No one’s ever accused Bethel Church of having great theology and discerning spirit, and this was no more evident by leader Bill Johnson promoting and raising funds for ‘The Change,’ an ecumenical event for World Catholic Youth Days in Lisbon, Portugal, he describes as an “unprecedented opportunity for Protestants and Catholics to work together in evangelism.”
The Change is billed as an oppertunity for “believers of all denominations…assembling to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) by worshipping Jesus together, preaching the good news of salvation to a new generation, and praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit.”
This event is organized by the Rodrigues Pereira Association and CHARIS – Catholic Charismatic International Service. CHARIS is ‘a body established by the Holy See through the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life endowed with public juridic personality’.
It’s a distinctly Roman Catholic evangelistic venture blessed by the Pope and populated by Roman Catholics, designed to renew Roman Catholics Faith and “share baptism in the Holy Spirit with everyone in the Church” which like many protestant Charismatics teach, is distinct and seperate from the regular infilling of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
But Protestants and Roman Catholics don’t have the same faith or gospel, so what partnership can light have with darkness? The Dissenter explains why it’s so troubling for anyone to partner with them.
The official “gospel” of the Roman Catholic Church is a false gospel that denies the biblical doctrine of Justification by Grace Alone. In fact, the official doctrine of the Catholic Church forbids its followers from believing the biblical doctrine of salvation. Canon 9 of the Roman Catholic council of Trent says “If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, and that it is not in any way necessary that he be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema.”
The Doctrine of Justification rests on a proper understanding of who God is, who the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are, and what God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. An improper understanding of the Trinity, for example, will lead to an improper understanding of justification. An improper understanding of the deity of Christ will cause a false understanding of salvation. A rejection of Scripture and a wrong understanding of God’s grace will ultimately lead to a compromised understanding of how Jesus served as our propitiation, and how his righteousness has been imputed to us who believe. This is why heresies regarding these essential doctrines are considered damnable.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. —Galatians 1:8
This is why we cannot stand with Roman Catholics, Modalists, Prosperity Gospel preachers, many Charismatics (like Bethel), and adherents to doctrines that pervert the grace of God and reject the doctrine of the penal substitutionary atonement. Jude 1:4 says these people who deny our Master are condemned. Scripture is very clear that we should not associate with these people.
For more on Bethel:
Bethel Pastor Claims Adam is ‘Procreating With God’ and ‘Co-Creating’ When Naming the Animals
Little God Theology? Bethel Prophet Says you are ‘Made like God’ and Made ‘After the God-Kind’
Never Forget: Bethel Church Promoted Prophetic Uno Cards
Bethel ‘Pastor’ Says Michael the Archangel Dresses in ‘Wrestling Tights,’ is ‘always Grumpy’
Bethel Pastrix: ‘Jesus Laid in that Bed with Me and Started to Play with my Hair’
Bethel Church “Pastor” Says Angels Sit Around the Throne of God Having “Farting Contests”
Bethel Chief Prophet says God made Adam ‘Male’ AND ‘Female’ + Adam ‘co-created Eve’
Bethel Church Has a ‘Lab’ Where they Apply Scientific Methods to The Prophetic + People. Only
