The Bill Johnson story

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I. How I met Bill Johnson

From 2001-2005, I attended Simpson University and worked towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Church Education Ministries. It was there that I was exposed to Bill Johnson and Bethel Church. I attended Bethel a number of times and saw many strange things. I saw people dancing around, being slain in the spirit and acting really crazy! I also heard a number of unbiblical prosperity sermons from Bill, and I was dumbfounded how the people there could lack so little biblical discernment! I was saddened by my experiences at Bethel and so did a bit of research on Bethel and his branch in the Charismatic movement. I discovered John MacArthur’s Charismatic Chaos, which has to this day been an excellent resource! I felt I needed to tell others of my discoveries about Bethel and in May of 2005, I wrote a discerning critique in the Simpson newspaper and I was amazed by the positive response I had received because of it. Many had their eyes opened to the false teachings of Bethel.

II. CERM

In May of 2006, I started Church Education Resource Ministries and wrote an article on the Word of Faith movement and in it featured Bill Johnson. To this day, I continue to get email after email from people all over the world seeking answers and discernment regarding Bill Johnson and other false teachers in the faith movement. Sometime in late 2009, I was contacted by a reporter for the Redding record searchlight who wanted to write an article on Bethel. I agreed to be interviewed and the newspaper articles can be found in the Word of Faith article also on CERM or on the false teachers page.

III.WORD OF FAITH THEOLOGY

The word of faith movement has got loads of theological problems. Many have an unbiblical theology of the atonement, the nature of God, and the doctrine of sovereignty. Many believe that Satan (not God) controls this world. Bill Johnson himself has said that God could never allow disease to get into your body and this is a denial of the sovereignty of God. Many also believe that faith is a force, and Bill Johnson seems to differ little from others in the faith movement in these areas. In one audio clip, Bill denies the biblical doctrine of the person of Christ and says that Jesus was born again [PLAY AUDIO CLIP JESUS WAS BORN AGAIN].

IV. DOCTRINE OF SEPARATION

Those that are in churches with Word of Faith teachings need to get out and practice the doctrine of separation. In Romans 16:17-18 Paul writes

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them, which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (KJV).

A Christian separates from false teachers for the following reasons.

1. To maintain the doctrinal integrity of the church (I Timothy 2:6).
2. To protect the sheep or flock from error, which hinders spiritual growth (Acts 20:28; II Peter 2:1-2).

For more info on the doctrine of separation read the book The Dividing line by Mark Sidwell.

V. EXHORTATION

In the Jesus you can’t ignore John MacArthur says [QUOTE FROM PAGE 208]. Therefore, brethren I strongly encourage you to pick up your battle gear and engage in the truth war and fight the war on the false teachers, for many souls are at stake! May God bless you!