It’s difficult to understate the impact Under Cover has had on the Charismatic movement. Even if you have not read it, you have probably heard sermons inspired by this book. This book has contributed to a culture where ministers and laity alike revere authority (God-given or not) so highly that to question a spiritual leader is literally considered to be witchcraft. It’s easy to see the chilling effect that teachings like these would have on the ability to discern whether those claiming to have authority are truly from God or not. That is the thesis of this article.
I have recorded a companion YouTube video to this article if you prefer to watch or listen to me present the material instead of reading it yourself. You may watch it here:
**Disclaimer**
This article and the companion video is a response to the first edition of Under Cover. I have not read the most recent revision. It is possible that some of the issues I address here are no longer applicable to the newer version of the book. I thought it important however to respond to the most widely distributed and influential version of this teaching as it has had the largest impact and that is the version most people interacting with this material are familiar with.
The Discernment Crisis
In light of the recent events at IHOPKC a common question has been asked, “If there were so many prophets in Kansas City and the charismatic community, why didn’t they say anything about Mike Bickle’s abuse?”
While Cessationists will likely cite this phenomenon as evidence that spiritual gifts have ceased and all people who claim to prophesy are either charlatans or deluded, the scriptures clearly teach that gifts of prophecy will endure until the return of Christ. (Acts 2:16-21, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21) But if prophecy is still around, why do those who believe in spiritual revelation seem to have such poor discernment? Wouldn’t the Holy Spirit reveal to them who is and isn;t secretly an abuser?
Honestly, this is an excellent question and Charismatics should not ignore this critique. After much meditation on this very question, I believe I may have an answer as to why Charismatics truly do prophesy, but also have poor discernment and the answer is probably a bit shocking.
Before I give this answer I want to clarify that not all Charismatics were duped by Bickle and company. Many Pentecostals and Charismatics like Derek Prince, Ernie Gruen, and others warned the Body of Christ about the dangers of IHOPKC decades ago. Their warnings however seemed quiet and distant compared to the fervor with which IHOPKC and its “prophetic history” were praised by the Charismatic majority.
Now, for the shocking reality as to why Charismatics have poor discernment: the true reason is that the gift of discerning of spirits has actively been quenched and taught against within much of the Charismatic movement.
Differentiating Between Gifts
While many often lump all prophetic revelation into the category of “prophecy,” the Bible seems to differentiate between various prophetic gifts. The gift of “word of knowledge,” for example, is different from a “word of wisdom.” We also have interpretations of tongues and discerning of spirits. Just as it is possible for someone to be strong in a gift of healing, but not used by the Spirit as frequently in gifts of prophecy, it is possible for someone to be strong in a gift of words of knowledge but not equally gifted in the discerning of spirits.
It is my opinion that while much of the Charismatic church has sought after gifts of prophecy and words of knowledge, we have not been as zealous in our pursuit of the gift of discernment and, in fact, I believe we have been systematically taught against the gift of discernment, albeit unintentionally, and I believe that John Bevere’s book, Under Cover, has been a tool which wolves have used to silence this gift of discernment in God’s flock and prevent their own exposure and I wish to explain how.
John Bevere is Not a False Teacher
I do not believe John Bevere is a false teacher. In fact, I really like many of his teachings in “The Awe of God” and “Driven By Eternity.” I believe John Bevere is a sincere brother who has good motives in everything he teaches. Even in this book there is a Christ-like ethos which Bevere teaches that all of us should seek to emulate. However, this book in particular has set the stage for spiritual abuse like no other popular book I have seen and it does so by actively quenching the gift of discernment and silencing feedback that all leaders need. In addition, this teaching advocates for an unhealthy and unbiblical authority structure that, while seemingly ubiquitous, was not what I believe to be the ecclesiology the New Testament lays out for us and leaves God’s sheep vulnerable to unaccountable and abusive leadership.
Discernment is Not a Dirty Word
The term “discernment” conjures up images of angry bloggers spewing half-truths and stirring up dissension by obsessively nit-picking sermons from popular ministers in order to find fault. Many Charismatics are totally turned off by the idea of “discernment” because they don’t want to have anything to do with the divisive, vitriolic, or mocking rhetoric of Chris Rosebrough, Pulpit and Pen, or the aptly named Wretched Radio. However, in Revelation 2, Jesus commends the Ephesian church for their ability to discern false apostleship.
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”
Revelation 2:2
I genuinely believe that had the Ephesian church done a 10 week study on Under Cover they would not have received this commendation from the Lord because the fear of being rebellious and speaking against God’s chosen servant would have stifled this gift in their midst and rendered them vulnerable to many false teachers. Compare this commendation to the rebuke which the church of Thyatira.
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 2:18-23
Jesus commended the church in Ephesus for their lack of tolerance of wickedness and false teachers, yet the church in Thyatira receives a rebuke from the Lord for tolerating a false prophetess. Poor discernment and a hesitancy to rebuke false prophets and false teachers displeases the Lord and yet I believe a reluctance to discern and rebuke false teachers it to be one of the defining characteristics of the Charismatic movement. This very reluctance has actually added fuel to the fire of those discernment bloggers. The best argument for cessationism is the nonsense that goes on unchecked in Charismatic circles sometimes, yet if we were to address these shortcomings ourselves with love, our brothers on the other side would have much less room to speak.
In truth, our biblical hunger for spiritual gifts and, at times, commendable fear of “touching the Lords anointed,” fostered by teachings like Under Cover have created a culture of silence about aberrant teachings and practices that go on in our midst. Teachings like Bevere’s have instilled fear about naming names, or even speaking negatively at all and the net result is that wolves like Mike Bickle have been able to hide comfortably in our midst. I don’t think the Lord is pleased. The truth is we will never be able to adjust the culture of silence in the Charismatic world without analyzing the teachings that helped to create it.
With that said, let’s turn our attention to the topic at hand and investigate exactly how Under Cover has contributed to the current crisis in which we find ourselves.
The Arguments of Under Cover
John Bevere’s Under Cover came out in 2001 and has sold nearly half a million copies worldwide. The book purports to reveal God’s promise of provision and protection for those who are rightly aligned with His authority. Bevere cites Job 36:11-12 which states:
Job 36:11-12If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
The book continues to argue that submission to God requires complete submission to His delegated authority. Moreover, rebellion against God is not only like the sin of witchcraft but is the sin of witchcraft. Therefore, those who are not submitted to God and, by extension, God’s delegated authority (ie your president, your boss, your husband, or your pastor), are guilty of the sin of witchcraft. (1 Samuel 15:23)
Bevere also argues that those who are not submitted to God’s authority are no longer under His provision or His protection. Bevere attributes everything from family tragedy, to health issues, to death to the judgment of God over people who have failed to submit properly to their pastor.
This is quite the frightening proposition; submit to your pastor or you are guilty of witchcraft and certain (though unspecified) disaster will befall you. But what about bad or harsh leaders?
All Authority is From God (Even the Bad Ones)
Bevere teaches from Romans 13 that all human authority is instituted by God; even Hitler and Stalin. He goes on to say that even bad and harsh leaders in your life are there by God’s direct design to shape you into who God designed you to be. Just as Pharaoh was used of God to reveal His glory to Israel, God has a purpose is subjecting you to a bad or harsh leader. And remember, if you do not submit to this leader, you will be subject to untold disaster. (One wonders why Bevere is not Roman Catholic…)
Bevere does claim that scripture gives recourse for those who are suffering spiritual abuse. The solutions given for those who are suffering under a harsh or abusive leader is to humble yourself, submit in obedience, and pray. Bevere does not open the door for direct confrontation of a spiritual leader by those who are enduring harsh treatment. (With very slim exceptions which we will get to later.) To the contrary, Bevere says if you decide to defend yourself from false accusation or unfair treatment, you exempt yourself from God’s vindication.
Bevere, John. Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority. Nelson. 2001, p. 162Defense, correction, vindication, or other appropriate responses should proceed from the hand of God, not man. An individual who vindicates himself lacks the humility of Christ.
Bevere cites Romans 12:19 and 1 Peter 2:17-23 to back up his claim:
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord
Romans 12:1917 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:17-23
Confronting Leaders
But do these scriptures actually claim that if we confront abusive leadership, God will not protect us? Does “taking vengeance” in Romans 12 mean to bring correction or defend oneself?
Paul is advocating that Christians never take revenge against those who have wounded them but rather to leave room for the wrath of God. It seems rather obvious that bringing correction to a harsh or abusive leader is not nearly the same as taking vengeance.
In 1 Peter 2, the Apostle Peter is addressing the way Christians are to live before outsiders and tells us to submit to all human authority. He explicitly excludes Church authorities in the list; why? The command does not reflect God’s ideal leadership, but rather how to win influence through humble service in an ungodly world. People have used this verse to justify slavery in the past, but this argument fails precisely because of this point. The command is not about setting the ideal for God’s community but rather how Christians are to behave before a fallen world for the sake of the gospel. Church authorities are not mentioned in this passage because to command church members to submit to harsh and ungodly bishops and elders would be unthinkable given the model of leadership Jesus gave us.
John 13:12-1712 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
The command in 1 Peter 2 gives us an ethic to follow; if we are going to suffer, we should suffer well without bitterness. This command however, does not forbid people from defending themselves against abuse. There is certainly something for all of us to learn from this attitude. We should not return reviling with reviling, we should not threaten our enemies, but love them. However, Bevere has allowed this passage to abridge the command which Christ has given us:
If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.
Luke 17:3
I can imagine the rejoinder here being, “but this scripture is about your brother, not your spiritual authority!” I think this hypothetical retort actually reveals the issue; your pastor is still your brother. Remember Paul’s rebuke to Peter which was recorded in Galatians 2:
11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
Galatians 2:11-1414 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
Who does this Paul guy think he is? Peter could have responded by citing his spiritual pedigree and thus, his authority. After all, he was with the Lord and Paul was a persecutor of Christ. Peter was one of the 12! Who was Paul to confront him like this? Certainly, Peter would have been the “spiritual covering” of the church in Antioch due to his rank. But Paul believed that his duty to God involved the confrontation of spiritual leaders who were not aligned with truth. Paul further demonstrates what is a biblical view of authority in the church when he claims about the Apostles, including James and Peter, that their rank meant nothing to him because God does not show favoritism. (Galatians 2:6)
Not surprisingly, this confrontation does not make an appearance in Bevere’s book. Rather, Bevere goes to Genesis 9, to the story of Ham uncovering Noah’s nakedness to say that if leaders are in sin, you will be cursed if you expose it. Bevere states:
Bevere, John. Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority. Nelson, 2001, p. 180.“Many, like Ham, are accurate in what they report about leaders, yet they are wrong in God’s eyes. They have dishonored others and lost their blessing. They live in the foolishness of their own understanding and reasoning.”
But the scriptures say otherwise:
1 Timothy 5:20“But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.”
Humility is Essential
I want to pause my critique and offer a balancing word of praise. The humility and attitude of submission for which Bevere advocates in Under Cover is wholly Christ-like. It is a sign of spiritual maturity to honor authority no matter what. Moreover, we are commanded in the scriptures to suffer abuse with grace and not return evil with evil, but to bless and not curse. We are taught by the Lord Himself to love our enemies, bless those who curse us and pray for those who abuse us. These are the very same ethics for which Bevere argues in the book and those are indeed noble and admirable characteristics.
Moreover, Bevere explicitly states in his book that he is not writing the book to corrupt pastors, but the people of God. I imagine that Bevere would have another message entirely if he were to write a book which addresses perpetrators of spiritual abuse. Indeed, Bevere states that anytime a pastor or leader is in blatant, unrepentant sin, or teaching heresy, you must leave. (Good!) But Bevere insists that you should not say anything against that corrupt leader. (Bad!) (p. 118)
While the attitude of humility for which Bevere advocates is good, the actual teachings in this book have been used as weapons which spiritual abusers have wielded against congregants for over two decades and it has led the church to stifle the gift of discernment because to hold a suspicion of anyone in leadership is the first step toward actual witchcraft.
Unbiblical Ecclesiology
My chief critique of this book is not merely its suspect interpretation of many passages of scripture, (Bevere interprets Matt. 5:25-26 to claim that defending yourself against a false accusation is unbiblical.) Nor is it that he claims that disagreeing publicly with an abusive leader is witchcraft. Rather, my biggest problem with the book is that it perpetuates an unbiblical, unaccountable model of leadership and that it’s teachings, when followed to their conclusions, completely shut down the ability of God’s people to discern whether church leaders are in step with the Holy Spirit, the flesh, or the devil.
In Bevere’s model, God instituted churches with mini-popes who rule with unquestionable authority over their little Vaticans. Pastors are not accountable to a board of elders, they are accountable only to God. John claims to have had the Lord rebuke Him for questioning His authority when John had an issue with a foolish decision his senior pastor was making saying,
Bevere, John. Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority. Nelson, 2001, p. 17.“I put only one man in charge of a ministry.”
Bevere also makes a statement which, if followed to it’s logical conclusion, shuts down discernment entirely and can lead to the creation of evangelical cults:
Bevere, John. Under Cover: The Promise of Protection Under His Authority. Nelson, 2001, p. 147.“Our judgement will be relative to our submission, for authority is of God. To resist delegated authority is to resist God’s authority. We should not take upon ourselves the pressure to discern beforehand whether leaders are right or not. Nor should we judge after the fact. This is not our burden, but God’s. He alone knows and can change hearts as He desires.”
To be fair to Bevere, the context for this quote is about decision making, not moral right and wrong. However, the principle cited is still dangerous as it leaves leaders who read this book free to reject all input from their underlings and discourages elders and deacons from offering any spiritual insight to any decision because, after all, God has put the senior pastor in authority, not the lowly elder, deacon, or church member. Moreover, Bevere spends so much time warning of the real dangers of being in “rebellion” that any reader would be forgiven for taking this narrower statement about criticizing a pastor’s decision making and just applying it anything their pastor does.
While it falls outside of the scope of this article to talk in-depth about biblical Church governance, I will only comment that the Scriptures have a role of “elder” to whom were entrusted great authority.
1 Peter 5:1-4To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elderand a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
It is also clear that every church had multiple elders.
James 5:14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oilin the name of the Lord.
There are certainly more verses to substantiate this viewpoint throughout the New Testament and plenty of room for disagreement, (I will not divide over this issue) but it is a rather bold claim to say by special revelation, “God only puts one man in charge of a ministry.” That settles the debate about church governance right there, doesn’t it? After all who are we to disagree with what God said to John Bevere?
Allowances For Confrontation
Now another word of balance. Bevere does cite Esther, Abigail, and Moses as examples of making a petition to authority who is about to make a disastrous error. Bevere praises Esther for her humility, submission, and loyalty to the king. Indeed, that is an attitude we all must have toward leaders as followers of Christ. However, the example further indicates what I believe to be problematic assumptions about ecclesiology.
In the example of Esther, the would-be-queen is powerless and the king is all-powerful. The king could have Esther killed at literally any moment. Esther had to be submissive and humble or she would be killed instantly. After all, that is exactly what happened to her predecessor. Esther’s only option was to beg because she lacked all power. Bevere implicitly tells his readers that this is similar to the power dynamic in a God-ordained authority structure. Your pastor has all authority and is not accountable to you as a church member, deacon, or elder and therefore, if you are to make a petition you must do so with the meekness of one who fears for her life.
Later, Bevere does allow for some to bring petition more forcefully and cites his wife as an example. However people are only permitted to bring petition in that way when the leader allows it and when the petitioner has proven that they are loyal. (pp. 155-156) The obvious problem is that if a senior pastor wishes to shut out the cries of his congregation, he can merely call his accusers disloyal. After all, satan is the accuser so anyone making accusations against a leader work for satan, right? All of this leaves Christians who endure abuse virtually no recourse and when one takes into account Bevere’s previous statements that one must never defend oneself against harsh or unfair treatment, that rebellion is witchcraft, and that to fail to submit to your pastor or to speak against him in any way will bring untold disaster upon you or your family, it renders any potential instruction about confronting a leader impotent because readers are petrified of their leader’s untouchable God-given authority.
How the Book Is Used
Now imagine being handed this book by an authority figure and told to do a 10 week study all about how you must submit to him or her or else you are rebelling against God. God will not bless you, you or your family members could die or some tragedy could befall them if you talk about their sin to anyone else. Imagine being told by an abusive leader that questioning his or her decisions or exercising a gift of discernment is actually witchcraft. In many ways the message of this book is shaped by the context in which it was introduced. If you had a great leader who was humble, Christ-like, and gentle, you probably wonder why people get upset about this book. Those who are upset by it are probably just rebellious, after all. But if you were a sheep in the jaws of a wolf, this book is the perfect weapon to shut down resistance and quiet the cries of warning which could expose the wolf and save more sheep.
What Does This Have To Do With Discernment?
Because of Bevere’s Under Cover and teachings similar to it, discernment is often equivalent to suspicion, or outright witchcraft motivated by a “spirit of accusation.” In Charismatic circles the gift of discerning of spirits is rarely taught on and when it is it is usually with several cautionary air-bags about “partnering with the accuser of the brethren.” Whenever this gift is encouraged it is typically within the context of discerning a prophetic word or whether or not someone needs deliverance from demonic oppression. Never have I ever heard teaching in Charismatic circles on applying this spiritual gift to the task of discerning whether or not a leader or minister is godly or healthy. But who can do more damage, the random lay person about whom the pastor discerns a “spirit of Jezebel” or the national leader influencing millions whose authority you are not to question? Indeed, we see the Lord Jesus commending the church in Ephesus for applying the gift of discernment to the task of testing those who purport to be spiritual authorities. (Revelation 2:2)
It isn’t just lay people who have taken this teaching to heart and have effectively shut off their discern-o-meters when it comes to church leadership or ministers of any stripe. It’s also ministers who believe it is better to be silent than to “touch the Lord’s anointed.” But in adopting this attitude and choosing to be silent even when they see fellow ministers abusing their authority, shepherds have abdicated their duty to protect the flock of God from wolves and honestly this book is both a symptom and contributing factor to this very phenomenon.
Closing Thoughts
I don’t want people to get the wrong impression, spiritual authority is real and it does exist, but it is not reserved for one man at the top. John Bevere is right when he says that submission to God means that we submit to God-given authority. But our submission to Church leaders was never meant to be unconditional. If we are to submit to those whom God has truly appointed, we must actually be able to discern who is and is not allegiant to King Jesus. We must exercise the gift of discerning of spirits, warn the sheep of wolves, and practice the Christian duty of mutual submission and love. (By the way, true discernment only works in love.)
Now, while I was rather bold toward John Bevere in this post, I wish to again express that I actually appreciate much of his teaching. I don’t believe that this book came from a desire to empower religious abuse. In fact I am certain it was not! I believe all of the attitudes for which Bevere advocates in this book should be taken to heart by all Christians and perhaps in a healthier church leadership structure, this book would be much better served. After all, love, humility, mutual submission, and honor are godly attributes which should be the aim in every church and should be the way which we all respond to our spiritual authorities.
I pray that this article blesses the Church as we grow in discernment.
Your servant,
JonMark Baker