Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? - Ezekiel 18:23 (ESV)
Let me be clear, I do not relish the death of anyone. I do not rejoice. I recognize that people are suffering a loss that is very personal to them. I do not like walking on freshly dug graves. I think it is bad form. I also will not speculate or be gleeful at the possibility of someone passing apart from Christ because but for the grace of God go I. Anyone can have a thief on the cross moment. Salvation does not belong to me. It belongs to my Savior. So I do hope and pray that Beni asked Jesus that she may see Him in paradise.
It is difficult when you think your darkness is actually light. Beni was married to Bill and Bill unfortunately is one of the most egregious heretics on the planet. Again, no joy but eternal souls are at stake here so just a quick moment to speak about one of the most false of teachings that emanates from Bethel - divine healing. This teaching says that God MUST heal us. That this is guaranteed through the atonement. That if someone is not healed it is not because God sovereignly chose to not heal them but probably due to sin or unbelief in their life. This is rank heresy that shipwrecks faith. God CAN heal everyone but He usually does not. He usually allows life and death to run their course and sometimes He calls people home. This false teaching stems from the carnal belief in idolizing this world and this life first, which is central to Bethel. It was always fun to point out that Bill Johnson wears corrective eyeglasses while proclaiming that God heals everyone all the time.
Today is not fun however because Beni Johnson died after fighting cancer. She joins countless others who bravely fought only to lose the fight in the end. While this is certainly a sad day for the Johnsons and the Bethel family I would be remiss to pass up the teachable moment. Beni was prayed for. She was interceded for. She had an entire mega church praying on her behalf. I am sure none there would dare think that this loss was due to a lack of faith on her behalf. It was because the answer to the prayers from a sovereign God was no. So let us mourn with those who mourn but learn from this that divine healing always was a heresy straight from the pit of hell.
Rev. Anthony
