“I refuse to create a theology that allows for sickness”
Bill Johnson, Pastor of Bethel Church
Earlier this week, I reported that the notorious New Apostolic Reformation Church, Bethel Redding, was cancelling its sought after “healing room” ministry amid fear of the Coranavirus. Reporting on the same development, the Sacramento Bee provided a quote from, Aaron Tesauro, Bethel’s Communication Director:
“Through email communications, signage, and church announcements, we are actively encouraging health practices and precautions to our whole community…We believe that wisdom, modern medicine, and faith are meant to work together, and express the value for each in the pursuit of continued health and healing.”
The Bee went onto explain that Bethel’s students (presumably students of its School of Supernatural Ministry) were “not being encouraged” by Bethel leadership to visit healthcare facilities. To emphasize, a zealous group of people who believe they have the ability to facilitate healing by the power of God are being advised by Bethel Church not to go to healthcare facilities amidst the infancy of a what could develop into a generational public health crisis. At the same time, Bethel’s healing rooms are closed.
Now, Bethel Church is “postponing” its Sunday services. In what truthfully amounts to a cancelling of church, Bethel stated that it is “doing its part to promote public health” in its region by following the recommendation of public officials not to gather. Bethel will, however, “host” on-line services. In other words, Bethel is powerless to heal a single person and its charlatan leaders know it. Just as Bethel, through its famously failed attempts, was unable to resurrect Olive Heligenthal after that child’s tragic and untimely death, Bethel can do nothing to save its neighbors in California from the deadly COVID-19 sickness. Bethel’s controversial pastor, Bill Johnson, once said, ” I refuse to create a theology that allows for sickness” It looks like his theology couldn’t survive a novel strain of a common virus.
God is not with Bethel and the news is bad for California. There is yet good news for you, however, if you are far from God. God sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay for the sins of man. If you will repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, you will live an eternal life with God in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, where no plague can touch you and no charlatan can fool you.
*Please note that the preceding is my personal opinion. It is not necessarily the opinion of any entity by which I am employed, any church at which I am a member, any church which I attend, or the educational institution at which I am enrolled. Any copyrighted material displayed or referenced is done under the doctrine of fair use.
