Given the lack of confessional ecclesiastical structures in Evangelical churches, there was no way of meaningfully testing prophetic pulpit pronunciations by the laity, so they continued to follow leaders simply because they were leaders. This proved particularly concerning for Jon Ward because of Bethel Church’s approach to politics. “Bethel leaders,” writes Ward, “viewed the world in Manichean terms, as a war between spiritual forces of good and evil.” There was no middle ground. “People were on one side or the other, and this meant their side was noble and righteous and the other side was evil and damned.” Bethel’s “war mentality came from their theology. They rejected the idea that the line between good and evil runs through the human heart. Rather, they saw the dividing line as running through an invisible world of angels and demons.” Bethel’s language of “’taking dominion’ and ‘tearing down strongholds’ had a deeper meaning. It made their political involvement more aggressive and harmful.” Bethel’s “certainty that they were doing the Lord’s work discouraged introspection or nuance.”

More HERE

The mess just gets …. messier. Tony Evans had to admit to a past “sin.” Robert Morris, a megachurch pastor in Texas, had to admit to a sexual abuse relationship (NOT an “affair”), but there won’t be any plans for him to step down. And then I get surprised.

This is the mess. The first line of the opening paragraph is key for me:

Given the lack of confessional ecclesiastical structures in Evangelical churches…

This is not a guarantee, of course. But the poor ecclesiology of evangelical churches is a major hindrance in our current climate. This can be written about and passed around social media, but ALSO this is the deep call of prayer. Intercession is truly needed because we are truly in a mess.