Embracing Good Doctrine and the Proper Interpretation of Scripture - Grace to You

**I am taking a break from my posts on Bethel to show you how Scripture is well applied to a statement of doctrine in a church.  For my example I have taken a statement from Grace To You Ministries affiliate church, Grace Church.**

True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful, confessing your sins to Him, and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13:3, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), pursue Christ (Matthew 11: 28-30; John 17:3), and obey Him (1 John 2:3). It isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19), but they don't love and obey Him. True saving faith always responds in obedience (Ephesians 2:10).


Taken From: http://www.gracechurch.org/About/Gospel

Luke 13:3

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?

3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'

8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.

9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

-Luke 13:1-9

What we are looking for here, is that Grace to You (hereafter GTY) is correctly using the Biblical text when they cite it as a proof for their doctrinal statement.  In this case, they have stated that repentance is a necessary part of saving faith.  That true saving faith will indeed result in repentance.  In this passage, we see that Christ is saying that all sinners are equal.  That these particular tragedies were not as a result of the people's sins.  Thus when he says to the people that unless they repent they will perish, we see in the larger context of verses 6-9 that this perishing is not simply a earthly death, but an eternal death.  Therefore, as you can see, this passage supports what GTY is saying in their doctrine.

1 Thessalonians 1:9

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

-1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

In this next passage, we are seeing why GTY uses the particular term 'turn from your sin'.  The verse that they cite gives us a great example of what repentance looks like practically with the Thessalonian people 'turned to God from idols'.  The context supports the doctrine, and specifically the terminology GTY used to describe repentance.

Matthew 11:28-30

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."

25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

 - Matthew 11:20-30

Here we have a great example of the invitation that Christ gives to us to pursue him and take His yoke which is easy and light.  GTY tells us in their doctrinal statement that part of true saving faith and repentance is a pursuing of Jesus Christ.  In the larger context we also see in verse 20 that the cities that Jesus is denouncing, He was doing so because of lack of repentance.  This contrast between the cities and Christ's invitation is striking, and the inference drawn here is that the opposite of not repenting like those cities, is going to Jesus to find rest for our souls.

John 17:3

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,

2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

6 "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.

8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.

10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

- John 17:1-19

This is again a passage telling us why it is important to pursue Christ.  We are looking at Jesus' High Priestly prayer, and we see that everlasting life, that true saving faith, is found in knowing God, and Jesus whom He has sent.  The context here is just amazing, that Jesus would pray for us like this, is absolutely incredible.  When we see this, I believe we should have no response but to praise Him!

1 John 2:3

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

- 1 John 2:1-11

The next portion of the doctrine that we see here is that we will obey Christ if we truly repent.  We can see here that verses 3-11 greatly displays this doctrine.  If we truly are the disciples of Jesus, and have true saving faith, our lives will change, and we will obey His commandments.  So far it is obvious that all of the statements that GTY has made in their doctrinal statement have been backed up by a correct reading and interpretation of the Scripture.

James 2:19

18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"-and he was called a friend of God.

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

 - James 2:18-26

This is a very interesting passage in general, and is important for us to remember as we share the gospel with people.  It is not enough to simply acknowledge and believe in God.  There must be something accompanying your faith to show that it is true.  GTY is not saying, nor is the Bible, that works are necessary to achieve salvation, but that works necessarily flow from true saving faith.  We are not saved by our works, but we are saved to our works.  Believing in facts is not enough, true saving faith will bring about repentance.

Ephesians 2:10

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands-

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

-Ephesians 2:1-13

I feel that I don't even need to expound here, as the verse and entire passage are so clear that our faith will show itself in good works.  Just as in the passage in James, so here in Ephesians we see the outworking of our faith is works, and that we are not saved by them (vv. 8-9).

Conclusion

To conclude, if you have read my two previous posts, you saw how badly the Word of God can be twisted to come up with foolish doctrines that have no basis in true Christianity.  I wanted to write this post, because there are good churches out there that do not twist the Scriptures and that use them properly.  GTY is one such organization and church, and there are others out there.  My hope in these posts is that you will look at your churches doctrines and statements of faith and will open your Bible and make sure that they are not twisting God's Word.  Remember as you do this, the 5 rules of hermeneutics.
1.Context
2.Context
3.Context
4.Narrative is not Normative
5.A text can never say what it never said.
If you can follow these rules and test everything, you will be a better informed Christian and you will know what God says in His word.  Semper Reformanda.

Refuting Bad Doctrine and the Twisting of Scripture - Bethel - Part 2

**This post is part of a series discussing the incorrect doctrines and teachings coming out of Bethel Redding, Jesus Culture and the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.  Bethel is a huge church with a lot of influence.  Jesus Culture music is in many churches all over the world, and there are big problems in the doctrine and theology that comes in that music, and through this church.  I am writing these posts to show that what we see as bad teaching coming from Bethel has its roots in their incorrect statements of what they believe.  I will take statements from various parts of Bethel’s websites and go through the scripture that they give in its larger context to show that what they are teaching is not found in Sacred Scripture.**

“God is Good – What does it look like?”

“God’s desire is to prosper us in every area of our lives: physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and vocationally. (Isaiah 26:3; John 10:10; Luke 9:56; Rom. 5:8; Rom. 8:1; 3 John 1:2; Gen. 12:1-3; Jer. 29:11)” – Taken from http://bssm.net/about/corevalues

What I will be doing here is, first of all, going through each scripture to show that it does not support what they are claiming.  Once I have shown that, I will attempt to show Biblically, that the opposing position is true and supported by the Word of God.

Isaiah 26:3

[25:1] O LORD, you are my God;

I will exalt you; I will praise your name,

for you have done wonderful things,

plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

[2] For you have made the city a heap,

the fortified city a ruin;

the foreigners' palace is a city no more;

it will never be rebuilt.

[3] Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;

cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

[4] For you have been a stronghold to the poor,

a stronghold to the needy in his distress,

a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat;

for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

[5] like heat in a dry place.

You subdue the noise of the foreigners;

as heat by the shade of a cloud,

so the song of the ruthless is put down.

[6] On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

[7] And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

[8] He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken.

[9] It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

[10] For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain,

and Moab shall be trampled down in his place,

as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.

[11] And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it

as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim,

but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.

[12] And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down,

lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust.

[26:1] In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

“We have a strong city;

he sets up salvation

as walls and bulwarks.

[2] Open the gates,

that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

[3] You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you.

[4] Trust in the LORD forever,

for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

[5] For he has humbled

the inhabitants of the height,

the lofty city.

He lays it low, lays it low to the ground,

casts it to the dust.

[6] The foot tramples it,

the feet of the poor,

the steps of the needy.”

(Isaiah 25-26:6 ESV)

            This passage is a really good example of a text that is ripped out of context.  What Bethel is telling everyone, is that this text is a promise that is given for you and me, and that we should be claiming this promise as our own.  Now, I only gave you the previous chapter as context here, if you want more, read Isaiah 24-27 and you will get a much better idea of what Isaiah is talking about here.  To summarize, this whole passage of Isaiah is about the final judgment, that final day.  So this promise that Bethel is claiming for themselves is actually a promise for the end of the age, a time when those who are saved will be brought to that place of perfect peace for all time.

John 10:10

[10:1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. [2] But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. [5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” [6] This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

[7] So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. [17] For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

[19] There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. [20] Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” [21] Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

(John 10:1-21 ESV)

            This is probably your basic proof text for the health, wealth, prosperity and name it and claim it heresy.  This text epitomizes what they believe and gives them all the fuel they need to shout you down because they claim that they have been promised this prosperous life.  The problem is, that this text must be read in the full context of the Bible.  To take this one verse isolated from everything else, sure seems to say that we should expect a wealthy life as Christians.  However, as we will look at once we get through Bethel’s proof texts, is the more full view that the Bible has of what the life of the Christian is going to be like.  What we will see, is that we will have an abundant life as a Christian.  But that abundance is not defined by material wealth, good health, a good vocation, or even good emotional health.  Rather, it is defined by God, and the fact that our life is an abundant life in view of eternity.

Luke 9:56

[37] On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. [38] And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. [39] And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. [40] And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” [41] Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” [42] While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. [43] And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, [44] “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” [45] But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

[46] An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. [47] But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side [48] and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

[49] John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” [50] But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

[51] When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. [53] But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. [54] And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” [55] But he turned and rebuked them. [56] For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went on to another village.

[57] As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” [59] To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [61] Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” [62] Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

(Luke 9:37-62 ESV)

            First thing at this point is a small caveat.  The part of the verse that Bethel is using to define this point of their doctrine is italicized in the passage above.  It is not in the ESV so I had to take it from the Authorized Version (KJV).  It is a textual variant, however, I don’t want to get into textual variants at this point so we shall move on.  This passage is a pretty weak attempt at proof texting.  If you look at the wider context, this is simply a statement that Jesus made that in general, while He was on earth, it was not His time to destroy, but to save.  We see in other texts in Scripture that at the end of the age, Jesus will come as the bearer of Divine Judgment and Divine wrath, but when He spoke this, it was not what God had prepared for Him.  In short, nothing in this verse, or the passage at large points to a prosperity in our lives, but simply, a description of Christ’s work at the time of His earthly ministry.  Going a little further in the text though, we see that the opposite of Bethel’s doctrine is actually taught by Jesus.  In verses 57-62, Jesus tells the people who want to follow Him explicitly, that they are not going to be wealthy, they won’t have a stable home, and they will be on the move constantly.  They won’t even have the time to say goodbye to their families.

Romans 5:8

[5:1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

[6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—[8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. [10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [11] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

[12] Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

(Romans 5:1-12 ESV)

            Full disclosure on this one, I don’t see how they even can use this as a proof text for this doctrine.  We have a glorious truth here of our salvation, the mercy and grace of God in sending Jesus to die for us.  And if we look back at the last Scripture cited in Luke, that salvation and following Jesus will require leaving everything behind and not being prosperous.

           

Romans 8:1

[21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

[8:1] There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. [3] For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4] in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [5] For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. [6] For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

[9] You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [10] But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

[12] So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. [13] For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” [16] The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

(Romans 7:21-8:17 ESV)

            We see here again, a fantastic truth that we have in Christ Jesus.  We have no condemnation because He paid it all on the cross at Calvary.  We truly are wretched sinners in need of a perfect savior, we are under so much condemnation without Jesus.  But the fantastic news is that we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb without spot or blemish.  We have no condemnation because we are in Christ, we are not going to Hell because of His sacrifice.  As far as Bethel using this text is concerned, I am insulted that they would take a gospel truth and twist it to say that this means they will prosper in this life.  This passage has nothing to do with health, wealth, and prosperity.  It has everything to do with wretched sinners saved by the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed for us.

3 John 2

[1:1] The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

[2] Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. [3] For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. [4] I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

[5] Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, [6] who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. [7] For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. [8] Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

[9] I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. [10] So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

[11] Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. [12] Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

[13] I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. [14] I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

[15] Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

(3 John ESV)

            3 John is a wonderful book, short, sweet and to the point.  I love how John is sending a letter to a friend and disciple of his.  I just like how in verse 14 that he is eager to talk face to face with his friend.  And as far as verse 2 is concerned, I think it is great to see the heart of John for his friend.  This is a simple greeting with a wish for good health.  Again, not a promise that we will have prosperity in life, in fact, John is more concerned with the truth than he is with prosperity.  Read this book, and then read it again.

Genesis 12:1-3

[12:1] Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. [2] And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

[4] So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. [5] And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, [6] Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. [7] Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. [8] From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. [9] And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.

(Genesis 12:1-9 ESV)

            I’m going to be honest here, this is almost ridiculous.  To include this as a proof text is just laughable.  This is a blessing for Abram, not you, not me, not Bethel.  Why they would even think it was is beyond me.  Simple hermeneutics that I learned when I was 13 would never lead me to think that I can just read myself into passages and claim blessings that weren’t given to me.  That is called arrogant eisegesis, when someone puts themselves into the Bible to claim things that they have no right to.

Jeremiah 29:11

[4] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: [5] Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. [6] Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. [7] But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. [8] For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, [9] for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.

[10] “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. [11] For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [12] Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. [13] You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. [14] I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

(Jeremiah 29:4-14 ESV)

            Read the last part of the commentary on the last passage.  You can’t just insert yourself into the Bible and claim promises that were made to someone who is not you.  This passage is very specifically talking to the Israelites who are in Babylon.  You could maybe look at it slightly more broadly and say that the blessing even extended to the next generation to follow, but no more than that.  If you read this verse in the context of the whole passage, you will see that ripping verses kicking and screaming out of context is just a really bad idea, and kind of dumb.

What does the Bible actually say?

            In this final section, I would like to point out some passages of scripture, in their context, for your consideration.  We must remember to look at the whole Bible, and not just individual verses.  That is the only way that we can truly know what God is saying to each and every one of us through His inspired and infallible word.

Physical Prosperity?

            Read the book of Job.  I know that the 4^th rule of hermeneutics is ‘narrative is not normative’, so I don’t expect you to look at that as a rule of life for the follower of God.  I do want to point out though, that God allowed Job to be wrecked physically to show His glory even more powerfully.  For another good example of God allowing His people to continue in sickness, we will look at 1 Timothy 5:

            [21] In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. [22] Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. [23] (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) [24] The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. [25] So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

(1 Timothy 5:21-25 ESV)

            Now, Paul doesn’t feel the need to bring it up as a major theme of his letter, but we can see in verse 23 that Timothy had frequent ailments and some sort of stomach problem.  So if you really start to think about it, Paul loved Timothy as a son.  And we know that Paul healed some.  So if this doctrine that Bethel espouses is actually true, then why didn’t Paul just heal Timothy from these ailments?  It doesn’t make sense, unless you see that Scripture doesn’t actually promise physical prosperity for all believers.  That is a lie.

Mental, Spiritual and Emotional Prosperity

            This one I find very interesting.  As I was thinking about this, it dawned on me that I do find that people often become much more stable emotionally when they are saved, also mental issues can often go away.  However, this is not something that happens across the board.  If you ever have the chance, read some of Charles Spurgeon’s life.  The Prince of Preachers, who was a devout Christian man, was often afflicted with long seasons of depression.  This is arguably one of the best preachers of all time, a man blessed by God to show forth Christ to thousands, and yet he struggled mentally.  Looking to Scripture, I want to show you one of the battles that I have had, and that Paul had, looking at Romans 7 we read:

            [13] Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. [15] For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [16] Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. [17] So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

            [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [22] For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. [24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

           

(Romans 7:13-25 ESV)

            The tension that you feel when you read this, you have a tendency to forget that the one writing this was an Apostle.  A man directly sent by Jesus Christ, who was a Pharisee of Pharisees and he struggled spiritually and emotionally through these issues.  You will have victory at times over these issue through Christ, but that will not always be the case.  And to have in your mind that God is always supposed to make you prosper will really bum you out if you don’t realize that He is teaching you through those tough times.

Vocational Prosperity

            I feel like I have already addressed this when we looked at Luke above, but I will point out the passage from there that speaks to this pretty clearly, if you want the entire context, just scroll up a bit. 

[57] As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” [59] To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [61] Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” [62] Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

(Luke 9:57-62 ESV)

            Pretty clear here that you won’t have a place to rest your head, maybe you won’t even have a job.  To follow Jesus is to leave everything behind.  Your personal vocational prosperity is not what God is interested in.  Following Him is more important than you making a lot of money, or always loving your job as much as possible.  I don’t deny that those things do happen, and often God will bless you with money and a great job.  But you are not promised that life.  If it happens, praise the Lord, if not, praise the Lord.  Don’t go through your life always disappointed if God doesn’t give you the best job ever.  God has a plan and will fulfill that plan in your life.

Conclusion

            If you have made it all the way down here, I thank you for reading and I pray that this post has been edifying to you.  Be careful who you listen to, never with an open mind, always with an open Bible.  The Prosperity Gospel is a heresy, a lie from the pit of Hell.  Don’t fall prey to Bethel’s teachings, always test everything by the word of God. 

May God bless you in your pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.  Remember the 5 rules of hermeneutics:

1.     Context

2.     Context

3.     Context

4.     Narrative is not Normative

5.     A text can never mean what it never meant.

Yours in Christ,

Forrest Demman

Refuting Bad Doctrine and the Twisting of Scripture - Bethel - Part 1

**This post is part of a series discussing the incorrect doctrines and teachings coming out of Bethel Redding, Jesus Culture and the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry.  Bethel is a huge church with a lot of influence.  Jesus Culture music is in many churches all over the world, and there are big problems in the doctrine and theology that comes in that music, and through this church.  I am writing these posts to show that what we see as bad teaching coming from Bethel has its roots in their incorrect statements of what they believe.  I will take statements from various parts of Bethel’s websites and go through the scripture that they give in its larger context to show that what they are teaching is not found in Sacred Scripture.**

God’s Word Transforms – What does it look like?

Answer: When we declare God’s words, we release Him to transform the world. (Prov. 18:21; James 3:4; Joel 3:10; Is. 54:1; Mark 4:39; Acts 3:6-7)

(Taken from http://bssm.net/about/corevalues)

What I will be doing here is, first of all, going through each scripture to show that it does not support what they are claiming.  Once I have shown that I will attempt to show Biblically, that the opposing position is true and supported by the Word of God.

Proverbs 18:21

            [1] Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;

                        he breaks out against all sound judgment.

            [2] A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

                        but only in expressing his opinion.

            [3] When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,

                        and with dishonor comes disgrace.

            [4] The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;

                        the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

            [5] It is not good to be partial to the wicked

                        or to deprive the righteous of justice.

            [6] A fool's lips walk into a fight,

                        and his mouth invites a beating.

            [7] A fool's mouth is his ruin,

                        and his lips are a snare to his soul.

            [8] The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

                        they go down into the inner parts of the body.

            [9] Whoever is slack in his work

                        is a brother to him who destroys.

            [10] The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

                        the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

            [11] A rich man's wealth is his strong city,

                        and like a high wall in his imagination.

            [12] Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

                        but humility comes before honor.

            [13] If one gives an answer before he hears,

                        it is his folly and shame.

            [14] A man's spirit will endure sickness,

                        but a crushed spirit who can bear?

            [15] An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,

                        and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

            [16] A man's gift makes room for him

                        and brings him before the great.

            [17] The one who states his case first seems right,

                        until the other comes and examines him.

            [18] The lot puts an end to quarrels

                        and decides between powerful contenders.

            [19] A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

                        and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

            [20] From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;

                        he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

            [21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

                        and those who love it will eat its fruits.

            [22] He who finds a wife finds a good thing

                        and obtains favor from the LORD.

            [23] The poor use entreaties,

                        but the rich answer roughly.

            [24] A man of many companions may come to ruin,

                        but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

(Proverbs 18 ESV)

As you read the entirety of this 18^th chapter of Proverbs you begin to see a theme.  In verses 6 and 7 we see two proverbs about the words of a fool leading to their destruction, we can see that because of the foolish things that come out of their mouths they are ruined and beaten.  Contrast that with verse 4 and verse 20 and we see the good outcome of the words of the wise man.  This shows us that the one who is wise does not have the same problems as the one who is a fool.  Therefore, when we arrive at verse 21, we now see those different and contrasting sayings summed up in a succinct way, giving us a single proverb, expanded by at least four others.  

            In that case, if you think that somehow we are being told here that we have power to release God or Satan through our words, you are completely missing the entire context of the book of Proverbs in general and chapter 18 specifically.

James 3:4

                        [3:1] Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. [2] For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. [3] If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. [4] Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

            How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. [7] For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? [12] Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

           

(James 3:1-12 ESV)

            This passage in James is a great warning for us all, we see in this the great danger of what our words can do.  What this passage teaches us, is that the ability to bridle ones tongue is a near impossible thing to do.  As for the verse that Bethel quotes for their belief, it is speaking of the fact that with our mouths we steer the entire course of what our bodies are going to do, but we don’t see here in any way that our words, our tongues, have any power over God, or any power to release Him into this world.

Joel 3:10       

            [28]  “And it shall come to pass afterward,

                        that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;

            your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

                        your old men shall dream dreams,

                        and your young men shall see visions.

            [29] Even on the male and female servants

                        in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

            [30] “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. [31] The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. [32] And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

             [3:1] “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, [2] I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, [3] and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

            [4] “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. [5] For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. [6] You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. [7] Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. [8] I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken.”

            [9] Proclaim this among the nations:

            Consecrate for war;

                        stir up the mighty men.

            Let all the men of war draw near;

                        let them come up.

            [10] Beat your plowshares into swords,

                        and your pruning hooks into spears;

                        let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”

            [11] Hasten and come,

                        all you surrounding nations,

                        and gather yourselves there.

            Bring down your warriors, O LORD.

            [12] Let the nations stir themselves up

                        and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;

            for there I will sit to judge

                        all the surrounding nations.

            [13] Put in the sickle,

                        for the harvest is ripe.

            Go in, tread,

                        for the winepress is full.

            The vats overflow,

                        for their evil is great.

            [14] Multitudes, multitudes,

                        in the valley of decision!

            For the day of the LORD is near

                        in the valley of decision.

            [15] The sun and the moon are darkened,

                        and the stars withdraw their shining.

            [16] The LORD roars from Zion,

                        and utters his voice from Jerusalem,

                        and the heavens and the earth quake.

            But the LORD is a refuge to his people,

                        a stronghold to the people of Israel.

(Joel 2:28-3:16 ESV)

           

            Here we have an example of a prophecy from Joel referring to the Final Judgment of God.  We see at the end of Chapter 2 that we are speaking of the new covenant, and the people of the new covenant.  And then in 3:12-14 we see the language of scripture that refers to the judgment of God upon all people.  Therefore, what we read in verse 10 is that God will make His people who are weak, strong.  However, this doesn’t mean that the weak will not be warriors if they don’t declare that they are warriors.  This is a promise from God, not that our words will make us warriors, but that He will make us warriors.

Isaiah 54:1

                        [53:1] Who has believed what he has heard from us?

                        And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

            [2] For he grew up before him like a young plant,

                        and like a root out of dry ground;

            he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

                        and no beauty that we should desire him.

            [3] He was despised and rejected by men;

                        a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

            and as one from whom men hide their faces

                        he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

            [4] Surely he has borne our griefs

                        and carried our sorrows;

            yet we esteemed him stricken,

                        smitten by God, and afflicted.

            [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions;

                        he was crushed for our iniquities;

            upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

                        and with his wounds we are healed.

            [6] All we like sheep have gone astray;

                        we have turned—every one—to his own way;

            and the LORD has laid on him

                        the iniquity of us all.

            [7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

                        yet he opened not his mouth;

            like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

                        and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

                        so he opened not his mouth.

            [8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

                        and as for his generation, who considered

            that he was cut off out of the land of the living,

                        stricken for the transgression of my people?

            [9] And they made his grave with the wicked

                        and with a rich man in his death,

            although he had done no violence,

                        and there was no deceit in his mouth.

            [10] Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

                        he has put him to grief;

            when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

                        he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

            the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

            [11] Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

            by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

                        make many to be accounted righteous,

                        and he shall bear their iniquities.

            [12] Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

                        and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

            because he poured out his soul to death

                        and was numbered with the transgressors;

            yet he bore the sin of many,

                        and makes intercession for the transgressors.

            [54:1] “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;

                        break forth into singing and cry aloud,

                        you who have not been in labor!

            For the children of the desolate one will be more

                        than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD.

            [2] “Enlarge the place of your tent,

                        and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;

            do not hold back; lengthen your cords

                        and strengthen your stakes.

            [3] For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,

                        and your offspring will possess the nations

                        and will people the desolate cities.

(Isaiah 53-54:3 ESV)

            This passage is a wonderful prophecy about Jesus first, and then goes into discussion about the new covenant.  What comes in 54:1 is again not that the singing and crying of the barren one is going to produce the children, nor that because of their words, they will be blessed.  We see here, as in the passage in Joel, that it is a promise, not something that will come as a result of people declaring God’s word.

Mark 4:39

            [35] On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” [36] And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” [39] And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. [40] He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” [41] And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

(Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

            In this passage, as you can plainly see, these are the words of Jesus.  Jesus Christ upholds the universe by the word of his power, and therefore when he tells his universe to do something, it obeys.  We see this many times in the life of Jesus, and it is well within His prerogative to do with His creation as He pleases.  This, however, does not say, even implicitly that you can somehow with your words do what Jesus, the Creator does.  That is arrogance to the nth degree to think that you have that power.  You are not Jesus and you will never be Jesus.

Acts 3:6-7

           

            [3:1] Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. [2] And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. [3] Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. [4] And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” [5] And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. [6] But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” [7] And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. [8] And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. [9] And all the people saw him walking and praising God, [10] and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

            [11] While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. [12] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? [13] The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. [14] But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. [16] And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

            [17] “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. [18] But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. [19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, [20] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, [21] whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. [22] Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. [23] And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ [24] And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. [25] You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ [26] God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

           

(Acts 3 ESV)

            In this final passage, we see Peter healing a man.  In the context of the passage, the healing of this man was for the direct purpose of validating the ministry of Peter and John as apostles, specifically it gave them the authority to speak the Word of God given to them by direct revelation.  This is what the office of Apostle was, it was a ministry that was confirmed by the signs and wonders that God gave to those Apostles.  Now, whether or not you believe that the Apostolic office continues today, what Peter did in healing this man, was not releasing God to heal him.  God did not need Peter to say “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth” in order for the healing to happen, but God used this to heal the man and validate the Apostle’s ministry.

Does God transforming the world depend upon us releasing Him?

            Romans 10

            [10:1] Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. [2] For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. [4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

            [5] For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. [6] But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) [7] “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). [8] But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); [9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. [13] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

            [14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” [16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

           

(Romans 10:1-17 ESV)

            First, I want to say some positive things about declaring God’s word.  It is clear from this passage in Romans, that God has ordained the means to have His word spread over all the earth.  It is through the ministry that He gives to the Saints.  We also see that it is with our mouth that we confess that Jesus Is Lord.  So there is precedent in the Bible for the positive use of the mouth when it comes to preaching the gospel and confessing our Lord.

Isaiah 45

            [45:1] Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,

                        whose right hand I have grasped,

            to subdue nations before him

                        and to loose the belts of kings,

            to open doors before him

                        that gates may not be closed:

            [2] “I will go before you

                        and level the exalted places,

            I will break in pieces the doors of bronze

                        and cut through the bars of iron,

            [3] I will give you the treasures of darkness

                        and the hoards in secret places,

            that you may know that it is I, the LORD,

                        the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

            [4] For the sake of my servant Jacob,

                        and Israel my chosen,

            I call you by your name,

                        I name you, though you do not know me.

            [5] I am the LORD, and there is no other,

                        besides me there is no God;

                        I equip you, though you do not know me,

            [6] that people may know, from the rising of the sun

                        and from the west, that there is none besides me;

                        I am the LORD, and there is no other.

            [7] I form light and create darkness,

                        I make well-being and create calamity,

                        I am the LORD, who does all these things.

            [8] “Shower, O heavens, from above,

                        and let the clouds rain down righteousness;

            let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;

                        let the earth cause them both to sprout;

                        I the LORD have created it.

            [9] “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,

                        a pot among earthen pots!

            Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’

                        or ‘Your work has no handles’?

            [10] Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’

                        or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”

            [11] Thus says the LORD,

                        the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:

            “Ask me of things to come;

                        will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

            [12] I made the earth

                        and created man on it;

            it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,

                        and I commanded all their host.

            [13] I have stirred him up in righteousness,

                        and I will make all his ways level;

            he shall build my city

                        and set my exiles free,

            not for price or reward,”

                        says the LORD of hosts.

(Isaiah 45:1-13 ESV)

            Here is an excellent passage of scripture that directly refutes the position that Bethel has taken by saying that we release God by declaring His words.  Specifically look at verses 7, 9, 11 and 12.  These verses along with the entire passage show a God who is not bound by His creation, He is in control, He is sovereign.  If God wills to do something, there is nothing on this puny earth that will stop Him, and He will accomplish all that He has planned regardless of who is declaring what.  It is God who declares the end from the beginning and He will cause His will to be done.

Daniel 4

            [34] At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

            for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

                        and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

            [35] all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

                        and he does according to his will among the host of heaven

                        and among the inhabitants of the earth;

            and none can stay his hand

                        or say to him, “What have you done?”

            [36] At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. [37] Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

(Daniel 4:34-37 ESV)

            I give this final passage to show once more that none can stay God’s hand or say to Him, “What have you done?”  This shows that the idea that we have some sort of power to bind and release God is ludicrous and a creation of man’s mind, not a result of Biblical understanding.

            In conclusion, I believe I have shown that in each passage that Bethel cites for this particular doctrine is unfounded and that their theology has been read into the passage with no regard for the actual context and meaning.  Remember, there are 5 rules of Biblical Hermeneutics: 1. Context 2. Context 3. Context 4. Narrative is not normative 5. A text can never say what it never said.  I hope this is helpful to you, the reader, and that I can continue to shine the light of the full Word of God into the dark doctrinal places of the “Christian” Culture.  God Bless.