Bethel Church’s School of Supernatural Ministry Pastor Dave Ward, who is sure to become a mainstay here on Protestia, told the congregation during an August Encounter Room service that he has a message from God given in the form of 50-year-old secular song lyrics: pucker up and take a mint, because the Lord wants to know them as Adam knew Eve, and in fact has already known them in that way.
We’ve written about Bethel Church recently, the charismatic California megachurch headed up by Bill Johnson. A few months ago they sang worship songs to themselves, talked about how angels sit around God’s throne and have farting contests, and had one of their pastrixes promote the notion that God heals through holy snoring. Mostly we ragged on them because they’ve repeatedly shut down their healing houses and supernatural healing ministries due to COVID-19.
In the case of God wanting to get real intimate with his creations, Ward took to the stage during a worship set and explained:
“I’m just going to read the words. It’s a secular song. I won’t sing it, because I don’t know the encounter would work, But I really just feel the Lord is saying these words over us.“
Ward continues that he wants the congregation to receive this into their hearts because “the Lord is going deep right now.” He proclaims of the series of man-centered, self-important, sentimental, syrupy, theoerotic lyrics: “These are the words He says over us.”
For reference, the lyrics he reads come from the 1957 folk Song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. They were written by Ewan MacColl for his lover Peggy Seeger, a woman with whom he was cheating on his wife and having an affair.
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the endless skies, my loveAnd the first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth move in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my loveAnd the first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last ’til the end of time my love
After reading the lyrics, Ward concludes “If this song isn’t prophesying, I don’t know what is.”
We believe him.
H/T to Salt and Light for the link.
