Bethel’s Creative Renaissance – Idolatry

Theresa Dedmon is the creative arts pastor at Bethel. Dedmon claims that in 2002, she received a “prophetic word” that she would lead a “worldwide arts movement.” Dedmon believes “Anointing and healing flows through what we touch and create” You may say she’s a dreamer, but she’s not the only one. Bethel is cultivating a generation of followers attempting to create heaven on earth so that we may all live as one. Co-creating with ‘Papa God’ is one of Bethel’s strategies to influence and transform society. While scripture teaches that conditions in the world and the visible church will decay, Bethel clings to the  false doctrine that conditions will improve. One of their methodologies to infiltrate culture and transform society is the use of creative arts. In Bethel’s world, balloons, cookies, prophetic pizza and paintings play an integral role in releasing the supernatural and transforming society. In reality, Bethel is playing an integral role in deceiving millions. They are preparing a generation of biblically illiterate people who lust after false unity, false peace, signs and power. These are a people being prepared to be mesmerized by the antichrist.Dedmon compares this creative move through a worldwide arts movement to the Renaissance because it “touched every sphere of life and brought innovation and prosperity to every sector of society.” One would expect a “pastor” to commit to preaching the gospel, and making disciples, but like “papa Bill [Pastor Bill Johnson],” Dedmon is under the impression that society is in need of some kind of transformation instead of the gospel. In her “About Me” page on her website, Dedmon writes: “Now, this Kingdom Creative Renaissance will touch every person in society as they see God’s desire to partner with them in creativity.” According to Dedmon, God apparently desires a planet full of co-creators instead of saving sinners and building his church. The seven mountain mandate is the motivating force behind Bethel’s desire to influence and transform society. The arts, is one of the [7] spheres or mountains the New Apostolic Reformation believes they will transform…

Dedmon makes no bones about the fact that she is a vital cog in God’s machinery. Two more quotes from Dedmon’s website: “I was born to be a catalyst, activating believers to release God’s power as they create.”

Dedmon’s  28 Lesson Journey Into Unlocking Your Creative Potential” will set you back $129. Part of the sales pitch is that it’s value is worth $1500, and in her own words, you will get the “Opportunity to travel as part of Theresa’s ministry team upon completion (value: priceless)”

In a sponsored Facebook post, Dedmon writes: “Have you seen God move powerfully through your creativity? He absolutely can. Our job is to simply step out and trust that he can use anything. If he can use Paul’s handkerchief to heal this sick, why not your song, your art, or your poem, right?

I thought it worthwhile, to examine examples from scripture that Dedmon uses as justification for God to use “your song, your art, or your poem.”

Lets examine the text: “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them” (Acts:19:11-12 [11] And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: [12] So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
See All...). We observe that these were special, or extraordinary miracles. Paul did not join an international apostolic coalition with membership fees in order to function as an apostle, he was called by God (1 Cor:1:1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
See All...) and taught God’s gospel (Gal:1:11-12 [11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
See All...)….Four glaring differences between what took place in the text compared to the methods that are found in modern day movements: 1. Paul was not praying over handkerchiefs 2. Paul was not selling handkerchiefs 3. Paul was not training people or “activating” them to perform this extraordinary miracle 4. God was doing the miracle, the handkerchiefs did not have magical powers.

There were some in Ephesus who thought they could emulate the exorcisms taking place under Paul’s ministry: “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims” (Acts:19:13Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
See All...). Most of us should recall the outcome, as scripture paints quite a vivid (and painful) picture of their failure: “But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.  And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all” (Acts:19:14-19 [14] And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. [15] And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? [16] And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. [17] And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. [18] And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. [19] Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
See All...).

https://fitl.co.za/2019/11/21/bethels-creative-renaissance-idolatry/