The Bethel Controversy: Questions It Raises About Us

Bethel’s problems are big news. If you’re not familiar with the allegations against their leadership, you can click HERE to read about their support for a non-Bethel leader who’s been accused of sexual harassment and the use of fakery when claiming to hear messages from God. Then click HERE to view recent public apologies from Bethel’s pastors.

(Note: Bethel’s leadership has not, to my knowledge, been accused of sexual misconduct or trickery in this case, but of covering up for a colleague who’s been accused of both.)

 Although the problem of ministerial misconduct is hardly new, this recent scandal sheds light on the longstanding problem of ministers playing fast and loose with “words form the Lord,” offering prophecies that are false, and having each other’s backs when laypeople complain about the abuse and entitlement of shepherds behaving like wolves.

Enough Blame to Go Around

But plenty of believers might ask whether they, too, are part of the problem. After all, a minister’s outrageous platform behavior is hard to sustain without the consent – or even the encouragement – of his followers.

Of course, when a leader sexually or emotionally abuses someone, the victim should never be blamed. But when a leader’s gross public errors of doctrine or practice are encouraged by ongoing tolerance, that’s another matter.

In churches around the world, too many preachers put on wildly un-Biblical displays of what they claim to be manifestations of the Holy Spirit. When their audiences say “Amen!” and thousands buy their books and send donations, then doesn’t the responsibility go beyond leadership?

With that in mind, there are questions I wish we’d prayerfully consider this week. I’ll post and answer one daily, between now and Friday.

For today, let’s consider our first question:

“Should miracles be our priority?“

Nothing in Scripture suggests that healing and prophecy are outdated, and the gifts of the Spirit are more needed than ever for the edification of the Church and the glory of God. (Romans 12: 4-8;
I Corinthians 12: 1-31)

But when the miraculous becomes the goal or center of meetings (at the expense of sound preaching, earnest prayer, and worship in Spirit and truth) then fellowship can degenerate into sensationalism.

That’s because some people want a miracle more than a message, and some leaders, loving the mantle of “miracle worker,” are all too happy to oblige.

That’s how an unhealthy compact gets formed. The leader agrees to suggest something supernaturally new – an extravagant prophesy; a new revelation; an astonishing sign. (Ever hear of gold dust or angel feathers falling on people? Or mass “slayings in the Spirit” in which 20, 30, or 100 saints fall backwards in unity? These are just a few of too many examples to list.)

And the crowd, hoping for thrill, goes along, either claiming to experience or at least believe in an alleged manifestation which amounts to nothing more than group suggestion or sleight of hand.

When the miracle turns out to be inauthentic (like this recent case in which a well-known minister’s “word of knowledge” about people turned out to be info he gleaned from Facebook) it’s easy to blame the leader and exonerate the crowd. But should we?

Blame to Go Around

I’m afraid many laypeople and leaders are indulging each other’s worst instincts. A common weakness leaders need to protect against is the temptation to give people want they want, instead of what they need.

The gratification felt when the crowd says “Wow!” can (and often does) usurp our commission to feed the flock Biblical truth which, let’s admit it, does not always tickle or excite the listener. One is reminded of lyrics from the musical Chicago:

“Give ‘em the old razzle-dazzle, fool and flummox them.
Give them an act with lots of flash in it, and the reaction will be passionate.”

So if we crave miracles over the Word, we appeal to the showman instinct, encouraging men to extreme practices at the expense of their own integrity, and the Church’s credibility.

They will certainly answer to God for their error. But I can’t help but wonder if the folks who encouraged them, by silence or applause, might have to answer to God as well.

Bethel’s recent heartache reminds us that counterfeit miracles are the inevitable result when the miraculous becomes an idol. That golden calf has left way too many people disillusioned and bitter.

But true miracles, experienced as we seek Him above them, point us to the True God. When that happens, no one’s fooled. Instead, non-believers are brought to faith, believer’s faith is strengthened, and the heart of the One who wants to make Himself and His mighty works known in this dark, fallen world, gets beautifully expressed.

Tomorrow’s question: “Should I believe it when someone says, “The Lord told me to tell you…?”