Before we get to Rick Becker’s piece, here’s a quote by Theresa Dedmon, a woman who’s on the pastoral staff at Bethel Church in Redding CA. Bethel’s not far from the raging Carr fire that took the lives of 7 people and destroyed well over 160,000 acres and 1,077 homes in Shasta County:
All of us have most likely experienced raging fires, like the Carr fire, that has come against us either in our relationships, pursuing our dreams, or feeling secure for our future. Remember, that support from others, hearing God’s voice, declaring, and giving thanks will be key for your victory. I can hardly wait to share with you stories of victory and breakthrough as we press in for God’s mercy and blessing for protection and restoration. Remember you are Born to Create, and declare life! (Emphasis in the article)
“Hearing God’s voice,” “declaring,” “breakthrough,” “Born to Create” are terms frequently used by those who are caught up in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) cult.
In this piece over at Famine In The Land, Becker scrutinizes Theresa Dedmon’s theology in a letter she wrote in response to the catastrophic fire that has affected a large number of people in her community. He writes:
As the ashes from the Carr fire settle in Redding, Bethelites remain in denial that their methodology and theology lie in ashes. Their prophetic ministry failed – hundreds have been “activated” into the prophetic at Bethel, yet none of them foresaw the Carr fire. Don’t expect them to cancel any of their prophetic courses – all opportunities for shameful gain will continue….their prophets are in it for a profit or self-aggrandizement. Any rational person would come to the conclusion that Bethel’s ministry had no impact on the Carr fire. Their decrees and declarations could not extinguish a single ember. The weather did not obey their commands, the dead were not raised, and Bethel has had to be content with doing the not so miraculous by operating as a distribution hub for the Salvation Army. So what does Bethel do when their talk differs from their walk? They make assumptions, camouflage their failed teachings, and continue in their deluded state.
In this post, we examine Theresa Dedmon’s article in response to the tragedy titled “Beauty For Ashes”. But first, some background information on Dedmon. From her webpage: “I am on pastoral staff at Bethel Church in Redding, California, where I oversee the Creative Arts department for the Church and School of Supernatural Ministry. I instruct on worship expressions and arts events within the church, as well as strategy and coordination for city transformation and outreach.”
Theresa describes her ministry as “equipping and activating people in prophetic and healing ministry as I show them how to step into their supernatural and creative destinies.”
Her own creativity has resulted in her range of stretch pants, and apparently wearing her art “enhances your awareness of God’s presence, and helps you become a walking encounter of Heaven’s message to those around you.” Let’s not forget her other brand – tarot destiny cards.
Some snippets from Theresa’a blog posts:
Her “passion is to empower others to walk in supernatural power and transform the world through creative expressions of God’s presence.” Well, we know that’s not going to work out, and neither will this: “True creativity restores relationship: relationship with God and others. Our creative destiny can only be fulfilled to the degree that we are change agents in culture to restore community and connection in relationship.”
Creativity has replaced the gospel?
Mysticism and Bethel go hand in hand – Dedmon writes the following: “Now if I was to interview people about what they love about San Francisco last weekend, it probably wouldn’t be just one thing like the food, diverse people, hills, and architectural design. It would be the intangible feelings evoked from the many memories that now are attached to their experiences that happened while they were there. In the same way, the more we create with God in the unseen realm, we will have intangible feelings of God’s presence associated with our experiences as we have created with Him.”
Have you created with God in the unseen realm? What does this even mean?
On dreaming, Dedmon writes: “We can literally dream our way to our destiny. Our dreams can change us, and the world around us…Anything is possible in the Kingdom of God. What will you build in your life? Your dreams will determine the answer!”
Who needs God?
You can read Dedmon’s latest article here.
Theresa Dedmons (TD) words in italics, with my comments below. [crn_lik url=”http://fitl.co.za/2018/08/02/bethels-delusions-of-grandeur-impervious-to-the-realities-of-the-carr-fire/”]
Research: