Jesse Westwood is a 3 year alumni of Bethel Church in Redding California, attended Bill Johnson’s mystical Bethel School of Super Natural Ministry, and has since walked away from the Charismatic Church.
I first met Jesse last summer, as we were recording several segments about the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), with Pastor Chris Rosebrough and Steven Kozar (my Pirate Gang) for the upcoming American Gospel: SPIRIT & FIRE (2023). Watch:
There is also a new extended teaser trailer over at AGTV (the only streaming service you’ll ever need). I highly encourage you to subscribe here, and know that it is much more edifying than the carnality on Netflix or Hulu.
“In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Today, many in hyper-charismatic circles use this verse to teach that a Christian should pursue a “baptism of fire” from the Holy Spirit. These encounters with the presence of God typically manifest in bizarre ways, including a loss of self-control, dignity, and other mystical experiences that are untethered from Scripture and the gospel of Jesus Christ. American Gospel: Spirit & Fire will examine the true person and work of the Holy Spirit, including His work in the life of Christ and His followers, and contrast this with the different spirit commonly promoted in the movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).” – American Gospel TV
At our roundtable interview event, we got an opportunity to sit down with Jesse and ask him about his time at Bethel, his relationship with Bill and the late Beni Johnson and the leadership team, and how these people who were dear to him taught a very different gospel than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When he broke free, he had to come to terms with being deceived into believing many lies, and he had to unlearn a lot of things when he discovered the truth of a loving God who had graciously opened Jesse’s eyes.
Jesse is creating a thought-provoking collection of videos called Breaking Bethel, in which he breaks down the “theological bricks” that are the foundation of one of the biggest and most influential mega churches in the world.
Here are a few of his videos, but you’ll want to subscribe to Jesse’s Breaking Bethel YouTube playlist to see them all, and he has more to come:
