For more than six hours, Christian apologist Mike Winger methodically dismantled the public ministry of self-styled prophet Shawn Bolz, joining ministries like ours that have been exposing Bolz for years.
The exposé was exhaustive. The documentation was overwhelming. The conclusion is unavoidable.
Bolz’s so-called prophetic gift was not supernatural revelation, but cold-reading techniques, data mining, and psychological manipulation cloaked in spiritual language.
On that point, Winger is entirely correct.
But his investigation raises a far more troubling question, and one his own evidence answers even if he does not:
Why does the charismatic movement keep producing men like Shawn Bolz in the first place?
A Predictable Failure
Shawn Bolz was not an anomaly. He was not fringe. He was not an exception. He was the product of a system.
Throughout the video, Winger documents how Bolz was platformed, promoted, defended, and protected by charismatic elites, even while credible warnings had surfaced behind closed doors.
At one point, Winger states plainly:
“There is a system among the elites that is dangerous.”
He goes further:
“Their system of leadership not only makes it so they can’t deal with someone like Sean — it actually creates them in the first place.”
That sentence alone should end the debate. If the system creates false prophets, the system itself is corrupt.
Winger Is Not a Cessationist
Fairness requires clarity. Mike Winger is not attacking charismatic theology from the outside. He is arguing from within it.
He repeatedly affirms:
“I believe in the gifts.”
He insists:
“I’m not advocating against the use of prophecy or tongues or any of those things — as long as they’re done biblically and properly.”
And he explains his motivation:
“I’m doing this for the charismatic church. I love you guys.”
Winger is not attempting to dismantle charismaticism. He is attempting to reform it. That distinction matters, because it explains precisely where his analysis stops short.
Everyone Knew and No One Warned
One of the most disturbing elements of Winger’s investigation is not merely what Shawn Bolz did, but who knew and said nothing. According to the testimony, recordings, text messages, and documents presented, senior charismatic leaders were aware of serious concerns for years.
Winger states it bluntly:
“Everybody knew.”
Again:
“The elites knew — and they did nothing.”
Instead:
“They warned each other privately.”
“They distanced themselves silently.”
“They never warned the people.”
This was not ignorance. It was concealment. And the price of that concealment was paid by ordinary believers who trusted men claiming to speak for God.
The Admission That Proves Everything
At one point, Winger recounts a conversation explaining why exposure almost never happens inside charismatic leadership networks.
The answer is devastating:
“If we really started calling out all the people we know are lying in the name of God, it would devastate our movement.”
Read that carefully. The movement cannot survive truth. That is not a leadership problem. That is a theological one.
Where Winger Is Right
Winger’s diagnosis is often devastatingly accurate.
He correctly identifies:
- elite cover-up culture
- restoration theology used to re-enable abusers
- prophetic celebrity systems
- fear of reputational harm
- suppression of discernment
- leaders protecting leaders rather than sheep
He names the danger plainly:
“Their system of leadership is dangerous.”
Few figures inside charismaticism have demonstrated the moral courage required to publish a six-hour exposé that risks platform, friendships, and reputation. That courage deserves acknowledgment, particularly from those of us who treasure discernment.
Where He Stops Short
Where Winger hesitates is not in the evidence, but in the implication the evidence forces upon the conversation.
He maintains:
“I believe in the gifts.”
“I’m not saying prophecy itself is the problem.”
“The problem is how prophecy is handled.”
But that distinction cannot survive his own documentation. Because the abuses he exposes are not accidents of charismatic theology. They are its logical outcome.
The Missing Guardrails
Charismatic theology rests on the foundational assumption that God continues to deliver authoritative revelation today apart from Scripture — revelation that cannot be objectively tested, verified, or falsified by the congregation.
Once that assumption is accepted, it’s only a matter of time before:
- experience outranks exposition
- impressions outrank interpretation
- anointing outranks accountability
- “God told me” outranks “the Bible says”
The moment revelation becomes subjective, discernment becomes optional. And when discernment disappears, predators thrive. This is not incidental. It is structural.
Why the Movement Cannot Police Itself
Winger repeatedly asks why charismatic leaders fail to correct one another. Yet his own material supplies the answer. The ability to expose false prophecy requires admitting that modern prophecy itself lacks biblical warrant and purpose. To rebuke the authority structures that permit and support the Shawn Bolzes of the movement would require dismantling the fraudulent and extrabiblical “giftings” and phony “annointings” that the charismatic movement is built upon.
To protect the sheep would require sacrificing the movement.
And so the choice is always the same:
Protect the people — or preserve the platform.
Again and again, the platform wins.
You Cannot Remove the Fruit While Keeping the Root
Winger wants to excise Shawn Bolz while preserving the theological system that produced him.
That cannot work. You can remove Bolz. You can remove Bentley. You can remove Bickle. You can remove White.
Another will rise — because nothing prevents it. Or more likely, some group of fellow “apostles” will “hear from God” and re-annoint their recently removed fellow charismatic leader.
As Winger himself acknowledged:
“Their system of leadership actually creates them.”
Systems reproduce what they reward. Charismaticism rewards unverifiable revelation and spiritual manipulation.
There Should Be No Charismatic Movement at All
If Scripture governed worship:
- revelation would be complete
- exercise of spiritual gifts would be publicly testable
- these gifts would edify the whole body
- authority would be textual, not mystical
Under biblical Christianity, there is no:
- prophetic elites
- secret knowledge
- untouchable anointed class
- revival celebrities
And therefore — no Shawn Bolz.
The tragedy is not merely that Bolz was exposed. The tragedy is that six hours of evidence proved he was inevitable.
For more discussion, check out today’s Bull Pew Podcast:
6 responses to “Bolz Isn’t Enough: The Deeper Rot Inside the Charismatic Movement”
I agree with about 80%. I feel we can allow a holy Pentecostal movement but the real issue is the Latter Rain theology/NAR/Branhamism and manifest sons of gods heresy that is a bridge to the New Age.
However, I deeply appreciate my cessaiationist brothers and sisters now more than ever!
The first and foremost work of the Holy Spirit is to counter the corrupted flesh from creation. To convict of sin, and to keep us from sinning. That’s what it means to be born again.
So it begs the question then, why would it possibly harm them to call out sin?
This core problem is not necessarily specific to charismatics. We’re seeing the same denial of “the power thereof” everywhere, even among Baptists, with the common denial being the first and foremost work of the Holy Spirit, dodging it in any and every way imaginable. And it is rooted in lack of understanding of the Gospel itself. Too many don’t really understand the Gospel. Too many have been taught and have believed a false Gospel. And because that work of the Holy Spirit is not understood, they are unable to test the spirits. If they don’t know what the Holy Spirit does, then how can they know what to look for? So they do not endure sound doctrine but draw to themselves teachers who say what they want to hear. (2 Tim. 4)
Comfort, conscience, courage, conviction. These are the tasks of the Holy Spirit, to lead us to righteousness and in righteousness, because in the fallen state of mankind, he is unable to do it himself. His own spirit is not strong enough.
Conviction of sin … Ezekiel 36:26-27, 1 John 16:8-10, 1 Thess. 4:7-8, etc.
The implanted word … James 1:21, 1 John 1:8-10, 1 John 3, 1 John 4:13, (reminds us of the word – John 14:26, etc.)
Strengthens and intercedes … Romans 8:26-27
Gives intelligence and understanding (but not special knowledge of the Gnostic sort)… Exodus 31:3, Job 32:8, Exodus 35:31, James 1:5, Prov. 2:6, Isaiah 11:2
And so on …
All of this happens when one is born again. Not sometime after when they’re supposedly “baptized with the spirit”. When one is born again, the Holy Spirit enters right then and there, AND it is through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit that we are saved 2 Thess. 2:13-14. (how many churches teach this fact of the Gospel?) Eph. 1:13-14, Titus 3:5, etc.
So those who teach a gospel, whatever it is, contrary to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is that we are saved through and by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, which cleanses the heart of wickedness inherent from creation and leads us to righteousness, are doing just that … teaching a false gospel.
there is a reason those warnings given in the NT, all the way through to the last chapter of the entire Bible, the 8th to last verse in the entire Bible, in Rev 22:15 list specific sins, and the fact that those who are given to such sins will not enter the Kingdom of God. And it is because those who are truly born again, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, will not be given to such sins. They are condemned because they have not been led to righteousness.
This is what it means when scripture says that it is a free gift. It is a free gift. And we are not saved by any works or righteousness of our own. But the Spirit will lead us to righteousness.
I’ve been studying this lately. Just the plain and simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. For many years I didn’t understand it myself. And I believe many others don’t understand it either. Because I believe in the case of many they may draw to themselves false teachers not necessarily because they arrogantly and rebelliously want to reject sound doctrine, but possibly because they don’t really know sound doctrine.
So good article David, but I still somewhat disagree that the problem is entirely systemic, and still say it’s mostly a sin problem. Ignoring sin is itself a sin. If any knew and didn’t say anything, then they sinned by not saying anything. So they’re just as unsaved, and continuing in sin for the sake of mammon or some other excuse, as the crowd that is drawing to itself the false prophet. It’s not that the leadership needs to be restructured. It’s that the leadership needs to repent and be truly born again. It’s that maybe they also have been taught and believed a false gospel.
I would encourage any and all to look at those scriptures, to go through God’s word themselves, and just make a plain and simple list of what the Holy Spirit does, and to come to understand what it means to be born again. Just take some time to study the plain and simple Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to come to an understanding of what it truly is. Then you’ll know the false gospels when you see them, and you’ll know the evidence of the Holy Spirit when you see it. What you’ll see is sanctification. You’ll first see righteousness, evidence of conviction, evidence of conscience, you’ll see courage (including no fear of reputational harm), you’ll see peace and comfort and strength – somebody jumping over pews is the very last thing you’ll see. Even if you believe the sign gifts have not ceased, you still have to recognize that according to scripture, they are the least priority of any gifts and works of the Holy Spirit, and are the last evidence anyone should be looking for, when testing the spirits.
I’ve typed up another long one again, and apologize but only somewhat, because it’s an important issue. The most important issue, because souls are at stake. The issue boils down to false gospels vs the true Gospel. And so many, I believe, have been taught and led to believe these false gospels that are not in keeping with what the scripture truly says.
The previous post contains some errors. The flesh is corrupt from the time of creation i.e. from Adam’s sin. Also one reference was to 1 John and should’ve been John 16:8-10. And I’m sure there are more. And at least one reference was in reference the spirit of man and not the Holy Spirit – Job 32:8. (I copied those references from a document containing my own studies, concerning the fact that knowledge, understanding, and intelligence come from God. Though our spirit is infinitely inferior to our Creator, and the Holy Spirit increases our knowledge and understanding, and also clears the mind) If anyone sees any more errors, please correct.
The flesh cannot enter (1 Cor. 15:50). But the spirit of man (from creation the Breath of God), can enter. The battle is for the heart and soul. Will it be subject to the corrupted flesh, or will it be subject to the spirit. And there’s a lot that can be said about this, as it relates to false teaching, and also to false religions. For example, the spirit of man can somewhat keep the corrupted flesh at bay, even the unsaved. But it’s not enough. The more I understand about the Gospel, and how all the bits of that “puzzle” fit together, the more I also understand about false religions, where and how they err, which is also a part of testing the spirits. But I’ll stop here before I end up typing another giant wall of text.
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I don’t know, it seems like too many Christians ignore James 4:12 there is only ONE judge.
We have enough to worry about with satan.
Teach the Theology of GOD.
HE THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELLS IN YOU Rom. 8:11.Yes, that is GOD.* Howard Storm (YouTube), a former atheist cries talking about Jesus saving him from hell. He said GOD created other dimensions and you can explore heaven for eternity.
1) “everyone has access to GOD, but we are taught it is only special people” Rev. Ken, dec.
2) GOD’S Love is unconditional.
3) The KOG is in our midst Luke 17:21 NIV. WHERE WOULD JESUS BE! He is Lord of the dead and the living (that is us!) Rom. 14:9.
4) THE HOLY SPIRIT IS REAL. A pastor said we don’t talk about Him much.
5) The Armor of GOD is GOD, Jesus and The Holy Spirit.Truly I understand GOD shows no partiality Rom.2:11.
GOD’S LOVE SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE.
They all preach love GOD with all your heart. One woman left the church because she didn’t know how.
Jim Caviezel, The Passion of the Christ heard God(YouTube) say THEY DON’T LOVE ME, VERY FEW.And they all reply THE LORD KNOWS I LOVE HIM.GOD said TELL ABOUT MY LOVE. I did what Rev. Ken, dec., said was his “breakthrough to GOD” not knowing what would happen. I have cried over 300 times feeling loved like a 4 yo child. A friend cried for three days when he was in the service in Greece.
You will love HIM when you realize HIS love for you.
*Ken Johnson (YouTube) heard GOD say I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER, EVER KNOW.
* Richard met God (YouTube) cries talking about GOD’S unconditional love.
Nearly 300 verses say fear GOD, and some believe this.
GOD said their fear of ME is a commandment of men Isa. 29:13.
The mystery of GOD’S Divine love.
Read Eph, 1:16-20, 2:4-8, 3:14-19 on your knees. After 5-6 weeks, I cried so hard feeling loved I said wait a minute.
The love of GOD is not just idle words but something people can experience.How is it possible to cry feeling loved like a child!!!
When you humble yourself and feel loved like a child you will realize you/we are not as smart as we thought.
I worked all through college, modestly successful. After 35 years of excess, I said GOD help me stop drinking. Alcohol became so bitter I couldn’t stand the taste, before I believed. I have been healed of many health issues and don’t take any meds. It is about a personal relationship. *12 Days With GOD is a true story. The formerly angry man said it isn’t a belief; it’s a relationship.
*A Voice in the Night book is a true story. The 12 yo boy in Africa heard GOD. We wonder about GOD because of the evil 2 Cor. 4:4 satan is the god of this world and unfortunately is real. A Barna survey indicated 50% of Christians have “issues” with depression, anxiety, feeling guilty and unworthy, loss of faith, thoughts of suicide, porn, addiction. And 40% of pastors are burned out.That is 1.5 billion people +/-.
The church has failed to teach that everyone has access to GOD.
THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
Some preach “Those who do not believe will be judged by God and made subject to his eternal punishment.”
Jesus said “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world John 12:47.
1 John 3:8 ……….The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
JESUS SAID YOU BELIEVE IN GOD BELIEVE ALSO IN ME John 14:1.
* All veterans with PTSD see Jesus at www. operationrestoredwarrior.org.
*David Sorenson is used by GOD for miraculous healings and says religious mindsets have crept into the church for centuries. David says, “Many are looking for the return of Jesus Christ, but He is looking for people where He can dwell right here and now, with His glorious presence”.
*Bill said Jesus, if you’re real, help me. He heard NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. There are thousands of stories like this from ordinary people.
* Bobby Conners Ministries hears The Lord often and sees eyes, faces and bodies restored. Said GOD wants us all to do this.
*Lety was healed the night before a major operation and knew it was Jesus.
*Anita, dec., was healed by Jesus and said He prefers Yeshua.
A new independent report documents in devastating detail how the past leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention ignored sexual abuse allegations for the better part of two decades, and sometimes silenced or tried to discredit accusers. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/report-details-widespread-cover-up-of-sexual-abuse-among-southern-baptist-leaders Sexual abuse is also very rampant amongst the cessationist churches. Please tell us more about Steve Lawson.