A lot of people are talking about a recent video by Mike Winger, in which he raises serious allegations regarding prophetic ministry, abuse of power, and institutional cover-ups—particularly involving Shawn Bolz and leaders connected to Bethel. Winger alleges that Shawn Bolz was deceptive (pretending to give prophetic words that were actually data-mined from Facebook), as well as abusive (citing sexually inappropriate behavior). He also blames Bethel and a number of other leaders for covering up Shawn’s behavior and for not warning the church at large about him.

I won’t try to rehearse all the details here (you can find them elsewhere with a quick search). My aim instead is to offer some pastoral reflections: to name what should grieve us most, to take a step back and look at this from a broader context, and to ask how this may expose similar tendencies in our own hearts and communities.

1. We should begin with grief, not debate

Our main concern should be for those who were lied to, deceived, or abused. Quite simply, they should be our first priority. It is easy to point the finger at Bolz and Bethel and move on, forgetting those who were harmed. Even though we may not know those directly affected in this case, they should be in our prayers. It should also remind us of the importance of listening to those who have been hurt or let down by the church without being dismissive of them. This can be hard for leaders because it is easy to go on the defensive. But rather than working overtime to protect an institution, we need to work harder at caring for people (it’s people that Jesus gave His life for, after all). Of course, there’s a lot that could be said here on proper procedure (see 1 Timothy 5:19-20), but the bottom line is that our priority is to care for and protect the sheep – especially the vulnerable (Ezekiel 34:1-10).

2. This is a major problem in the church – but it’s not just a Charismatic problem. 

We need to admit that there is a huge problem here. Moral failures, abuse of power, and ungodly leadership are plaguing the church and dishonoring Christ.

However, while charismatic churches and leaders (such as Bolz and Bethel) are on the receiving end of things this time, it is not just a problem within charismatic circles. Yes, fraud, abuse of power, and cover-ups are definitely a problem in such groups.

This is due in part to a lack of accountability. In pursuing what they see as the freedom of the Spirit, some charismatic groups want to break away from the limits and rules of older denominations, longing for more innovative and flexible approaches to ministry. However, in breaking away – as both Hillsong and Bethel have done – they at the same time walk away from the oversight and accountability that could help them flourish in the long run. Perhaps for others it starts as a genuine desire to follow Paul’s advice not to “quench the Spirit” and to “not treat prophecies with contempt” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20). Unfortunately, the next two verses about testing everything and rejecting evil are not always followed!

But as I said, this isn’t limited to charismatics. To various degrees, other individuals and denominations are guilty of similar things. For example, one could list the ongoing Southern Baptist sex scandals, (including Johnny Hunt, among many, many others). Sadly, there are many other big-name authors, pastors, and entertainers (such as Philip Yancey, Bill Hybels, Ravi Zacharias, Jerry Falwell Jr, Michael Tait, etc), none of whom claimed to be Charismatic, to my knowledge.

These cases show the tendency for human nature to abuse positions of power – whether that is power as a Pastor, as a leader, entertainer, or someone who claims spiritual gifts. Just like Samson, David, or Solomon, people too often use power for their own fleshly desires.

The church needs to do a much better job in teaching and modeling humility and servant leadership. It’s far too easy for people’s talents – or even their God-given abilities – to put them on a pedestal.

3. Recapturing a Heartbeat for Holiness.

The church needs a true revival of holiness. New Testament Christianity is not just about a return to the gifts or preaching the gospel – it’s also about godliness. It’s about becoming a people filled with the HOLY Spirit.

As I have often said before: while faith might spark the miraculous, holiness maintains it. 

From the virgin birth, to the resurrection, to the gifts of the Spirit – ours is a supernatural faith. But when it comes to ministry today, what starts through the supernatural, can often quickly devolve to the natural. It’s so easy for broken and sinful humans to misuse God’s grace and power for their own selfish ends.

It’s so hard in an era that thrives on popularity and promotion, to cultivate that humility necessary for long-term fruitfulness. Unfortunately, the church has become so focused on immediate growth and numbers that everything else becomes secondary (character included).

But it’s not just about numbers. Not about becoming well-known. It’s not even about “building the kingdom,” if by that we mean pursuing results, influence, or growth while sidelining personal holiness—where the end is treated as greater than the means.

The church today needs a greater commitment to holiness, a stronger accountability, a deeper humility, and a renewed emphasis on the fruits of the Spirit.

4. The misuse of the gifts of the Spirit does not negate the gifts.

In the Old Testament there were many false prophets, yet the prophetic was not thrown out. In the New Testament the Corinthian church was messed up – but that did not negate the gifts of the Spirit working among them, nor did Paul tell them to stop pursuing spiritual gifts. In fact, just the opposite – they were told to eagerly desire spiritual gifts – but they were to be used with discernment.

Much more could be said about this, but the bottom line is: God’s word is greater than our experience. We may have had a bad experience (with someone misusing the gifts), or we may have had no experience with the gifts, but our experience does not trump the word of God. Both in the Old and New Testaments He clearly gives gifts to His people – as broken and undeserving as we are.

5. Outrage can hide our own hypocrisy.

I want to bring this home to our own personal lives, for sometimes we can be guilty of the same type of thing as Bethel. Many of us are rightly angered by institutional cover-ups in the church, while simultaneously excusing or minimizing moral failures among leaders we support elsewhere—politically, culturally, or personally.

I might lose some readers here, but I feel it needs to be pointed out: Many who are upset about this cover-up, at the same time, might be willing to cover-up or hide sin in their own life, or in the life of someone they admire. To put it bluntly, some reading this might be upset at Bethel’s cover-up, while at the same time idolizing a president who is doing and has done much worse. This shows that perhaps it is not so much out of a love for truth, or a concern for the abused that they are speaking against Bethel or Bolz, but rather as a convenient reason to shun something they already don’t like.

Here’s where it gets personal for each of us: The same reasoning that allowed Bethel to cover up this abuse is the same reasoning many Republicans use to cover up the abuse that’s going on. And it was the same reasoning that many Democrats gave for covering up abuses when Democrats were in government. “It’s for the best of the movement,” they say – or, in this case, “it’s for the best of the country.”

Unless we recognize our tendency to protect our tribe, to cut too much slack to those we agree with, and to value our personal lifestyle at the expense of those who are victimized, then these things will keep happening.

We say: “I like the general direction we’re going, and if I uncover things it will mess that up.” We need to each look at our own lives and hearts and ask – am I ignoring sin because I know things may come crashing down if I expose it? Am I willing to close my eyes to sin, and stop my ears to the cries of victims, because of an end-goal that I want?

If so – then we are no better than Bethel.

If so, we are participating in the same moral logic that allowed Bethel to justify silence—even if the scale or context is different. It could be fear of losing influence, fear of harming ‘the work,’ fear of losing supporters (and the list could go on). It’s easy to point our fingers at others we already dislike who are doing these things…but are we also guilty (even in small ways) of doing a similar thing?

As followers of Jesus we are called to holiness of heart and life. We are called to be people of integrity – where our whole life lines up with the way of Jesus. The end does not justify the means. For Christians, both the ends and the means must line up together – and both must look like Christ.

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