Bethel Music Is More DANGEROUS Than You Thought!

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Hey guys, Colin here, and welcome back to Fight For Truth, the channel where we bring you Christian commentary about the things that matter.

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In today's video, we're going to be talking about Bethel worship music. This is a topic that we haven't touched on in quite some time.

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Bethel is a New Apostolic Reformation church led by Pastor Bill Johnson that can also be accurately called a hypercharismatic church.

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Bethel is one of the most influential producers of Christian music in the world today. Millions of people sing

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Bethel songs in their church gatherings every single Sunday. But have we ever stopped and asked ourselves, what exactly is this music doing?

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And how does it relate specifically to what Bethel is doing? As you're about to see in this video,

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Bethel is complicit in false prophecy, false teaching, and all sorts of unbiblical practices.

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Therefore, many Christians have been worried about the influence of their music and what it's doing to young professing

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Christians today. Most evangelicals would say that they don't necessarily agree with Bethel, they just happen to like their music.

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Some even suggest that being worried about Bethel's music is legalistic and unfair. After all, just because someone listens to their songs doesn't mean they agree with their teaching, right?

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Well, that's technically true as far as it goes. However, our main point in this video is simple.

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You cannot separate Bethel's music from Bethel's theology. To do so would be to ignore the obvious fact that Bethel's music is fundamentally rooted in their theology.

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And that's what we're going to show you in this video. Unfortunately, we won't be able to play clips of the actual songs here for copyright reasons, but we will be able to read the lyrics and compare them to Scripture.

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So here it goes. The first Bethel concept that is found in many of their songs is the hypercharismatic view of so -called prophecy.

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Indeed, Bethel actually has a resident prophet in their midst named Chris Vallotton, who falsely predicted that Trump would be re -elected.

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If your church does not believe that there are prophets today, just know that Bethel Church obviously does.

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And if your church takes false prophecy very seriously, just know that Bethel doesn't.

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The major problem with Bethel's view of prophecy is that it rarely, if ever, fits the actual biblical definition of prophecy that we are given in Scripture.

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You see, if you briefly survey Scripture, you will find that the prophets of old gave direct and specific messages from God when they said,

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Thus says the Lord. Let's look, for example, at Genesis 15, 4. And behold, the word of the

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Lord came to him, Abram, this man shall not be your heir, your very own son shall be your heir.

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And it was true. His very own son would be his heir. God spoke a true message to Abram in a clear, direct language that he could readily understand.

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And this is not only true biblically, but also logically. You see, by definition, the goal of God speaking to His people through a prophet is for them to actually hear

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His words. Thus, it stands to reason that God will speak clearly and specifically to His prophets.

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Contrast this to what we see in Bethel Church. We consistently find them offering up vague, unspecific, motivational fortune cookie prophecies in their church.

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And this applies to their music as well. In their song, I Believe, they say, We will see the goodness of the

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Lord, just prophesy it. But saying that we will see the goodness of the

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Lord does not make you a biblical prophet. That is something that literally any Christian with a Bible could say.

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Romans 8 .28 says that for those who love the Lord, all things work together for good.

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Me quoting that Bible verse doesn't make me a biblical prophet. You see, in order to be a prophet, the

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Lord has to actually give you a message. Here's another example, this time from their song, Too Good Not to Believe.

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We're gonna prophesy. I've seen cancer disappear. Is this biblical prophecy?

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Saying that you've seen cancer disappear? No, not even close. There is no clear, direct, verifiable message from God to a prophet in this song.

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But it doesn't end there. Here's yet another example, this one from their song, Ring and Robe. In the live version of the song, the singer pauses and begins to speak a message to the audience.

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Here's what he says, quote, I want to keep singing this, but for some of you, you have unsaved family members, unsaved friends, loved ones that you know, maybe strangers that you even know.

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I believe that the Lord today is honoring what you're saying. And even if they're not ready, you're going to get a phone call.

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I prophesy it today, even if they're in the crack house, you're going to get a phone call. I prophesy today,

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I prophesy today, end quote. So this Bethel musician has just promised a crowd full of people that their unsaved family members are going to come back to them like the prodigal son.

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Indeed, he actually said, quote, I prophesy it today. But is there any real evidence that all the unsaved family members of that audience actually did call?

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Is there any evidence that all the prodigals returned, so to speak? No, not a single shred.

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And by the way, you can bet everything you've got that if this actually happened and it could be verified,

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Bethel would have reported it immediately as proof that the prophecy was real. So the obvious conclusion is that this was a false prophecy.

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There was no documented outpouring of new converts who knew these people. Bethel Music is actively participating in false prophecy, even in their published work.

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Deuteronomy 18 says, quote, And if you say in your heart, How may we know that the Lord has not spoken?

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When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if that word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the

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Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him, end quote.

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So not only does Bethel Church have false prophets and false prophecies, Bethel Music does too.

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And not only is the prophecy false, it's also incredibly cruel. To tell a crowd of people that their lost children and loved ones are going to be saved, to give them false hope that the

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Lord has given this word to you, that is unimaginably hurtful when it turns out to be false.

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And the headline is this, When you listen to Bethel Music, you are listening to music made by false prophets and those who support false prophets.

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If you didn't know that information before this, that's okay. But simply ask yourself, is this something you want to participate in at any level?

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Again, this is not the only example. Here's another one in their song Breathe -Rest, quote,

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And I give you what you always wanted, my heart, which you paid for with your very own blood.

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Our hearts just let the music prophesy, end quote. Again, there is no direct or specific verifiable message coming from God here.

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In fact, they're not even claiming that. All we have is a vague and bizarre idea that we should let the music prophesy.

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Where is this practice in Scripture, and what does that even mean? Again, we need to ask ourselves a fundamental question.

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If I can readily and easily find you several Bethel songs with unbiblical so -called prophecy in them, which

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I can and have, ask yourself this, is this really the kind of music that you would like to support?

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And moving forward, the next concept I want to show you as you think about these things is quite similar to prophecy.

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They often talk in their music about opening up and, quote, letting God speak to you. This next sample is from the song

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Wherever You Lead. It says, quote, Oh, I'm gonna give my life to follow, speak to me and I'll go wherever you lead, end quote.

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And when you hear this, you may be tempted to just disregard it as a harmless message. But here is one practical example of what

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Bethel Church means specifically by, quote, letting God speak to you. Brian Simmons is the author of the

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Passion so -called translation of the Bible. In reality, it's not a translation at all.

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It's a horrifically bad paraphrase that distorts the Word of God. John 17, 17 says, quote,

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Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth. In other words, when you present a so -called translation of the

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Bible that's not even close to accurate, what we're left with is falsehood and dangerous falsehood at that.

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The Passion translation has been refuted completely by Mike Winger and others on his YouTube channel.

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And I will link the video to that in the description. And it was also refuted in the excellent book Counterfeit Kingdom by Holly Pivick and Douglas Givitt.

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And I would highly recommend you read that book. Yet despite the fact that this is perhaps the worst translation of the

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Bible in recorded history, Bill Johnson of Bethel Church still preaches from it and affirms it.

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And more than this, Brian Simmons, the man who is responsible for this atrocious work of fan fiction, claims that God appeared to him and personally commissioned him to do this.

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In other words, he claims that God, quote, spoke to him, just as Bethel says that we should let

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God speak to us in their song. And of course, Bethel affirms this man's work despite the fact that he's using it to distort the

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Word of God. This is the kind of appalling thing that Bethel is actively encouraging when they say, quote, let

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God speak to you in their music. And this isn't the only time they say that. In their song, I Will Rise, they say, quote, in the quiet of the morning when no one knows and no one needs to know, you speak to me.

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And again, if you look at their theology, you'll find that they are not referring to simply reading the

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Bible in the morning here. They are referring to extra -biblical revelation coming from outside of the

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Bible. The very type of revelation that Bethel has used to promote false teaching, false prophecy, and all sorts of unbiblical practices for their entire existence.

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When you sing Bethel's music, just know that this is the kind of doctrine that they're trying to spread through it.

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More than this, they also have a false definition of revival in their music that is not supported by Scripture.

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On their album, Revivals in the Air, they have a song which says, quote, Revivals in the Air, catch it if you can, end quote.

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In other words, to them, revival is this fleeting search for emotional experience that you must seek out endlessly.

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They present this as if it's a game of hide and seek. Catch it if you can, they say, because revival can come and go at any time.

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But this is not the biblical version of revival. 2 Chronicles 7 -14 gives us a good description of what biblical revival actually looks like, quote,

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If my people who are called by my name, so we're talking about God's people, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, in other words, repent, then

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I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land, end quote.

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So we see repentance, forgiveness, and restoration of the covenant promise. That is revival.

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Revival is the people of God turning away from dishonorable and inadequate ways and asking

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God for forgiveness and restoration. Fundamentally, it is a turning to repentance and trust in God.

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So thinking along these lines, something that would need to be repented of in any true revival at Bethel would be, for example, false prophecy.

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And how about the New Age practices in their church? Both are things that Bethel is involved in to this very day, despite their thousands of so -called revivals in their church.

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The false prophecy has already been shown to you here, and the New Age practices are plentiful as well.

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For one example, Bethel has used a process that they call spiritual uno, where they draw cards and so -called prophesy on the basis of which card they pick.

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This is eerily similar to New Age tarot card readings. But it gets much deeper than that.

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This is just the tip of the iceberg. For a more in -depth discussion about Bethel's ties to the New Age, which again, are many, see the video

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I will link in the description. But you see, rather than yielding repentance for their unbiblical practices,

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Bethel's so -called revival yields fleeting emotional experience time and time again.

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The type of experience that, according to their own song in their own words, leaves you wishing you could, quote, catch it if you can.

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Again, I will ask, is this the kind of theology you want producing your music? Are these beliefs of Bethel Church in alignment with you and your church?

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Or are they actually in opposition to biblical truth? And if so, why would you sing their music?

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These are very important questions to ask and answer, but most people aren't willing to go there. More than this,

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Bethel's music has a disturbingly hypnotic style. Here's a sampling of their song,

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God of Revival, quote, We pour out your spirit, glory, yeah, sing it out, your own song, hey, hey, hey, oh, oh -oh -oh, oh -oh -oh,

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God of Revival, start to raise your voice, oh, oh -oh -oh, oh -oh -oh,

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God of Revival, fan the flame afresh in me, God, oh, oh -oh -oh, oh -oh -oh,

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God of Revival, hopefully you get the picture here. When Bethel sings a song like this, the lights are dim and the fog machine is on.

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The lyrics are not read in my voice, no, they are sung to be pleasing to the ear. Everyone is swaying together in a dark room to the music, raising their hands, chasing that feeling of spiritual revival that they have felt before.

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They are told to eagerly await the magical power that will greet them if they just focus on it.

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And usually, this is done amongst a crowd of primarily young, impressionable people looking for some sort of emotional release.

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And of course, all of these factors, combined with the rhythmic, hypnotic repetition of the lyrics, make

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Bethel music extremely effective on people. But repeating the sound, oh -oh -oh, over and over again with a few vague, charismatic buzzwords and phrases thrown in there, this is not a theologically deep and edifying psalm for the

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Church to sing. In fact, this seems to be intentionally structured in a way that will disarm the mind and the senses in order to manufacture an emotional state for the listener.

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You see, when you look at the style of Bethel music in light of what's attached to it, namely, their false teaching and false prophecy, this starts to look a lot less like simple music and a lot more like brainwashing.

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We could go over more examples. In fact, I had a lot more that I couldn't fit in the video. But our main point has been proven here.

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The fact is, you cannot simply separate Bethel music from Bethel theology, because the two are fundamentally tied together.

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So if you oppose Bethel's false theology, as you should, I would encourage you to oppose their music as well.

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The false prophecy, false teaching, and unbiblical practices of Bethel are being exported into the

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Church at large through the Trojan horse that is their worship music. To put it bluntly, if we want to avoid the trap here, then we need to stop taking the bait.

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And let's remember John 4 .24, which commands us to worship, quote, "...in spirit and in truth."

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I pray this has been a blessing to you. Please know this video isn't meant as a sinful attack, but rather as a biblical critique.

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Pray for this channel and for anyone discussed in the video. Many of you are looking for teaching resources or trying to find a new church.

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If so, check out the teaching ministries and church networks linked in the description. And by God's grace, let's move forward joyfully, holding to the truth of God's Word.

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