The first person I am going to give you information on as to why I believe he is a false teacher is Bill Johnson from Bethel Church (Bethel School of Ministry) from Redding, California.
The reason I am starting off with Bill Johnson is because he (and his church/school) seem to be popping up on my facebook even though I have never requested any information from him. However, I noticed that some of my Christian friends “like” him and agree with his views on Scripture. I have talked with some of those friends that approve and believe what he is saying but to no avail.
With that said, I am going to share what I have learned about what Bill Johnson and his associates believe, preach and teach. I pray that you will take the time to listen to the videos, research any writing and/or books I reference and test the Scripture that I refer to as my point of reference.
Bill Johnson, Bethel Church…
He is associated with Todd Bentley, Mike Bickel, Heidi Baker, Georgian and Winnie Banov, Randy Clark, John and Carol Arnott, Patricia King, Bob Jones, and the leadership of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (and others in the extreme Supernatural ministry, New Age, Word-of-Faith Ministry, and signs and wonders ministries).
(The following comments have been mentioned in various messages and videos).
Beliefs: he endorses and promotes “holy laughter,” gold-dust falling from the ceiling provided by the Holy Spirit, “portals,” “visualization,” “spirit-travel,” and “angel-orbs. These activities are found throughout the New Age movement, however I can’t find reference to them in the Bible.
Some of his comments; (taken from his videos)
“Jesus was born again; Bill Johnson asks, “Did you know Jesus was born again? I asked the first service, and they said, ‘no’, but I’ll show you it’s in the Bible. He had to be, He became sin.”
Johnson says: “Jesus had no ability to heal the sick. He couldn’t cast out devils, and He had no ability to raise the dead. He said of Himself in John 5:19, ‘the Son can do nothing of Himself.’ He had set aside His divinity. … He put self-imposed restrictions on Himself to show us that we could do it, too. Jesus so emptied Himself that He was incapable of doing what was required of Him by the Father – without the Father’s help.”
Johnson wrote, “He (Jesus) performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship to God…not as God. If He performed miracles because He was God, then they would be unattainable for us.”
Johnson: “Raising the Dead; another subject that has drawn a lot of attention recently is dead raising. I need to be honest; I have personally never raised anyone from the dead although I have tried twice. But here again Jesus said, ‘And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons….,” (Matthew 10:7-8). Contextually, Jesus is only speaking to twelve disciples, but the truth is that a large portion of what Jesus taught was only given to twelve guys. And almost all of Paul’s epistles were written to specific groups of people, yet we still understand that most of what he penned applies to us today. Furthermore, Jesus commanded His guys to make disciples of all nations by, “teaching them to observe all I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20)” He believes that all of us (Christ followers) have the power to heal the sick, cast out demons etc. and we should have the faith to do it.
In an article from Charisma Magazine dated February 23, 2012, Johnson writes: “While Jesus is eternally God, He emptied Himself of His divinity and became a man…it’s vital to note that He did all His miracles as a man, not as God. If He did them as God, I would still be impressed. But because He did them as a man yielded to God, I am now unsatisfied with my life, being compelled to follow the example He has given us. Jesus is the only model for us to follow”. The proof text he gives is Philippians 2:7 (which does not state that Christ’s divine nature ceased, but basically that Jesus humbly became a servant despite His divinity). I do not see the above statement as being Biblically sound.
The below information came from their web site in the “What we believe” section.
“We believe all can be healed because Jesus demonstrated the Father’s will in healing all the sick and demonized. (Matt. 4:23; Matt. 9:35; Matt. 12:15; Matt. 14:14; Luke 9:11; Acts 10:38).” And for a fee you can attend a class that will teach you how to heal yourself and others!
“We renew our minds continually with God by believing and declaring His promises. We receive “grace” into our lives through “impartations” from other believers. (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 1:20; Joel 3:10; Matt. 10:41; Acts 13:3; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6).” I read in Scripture that the grace I receive comes from God and no other!
“We refuse to partner with a gospel where the devil is empowered and we have no responsibility or supernatural ability to bring change. (1 John 5:14-15; Matt. 10:8; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:18-19; John 20:23).” From what I read in Scripture I do not have supernatural ability and cannot bring change. If God works His power through me and change comes about it is from Him, not me.
In the below videos Johnson talks about; “we must have a friendship relationship with Jesus, not a servant one; the Lord requires us to steward the miraculous that happens and record it;” He makes the comparison between the friendship relationship and an intimate relationship with the God, saying the friendship relationship is best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYvh2Hoe9Nk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4RZ_ctiwlE
Other comments from his videos are; “there are times when Heaven is moved by the heart of an individual.”
“We have an affect of the timing and the outcome of things because God allows us to help Him.”
“A prayer cloth (you can get one via the US mail for a donation) can heal people.
I do not know why God gives people the miracle of new gold fillings. I guess He just enjoys messing with us.”
Bethel Church has a school where you can learn healing and impartation. (Cost is $140.00)
Another activity of Bethel Church is “Activating kids.” Below is part of an article written by Marsha West on November 2, 2015 “False Teacher Alert.” (entire article; http://bereanresearch.org/how-to-recognize-a-false-teacher-false-prophet)
“Bethel Redding leaders continue to present an unbalanced and unhealthy preoccupation with signs and wonders–or, as I have come to call it, a bells-and-whistles theology. It should be no surprise that this is also present in Bethel Redding’s children’s ministry. It seems as if it is more important to encourage children to seek angelic visitations, visions, and Words of Knowledge than it is to actually determine whether the experience/communication with God is genuine or not. In other words, there is little discernment at Bethel Redding.”
Children’s Pastor Seth Dahl’s response to the interviewer about discernment is telling. Watch the video ; https://youtu.be/1g-wTvelpEs.
Other YouTube video to watch is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzAwFYKe3h0 This one states, “I refuse to create a theology that allows for sickness.” He believes we (all Christ followers) can heal like Jesus did. Also, Johnson states that Paul is teaching a different gospel. Johnson teaches that Jesus was “born again”, and that Jesus was totally man and not God while on the earth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQrTjbzbByA Shows glory cloud at meeting that healed people immediately when they stood under it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB1BGhvCij4 States we give God permission to help us. He (God) is handcuffed unless we pray.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85dUsCTFqTc Totally ignores and never mentions that scripture Satan will do wonderful signs and miracles to deceive us and makes fun of someone that does.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9trTFPhbM_A&ebc=ANyPxKrqY927DDhzRrAfkbcDT1Lwq7q2EAm7JHzxEhMkzbuxb74fwfkMJB6H-jvtXfFPPCohMakstJbhehymVTF8wjPVCcXUqg States some of His (God’s) will is determined by our influence (at 3 minutes).
This is just a sample of the teachings of Bill Johnson coming from his church and school. You can look, read and view for yourself the information I have given you. I have listened to him and then checked to see what scripture states. I read that Scripture deems him to be a false teacher and I should not follow or listen to him (Romans 16:17-18, Eph. 5:11, 2 John 1:10).
As an example of who Johnson associates himself/his church with is Patricia King (also a false teacher who will be discussed at another time).
Who is Patricia King? Patricia King is a New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) pastor. For $50 per person (plus a $25 fee for the workbook), King’s website promises “Glory School will teach people how to experience: the presence of God, the supernatural, the glory, angels, and third heaven. The teaching is vibrant, cutting edge, practical and accompanied by moves of the Holy Spirit. Those who attend the schools often say, ‘This school has been life transforming for me!’”
Patricia King’s teachings, which are seen worldwide by millions of people, feature New Age and even sorcery disguised as a sickish biblical counterfeit. King promotes the Seer Dimension, an anointing that she supernaturally imparts to followers. King teaches Christians how to unlock and activate their spiritual gift of prophecy. See YouTube video http://youtu.be/Vn5TK_3e7vk
Patricia King also promotes manifestations such as Angel Orbs and believes in Astral Projections (out of body experiences). I will have more on Patricia King when it is her turn.
Does Bill Johnson follow the Scriptures correctly, does he teach the truth, and does he align himself and his church with other true Christ followers? I read that he does not, he is a false teacher and I should stay away from him, his teachings and warn others of his departure from Scripture.
What do you read?
Dennis 04/2016
Manos de Dios, Hands of God Ministries 