lot of older people. People are attracted to the rock music, the feeling of a theater or night club (certainly not a church) and the positive, feel-good messages delivered by celebrity "pastors." The real problem? The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been altered until it's recognized by name only. 

PLEASE read this story from our good friends at Church Watch Central about this Phoenix takeover, with a LOT more detail about Hillsong on their site:

 

Here's a LOT more information about Brian Houston and his Hillsong church: "The Brian Houston & Hillsong Cornucopia of False Doctrine,  Abuse, Obfuscation & Money Generation"

For those of you who think it's mean and un-loving to criticize Hillsong, Terry Crist, Carl Lentz (or any other popular teacher) here's a list of Bible verses to consider: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

Finally, here's an important article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton Want the Mantle of False Teacher William Branham

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Johnson & Vallotton (and all of their NAR allies)  have simply put a new layer of icing on a rotting heretical cake. 

In the following video, Bill Johnson and his associate pastor Kris Vallotton make it clear that they want God to "give them the mantle" of false teacher William Branham:

In this excellent article on Cross Wise, the false teachings of William Branham and other NAR leaders like Earl Paulk and Bill Hamon are connected to the currently popular false teachings coming out of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. 

Here's an entire episode of Fighting For the Faith about William Branham; with more resources about Branham below the audio link.

 

William Branham was a strange guy with some really bizarre beliefs-he actually had similarities with Jehovah Witness teachings, just like Bill Johnson. Although he died in a car crash (that he did not predict in advance) in 1965, his teachings are still influential today-and need to be refuted. Anyone who wants his "mantle" is to be avoided!   

 

Bill Johnson and the NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) "Super Apostles" don't want you to know about their involvement in the Charismatic Day of Infamy.

For those of you who think it's mean and un-loving to criticize Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton (or any other popular teacher) here's a list of Bible verses to consider: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

Finally, here's an important article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

The Brian Houston & Hillsong Cornucopia of False Doctrine, Abuse, Obfuscation & Money Generation

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Brian Houston and his gigantic Hillsong enterprise need to be critically examined in light of Scripture, just like any pastor and any church-but especially because his influence is felt in thousands of churches world-wide. Millions and millions of people are being affected by what he says and does. Being rich and famous does not make someone immune from scrutiny. 

The following is a list of articles from Christians coming from different denominational and theological backgrounds, who all agree that Brian Houston and the Hillsong global conglomerate are not to be trusted as a Biblically sound church. For even more information, visit our Australian friends over at Church Watch Central; they have done a tremendous amount of research on Houston, Hillsong and other related pastors/ministries.

Disgusting Hillsong Santa Has a "Package" For You

Brian Houston Leverages Off Father's Reputation & Hides Paedophilia to Promote Himself & Hillsong

Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz Biffs It on Oprah's SuperSoul Sunday

Brian Houston on the "Naked Cowboy" Event: "I'm Clueless About It-But It's No Big Deal Anyway"

Brian Houston: Used Car Salesman Pushing the Hillsong Brand

 

For those who think it's mean, judgmental and un-loving to criticize Brian Houston (or any other popular teacher) here's something just for you: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

If you're having a knee-jerk reaction to try and defend Brian Houston, check out: Confirmation Bias: Why You Are Protecting Your False Beliefs.

Finally, here's an important article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

 

-This article by Steven Kozar

The New Apostolic Reformation Cornucopia of False Doctrine, Dominionism, Charismania and Deception

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The "New Apostolic Reformation" is a loosely knit association of churches and ministries with no absolute statement of beliefs or specifically defined doctrine. In this regard, it is true that the NAR is not a global conspiracy that is secretly holding meetings and making plans to dominate the world. On the other hand, there are millions and millions of people around the world who are unaware that their church or favorite ministry has all or most of the characteristics of the NAR. There's a good chance that a person holding to all, or most, of the NAR beliefs doesn't know that they've subscribed to those beliefs because they think it's just "ordinary Christianity." 

C. Peter Wagner (1930-2016) invented the term "New Apostolic Reformation" and then pronounced himself God's appointed leader of it:

“I needed a name … For a couple of years I experimented with ‘Post denominationalism’. The name I have settled on for the movement is the New Apostolic Reformation.” (Source: C. Peter Wagner, The New Apostolic Churches, Ventura CA; Regal, 1998, p. 18.)

Wagner presided over the commissioning ceremony of fraudulent preacher, Todd Bentley, at the "Lakeland Revival" in 2008. This is the day that the New Apostolic Reformation was at its most glorious and self-congratulatory peak. This day turned out to be The Charismatic Day of Infamy, and all of its "Super Apostles" were proven to be incompetent, unqualified and full of hot air.    

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This loosely knit association of churches and ministries has much in common with the Latter Rain movement and the Word of Faith movement. Supernatural Signs & Wonders; Dominionism; Joel's Army; The 7 Mountain Mandate;  Third Wave Revivalism; Mike Bickle's IHOP; Bill Johnson's Bethel Church, The Hillsong Media Empire, Rick Joyner's MorningStar Ministries, Todd White's Lifestyle Christianity, Che Ahn's Harvest International Ministries, Randy Clark's Global Awakening, Lou Engle's The Call, John & Carol Arnott's Catch the Fire/Toronto Blessing,... these ministries share much of the same theology and so they all a part of this shape-shifting movement in one way or another. It is gobbling up churches and deceiving millions around the world.

N.A.R. "Founder" C. Peter Wagner

N.A.R. "Founder" C. Peter Wagner

Some key beliefs of the NAR are: 

  • We've entered a "2nd Apostolic Age" that is marked by increasing Signs & Wonders. In order for the Church to accomplish its mission, we need to be under "Apostolic Alignment," which means that God will fully function once the new instructions from these new apostles and prophets are obeyed.

  • Christians should somehow take over the world in a way that's never happened before; the "7 Mountain Mandate" is the means for this to happen. Christians now have a great "Destiny" to achieve as royalty on the earth. We are to "Bring heaven to earth."

  • The Holy Spirit has introduced new demands that aren't taught in the Bible; fresh "Revival" is His new emphasis, so ongoing meetings, conventions and lengthy worship sessions are needed with rock bands, smoke machines and emotional speakers (who tend to yell a lot). The institution of the Christian Church is not nearly as important as this new move of God. We are told to constantly ask for more: "More Lord... more." (One thing for sure: there are always more and more conferences to attend.)

  • Jesus is the example for us to duplicate-in fact, we should literally be doing "greater works than Him." This means we should all expect to raise the dead and heal anyone we want to at anytime. There are no leaders in the NAR who are actually doing these things, but they make great claims of having extraordinary power and ability. And if you buy their books/DVDs/conference tickets they promise to give you the "secret formula." This is the Theology of Glory, as opposed to the Theology of the Cross.

  • A great end time harvest/outpouring will occur once we battle enough demons, perform enough miracles and unify under these new Apostles, (who tend to yell a lot). There is supposed to be a "billion soul harvest" according to many in the NAR, although the Bible only speaks of an end time falling away defined by great signs and wonders.

  • Although God is giving new revelation to his Prophets/Apostles they will make many mistakes in the process and that's okay, but following the Bible too closely makes you a "religious" and narrow-minded Pharisee. In the NAR, using your mind is generally bad but having a mystical and subjective experience is very good.

  • In this new movement, we are to give people an Encounter with God, because the simple Gospel message is not enough. People need to see the power of God with their very eyes in order to believe (this is why we should be supernatural acts for people all the time). They do not need to understand the nature of their sin and their need for a Savior, however, as much as they need to know their identity as "sons and daughters of the King." So, fundamentally, conversion is a matter of finally understanding how special and lovable we are, not understanding how our sin deserves the wrath of God which Jesus took upon Himself on the cross.

Here are a number of different articles from different theological and denominational backgrounds that all agree that the "New Apostolic Reformation" isn't new, isn't apostolic and isn't a reformation:

Resource: What Is the New Apostolic Reformation? (Many links and articles) by Church Watch Central

New Apostolic Reformation 101-Interview with Holly Pivec and Chris Rosebrough

Debunking the False Kenotic Christology of the NAR by Chris Rosebrough

Is the N.A.R. a Cult? by Chris Rosebrough

The Changing of the Apostolic Guard: 13 Names to Watch by Holly Pivec

The C. Peter Wagner $400 Apostolic Bargain!! at the Museum of Idolatry

The Apostles Who Don't Do Anything by Grace to You

Interview With Caryl Matrisciana: New Apostolic Reformation by Amy Spreeman

Dominionism and The NAR by Berean Research

Apostles and Prophets are the Foundation of the Church by Bob Dewaay

Heidi Baker's Demonic Impartation at Bethel Church

The New Apostolic Church Movement by Let Us Reason

What Is The New Apostolic Reformation? by Got Questions

Do Miracles, Signs and Wonders Create Faith? by Robert Liichow

Christianity Today Should Correct Heidi Baker NAR Story by Talk To Action

Debunking the Seven Mountains Mandate and the NAR by Chris Rosebrough

What's Wrong With the Passion (NAR)"Translation" Bible?

The New Apostolic End Times Scripture by Steven Kozar

C. Peter Wagner's Apostolic Movement on Issues, Etc.

The Apostolic and Prophetic Movement by Keith Gibson

Why I Must Speak Out Against the NAR and Bethel Church by Tony Miano

The Latter Rain Movement on Issues, Etc.

The History of the Renewal Movement: Interview with Lyndon Unger on Echoe Zoe Radio (with links and notes)

The NAR: A Warning About Latter Day Apostles by Orrel Steinkamp

What Is Dominionism? by Apprising

I Refuse to Believe Bob Jones-I'm Staying Home by Steven Kozar

What Is The NAR? by Asleep No More

C. Peter Wagner Spins the NAR by Herescope

The NAR-You Will Know Them by Their Nuts by Church Watch Central

HAW and WOF NARpostles by Church Watch Central

The New Order of the Latter Rain by Spirit Watch

Quick Thoughts: What is the Seven Mountain Mandate? by Lyndon Unger

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”
— Galatians 1:6-9
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
— 1 John 4:1
“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
— 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12

Here are some shocking things that NAR leaders don't want you to know. And here is an article that will help you see past all the layers of deception in the church.

The NAR "Super Apostles" don't want you to know about their involvement in the Charismatic Day of Infamy.

This is from the global harvest ministries (C. peter wagner) website

This is from the global harvest ministries (C. peter wagner) website

This article by Steven Kozar; check out his new and improved: The Messed Up Church website!

What's Wrong with The Passion "Translation?" It's the Messed Up Bible!

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The Passion "Translation" is NOT a translation-it's a paraphrase that takes great liberties with the original text. It's The Messed Up Bible. This "translation" was the work of one man, Brian Simmons, who claims that he got his new ideas directly from Jesus, who personally visited him in his room and gave him "downloads."

Here's a (somewhat gentle) rebuke (from a Charismatic theologian):

What's Wrong with The Passion "Translation?" 

Here's another (somewhat harsher) review on this new "Bible" from Holly Pivec at Spirit of Error:

A New NAR Bible (part one) 

And here's another article from Holly Pivec about the "Passion" author Brian Simmons (and there are more related articles at this site):

Apostle Brian Simmons: Name Dropping and Name Dodging

Here's a serious article from Old Testament & Hebrew scholar, Andrew G. Shead: Burning Scripture with Passion: A Review of The Psalms (The Passion Translation) 

Here's an excellent short article and short podcast from Alisa Childers, who mentions Andrew Shead's article (above):

Here's Why Christians Should Be Concerned About The Passion Translation of the Bible

Here's a helpful article from Got Questions?

What is the Passion Translation of the Bible?

 

Here's a video (part of a small series) that explains the use of "chiasms" in the Psalms and how the Passion Translation completely ignores them and violates the language of the Psalms:

It's not too surprising that the same people who claim to get new revelations from God and then twist God's Word to fit their own agenda, would just go right ahead and publish their own, unique version of the Bible that says whatever they think it should say-regardless of the original texts. 

Here's an article about the outrageous claims made by Brian Simmons on Sid Roth's "It's Supernatural" TV Show:

John Chapter 22 is Really Important (But God Won't Allow Us to Read It Yet)

 

Beth Moore Predicts God Will Unite All Sectors of Christendom-Pulpit and Pen

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The ever-wacky and overly-caffeinated Beth Moore is hearing from God again. Here's an article from our friends at Pulpit and Pen about her latest TV Show prophecy:


“I want to give you a downpour of... something. But I can’t. First, you have to give up your doctrine and unite with everyone who has un-Biblical doctrine. Then you have to prove that you’re really really really really desperate. Oh, and I want you to be really really really hungry. And cry out. A LOT. Then I will do... something.”
— Said The Holy Spirit Never

For further research, here is a list of the many Fighting for the Faith episodes where Beth Moore's teaching has been carefully analyzed and compared to God's Word: Fighting for the Faith (check out the "Future Outpouring" episode first)

For those of you who think it's mean and un-loving to criticize Beth Moore (or any other popular teacher) here's a list of Bible verses to consider: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know.

Finally, here's an important article that will help you be more discerning and a lot less gullible: Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs.

 

Bill Johnson Uses Non-Biblical Story to Correct Bible-Believers

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Attention: The following information could ruin Bill Johnson's lucrative career...

Here's a very short video that Bill Johnson's Bethel Church produced. It illustrates the technique Johnson uses a lot: he tells a story (any story will do) and from that story he asserts a principle, and he then teaches that principle as if it were universally true. This is how Johnson gets away with saying all sorts of ridiculous stuff all the time.

When a pastor takes his own ideas and inserts them into a Biblical text it's called eisegesis. Bill Johnson takes this bad method even further: he takes an idea that isn't even in the Bible and simply claims it as truth-no Bible necessary. 

In this video he retells a story from Kathryn Kuhlman (not a good source for anything, but that's another issue) and from this story he makes this assertion: "The need to be right comes from a poverty of spirit."  Almost sounds like a Bible verse, doesn't it? But it's not, it's just another saying that can mean anything. And, of course, it has some truth to it. But in the case of this little clip, it appears this might be Johnson's way of saying, "Hey all of you discernment Christians out there on the internet-you have a poverty of spirit!" Of course, he is ignoring the wealth of Bible verses about having good sound TRUE doctrine! And what you are not supposed to notice is that Bill Johnson thinks he's right about a lot of things-in fact, he has become very rich by standing up in churches all over the world and telling people what he thinks is true. His version of Christianity is, all too often, not derived from the Bible, but from stories, visions, dreams and ideas that come out of his head.

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
— 2 Peter 1:16

For further research, here's The Bill Johnson Cornucopia of False Teaching, Bible-Twisting and General Absurdity

Bill Johnson is a major leader in the New Apostolic Reformation.

Bill does NOT want you to remember his involvement in The Charismatic Day of Infamy

The Charismatic Day of Infamy: June 23rd 2008

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Ten years ago it was June 23, 2008: "The Charismatic Day of Infamy," but you are NOT supposed to know (about it or even talk about it). 

If everyone knew about what happened on this day (and stopped making excuses for it) a whole bunch of false teachers would put their tail between their legs, pack up their bags and go home. The "New Apostolic Reformation," the "Signs and Wonders Movement," the Hyper-Charismatic Movement (whatever it's being called at the moment) should not even exist. 

Here's a video showing part of what happened on live television that day:

The "Super Apostles" were so proud of themselves that day; they could hardly believe that they were even gathered together at the same place. C. Peter Wagner (who does the official "commissioning" here) is the man who made up the name "New Apostolic Reformation" and then appointed himself God's leader of it. Other important "Super Apostles" on stage were Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner, Che Ahn, John and Carol Arnott, and the Super Star of the whole, messed up day: Todd Bentley.

These men were all gathered in Lakeland, Florida, to officially "commission" Todd Bentley to become part of the "Super Apostle" club. This is what the founder of the New Apostolic Reformation, C. Peter Wagner, said:

"I take the apostolic authority that God has given me and I decree to you Todd Bentley:

  • Your power will increase.

  • Your authority will increase.

  • Your favor will increase.

  • Your influence will increase.

  • I also decree that a new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry.

  • A new life-force will penetrate this move of God.

  • Government will be established to set things in their proper order.

  • God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error.

  • New relationships will surface to open the gates for the future!"

  • And rainbow-colored unicorns will spread golden pixie-dust and shift the atmosphere!! (Okay, I made up that last sentence...)

But within two months Todd Bentley's "revival" completely fell apart and these men were proven horribly wrong; they were proven to be false prophets on television for all the world to see!

  • Todd Bentley was having an affair with a woman from the church and abandoned his wife and children.

  • He was also found to be a fraud who couldn't provide any evidence for his claimed "healings" on national television.

  • And, it was revealed that he was showing up to these "revival" meetings drunk, as he went on stage and told elaborate stories about raising people from the dead, kicking people in the face and having regular contact with an angel named "Emma."

Here's Bentley telling the audience to call down angels at the Lakeland "Revival:"

 

 

ALL of these "Super Apostles" claim to hear directly from God and claim to have special "powers" and "anointings." They claim that they are part of a new and better church-not like the old, stuffy Bible-focused churches. They claim to "move in the prophetic" and some even claim to be "seers" who can predict the future. Rick Joyner claims to go to heaven on a regular basis-he evens claims to talk to the original (real) apostles, and he claims they wish they were him! Why didn't God tell any of these people the truth about Todd Bentley?

They were 100% wrong about Todd Bentley, and they were clueless about it! They stood up on that stage like blathering buffoons, talking all about how great Todd Bentley was, and all about the great things that were going to happen. Stacy Campbell even went through the trouble to hiss like a snake as she violently jerked her head back and forth, while she "prophesied over" Todd Bentley:

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A few years later, Todd's new wife (the woman he had an affair with) showed that she could hiss and shake her head, too.

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C. Peter Wagner should have tried to disband this New Apostolic Reformation, but he didn't; instead, he made excuses for what happened. Rick Joyner and Bill Johnson should have admitted that they don't really hear directly from God, but instead they decided to take Todd Bentley under their wing and tried to "restore" him to ministry. You can read more about this (and see more videos of the entire bizarre "commissioning") here: Grace to You.

These men and woman have all proven that they do not know what they're doing.

They do not know what they're talking about.

They do not rightly handle God's Word.

They do NOT speak for God.

 

Lastly, it needs to said that not all Charismatics and Pentecostals are in agreement with the leaders in these videos (The NAR leaders). They've fought against the ideas in "The New Apostolic Reformation" and they are to be commended for that. Unfortunately, their voice is largely being drowned out by the much more prominent and popular leaders who've declared themselves the Super Apostles. God help us all to be faithful to His Word, and to ignore the teachings of men.

 

Here are few more articles about this event:

Here's recent case where Todd Bentley claims to be raising the dead with absolutely no proof: My Phone Conversation With TMU RE: Bentley's Resurrection Claim (Audio)

Here are some things the Super Apostles do NOT want you to know: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know

"Smart phone prophet" Shawn Bolz and Todd Bentley together at "Azusa Now" in April 2016:

Here's a recent video showing Bill Johnson endorsing his good friend Todd Bentley:

Check out the new and improved: The Messed Up Church website!

The Bill Johnson Cornucopia of False Teaching, Bible-Twisting and General Absurdity

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Bill Johnson has a warm and likable personality, and he comes across as a knowledgeable and godly man; but beneath his charming personality is a specific theological viewpoint that must be evaluated (just like any pastor). Although he uses Biblical words and phrases, Johnson preaches a Word of Faith version of Christianity that has no legitimate connection to Bible-based Christianity. He spends the vast majority of his time talking about his own ideas, visions and "downloads" from God, and very little time even quoting from God's (actual) Word.

He is proud of his friendship with prosperity preacher and obvious fraud, Benny Hinn, whom he had as an honored guest speaker at his church in 2017.

He was declared a top leader ("Apostle") by C. Peter Wagner in the New Apostolic Reformation, but he claims to be unaware of the very movement he's a prominent leader of. Bill Johnson does NOT want you to know about The Charismatic Day of Infamy. Bill Johnson and his co-pastor, Kris Vallotton have become extremely influential to millions of people around the world, but many Christians have simply assumed that these men must be trustworthy since they are so "popular" (rich and famous).

The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of good doctrine and the necessity of confronting false teachers.  

An example of the utter nonsense coming from Bill Johnson

An example of the utter nonsense coming from Bill Johnson

In the following Bill Johnson/Bethel Church memes, notice the emphasis on how important we are, and how the Christian life is not centered around worshipping Jesus, who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (that is never mentioned), but instead it's a Word of Faith/Dominionist/Gnostic belief system, with a little bit of Chinese fortune cookie theology thrown in to tickle itching ears. Also, notice how many of these sayings directly contradict the Bible and don't even make sense (click the photos to view):

Here are a whole bunch of articles from different Christians from various theological and denominational backgrounds who all agree on the very un-Biblical and downright dangerous beliefs of Bill Johnson:

10 Reasons Why You Should RUN AWAY From Bethel Redding

What Are Bill Johnson's Heresies? by Brandon Hines

Bill Johnson, IHOP & Ancient Heresy Reborn Interview with Bob Dewaay

Book Review: When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles by Eric Davis

Bill Johnson Resource Page by Beyond Grace (multiple articles & links)

False Prophet Bill Johnson EXPOSED video

Bill Johnson and his false god video

Michael Brown's Spin Control for Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton Want the Mantle of False Teacher William Branham

Kris Vallotton: Prosperity Preacher Exchanging Love for Wealth

Kris Vallotton RUNS From His Own Facebook Post!! 

Bill Johnson, IHOP and the "Passion" Translation by Spirit of Error

Interview With Bart McCurdy: What's REALLY Happening in Redding

The Mike Bickle and IHOP Cornucopia of False Teaching, Bridal Weirdness and 24/7 Confusion

"Getting Wasted with the Holy Spirit" at Bethel Redding

Kris Vallotton: "We Shouldn't Confess Our Sins to Each Other"

Bill Johnson Accepts Full Responsibility for Raging Fires in Redding, CA

Did this article really get you upset? Do have an urge to retreat back into your comfortable (and wrong) beliefs about Bill Johnson & Company? PLEASE read the following articles!

Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs

 Confirmation Bias: Why You Are Protecting Your False Beliefs.

Assertions and Assumptions are NOT the Foundation of the Church

The Hyper-Charismatic House of Cards: Let it Fall and Be Free

Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, Benny Hinn and thousands of prosperity-preaching, false teachers around the world hope you never read this: Shocking Stuff You're Not Supposed to Know!

“And yet some people actually imagine that the revelation in God’s Word is not enough to meet our needs. They think that God from time to time carries on an actual conversation with them, chatting with them, satisfying their doubts, testifying to His love for them, promising them support and blessings. As a result, their emotions soar; they are full of bubbling joy that is mixed with self-confidence and a high opinion of themselves. The foundation for these feelings, however, does not lie within the Bible itself, but instead rests on the sudden creations of their imaginations. These people are clearly deluded. God’s Word is for all of us and each of us; He does not need to give particular messages to particular people.”
— Jonathan Edwards

This is one of "pastor" Bill Johnson's cars:

Here's "pastor" Kris Vallotton bragging about his brand new sports car on Facebook:

 Mathew 12: 38-41  "Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here."

Matthew 24: 3-14; 24-25  “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Vs. 24): For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. (25) Behold, I have told you in advance.”

2 Peter 2:1-3  “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

Romans 16:18  “For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”

2 Corinthians 2:17  “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.”

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”

 

-This article by Steven Kozar

The Rick Joyner Cornucopia of False Teaching, Bible-Twisting and Overall Wackiness

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"The Pastor's Guide to Pandering, Manipulating and Controlling"

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1. Use Marketing Techniques (to attract new people and replace the quitters; catchy names and slogans, plus a good multi-media program will substitute for "God working").

2. Use Proof-Texting (so you can appear Biblical. Don't worry, nobody will check their Bibles to see if you're rightly handling God's Word).

3. Use the Worship Team (to create a false Holy Spirit. Musicians want stage time and they don't know much about theology-so let 'em think they're "ushering in the Holy Spirit" and they'll volunteer every time).

4. Use the Worship Service (to push your agenda and maintain tithing. Put on a good hour and a half show every week and the rest is easy).

5. Use the False Dichotomy (to isolate your enemies and reinforce your allies. Examples of manufactured "either/or" statements: "Well, I guess some people don't want more of the Holy Spirit!" or "We're not one of those churches that thinks you have to frown all the time and listen to organ music!" or "Who says church can't be fun?! How else will people hear about Jesus if we don't lure them into showing up?").

6. Use the (Bully) Pulpit (to establish and maintain your version of reality and create the best version of yourself: incredibly humble, yet a strong, effective leader; highly intelligent, yet "just a regular guy;" as funny as a comedian, but as pious as a monk).

7. Use Emotions (for just about everything).

8. Use the Law (because guilt is very effective. The Gospel will take the attention off of you and free people from your control-avoid it).

9. Use People (that's why they're there).

10. Use God (because you and He are pretty much the same thing anyway, right?).  

 

(Please don't do ANY of these things.)

-Steven Kozar

"When Did the Church Turn Into Amway?"

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Photo by Jazmin Quaynor

Photo by Jazmin Quaynor

True Story

      In the 1990's my wife and I had three young children and we were in financial trouble; my income as an artist was very inconsistent. We were invited to become Amway distributors by a family member who knew we were the kind of "go-getters" who could really "make things happen." 

      I was very skeptical at first, but I eventually gave in to the promise of "multiple streams of residual income." In the late 1990's we heard (and fell for) "The Dream Destiny Thingy." This is years before it crept into (and devoured) much of the church. It's a bunch of assumptions that go something like this: 

"God brought you here today for a reason; it's not an accident that you're in this meeting today. The reason you're struggling financially is because you don't have a dream-it's not because you don't have money! Once you have a big enough dream, the money will follow. Amway is just the business vehicle; this is really about changing people's lives by getting them to pursue their dreams." 

They would pray in the meetings like this: 

"Thank you God that you've given each of us the ability to dream. Help us to chase our dreams, discover our destiny and make a real difference in people's lives. In Jesus name, Amen."

 We were taught about the power of using the right words to speak things into existence. We had to be positive-all the time-because being negative would attract negative results.

       Large Amway conventions are the ultimate gig for motivational speakers and other performers, and most of the really big guns were there, helping to prop up the illusion that Amway was a great opportunity for anyone willing to work hard and stick to it. Zig Ziglar, Robert Kiyosaki, John Maxwell and other big name speakers have all done the Amway gig; people would even write books praising the Amway opportunity because they knew thousands of distributors would buy them; it was a built-in audience of niche consumers. I tried not to notice how none of these people making money by praising Amway actually joined up and became Amway distributors themselves.

     But the best speakers in the Amway business weren't the "professional" speakers, they were the "regular folks" who worked hard and had made it to the level of Diamond (or higher). These "regular folks" would convince the socks off of anyone that you could make it happen! "You just need to really buy into the system and do everything your leaders tell you to do-your success is guaranteed!" "If your dream is big enough, the facts don't count!" The most convincing Diamond speakers would come from another organization and speak at your meeting to help you grow your business. "Wow, these people are so nice and giving of their time" you would think. Plus, they would always start by praising your leaders and telling you how lucky you were to have the leadership that you had in your own organization. 

     Eventually, I learned that all of these diamond (and above) speakers were getting giant speaking fees. They weren't giving their time, they were selling their time. If you were getting $10,000 for an hour and a half speech, do you think you could praise whoever was writing your check? On top of the very convincing speakers, they had amazing videos with powerful music and emotionally charged stories to tear at your heartstrings. The use of multimedia was incredibly effective-especially in a stadium full of like-minded people who all believed. 

We were even told that if you went to the next big meeting it "would really build up your belief." A more honest way of saying it would be "if you go to this big meeting you'll be convinced to stick around long enough for us to make money off of you for a little while longer, because you'll be emotionally convinced that this business is great!"

This Isn't a Dream, It's a Nightmare!

     In short, we spent 4 years trying to build an Amway business and lost about $40,000 in the process. We did everything we were supposed to do-everything!

I know all about mind control techniques because I experienced them first hand. I know what it's like to be emotionally manipulated because I experienced it first hand. I know about turning the Christian faith into a vehicle that promises to make your dreams come true because I experienced it first hand. On top of all that, we started going to a large "positive confession" charismatic church as a result of this new outlook on our faith. We prayed and prayed and prayed... and prayed: "God please help us build this great business so we can be financially free and help others..." 

     But God didn't answer. We had to figure out the hard way that we were being scammed. 

You see, in most Amway businesses, all of the emphasis is on "the system," which had 3 components (called "tools"): Books, CDs and Functions. We would buy and read the positive self-help type books (a new one every month); we would buy and listen to a motivational CD every week (or more if you were really committed like us), and we would buy a ticket to a different function every single month. 

No matter what. 

This is how they could build such large and compliant organizations. This is simply a type of thought-control. Some of the teaching was actually decent business/success type material, but overall, the system kept people in the business and in the dark. Sure there were always people quitting, but there were always new people to replace the quitters. And there was tremendous profit to be made on each and every book, CD and ticket; that's where the upline distributors were making most of their money. It was all in secret and a lot of it was cash under the table, so these hucksters weren't even paying tax on all their income. After the internet became popular, Amway's seedy underbelly couldn't hide so easily, and it has never gotten back to its original multi-billion dollar American heyday (much of Amway's growth has been in foreign countries in the past 15 years).

 

The Evangelical Industrial Complex has copied many of the very things that have "worked" so well in Amway:

 

  • Tell people that Christianity is all about getting your Dreams and realizing your Destiny. Check.

  • Tell people that having lots of money is a good thing that God wants for you (so you can help others, of course). Check.

  • Tell people to only listen to positive messages about success and prosperity. Check.

  • Tell people that they can speak things into existence because words have power. Check.

  • People continually quitting and leaving, but they get replaced by new and different people just as fast. Check.

  • Get people to "experience life change" by learning self-help and relationship-building techniques. Check.

  • The guy on the stage is making money off the people in the seats. Check.

  • The guy on the stage is promising you things you'll never actually get (in the name of God). Check.

  • After you don't get what you were promised you're told to have more faith and try harder (and buy the latest book). Check.

  • The visiting speaker (pastor) praises the local leader (pastor) and gets a fat speaking fee (plus sells his books in the lobby). Check. (handy tip: It's not a speaker fee if it comes from a "free-will offering")

  • Use music, lights and multimedia/video to emotionally manipulate like-minded people who desperately want to believe. Check.

 

Wait a minute, is this Amway or a Mega-Church we're talking about?? 

It's the SAME DAMNED (literally) THING!

 

FYI, Here is an excellent website with details about the Amway tool scam:

Stop The Amway Tool Scam

Also, just to be clear, I have no ill feelings towards those in my upline who were taken in by this "business" -and who probably lost more money than I did. God help us all. -Steven Kozar

Check out the new and improved: The Messed Up Church website!