Since late October terrible things have been written against me in various communications (blogs, articles, posts, etc.) that describe me and various sinful things that I allegedly did. There are many misrepresentations of my words and actions in these communications including statements that are out of context, greatly exaggerated, or blatantly false." - Mike Bickle
Re-read the beginning of that paragraph again to fully digest the evil. So, the sin from 20 years ago was never discussed because he thought it was under the blood? Said who? The victim sure doesn't seem to feel that way. So now on record, Bickle admits that some nebulous sin of his, which is an alleged four year sexual and prophetic manipulation of a then 19-year-old, was buried and never brought to light because it was not somehow magically public to begin with? Is that the new biblical standard I am unaware of? He is admitting that he is only now addressing it publicly because the accusations were made public!! He again tries to muddy the waters and split the bill. Sure, I sinned and it was a moral failure but there were also allegations of false sexual abuse! Well, which is it? Again, remember that it sure appeared initially that several people were leaked as potential victims for the sole purpose of being able to publicly refute it so Bickle defenders could pretend the accusations were tenuous. Instead of simply doing the right thing biblically, Bickle had lawyered up himself early on and the advice given was to not make it seem like he was confessing? Shouldn't the issue be if he actually did it? If you honestly think a woman from your past stating that you used prophecy to sexually abuse her for four years is somehow in the wrong context then by all means provide the correct context! What has been greatly exaggerated Mike? What is blatantly false? Misty Edwards? That other woman with her Facebook post? We already know that. How about you stick to what you are clearly admitting!
"I ask that my family and friends do not defend me. I have confidence that the Lord will speak concerning what He sees and says about me in His timing. Please do not engage in debates on social media to defend me and please do not criticize those who are voicing their disdain for me. Please only speak blessing to them and about them (Matt. 5:44). In this way, we can minimize some of the divisiveness that the enemy has planned"and we can continue to stay focused on loving Jesus and one another. I am deeply committed to respond to those with complaints against me in the spirit of Psalm 18:35"both now and in the years to come. Some who are have spoken against me are friends (I will continue to view them as friends)." - Mike Bickle
Ahh the old high road approach. This nonsense gives his defenders the ability to continue the false victim narrative and how Mike has just stayed above the fray. The reality is he doesn't want the debate because that keeps the story alive and, in the headlines, and he wants it to go away as fast as possible. He also knows his position is untenable and cannot be properly defended. Just look at the tortured defenses from Strang, Tomczak and Dr. Brown so far. Realize that every time Mike Bickle stood behind the holy desk for the past forty years, he was a liar. He was just like Ravi Zacharias. He sinned, or had great moral failures or whatever verbiage you want and then went and preached on holiness. Dr. Michale Brown recently suggested that all of Mike's "great teaching" on holiness stands. No, it does not because it was a lie. The unmitigated gall and arrogance continues here though. The key verse today is Matthew 5:44, which clearly indicates that we are to pray for those who PERSECUTE us. So, according to the accused serial sexual abuser Mike Bickle, anyone who dares to question him is now persecuting him. Christians are persecuted every day in this world from beheadings in the Middle East to the underground church in China. THAT is persecution. Suggesting that when a 42-year-old preacher sexually and prophetically manipulates and 19-year-old sheep for four years and then buries it by claiming God told him it was ok, should no longer be allowed to minister, is not persecution Mike. The enemy is not the one behind folks demanding the truth. The enemy wants this mess covered up. The enemy wants the Bickle regime to continue because it has always done his work. By the way, he has decided to respond to complaints in the spirit of Psalm 18:35?
You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. - Psalm 18:35 (ESV)
This entire Psalm is about how God delivered David from his enemies. Is that how Mike Bickle is viewing the fact that he abused women for decades? That despite it all, the gentleness of God has made Mike Bickle great? Seriously? This is an ego run amok without a shred of humility. I know it gets lost in the woe is me of this alleged apology but Mike Bickle is not the victim here. He is the predator.
"For an extended season, I will not engage in my public preaching ministry (conferences, social media, zooms, etc.)"I see this as God's "delayed" loving discipline on my life (Heb. 12:6, 11). I will look to other leaders to determine how long this season will last"it may be long and it may even be permanent. I will only reengage in my public preaching ministry, if God confirms it through others. I am at peace with whatever He wants (2 Sam. 15:25-26). Jesus, I love and trust You!" - Mike Bickle
Wow, and so we come to the penultimate purpose of this statement. Mike Bickle has not spent a single word here about his victim or victims. It has always been all about him. So, he thinks that being asked to step aside and just live a normal millionaire life for awhile is "discipline" for sexually abusing women over the years. Note the cleverness here of putting it on others if he returns. If "God" confirms he should return through others. Gee, I wonder who those others are? Allow me to translate for you. If Strang, Tomczak and Dr. Brown all feel that sufficient public flogging has occurred and Mike has "repented" while being so brave to tell others to not defend him and pray for those persecuting him, then he will return to public ministry? Aww he loves and trusts Jesus? Well not enough to have told the truth for the past few decades. Well, he doesn't love and trust Jesus enough to not go and lawyer up. He doesn't love and trust Jesus enough to tell his followers to stop smearing the former IHOP leaders. He doesn't love and trust Jesus enough to tell the current leadership to hire an independent firm to investigate this sordid debacle. He doesn't love and trust Jesus enough to utter a single, solitary word about his victims here. He does however love and trust "Jesus" to confirm he is allowed to go back to false teaching if enough of his friends say it's cool. Again, wow.
