Det pågår en debatt på internet om vad Bill Johnson och Bethel Church tror på och undervisar. Denna typ av debatt har pågått de senaste 2000 åren. Alla väckelserörelser som präglats av mirakler och Andens närvaro har kritiserats och deras läror har missförståtts och förvrängts av andra kristna. Mainstream-kyrkans dokument om diverse rörelser under kyrkohistorien har på senare tid fått tolkas om eftersom man hittat dessa s.k. sekters egna skrifter och sett att de bedömts felaktigt. Det finns tyvärr ingen anledning att tro att det är annorlunda idag. Även om ett statement of faith inte är så utförligt och svarar på alla teologiska detaljfrågor så måste det tas på allvar. Här följer Bethel Churchs statement of faith och efteråt deras Missionstatement, d.v.s. vad de upplever att Gud kallat just deras församling till.
There is only one true God who is the eternal King, Creator and
Redeemer of all that is. He is perfectly holy, just, loving and
truthful. He has revealed Himself to be eternally self- existent – one
being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit.
The Bible to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
Humankind was created in the image of God to know and enjoy Him yet we
willfully rejected the Lordship and glory of God for which we were
intended. Because of this, sickness, death and judgment entered the
world and now creation experiences the effects and consequences of sin.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, was
conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin, Mary, and is God’s
Anointed One, empowered by the Holy Spirit to inaugurate God’s Kingdom
on earth. He was crucified for our sins, died, was buried, resurrected
and ascended into heaven, and is now alive today, in the presence of
God the Father and in His people. He is ”true God” and ”true man.”
We are saved by God’s grace, through faith in the person and work of
Jesus Christ. Anyone can be restored to fellowship with God through
repenting, believing and receiving Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The
Holy Spirit, convicts, regenerates, justifies, and adopts us as we
enter the Kingdom of God as His sons and daughters.
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian
is enabled to live holy and minister super-naturally. The baptism of
the Holy Spirit according to Acts 1:4-8 and 2:4 is poured out on
believers that they might have power to be witnesses.
The victorious redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides freedom from
the power of the enemy, sin, lies, sickness and torment.
The Church consists of all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. He gave
His church the ordinances of Baptism and Communion. The Church exists
to carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ and further advance His
kingdom by undoing the works of the enemy, preaching and living the
good news of God’s love, discipling the nations, baptizing and teaching
them to love and obey God.
In the ever increasing government of God and in the Blessed Hope, which is
the glorious visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ for His overcoming bride, His church.
Heaven and hell are real places. There will be a resurrection of the saved and the lost,
the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting death.
Bethel’s mission is REVIVAL… the personal, regional, and global expansion of God’s kingdom through His manifest presence.
1. Our first ministry is to God, therefore we worship with extravagant joy & gratitude
– Our personal relationship with Him is our number one priority.
2. Salvation frees us from the power of the devil – sin, lies, sickness & torment
3. Every believer is a supernatural minister of the gospel of power whom signs & wonders should follow
– All ministry flows from the prayer, ”Thy kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.”
– We equip and send the church to carry on the works of Jesus.
4. We demonstrate God’s grace, His unconditional love & transforming power, to everyone
– We impact every socioeconomic group & cultural realm that mercy & justice would reign because we pastor a city, not just a church.
5. Christ is returning for a glorious overcoming bride – His Church
– We are more than ”sinners saved by grace”, we are saints – sons & daughters of the King.
– So we expect to successfully fulfill the Great Commission – passing on revival from one generation to the next – even if the world grows darker in the last days.
– We embrace the biblical government of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
Källa: http://www.ibethel.org/our-mission
Inga större konstigheter, eller hur?
Bethel Church tror alltså att Jesus var & är sann Gud och sann människa. Detta är intressant eftersom kristna kritiker utifrån extremt lösa trådar försöker argumentera för att Bill inte tror att Jesus var Gud under sin tid på jorden. Det finns mer att säga om det och annat som florerar online.
Är du nyfiken på Bill Johnson & Bethel Church, läs böcker därifrån, följ podcasten någon månad och prata med människor som varit där. Man ska aldrig bedöma en rörelse utifrån dess kritiker!
Blessings!
/David
Kingdom blog 