"Bethal Doctrine"? What's That?
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I believe what you're referring to is doctrine that's exported out of Bethel (not Bethal) Church in Redding, CA. Their false doctrine is off the charts.
They operate in "Apostles and Prophets" who are their authorities, not God's word. Essentially they make up their own rules as they go along. They claim to be able to raise the dead but can't actually do it when the rubber meets the road. Some of their prominent members have posted YouTube videos showing them "grave soaking"; that is, visiting the graves of their dead idols hoping to acquire their "powers." They teach a form of dominionism known as the 7 Mountains Mandate. They believe God has commissioned his church to take dominion in all the important spheres of worldly influence like politics, art, music, education, science, etc. Then and only then will the world be ready for the Lord's return. They're part of what is known broadly as the New Apostolic Reformation; a.k.a., Independent Network Christianity.
They operate in "Apostles and Prophets" who are their authorities, not God's word. Essentially they make up their own rules as they go along. They claim to be able to raise the dead but can't actually do it when the rubber meets the road. Some of their prominent members have posted YouTube videos showing them "grave soaking"; that is, visiting the graves of their dead idols hoping to acquire their "powers." They teach a form of dominionism known as the 7 Mountains Mandate. They believe God has commissioned his church to take dominion in all the important spheres of worldly influence like politics, art, music, education, science, etc. Then and only then will the world be ready for the Lord's return. They're part of what is known broadly as the New Apostolic Reformation; a.k.a., Independent Network Christianity.
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I went on there website and looked up there statement of faith, this is what they believe, and what I read, I saw nothing wrong, I think, we need to stop the judging. I think before any person that says something about an other church go to GOD first ,see what he thinks, judging the body of Christ is like telling you own foot your no good, because it not doing what your right hand is doing, were all different. to reach deferent kinds of people, the devil likes it when we fight each other in stead of him,
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You can go on nearly any church website and find a boilerplate statement of faith like Bethel has. You can't just look at the statement of faith; you have to look deeper at what they're about. It sounds to me from your posts that I've read you're pretty much okay with anyone so long as they say they're Christian.
Let me ask you: Are you okay with grave soaking? Are you okay with dominionism? Are you okay with making false claims of healing and raising people from the dead that you can't actually deliver on? Are you okay with being under the thumbs of "apostles and prophets?" Are you okay with putting gold glitter and chicken feathers in the air ducts and telling people they're manifestations of God? If so you'd fit right in at Bethel.
Let me ask you: Are you okay with grave soaking? Are you okay with dominionism? Are you okay with making false claims of healing and raising people from the dead that you can't actually deliver on? Are you okay with being under the thumbs of "apostles and prophets?" Are you okay with putting gold glitter and chicken feathers in the air ducts and telling people they're manifestations of God? If so you'd fit right in at Bethel.
I guess it depends on how you define cult. I wouldn't call it a hardcore cult like the Branch Davidians or Peoples Temple; but they do seem to use a lot of manipulation and mind control. They're becoming very influential and leading the body down a path that isn't good. Maybe softcore cult would be a good description.
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I did a search and found the following:
We believe that there is only one true God who is the eternal King, Creator, and Redeemer of all that is. He is perfectly holy, just, loving, and truthful. He has revealed Himself to be eternally self-existent – one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Beliefs | Bethel
FYI ONLY
We believe that there is only one true God who is the eternal King, Creator, and Redeemer of all that is. He is perfectly holy, just, loving, and truthful. He has revealed Himself to be eternally self-existent – one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Beliefs | Bethel
FYI ONLY
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"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" James 2:18-20
It's not enough to say "I believe in God" and then dishonor Him by your actions.
It's not enough to say "I believe in God" and then dishonor Him by your actions.
Most cults preach what the lost want to hear.. Thats why they succed in attracting many people.. Unfortunatly many people don't want to hear the truth.. They want a message that seems right to them..
(Proverbs 14:12) "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
(Proverbs 14:12) "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
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I live out side of Redding for a number of years . Bethel is a cult . Cults paint a pretty picture on a phony canvas. We dont need duck down to flutter out of the HVAC system to 'feel' the Holy Spirit. Have folks lay over graves to absorb the spirit of the dead. I did not see these things for myself but when enough different people from different places tell ya stuff it dont hurt to listen. The TV ads were creepy, cant explain how they just were.
As someone mentioned, this probably refers to doctrine from a church in Redding, California. Their music is really popular for praise and worship.
It's similar to Pentecostal or Charismatic doctrine, except they would be (or at least were) of the end of it that thinks that God must always heal. There is also an emphasis on every believer doing miracles and healing, as if that is supposed to happen or something is off.... as opposed to the idea of gifts being distributed among believers.
I don't think their doctrine is Word of Faith like Tulsa in the 1980's, but their views on healing are similar, and Bill Johnson and some other people from there seem similar in that they seem to think that God being 'good' means that He does the stuff that seems 'good' from a human perspective. So with people from there i've interacted with, they seem to have an issue with the idea that God might give someone a prophecy of judgment or something 'negative' happening to people. I think there may be some verse from II Corinthians that they interpret to mean that God holds off any kind of calamity type judgments until the end of the age. The verse doesn't actually say that.
There were some individuals that went to church there who would do outreaches at New Agey type conferences.... which I don't have a problem with. But they had some kinds of cards they used, maybe Bible-based cards, or maybe not as 'Christian' as that, that they were accused of for using for 'readings. , which they were trying to do from a Christian perspective. I'm not sure the details of that, but it was a bit concerning.
Bill Johnson did an interview where he said that he didn't believe you could suck up anointing from someone's grave. He said if you went to a grave and prayed that the same anointing that was upon that person be upon you... or something like that... he didn't see that as a problem. Those aren't the exact words. He said their church attracted some unusual people and gave some examples. Someone who had gone to Bethel might have done the 'grave sucking' thing.
One of the pastors there holds to something along the lines of post-trib or kingdom now type eschatology. Pentecostals traditionally are dispensationalist. The congregation that is now Bethel Redding was Assemblies of God many decades ago, but it has changed doctrinally.
Also, I hear it called 'New Apostolic Reformation'. I'm not sure about that. I do know that that label gets slapped on people when it doesn't make sense to me.
A lot of different groups of Christians would recognize that there might be an apostolic role for some who do church planting type work, for example some missionaries, including Assemblies of God, some CPM type Baptists in the IMB, the church associated with the ministry of ministry of Watchman Nee, some house church Christians, etc. That doesn't seem to be the same concept of apostleship that C. Peter Wagner, who is associated with the term 'New Apostolic Reformation' held to. He seemed to think of the role as being heads of fellowships of churches and such.
It's similar to Pentecostal or Charismatic doctrine, except they would be (or at least were) of the end of it that thinks that God must always heal. There is also an emphasis on every believer doing miracles and healing, as if that is supposed to happen or something is off.... as opposed to the idea of gifts being distributed among believers.
I don't think their doctrine is Word of Faith like Tulsa in the 1980's, but their views on healing are similar, and Bill Johnson and some other people from there seem similar in that they seem to think that God being 'good' means that He does the stuff that seems 'good' from a human perspective. So with people from there i've interacted with, they seem to have an issue with the idea that God might give someone a prophecy of judgment or something 'negative' happening to people. I think there may be some verse from II Corinthians that they interpret to mean that God holds off any kind of calamity type judgments until the end of the age. The verse doesn't actually say that.
There were some individuals that went to church there who would do outreaches at New Agey type conferences.... which I don't have a problem with. But they had some kinds of cards they used, maybe Bible-based cards, or maybe not as 'Christian' as that, that they were accused of for using for 'readings. , which they were trying to do from a Christian perspective. I'm not sure the details of that, but it was a bit concerning.
Bill Johnson did an interview where he said that he didn't believe you could suck up anointing from someone's grave. He said if you went to a grave and prayed that the same anointing that was upon that person be upon you... or something like that... he didn't see that as a problem. Those aren't the exact words. He said their church attracted some unusual people and gave some examples. Someone who had gone to Bethel might have done the 'grave sucking' thing.
One of the pastors there holds to something along the lines of post-trib or kingdom now type eschatology. Pentecostals traditionally are dispensationalist. The congregation that is now Bethel Redding was Assemblies of God many decades ago, but it has changed doctrinally.
Also, I hear it called 'New Apostolic Reformation'. I'm not sure about that. I do know that that label gets slapped on people when it doesn't make sense to me.
A lot of different groups of Christians would recognize that there might be an apostolic role for some who do church planting type work, for example some missionaries, including Assemblies of God, some CPM type Baptists in the IMB, the church associated with the ministry of ministry of Watchman Nee, some house church Christians, etc. That doesn't seem to be the same concept of apostleship that C. Peter Wagner, who is associated with the term 'New Apostolic Reformation' held to. He seemed to think of the role as being heads of fellowships of churches and such.
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