Answering Reader Question: What are we to think of the “Let Us Worship” tour? - By Elizabeth Prata

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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This is the moral and doctrinal bankruptcy of the Doctrinal Police. Sean Feucht is leading worship gatherings, and rather than honor his courage, celebrate the worship, or give praise to God for the salvations, well, the author slams him.

And she can't even manage to fight her way out of the rhetorical paper bag. This may be one of the most inept polemics we have ever read. And we have read some sorry ones in our time.

*Update* Hundreds coming to be baptized. Satanist saved. 

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Since California’s government has banned indoor church gatherings due to the COVID pandemic, Feucht and his Burn 24/7 ministry are, in their words, “standing for religious freedom by holding large outdoor worship events.” (Source, and also here).

While I admire a fervency to gather for worship and to stand for this liberty the Constitution affords religious people, I wish it was anyone but Bethel or Bethel-associated folks gathering people to worship, or their version of worship anyway. (Hmmm. Feucht, one person, is the obstacle. Thousands of peoples' worship is negated because of the person leading it. Nothing good is possible, because of the man. 

And Ms. Prata doesn't even bother to intercede on behalf of the people. She simply relegates them all to perdition. If this seems evil to you, go to the front of the class.)

I say “Bethel-associated” because though Feucht is Bethel’s song leader, Bethel Church recently issued a press release clarifying that the tour is all Sean Feucht, organized by him alone, paid for by him, and that Bethel Church is not a part of the event. Nevertheless, the doctrine that Sean Feucht brings to these events is all Bethel. (That is, one man's doctrine negates everything else.)

Feucht has shared testimonies of salvations, healings and miracles that have been happening during his tour over the past days. One reason why Bethel and Bethel-associated leaders are dangerous is that very statement. (Astonishing. The author cannot bring herself to let an "amen" slip from her lips. In her view, people apparently cannot get saved unless everyone has doctrine that agrees with hers.)

People are whipped up in a crowd by musical/emotional manipulation and peer pressure, (Ah, so this is how the author dispenses with her cognitive dissonance. These people aren't saved because they have been manipulated. Thus she doesn't have to praise God because some have been snatched from the jaws of hell because none of them have been. She is absolutely certain!)

then profess a belief which is usually absent of Gospel elements such as wrath and sin. (undocumented claim.)

In their easy-believism they are pronounced Christian but sadly, many are not truly converted. (Undocumented statement.)

Then, they’re baptized. (This is the absurd lengths the Doctrinal Police will go to dismiss so-called "false teachers." Even if we were to accept that Feucht is a false teacher, and further accept that he is not even saved [both of which do not seem likely], does this mean that people at this event cannot get saved? No. God will sometimes use the unrighteous or the questionable or the "status unknown" to accomplish His  purposes. For example, Mk. 9:38: 

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No-one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us."

It is above Ms. Prata's pay grade to assert that none these people were saved. She creates a completely false scenario that doctrine is the determiner of effective ministry and spiritual fruit like salvation, and runs with it to the bitter end. And we do mean bitter.)

So, what are we to think of the Let Us Worship tour?

If it’s spawned by Bethel, it is NOT of God. That is all there is to that. (She will now enter into a discussion that supposedly documents this...)

God prescribes worship. He was very, VERY specific about it in the entire Old Testament. Death came to those who didn’t worship according to His standards. He killed Uzzah outright for touching the ark.

In the New Testament we are in an age of Grace, not Law, so the Levitical rules have been fulfilled. (If the OT prescriptions are moot, why did she mention them?)

However, God is still God and He demands worship, (Does God really *demand* worship?)

“You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Luke 4:8). (Jesus was quoting Deut. 6:13 to the devil. This quote was a response to the devil promising Him the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship. 

While it is true that there is only one God we are to worship, we cannot conclude from this that Jesus *demands* we worship God.

In fact, in the NT you will not find any demand for worship. Nor is there any requirement anywhere in the NT for how worship is to be practiced. 

Ironically, the author presents herself exactly like the Jews' accusation of Paul. Ac. 18:13:

“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

The author wants to define a category, her version of "correct worship," so that she can deem Feucht in violation of it.)

 
and that worship be performed in acceptable ways. (Undocumented assertion.)

Further, we are commanded to must worship “in Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23b). (Yes, correct. But why is this relevant? What does the author think it means? How is Feucht violating it?)

Thus, He still takes worship extremely seriously. It must be orderly. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40). (The author seems reluctant to quote her proof. We shall do her work for her. 1Co. 14:26-40: 

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 

36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 

40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Paul is describing the proper way to conduct a meeting together of the saints. The word "worship" does not appear here. Paul is not describing proper worship. 

In fact, the author as a cessationist does not believe half of what is written in this passage. She doesn't believe in prophecy or tongues, even though Paul commands these must be done.)

He killed Sapphira and Ananias outright for lying and being hypocrites. (There is no mention of worship here either.)

We must render reasonable service (Romans 12:1), (Finally, a verse that actually discusses worship! We shall quote it. Ro. 12:1: 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your reasonable act of worship.

Now, remember, the whole point of all of this is author is attempting to document her assertion that Feucht is leading false worship in a worship gathering. But Ro. 12:1 is not about a worship gathering, it is about holiness. Being holy is an act of worship. 

The author appears ignorant of basic biblical concepts.)

walk in a worthy manner (Ephesians 4:1), (Sigh. Again we quote the verse:

Ep. 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Again a call to personal holiness, not worship or how corporate worship is to be conducted.

The author is simply tossing around Bible references at random, none of which come to bear on her vendetta against Feucht.)

sing, give, fellowship. Worship must be undivided (James 1:8), It just keeps getting worse. Let's quote the larger part of the passage for context:

Ja. 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

It certainly must be obvious to you, dear reader, that Ms. Prata has no idea what she's talking about. This passage is about asking God for wisdom.)

and singularly fervent (Luke 10:27, (Again we quote:

Lk. 10:25-27 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; [Deut. 6:5] and, `Love your neighbor as yourself.’“ [Lev. 19:18]

This is the closest Ms. Prata has gotten to worship. But of course, this is not about a corporate gathering. In addition, worship must be inferred in the word "love," We are happy to accept this inference, but since Ms. Prata criticized the "emotional manipulation" at these events, we wonder exactly what she thinks it means to love the Lord with every part of her being, if emotions must be excluded.)

Matt. 15:8). (We simply cannot get past the ignorance on display here. Let's again quote the passage:

Mt. 15:8-9 “`These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’“ [Isaiah 29:13]

This has nothing to do with fervency. But, it would seem to be a valid passage to use against Feucht, if Ms. Prata actually included vs. 9. But then she would have to demonstrate in some way that God is dishonored by Feucht's worship leading, or even, the people assembled there to worship in a way that God might be dishonored.) 

The Jesus who ascended is ‘this same Jesus’ who will return. (Acts 1:11). It is He and He alone we worship.

Bethel worships a Jesus of their own making. (Undocumented assertion. And also, undocumented regarding every one of the 4 thousand people at the event.)

Their Jesus is not the same Jesus who came to earth, was crucified, died, was buried and rose again. He is a different Jesus. (Undocumented statement, based presumably on doctrinal differences. But the author has not demonstrated that her doctrine is correct enough to worship God.)

I know in dark times we want to see the Lord of Glory worshiped. We cling to any crumb of light because we mourn those who are lost and those who are wandering. So our minds make compromises. We think, ‘well, they’re so sincere, and maybe people will come to know Jesus anyway…’

But the Lord doesn’t look down and say “At least they’re worshipping. They’re not worshiping ME, but hey, close enough.” What He could be saying is “See those lawless hooligans jumping around on a beach taking my name in vain! They should flee from the wrath to come!!” (This is egregious. Inserting her unlearned perspective into the mouth of God is as dishonoring of a thing as we could conceive.

The author presumes to know the mind of God, and God apparently would agree with her. She has spent much of her article on inane irrelevancies and half-formed thoughts, and now she turns to God, supplying Him false words as if what has popped into her head is the same thing God is thinking. 

This is especially offensive, since the author doesn't believe in prophecy. But she engages in a defacto prophecy, not to edify but to criticize and impugn. This ought to offend every thinking Christian.)

The gate is narrow, narrow…and precise.

Bethel misses it by a mile.

The TRAGEDY is, as good churches close, satan fills that spiritual vacuum with his brand of evil worship, drawing the unwary or young or naive or undiscerning away from truth. Terrible! Watching beaches fill up with youth being drawn in by Bethel because their own church is closed, as was the reason many of the youths reportedly came, is a cause for tearing our clothes, wearing sackcloth and ashes, and falling to our knees in despair, pleading to the Lord for their souls!

Here is a 12-minute update from John MacArthur about activities at Grace Community Church. Here is pastoral care, here is how to ‘rise up’, here is how to do it:

Update from John MacArthur about Grace Community Church

Next are some resources to help anyone who asks about Bethel’s brand of worship and why they are false:

Why our church no longer plays Bethel’s Music . Inside Michelle Lesley’s link are many more links.

Interview with Justin Peters about Bethel Church

Why your Church Shouldn’t Play Bethel and Hillsong Music (We discuss this article here.)

Conclusion:

1. No, we should not be excited about Sean Feucht’s Let us Worship tour. Any propagation of Bethel’s false beliefs is a cause to mourn, not rejoice. (No quotes from Feucht that would demonstrate this, or song lyrics quoted.)

2. Worship is precise, prescribed by the Bible, and founded on solid doctrine. There is no ‘close enough’. I’m not talking about being in a building. I’m taking about what is sung and what is preached. (No quotes from Feucht that would demonstrate this, or song lyrics quoted.)

3. The adage, ‘Nature abhors a vacuum’, can be changed to ‘Satan fills a vacuum’. People left drifting and lacking the word of God preached consistently can easily drift. Satan is there to catch them. (Hebrews 2:1-4). (No quotes from Feucht that would demonstrate this, or song lyrics quoted.)

4. Aside from Grace Community Church’s recent statement, where are the other true churches saying not ‘let us’ worship, but We Will Worship?