A Look at Bill Johnson
at Trinity Church Pt. 2
I continue my review of Bill Johnson’s sermon titled Kingdom Living that he gave at Trinity Church on Sunday March 5th. Earlier I
posted part 1 of my review in which I mentioned my concerns regarding the
theology and twisting of scripture that I heard from that sermon. You can read
part 1 of my review here. As I stated in part 1, my critique of this sermon is
not meant to offend people who attend Trinity Church. My intent is to shed
light on some theology that I find concerning, and examine the sermon in light
of the scriptures.
As I did in part 1 of my review, I will continue to interact
with statements made by Bill Johnson throughout his sermon. I included the
minute marker next to the statements if you would like to go back and hear the
statements for yourself. You could follow along here. I will conclude with a summary of the sermon and answers
to some anticipated questions some might have regarding this critique. This I
will do in part 3 of these posts, which can be viewed here.
- Jesus did
not display miracles to show what God can do, but he did them to show what man
can do (15:48)
Johnson again gives
no scriptural reference for this claim. This is classic eisegesis into the
miraculous works of Christ. Eisegesis is the process of deriving something from
the text that isn’t really there. It is coming to a conclusion based of your
own presupposition, not based on what the text actually says. On the contrary,
Acts 2:22 tells us that Christ performed miracles to confirm that He was from
God, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of
Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs
that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—. Furthermore, Jesus Himself gives us the
reason for His miraculous works in John 10:25 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not
believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,. Again,
I see nowhere in scripture where Christ, or anyone else, claimed that He did miracles
to show that man could do them also. As John Macarthur rightly notes "When Jesus began
to do miracles, the disciples must have been ecstatic. Here was undeniable proof
that Jesus was the true Messiah!”[1]
- John the
Baptist said to Jesus “I need your baptism, in the Holy Spirit and Fire”
(24:34)
We are all familiar with this scene in Matthew
chapter 3. In this chapter we read how John the Baptist baptized Jesus. In
verse 14 John questions Christ saying “I need to be baptized by you, and you come
to me?” However, never in my life have I heard someone interpret John’s statement
to Christ as needing to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and Fire. Again, Johnson
deviates from the meaning of the narrative and drifts to a form of eisegesis. John’s
baptism was one of repentance from sins. In questioning Christ he was saying
that the sinless Messiah did not need to be baptized, rather that the sinless
Messiah should baptize him, the sinner. The fact that they were in the water performing
water baptisms easily proves this. Why would John ask Jesus to baptize him in the Spirit and
fire while they were standing in the water performing water baptisms? Furthermore,
why would John be asking to be baptized in the fire at all? In context, the fire
represents judgment as it does throughout all of scripture. John’s statement meant that there would be one
coming who would baptize believers in the Spirit, and sinners in the fire
of judgment.
- Unbelief is a partnership with the demonic
(29:15)
You may be tired of hearing this, but
Johnson gives no scriptural reference for this claim. Yes we know that without
faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). However, saying lack of faith
is partnering with the demonic is absurd. In Mark chapter 9 we read of Jesus healing
a boy with an unclean spirit. Before the healing we have this exchange between
Christ and the boy’s father that appears in verses 23 and 24, “And Jesus said to him, “if
you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out
and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” The boy’s
father expressed to Christ his unbelief. Jesus did not scold or attempt to cast out a demon
from him, rather he continued on and healed the boy. This is a common theme in
the Word of Faith movement. As Hank Hannegraff puts it, to them faith is a force. He
adds “You will discover that the ‘God’ of
the faith movement is not the true God at all. He is merely a pathetic puppet governed
by the impersonal force of faith.[2] True faith is not found in believing our wants will become a
reality. True faith is trusting in God’s sovereignty and that His will be done.
- Jesus turned to His disciples and said “how come you don’t have any
faith?” (34:36)
Here Johnson references
Jesus calming the storm. As Christ was asleep on the boat the disciples awoke
Him out of fear. Christ replied to them “Why are you afraid,
O you of little faith?” (Matt. 8:26). Johnson implies that Jesus was rebuking
their lack of faith in not calming the storm themselves. Nowhere in the text is
that implied. Verse 27 concludes with the disciples saying “What sort of man is this,
that even winds and sea obey him?” The rebuke was for not trusting
in Jesus. They did not say “even the winds and sea obey us,” rather “the winds
and sea obey Him.” The purpose of the miracle was for Christ to reveal His authority
over nature itself. As John MacArthur says “Jesus’
calming the storm demonstrates His unlimited over over the natural world. At
that point, then, the disciples felt not a fear of being harmed by the storm,
but a reverence for the supernatural power that had been displayed.”[3]
- God has the solution (to every crises) but is
simply looking for the servant of the Lord to come to Him and reveal the
meaning of the Kingdom (40:56)
It is difficult to discern where Johnson is
going here. My guess is he’s saying that God is just sitting back waiting for
the right person to come along and align himself to receive all the solutions.
Again, this is a common theme in the Word of Faith movement. They portray God
as one who answers to every beck and call of the believer. Yes God has the answer to every crises, and
yes He is able to solve every problem, but that doesn’t mean He will, at least
not in this age. There will come a day where there will be no more death, or mourning,
or crying, or pain (Rev 21:4). But until then we live in a fallen world where creation
groans up until its present time. That present time is the redemption of our
bodies (Rom. 8:22-24). The most scandalous thing about this statement is that
it seems to assault the very sovereignty of God. Scripture tells us that God is
the heavens, He does what He pleases (Psalms 115:3). That His council will
stand and He will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 46:10). And who has spoken and
it come to past, unless the Lord commanded it? (Lam 3:37). On and on scripture affirms
that God is sovereign over all things. He is not powerless to our decrees, nor
does he need our permission to do anything. God’s purposes will stand regardless
of our faith. They will stand whether we declare them or not. Man is not sovereign,
rather man is helpless without the power of the almighty God. Again, this is a
common theme in the Word of Faith movement. One that should be rejected by
every believer.
…In part 3 of this review, I summarize my thoughts and answer some anticipated questions. You can view Part 3 here. Please be
sure to read through part 1 of this review as well.
Grace, and Peace!
Grace, and Peace!
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