Need some help regarding Bethel Church in Redding, Ca.

[HeraldingTruth]

First off I have a hard time even calling it a "Church", that's way too nice. I'm in the Bethel area, matter of fact, I used to attend there in the early 1970's when Bill Johnson Sr. was the pastor. I'm a Born Again Believer, never been involved with the new Bethel or anything remotely close. Matter of fact, I'm more reformed than anything. I'm putting together a new website and I need to hear first hand stories from people that have had experiences with Bethel. I want to know how long they attended, who preached while they were there and what kind of things happened to them. Or, if you know of some websites that have testimonies from Bethel as well. I appreciate your help. Feel free to private message me or reply to this post. Thanks!

[iwanthetruth]

First off I have a hard time even calling it a "Church", that's way too nice. I'm in the Bethel area, matter of fact, I used to attend there in the early 1970's when Bill Johnson Sr. was the pastor. I'm a Born Again Believer, never been involved with the new Bethel or anything remotely close. Matter of fact, I'm more reformed than anything. I'm putting together a new website and I need to hear first hand stories from people that have had experiences with Bethel. I want to know how long they attended, who preached while they were there and what kind of things happened to them. Or, if you know of some websites that have testimonies from Bethel as well. I appreciate your help. Feel free to private message me or reply to this post. Thanks!

Hope you don't mind but I think I would like a little more testamony and who you are before Web sites and info is posted to you or sent to help you start your site. FRANKLY, I have a check in my spirit about giving any info to you at this time.

Sorry

[HeraldingTruth]

I guess I don't blame you. What do you want to know? I'm in the process of building the site, it's my first one, it's not up yet.

[iwanthetruth]

http://iseeitdifferently.wordpress.com/

Try this site... He was there the night they played astral projection...

Thanks for responding, I just wanted to make sure that you aren't really here to hijack. You haven't been there since the days of Bill Johnson Sr. so I am not sure what your direction will be unless you are going apologetically and showing the "heresy" of the teaching (berean). Good luck with your site.

They are based in gnostic theology (manifest sons of God/dominionism/joels army/etc.)

[HeraldingTruth]

Yeah, I'm getting tired of what they're doing up there. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Now, before you watch this video, make sure you get something to kick first. You're going to want to beat something after watching this.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/VetFVphj8r8&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/VetFVphj8r8&rel=0</a>

[iwanthetruth]

Just got home, it's late, so I'll watch this in the am, but I did want to say that the link I gave you doesn't have much on it perse but the man went there for awhile. You might want to contact him persosnally to get some info...

[peacebringer]

certainly be interested to know more as you get things put together...

[deagah]

I watched this when you posted it the other day and I had to pause it because I was cooking dinner and my two year old kept turning it back on...I told my wife (who was sitting there) he must be trying to receive his "prophetic anointing", speaking into his future to take back the kingdom. My wife told me that was garbage to turn it off.


I think out of that video and my post it is my wife with the most prophetic insight.

[peacebringer]

Okay watched that video and have several issues with the things stated, things I observed. 

1.  The ongoing "Joel's Army" focus on the "specialness" of the coming generation of Kids, as if there is something spiritually special about them, a special call.  It fits in line with "Jesus Camp" stuff actually.

2. Focus on "supernatural experience." The testimony of 3 kids drawing the same thing can be "psychologically" manipulated. See Darren Brown.  Also there are real spiritual elements that are not going to heaven and many "New agers" will report similar experiences.

3. THe teaching seemed to be about "faith like CHild" which is accepting without discernment. It really fails to even capture what Jesus was referencing with his words.

4.  Kids play reflects what taught, so being taught "raising from the dead" is part and parcel to what Kids do and doesn't mean any great spiritual insight.  Especially when talking about kids sub-5 years old where they do not have the full cognitive development to even fully consciously make choise, but rather reflect what learning.
5. Being taught to prophesy? No where in scripture is any reference to being "taught to prophesy."   

[katura]

 Peacebringer, as far as your last statement regarding teaching prophecy, I have heard that their is a verse in an OT book that they use to say this is what they did. Also what about Samuel? I do not agree but am curious if anyone knows this verse and what their take on it is. I will try to find it. My mind is a blank right now.
  When I first encountered this teaching I was not at all taken in. Especially when I read about Bill Hamon. When I started asking questions they were put on the defensive and told me about this verse. 





 

[JP]

I agree with Peacebringer.  There are so many ministries out there that are teaching people how to prophecy, how to heal, how to speak in tongues.  These are gifts of the Holy Spirit.  They can not be taught by man.  If these gifts were suppose to be taught by man to everyone, I would think Jesus or at least Paul would have made mention of it in the New Testament.  I also noticed in the video that as the young girl sang prophetically in tongues over everyone, that there was no mention of an interpreter.

[peacebringer]

I agree with Peacebringer.  There are so many ministries out there that are teaching people how to prophecy, how to heal, how to speak in tongues.  These are gifts of the Holy Spirit.  They can not be taught by man.  If these gifts were suppose to be taught by man to everyone, I would think Jesus or at least Paul would have made mention of it in the New Testament.  I also noticed in the video that as the young girl sang prophetically in tongues over everyone, that there was no mention of an interpreter.

True, and the atmosphere was described as "Chaos" in contrast to Paul's charge in 1 Corinthians.

[369DuneBunny]

Here's a link of mine about Bethel Valparaiso Indiana... it's a church plant of Bethel Redding... They are STRONGLY affiliated... the groups from indiana go to california.. and the groups from california come to the indiana one... the leaders are all in extremely close contact and on a friends level... i.e... daily phone calls, emails, surprise visits just to see one another, overnights, etc..

SCROLL DOWN TO "WHY I LEFT BETHEL VALPARAISO"

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=91941042

[HeraldingTruth]

Just thought I'd post the link to my new site that I mention in the above post:  www.heraldingtruth.com
Hope you find it helpful and if you have anything you think I should add, please let me know at heraldingtruth@yahoo.com

Thanks!