Bethel Church, Bethel Music and Jesus Culture: A Warning

The city of Redding in California is the source of some of today's most popular Christian music. The non-denominational charismatic megachurch known as Bethel Church, based in Redding and pastured by Bill and Beni Johnson, is the fountain from which two groups, Bethel Music and Jesus Culture, have sprung. Their influence and popularity has grown considerably in recent years and has spread far beyond the confines of northern California, now sitting alongside the likes of Hillsong in terms of popular appeal. Northern Ireland is no exception to this, with either Bethel Music or Jesus Culture having held concerts or other events here over the past few years; Mandela Hall at Queens University, Whitewell Metropolitian Tabernacle and especially Journey Community Church in Antrim among those who have facilitated them. As part of their current UK tour they will be playing once again in Belfast, this time on 9th October at Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle.

 

When considering Bethel Music or Jesus Culture there is a common denominator that exists also with Hillsong which causes us to evaluate them on more than the style and content of their songs. It is that these are not merely Christian bands or groups, but rather they are the music ministry of particular churches, and churches where there are serious doctrinal concerns. The music of Bethel Music or Jesus culture cannot be divorced from the teaching of Bethel Church, therefore their continued popularity is of great concern and necessitates a warning due to the heretical and often bizarre nature of Bethel Church's theology.

The list of doctrines and practices which cause concern at Bethel are so extensive that the scope of this blogpost does not permit a detailed examination and refutation of them all. Mere mention of practices such as 'grave sucking', where participants lie on the graves of dead Christians in order that they might soak up their anointing, ought to be enough that any discerning believer would reject Bethel without further consideration. Add to that 'fire tunnels' where people shake and convulse uncontrollably, failed attempts at raising the dead, supposed gold dust and angel feathers falling on the congregation, and the use of shofar horns to heal people from disease, and some idea of the outlandish nature of Bethel Church's beliefs becomes apparent. Bethel's teachings do not conform to orthodox Christian belief; they are not even in line with traditional historic Pentecostalism. Rather they are part of the New Apostolic Reformation and Third Wave of the Charismatic Movement. The New Apostolic Reformation promotes the erroneous view that the offices of apostle and prophet have been restored to the church today, they being responsible for the governance of the church rather that elders and deacons. As well as placing an unhealthy emphasis on supernatural signs and wonders it also promotes extra biblical revelation and the ability to hear from God outside of scripture, denigrating the Reformation principle of Sola Scriptura. 

The theology and practices of Bethel Church are as aberrant as it is possible to be, and the vehicle for introducing people to the teaching of Bethel Church is the music of Bethel Music and Jesus Culture. The heresies of Arianism in the 3rd century were, according to the godly Athanasius, partly spread through the use of music. Godly music has an importance place in the life of the church, however it is the music of groups such as Bethel, Jesus Culture and Hillsong which are major contributors to sucking people in to the false teaching of movements such as the NAR. If you have music from Bethel Church or Jesus Culture get rid of it. If you have tickets for any of their events bin them. If you have influence over people who listen to them, then warn them against it in the strongest possible terms.