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Reckless Christianity: The Destructive New Teachings and Practices of Bill Johnson, Bethel Church, and the Global Movement of Apostles and Prophets Paperback – December 21, 2023

by Holly Pivec (Author), R. Douglas Geivett (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 23 ratings
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Bethel Church in Redding, California, is one of the most popular and polarizing churches in America. Home to the award-winning Bethel Music label, its songs are among the most used in churches. Thousands of people visit the church each year, drawn by reports of miraculous healings, the manifestation of a glittering Glory Cloud, and other miracles. They’re convinced that the church is at the forefront of an end-time movement that is restoring miraculous power to the church-at-large and “bringing heaven to earth.” Yet others are concerned that Bethel has left the boundaries of Scripture and brought its followers into a dangerously speculative and experience-driven faith. They say that, in the name of training miracle workers, Bethel has introduced hazardous, perhaps even occultic, practices into the church. This has resulted in chaos, confusion, and damaged lives. In this book we examine the controversial teachings of the “Bethel Church Movement,” as it is called, which has transformed modern Christian practice, culture, and worship. We show its place in the broader New Apostolic Reformation, a worldwide movement of “apostles” and “prophets” intent on reconstructing the mission and the message of the Christian church.
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  1. Print length
    278 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 21, 2023
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1725272474
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1725272477
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Reckless Christianity exposes the dangerous and heretical teachings and practices of the Global Movement of Apostles and Prophets. I was struck by the parallels with the so-called Toronto Blessing, or 'Laughing Gospel, ' that was all the rage thirty years ago. It seems every generation has to cook up something new that allegedly takes us back to the miracles and prophecies of the first-generation church. Pivec and Geivett rightly warn their readers to steer clear of this new heresy."
--Craig A. Evans, author of From Jesus to the Church

"Pivec and Geivett have produced an impressive, even-handed, and meticulously researched and documented critique of the burgeoning Bethel movement. This book is written in an easy, readable style undergirded by scholarly rigor in support of all of its claims. Beyond its value as a clarion warning against one of the most rapidly spreading toxic movements within evangelical Christendom, I recommend this book as a model for how to exercise spiritual discernment, evaluate evidence, and sort through competing truth claims."
--Alan W. Gomes, author of Unmasking the Cults

About the Author

Holly Pivec is an independent researcher of new religious movements. She blogs at HollyPivec.com. R. Douglas Geivett is professor of philosophy at Biola University and Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California.

R. Douglas Geivett is professor of philosophy at Biola University and Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cascade Books (December 21, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1725272474
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1725272477
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 23 ratings

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  1. R. Douglas Geivett

    R. Douglas Geivett

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    Doug Geivett is a native a southern California who has been teaching philosophy at Biola University (La Mirada, CA) since 1993. He was educated at Multnomah University (B.S.), Gonzaga University (M.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (M.A.), and the University of Southern California (Ph.D.). He has participated in public debates on the question of God's existence with Richard Dawkins, Michael Shermer, Paul Draper, Bruce Russell, John Shook, and Gordon Stein. He lectures nationally and internationally on an assortment of topics related to his publications.

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  2. Holly Pivec

    Holly Pivec

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
23 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jayne
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book - A Thorough Examination of NAR Teachings - Focus on Bethel Redding Church
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Reckless Christianity is extremely well documented and researched by these two authors. It's easy to read and understand.

This volume delves into the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), notably Bethel Church, Bill Johnson and Kris Valloton. It explores the abberent teaching of this church and various other churches & leaders in the NAR network.

Bethel church has started promoting mystical and new-age practices. The thoughtful way the authors compare scripture to the NAR doctrines and teachings brings clarity to an otherwise confusing issue within NAR teaching. I was encouraged by their approach and have learned quite a lot about the red flags of false teaching in general.

They explain how the novel teaching of NAR leaders is slipped into scriptural passages that are taken out of context or blatantly changed to fit NAR beliefs. The footnotes are amazing as well. They have done a thorough analysis into the NAR network.

NAR avoids the true gospel and traditional Christian teaching.

This book is helpful in understanding (and explaining to others) the errors in NAR teaching through logical and biblical reasoning.
2 people found this helpful
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JJJ4J
5.0 out of 5 stars This movement is becoming frighteningly worse
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
My husband and I escaped from NAR some 7+ years ago, having worked with, and for, some well-known names on mission all over the world. Many times I would get a spiritual niggle but I ignored it. Bearing mind the devil always overplays his hand, we ended up in a NAR-like fellowship where the 'apostle' was, to be quite frank very rude and, finally, the Holy Spirit was able to get through to us to go, having been subjected to some rather nasty spiritual abuse very reminiscent of the 'heavy shepherding' which occurred in the 70s and 80s which we also encountered.
At that time our knowledge of the Word of God was, to say the best, very shallow but we came across the first book these authors produced entitled "A New Apostolic Reformation?" and every niggle I had was answered and answered scripturally.
This is their latest treatise on NAR and, I have to say here, they are so respectful, there's no blackguarding anybody just a relentless use of the Word of God to reveal, because truth always brings revelation, of how ungodly this movement has become.
The changes in the last seven or eight years although the authors only only focus on Bethel, are so awful and I am sure that other churches which belong to NAR either overtly or covertly will be following suit. However they have occurred so surreptitiously I would not be surprised if people had hardly even noticed, rather like the frog in the pan of water which is being gradually brought to a boil. And this is what is the most scary. People who were formerly involved with the New Age movement, such as Steve Bancarz have been warning us Christians how like New Age Bethel has become but Bethel's excuse is that they have been redeeming practices which Christians used to do. However, if you know the Word of God at all you will know that God is in the business of redeeming people not 'things' or 'practices' why should He 'redeem' anything - He is the Creator.
This book arrived on my Kindle yesterday afternoon and I am already a quarter the way through it. If you care at all for any friends or family who are involved with some form of NAR or if you are involved with NAR, for your soul's sake and the sake of your friends and family's souls please read this with your Bible by your side and then seek to escape or pray for those still infected by this movement.
Thank you Holly and Douglas for having the courage, fortitude and deep knowledge of the Word of God in bringing these things to the attention of many.
21 people found this helpful
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Brad Prows
5.0 out of 5 stars Spot on
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
“Reckless Christianity” is very well documented and researched. Using Bill Johnson’s own words from his teachings as well as Kris Vallotton’s teachings; Doug and Holly expose the aberrant teaching that has made its way into many churches. This book doesn’t criticize churches that believe in the gifts of the Spirit rather it exposes the extreme teaching that are making their way into churches that still believe in the Gifts operating today.
This is a must read for Christians who have been exposed to phrases such as “spiritual covering, decreeing and declaring and revelation.” I would urge parents to read this book and beware the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), preys on young adults. Our family left our church over a decade ago, we couldn’t put our finger on it, but we knew something wasn’t right. Doug and Holly’s writing and interviews have been a real blessing while we walked through the process of understanding what we had encountered.
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Chuck Sigler
5.0 out of 5 stars Propesying lying dreams
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Carefully and thoughtfully written and researched. Read it intentionally and don't skip the extensive footnotes. Stop and look up some of the citations of what they wrote. And when you've reached the final chapter, follow their advice. Avoid any alignment with Bethel. Be alert to NAR tactics and propaganda. Know what draws people to Bethel and be prepared to help those who ultimately realize the recklessness of Bethel is not God's way. Pivec's and Geivett's quote of the prophet Jeremiah was a tellingly "prophetic" response to Bethel and its global movement: "Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 23:32).
2 people found this helpful
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Val Dare
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-documented, evidence based and highly reliable!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
Years ago I knew something was wrong, but couldn't put my finger on it. Thankfully, Holly Pivic and Doug Geivett took on the overwhelming task of bringing needed clarity to Bethel's aberrant theology, and have given us the information we need to practice crucial discernment in our Christian walk. I've read all of their books about the New Apostolic Reformation and highly recommend each and every one.
16 people found this helpful
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