Power, Prophecy, and Protecting Reputations
I was asked my thoughts on this first thing in our staff meeting this week and numerous times since so I thought I would process here. At the heart of the recent and painful revelations surrounding Shawn Bolz is not simply the failure of one prominent prophetic figure – It is the far more troubling reality that others knew. That there was evidence, patterns were recognised, yet those with authority did little to intervene until the truth became public while the gravy train kept on rolling.
But that is not the deepest question.
The question that kept being asked in the Mike Winger video (I haven’t watched it but my wife has and kept gasping and relaying from it) that brought this into the light – is the question the Church never seems to ask first and foremost, which I have seen repeatedly happens in these horrific abuse situations is this:
“What about the victims?“
The people.
Not the platform.
Not ‘the prophetic’ (whatever that means)
Not the church.
Not the movement.
Certainly not ‘the brand.’
Sorrow Before Strategy – ‘What About The Victims?’
Before analysis, before lessons, before “what we should do now or next?,” ask this question. Every freaking time. That’s getting God’s heart and keeping it front and centre. When churches or leaders don’t ask or stop asking this before every decision, there will always be a move away from truth toward managing the story.
In the years when I was a police officer this was a front and centre question, as the years have gone by I’m afraid that’s less the case and crime figure management and priorities that get senior officers promoted have taken over but the old school bobbies who ‘showed me round’ when I joined made sure I saw the reality and always ‘saw’ the person who was hurt, so then we could prevent, protect, detect and confront those who preyed on others.
Shepherds must start with the heart of sorrow for those who were spiritually manipulated, whose trust was violated and harmed rather than looking to debate process, timing, or reputation.
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
There are times when we can’t say everything we may want to say because of legal restrictions, safety concerns or the processes that statutory authorities may impose – I have been there and I’m not talking about that. I am talking about any response that moves to damage limitation/control or protecting the leader’s reputation without first asking, “What about the victims” has already missed the heart of God.
Silence That Protects Institutions Hurts People
It’s clear even from their own recent statements that when the truth emerged and victims of both prophetic and sexual abuse began speaking, Bethel Church quietly distanced themselves from Bolz. (Invitations stopped, books were eventually removed from sale). But there was no clear public warning to their congregation or to the wider Church about abusive behaviour that would have enabled a #Metoo moment.
With the above reminder in place that we must of course follow safeguarding and statutory advice (which from my own point of view has often been frustrating!) when leaders with information choose ‘discretion’ over disclosure, that’s cowardice not the better part of valour and the cost is always paid by the vulnerable.
This is precisely what Scott McKnight and Laura Barringer warn about in A Church Called Tov. This autopsy on what went wrong under Hybels at Willow Creek and then what went even worse after if possible because of mishandlng is the playbook I have recommended to leaders and boards many times since. It details what we really should have known by now – that when institutions fail to focus first and repeatedly on victims, institutional considerations of self preservation override, marginalise, minimise and retraumatise them again.
A Tov (Hebrew word meaning ‘good!) culture does not ask:
- “How do we survive this?”
It asks: - “Who has been hurt, and how do we move towards them?”
It values –
Truth-telling over image-management – honest communication is not delayed to protect reputation
People over Platforms – victims are centred, not sidelined
Accountability – no individual however ‘gifted’ is beyond question
Moral courage – leaders act early not eventually – when exposure becomes unavoidable
A Pattern the Church Must Name
This is not an isolated tragedy, across recent decades, the charismatic and prophetic movement has seen repeated and devastating failures involving leaders such as Mike Bickle, Paul Cain, and Mike Pilavachi. That’s not to say of course there have not been similar abuses in different churchmanship settings but as I’d put myself in the Evangelical/ Charismatic bracket and believe that God spoke authoritatively in scripture and can and does also speak to his people prophetically and in dreams and visions since the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and has not stopped, I am concerned as to how we can not just ‘learn lessons’ as politiians promise – but actually change and become Tov.
In case after case, the pattern is painfully familiar:
- Extraordinary gifting/ claims of spiritual authority lead to privileged positions
- Weak or absent accountability as ‘ordinary’ people stand in awe
- Boundary violations increase unchecked as there’s no challenge because
- Leaders or institutions that are meant to bring good governance are fearful, reticent slow to act
This is not random.
Do We Shut Down the Prophetic?
Some will respond by asking whether prophecy itself is simply too dangerous to trust. Others (cessationists) reject its ongoing validity altogether of course and false prophets add strength to their argument.
But Scripture offers a more demanding answer.
The Bible does not deny the reality of prophetic gifting, but it relentlessly exposes the dangers of misuse, counterfeit, and corrupted motive.
In Exodus 7–8, Pharaoh’s magicians replicate Moses’ signs – up to a point. Their power is real, but limited. Counterfeits ‘words’ gleaned via social media etc do not negate the genuine though the enemy imitates it.
In Numbers 22–24, Balaam hears God accurately and speaks truthfully, yet Scripture condemns and exposes him because his heart is bent towards gain and influence – a New Testament corollary to Simon Magus in Acts 8, who wanted to lay his hands on money by laying hands on people.
The New Testament warns all who seek God’s gifts for gain where it leads –
“They have followed the way of Balaam, who loved the wages of wickedness.” (2 Peter 2:15)
Profiting Prophets
The story of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5 is chilling precisely because it is so recognisable in today’s myopic world of Christian fame and (urgh) celebrity. Elisha offers God’s healing freely. Gehazi cannot accept that – he ensures he personally profits from the prophet.
It does not end well.
Scripture repeatedly warns that when spiritual authority becomes a means of control, validation, or reward, the vulnerable are the first to suffer.
Moses: Authority Without Exploitation
The passage that came immediately to mind when the staff team asked about this is Exodus 34:29–35 and it shows the slippery slope when Moses comes down from the mountain with his face reflecting God’s glory. The people listen. He’s speaking for God! Then Moses covers his face, no nobody can tell whether he’s been with the Lord and had a word from him or not. That’s dangerous.
When the people want me to speak for God but I haven’t had any time or space to sit and speak with him I can operate on my own strength and gifting for quite a while but I’m pulling from the dregs at the bottom rather than the overflow of rivers flowing and streams bubbling from inside. Every spiritual leader knows this danger!
But I can put a veil up – and nobody knows, I haven’t heard him now and ‘apart from Him’…. I think I can do quite a lot and stay busy and go to another conference with last year’s talks all ready.
Saul, David, and the Fear of ExposureI
I also mentioned the attitude difference when confronted – the contrast between Saul and David.
When Saul is confronted in 1 Samuel 15, his plea is revealing:
“Now I beg you, honour me before the elders of my people.” Why? He fears what people think more than what God says, valuing his position above his integrity.
David’s sins seem worse to me (if I was judging…) but when confronted by a prophet who paints a picture of how the Lord feels about the victim in 2 Samuel 12, he offers no defence, recognising instead
“I have sinned against the LORD.”
Psalm 51 shows us the difference:
“A broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise….” and what matters most to him? “Take not your Holy Spirit from me…’
Victims need leaders who respond like David, not Saul.
Truth before image.
Repentance before reputation.
Love Is The Test of New Testament prophecy – not simply accuracy
Some discount prophecy today by applying Old Testament ‘one strike and you’re out’ tests but it seems to me that like any gift we can grow and learn in by use here and a better test is to heed Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians 13:
“If I have the gift of prophecy… but do not have love, I am nothing.”
Not “I missed it a little”.
Not “I was right on target”. Without love?
Nothing.
Any spiritual culture that values great experiences over obeying the Great Commandment has lost its way.
What About the Victims?
So we must keep asking the question:
What about the victims?
Are they believed?
Are they listened to?
Are they supported?
Are they loved?
Or are they quietly sidelined while leaders try to protect platforms and institutions preserve influence?
A Mirror for Me
Above all,I don’t want to make this or any of the other tragic tales a megaphone aimed at others.
Looking at it biblically is always a mirror held up to myself.
- Am I more concerned with faithfulness than following?
- Do I value people over platforms?
- Is there anything I’d do for money or favour with weathly people I wouldn’t do for the least the Lord says are first?
- Would I rather lose public influence or private integrity?
The Way Forward
The answer is not shutting down prophetic ministry. In the years of the Toronto Blessing I remember a phrase that ‘where there’s a lot of the Spirit there’s also a lot of flesh.’ This is why discernment is also a gift of the Spirit we must exercise wisely and consistency. There are sheep, wolves, and snakes!
Though as James writes ‘we all make many mistakes’ so yes we will get things wrong, the answer is certainly not excusing grievous repeated harm either.
The way forward is accountability that is real, repentance that is visible, and a Church courageous enough to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but – for the sake of the wounded. What about the victims?
The leaders we need now are not those who want to keep the show on the road, protect images and cover up – but those who ‘with unveiled faces contemplating the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image..” (2 Cor 3:18)
‘What About The Victims?’ A Note to Survivors
If you are reading this as someone who has been harmed, manipulated, or wounded by spiritual authority or prophetic ministry, I want to say: I am deeply sorry for what you have experienced. That was never what the Heavenly Father wanted for you and the Lord is near to the brokenhearted, not defensive toward them. We leaders will be more strictly judged and If church responses have added to your hurt rather than helped to heal it, that grief is real – and deserves to be taken seriously, we can and must get better.
You are not required to rush forgiveness, explain your story or trauma neatly, or protect anyone else’s reputation. May you know that God does not abandon you but remains with you, and many of us are committed to trying to help more than harm further with and by His grace.
If this reflection has stirred questions or brought things close to the surface, you may find it helpful to read this recent companion piece…
Discover more from Anthony Delaney
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.