As some may know, Hillsong invited their very well-known band, Jesus Culture, to perorm at its annual Hillsong Conference in 2011. Australia’s other church movement, Christian City Church (C3), run by Phil Pringle, also endorses Bill Johnson personally and has had him speak at their annual Presence Conference.
If this is all new information to you, then we hope that Christians like yourself are beginning to realise how false teachers endorse false teachers to give the impression that they are legitimate.
Christians pastors, apologists, teachers and evangelists, those in positions of responsibility and leadership in the church, need to take a firmer stand in warning about Bethel’s influence, in obedience to the Scriptures, for the honor of the reputation of Christ, His gospel – for the sake of His church. The Scriptures are quite clear on what ought to be done about false teachers.
Matt. 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Gal. 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
1Tim. 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
2John 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.
Evangelist Tony Miano is one such person who has decided to take the Bethel “bull” by its horns and shine light into its false doctrines and practices.
Miano writes,
Welcome to ‘Repent Bethel Redding’
My name is Tony Miano. I am a member of Grace Community Church. I am an evangelist who leads a ministry called Cross Encounters Ministries.
With more than a little reluctance and trepidation, I am entering the world of “Discernment Blogging.” While it can be a place of great encouragement and teaching, it can also be a place of ugliness, lies, and hatred. I hope readers will determine I am in the camp of the former, and not the latter.
Why me, and why now?
I believe a group known as Bethel Redding is a cult. The group has a number of characteristics of cult, as defined by the Christian Apologetic & Research Ministry.
Bethel Redding propagates a false Jesus, contrary to the Scriptures. Bethel Redding propagates a false gospel, contrary to the Scriptures. Bethel Redding propagates a false holy spirit, with false signs and wonders, contrary to the Scriptures. The group is also involved in forbidden, demonic practices such as a strange form of necromancy known as “Soaking Up the Anointing,” “Grave Soaking,” or “Grave Sucking.”
I believe Bethel Redding is a danger to the true church, the Bride and Body of Christ. I also believe Bethel Redding is a danger to the soul of every lost person who comes in contact with the group or any of its affiliates.
I have followed and studied the aberrant activities and theology of Bethel Redding, for several years. I have already extensively written and reported about this cult. Recently, I have received an increase in requests for information about the Bethel Redding cult. Some have asked if there is a central depository of information about the group.
While others have done fine work in cataloging information about Bethel Redding, I’ve decided it’s time I lend a more organized level of assistance to the effort.
Now, this new work will be and must be secondary to primary mission–to herald the gospel of Jesus Christ on the streets around the world and to assist biblical churches in doing the same. So, the production of new, counter-cult material might be slower than some like. I hope you will be patient with me. In order to try to maintain a steady flow of the addition of new information to the site, from time-to-time I will have other people (guest writers) contribute to this site.
In the end, as in all things, I hope my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be glorified in this effort. I also pray the Bride of Christ will be edified, equipped, and protected in this effort, and that many lost people, particularly those involved in the Bethel Redding cult, will come to genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
So, with that, I inaugurate the Repent Bethel Redding website/blog.
Source: By Tony Miano, Welcome to ‘Repent Bethel Redding’, Repent Bethel Redding, http://repentbethelredding.com/2015/06/02/welcome-to-repent-bethel-redding/#comments, Published 02/06/2015. (Accessed 03/06/2015.)