Bethel’s Worship Leader: “Angels Have Farting Contests In Heaven!”

Bethel’s Theology of Private Revelation and Biblical Discernment

Hey guys, Colin here, and welcome back to the channel where the Bible and critical thinking meet to give you real Christian commentary about the things that matter. Thanks so much for watching, let's get into the video.

So Bethel Church is a charismatic megachurch located in Redding, California, and it's led by Pastor Bill Johnson, who's a prosperity gospel teacher and a hyper-Pentecostal guru. His son married a woman named Jen Johnson, which makes her Bill Johnson's daughter-in-law.

Now it only takes about 30 seconds of listening to Jen to realize how truly unwise she is and that she should not have any position of leadership of any kind in anything that calls itself a church. But foolishness is a very strong thing, especially in Bethel Church, and as a result, Jen Johnson finds herself a worship leader at Bethel.

In fact, just to put this in perspective, Jen Johnson is the co-founder of the entire Bethel music group. That's right, in other words, if you've ever sung a Bethel song in church, and I'd reckon that you have, there's a good chance that Jen Johnson was responsible for the writing or recording of that song in at least some way.

And that should make you very nervous if you're a Christian. Why? Well, because Jen has pretty much no discernment whatsoever, at least biblically speaking, and I can prove that to you. I'm about to show you a video of some of the most irreverent behavior I've ever had the displeasure of seeing in a church, and it doesn't surprise me one bit that it's Bethel Church which had the honor of hosting and promoting this blasphemy.

Watch this video of Jen Johnson talking about the angels in heaven in God's own throne room blasphemously.

Watch this. And I thought of those angels circling that throne, and I thought, I bet they text each other. I bet they have farting contests.

Why Jen Johnson’s Comment Is Not Biblically Grounded

I think he is. So without further ado, let's talk about this using three biblical points. Number one. Now I honestly can't believe I have to say this out loud, but there is no evidence in the Bible whatsoever that would support the idea of angels in God's throne room texting each other or having farting contests.

This is a ridiculous, uncouth, and blasphemous statement offered by Jen Johnson from the stage of Bethel Church. Now let me offer you a disclaimer. When you correct hypercharismatics like those who attend Bethel for statements like these, let me warn you.

You're going to run into a very common argument, and I'm going to show you how to refute it. Because hypercharismatics believe that they are receiving private, direct, and even verbal revelation from God, they have to defend that revelation at all costs.

They have to support whatever unbiblical ideas pop into their head at any point. When the revelation is not found in scripture and you call them out for that, they'll say something along these lines. Well, I can't show you a passage of scriptures where angels are texting or farting, but can you show me a passage of scripture that says angels can't do those things?

I'm assuming that they do those things, but you're just assuming that they don't. So really, we're both assuming, and this is a gray area, and you shouldn't be calling me out. That's what you're going to hear from the type of people who go to Bethel.

And here's why it's foolish. When we say that an idea is biblical, we are actually suggesting that we got it from scripture. Or at least, we're suggesting that it is a reasonable extension of some principle that we found in scripture.

Those who are wise get their theology by asking very different questions than those who attend Bethel do. Wise people get their theology by asking, what does the Bible say? On the other hand, many people who go to Bethel or who attend charismatic churches, they often get their theology by asking this, what private revelation or idea pops into my head which doesn't contradict the Bible?

Do you see how those are fundamentally different questions? One side is saying that the ideas found in scripture will provide the foundation of our belief, and the other side says that both scripture and any idea that isn't directly contradicted by scripture are equally biblical, equally valid, and equally useful.

And that is simply not the case. The way Bethel goes about getting their theology is very dangerous. They effectively say, this is my belief, and the burden of proof is on you to show me where the Bible says I'm wrong.

A wise person, on the other hand, would say, here's my belief, now let me take the burden of proof on myself to show you where I found it in scripture clearly. Second Timothy 3, 16 -17 says this, All scripture, not all ideas that pop into your head, but all scripture is breathed out by God, and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

So the first point I'm trying to make here is that there is a reason, a distinct reason that is, that Bethel's members are so capable of this foolish babbling that so often comes from their church's ranks.

And the reason lies in the fact that their theology is coming from a much different place than the rest of us. If the Bible is our sole infallible source of revelation and biblical concepts, we will not run into problems like these, and our churches will be much better off for it.

The Irreverence of Treating Heaven Like Human Small Talk

Number two, the second reason this is wrong is that it's just plain irreverent and sinful. The angels in heaven exist for the purpose of glorifying God. In fact, believe it or not, that's why everything exists.

Revelation 5 .13 says,. And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth, and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever.

The throne room of God is a place where God is to be revered, respected, honored, and worshipped. It is not a place for angels to be texting or farting. Again, I can't even believe I have to say that out loud.

And there's a reason that Jen Johnson's suggestion here is so uncouth and absurd and, frankly, stupid. The people at Bethel often think that their revelations and fantastical ideas are from the Lord. In reality, I will make the case that the grand majority, if not all of this stuff, is coming from their own fleshly minds.

Some of it is out of ignorance, and some is out of sin. But little to none of it comes from any kind of actual wisdom or truth. I mean, think about it. Why would angels need to text? Are there phones in heaven?

Are there cell phone towers in heaven somewhere? For what purpose would those things need to exist? Why would angels need to fart? There shouldn't be any human waste to be released in heaven, especially not in the throne room of God.

None of this makes any sense at all. So why does Jen Johnson say it? Well, because it's coming from her own human mind. That's why. Only a sinful, fallen, foolish human mind could come up with something so ridiculous and human-centered.

Of course angels need phones to communicate. That's what we humans use. Of course angels need to fart. That's what we humans do. Of course angels are irreverently joking around. That's what we humans do.

Her human nature, in other words, has blinded her to the spiritual realities and incomprehensible distinctness and holiness of God's throne room. So the second reason that this statement on the part of this Bethel worship leader is dishonoring to God is that it's irreverent and foolish.

Blasphemy, Church Discipline, and Bethel’s Lack of Correction

Number three. I want to take you through a thought experiment just real quick. Imagine an Orthodox church. Let's say John MacArthur's Grace Community Church, for example. Imagine if a member at Grace Community Church stood up at the pulpit and said, The angels in heaven are texting each other and having farting contests.

There would be outrage in the Reformed Baptist community at large. The members of Grace Community Church would recognize this as utter blasphemy and would be appalled instantly. They would rise up in droves, go to the church office, and demand an apology.

They would demand repentance. Because in Biblical churches, the ones that actually care about the sanctity of the Bible and of God's holiness, there are consequences for blasphemy, as there always should be.

It's a sin. It's wrong. We should call it out. In any church with sound doctrine and Biblical discernment, this kind of comment would be utterly unacceptable, and without repentance, the one who made that comment would surely be dismissed from the church.

But at Bethel Church, no one gets upset about this. No one calls it out. They just laugh and enjoy it because it's par for the course. It's the way they operate. That's the way things are done at Bethel.

They make up random garbage that makes no sense at all, and they try to pass it off as Biblical. And if you're offended at the harshness of that last statement, just go ahead and watch that video again and let me know if there's any other way you can define it other than unbiblical garbage.

If you're more offended at me calling blasphemy garbage than you are at the actual blasphemy, maybe you need to rethink your reaction. I don't think it's Biblical. In 1 Timothy 1 .20, Paul says,. This passage demonstrates that not only is blasphemy a problem, it's a dangerous one.

Blasphemy and irreverence for God and His holiness when taken to the nth degree is dishonoring to God in the highest way. And that is precisely what Jen Johnson did here. She blasphemed God, she blasphemed His dwelling, and she dishonored His angels.

And Bethel Church is so totally undiscerning that not only did they not correct her for this as far as I know, but they made her a worship leader there. It's unbelievable. So in conclusion, many people have a problem with Bethel Church, including me and probably including you if you're watching this video.

But if someone really pressed you on it, what would you say? Would you be able to defend your position? Most people can't. Part of the reason I made this video, then, is to show you how totally blasphemous the teaching at Bethel can be.

In other words, it's not an innocent church movement with a few small issues here and there. It's a dangerous church movement with serious issues which will lead many people astray. So let's pray for Jen Johnson and for the rest of Bethel Church that they would repent of this and turn to the truth of God's Word.

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