Move over Steven Strang, there is new competition for the most disgusting defense of Mike Bickle...

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"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. - Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)

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When the allegations of Mike Bickle as a serial predator first came out the collective defense from the alleged leaders in the apostate church was predictable. The first rule of the Charismaniacal NAR Industrial Complex is to protect the brand at all costs. Bickle was a proven money maker and as such, the goal of many was to deflect and dissemble to try and make sure Bickle came out of this relatively unscathed. As time wore on however it became increasingly clear that he was guilty and probably of more than we were privy to. As such, the smart leaders started distancing themselves even as people like Steven Strang dug their heals in and pretended there was nothing to see here. Then two more victims came forward, both of whom stated the sexual abuse started when they were 14 and 15 years of age respectively. While Strang snapped a heel trying to dig in further, this was apparently the final straw for most as now they shifted fully into trying to salvage IHOP for the Industrial Complex even if Bickle had to be sacrificed. That seems true for most except Kris Vallotton apparently. Five days ago, AFTER the two victims who were minors came forward, Vallotton finally weighed in on Bicklegate. I am sure now he wishes he kept his lying false teacher mouth shut because the backlash was swift to his defense to the point that he has already apologized, quite insincerely. He tried to make it sound like an oopsie on his part but as you will see, his defense was full throated and the heart of a sermon. It represents how he truly feels, regardless of the spin control he is trying now. Let us reason through the above linked sermon as one of the falsest teachers, prophets and con men, tries to defend another. His reasoning is superbly absurd and as always, Vallotton shows why he should never try dividing the word of truth.

"Matthew 18 Jesus says if you have a problem with your brother go to them. If you can't reconcile find someone else that you both respect and have them meet with you. We are talking about reconciliation, not justice. Jesus says if none of that works then bring them to the church leadership. And the goal isn't to punish them but to reconcile them. He says then if that doesn't work, treat them as unbelievers. How do we treat unbelievers? We forgive them even though they don't deserve it." - Kris Vallotton

For the sake of your time, I start where he starts talking about the thrust of this message and even though he does not mention Bickle for a while, it is clear this is who he is referencing. First let us deal with the strawman argument Vallotton offers throughout this sermon. That we as the church are more concerned about justice than reconciliation when a leader falls. Yes Kris, that is correct and biblical. God is a God of justice. The truth needs to be known so healing can occur. What makes this a strawman argument is Kris is making the argument that we seek justice against Bickle as opposed to justice for his victims. You see, Matthew 18 does not apply here. Mike Bickle did not sin against me so I have no cause to seek him out first. Applying these verses is also wrong because Mike Bickle is clearly NOT our brother in the Lord. He lied about the false prophecies regarding the founding of IHOP along with two other serial predators and false prophets in Bob Jones and Paul Cain. He has continually used his authority as a minister to coerce and lure young women into his bed - for decades. I made these Matthew verses the key scriptures for this devotional to show how much of a liar and bible butcher Kris Vallotton is. We take along someone trusted to establish evidence with witness Kris, so it sure sounds like justice not reconciliation is the goal. The most egregious thing however is this ridiculous notion that Jesus is teaching to then treat the unrepentant by just forgiving them. The context actually says to treat them as you would a gentile or tax collector. Why did Jesus say this? Because tax collectors were reviled by the Jewish people because they betrayed them. So, the message is to treat them as someone you despise, not this candy-coated nonsense from Vallotton that whitewashes the sin and ignores the victims.

"That's; not what Jesus is talking about. Let's tell everybody about our problem on social media. By the way., let's confront believers in the midst of unbelievers and let them know how much we love one another when we are confronting people. Dumb and dumber." - Kris Vallotton

You Tube is also social media Kris. You aren't very good at this, are you? So, you are upset that people are airing this out on social media and you berate us for it on social media? By the way, it is a little rich to blame social media when the only reason it has blown up as such is the fact that IHOP leadership has tried to cover this up from the beginning. Smearing the victims, accusing the advocates of wanting to arrange a coup of Bickle, refusing to bring in an outside investigative source. I agree Kris, they have handled this like dumb and dumber and dumber yet still. Now, you are along for the dumb ride.

"If you are a leader in the religious culture and you struggle with pornography or some sexual temptation you fear being accountable because you are probably going to be fired. Yet the door to deliverance is confession fellowship, and accountability. The challenge is when a religious leader pulls a Peter, the religious crowd calls for justice and not reconciliation. There's peer pressure to call for the head of any leader who falls because we want everyone to know we are tough on crime. It somehow validates our own sense of righteousness not realize we have joined the self-righteous stone throwers of America club and then wonder why our leaders are unaccountable." - Kris Vallotton

Sigh. Mike Bickle sexually abused at least three women, ages 14, 15 and 19 respectively. He ruined their lives on many levels and there appears to be several others. People who correctly state this, are not "stone throwers." I want you to follow the inane logic being offered here. So, if only Bickle felt he could have told someone he was fooling around with minors and felt that they would only want to reconcile with him, he would not have acted like this for forty years with multiple women? What planet are you on Kris? Going to a teenager's high school as her boyfriend when you are married and an adult, is not only creepy but it is not a "struggle." Lustful thoughts are a struggle. Breaking the law with minors is not. Telling different women that God said his wife was going to die so they could be together as a means to sexually abuse them is not a struggle. It is not about being tough on crime or whatever other stupid analogy you want to use. It is about right and wrong. It is about a predator and his victims. You remember the victims, Kris? Don't you?

"I think there is an epidemic of unaccountable leaders. I propose this is an ecosystem of punishment and shame. What happens in a culture of punishment and shame is that when you tell somebody that you struggle as a leader then you spend the next several months hoping that nobody powerful in the organization finds out that you are struggling because likely you will be removed. And what happens when I live without confession, without fellowship, without accountability is a begin to move into shame. And when I move into shame, I remove myself from fellowship and when I remove myself from fellowship that thing grows within me.

It's a culture. It's a culture of shame. It's a culture of justice. Where somehow when we see a leader with a struggle and maybe finally a fall, it just makes us feel righteous when we get in the fray and make sure they get what they have coming to them. I want to point out that fallen leaders are not entertainment to watch. They are a tragedy to intercede for." - Kris Vallotton

Let me see if I got this right. Mike Bickle is a tragedy to intercede for? Not his victims? Shouldn't he be removed Kris? It is not punishment, it is accountability. The point Vallotton keeps missing is accountability has consequences. Realize what he is arguing for here. A man built a million-dollar ministry preaching holiness that he claims was started by a vision given to him by God and confirmed through two other prophets. Now we have discovered that this man was lying the entire time. He had sexually inappropriate relationships for years with at least three different women. One started when the girl was 14 and he was a 20-year-old intern. Years later, after he was married, the second one started when the victim was 15. Years later, the third started when the victim was 19 and Bickle was 42 and still married. He lied to all three. He told of false prophecies where God allegedly showed him his wife would die so that he and the victim could be together. Oh, and there are probably a lot more victims. Oh, and the two other prophets? Yeah, they were false and sexual predators too. Vallotton is arguing that this person, is a victim of an ecosystem of punishment and shame, who somehow should not be removed from ministry? Wow. Listen up Kris. There is no one looking at this freak show debacle that damages the witness for Christ, scattering victims across Missouri, and vaguely thinking it is entertainment.

"We think we have to know all the details, why? What's you point? We watch a fallen leader like we are watching a movie. We cry out for all the details. And let's put it on the Internet so the world can see how our fallen leaders are dealt with. I would like to point out that that's a culture of justice. Its funny but this is not a new pattern. In Mark chapter 16 Mary runs into the tomb and you know the story. The angel says to go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus had risen from the dead. Why did the angel say and Peter? Because the disciples had already excommunicated him because he had a fall. I am pointing out that if you treat people who had a fall or are dealing with temptation like someone who can't come into camp anymore and then wonder why so many people fall, I am pointing out that unless you have a culture where people can tell you about their struggles, you're not going to have a culture of accountability." - Kris Vallotton

Please. I am begging you Kris, put the bible down. What you engage in perpetually is scriptural assault. There is no indication that the disciples had ex communicated Peter. Just stop. The significance of saying "and Peter", is to highlight the wondrous grace of God's forgiveness. By the way, I am not saying people who sin cannot come into camp anymore but maybe they should not be the camp leader? Maybe we should also pay attention to 1Corinthians 5, when Paul instructs the church to expel the sinful member? That was just a member! Not the leader! You cannot claim to be for accountability but against the truth and justice. It doesn't work that way. We strive to know the details because Bickle has lied about them and the IHOP leadership has tried to cover it up.

"If you're fortune 50 CEO and you have an adulterous relationship or struggle with porn or some kind of fall, you could still be the head of the company. You could be the head of pretty much anything except being a religious leader. Listen, I understand religious leaders should be under stricter judgment I am just saying that if I am a CEO I do not have to worry about telling someone and worry about losing my job. How many know it is the kindness of God that leads to repentance." - Kris Vallotton

Yes, the fact that God is kind, and merciful does lead us towards repentance but not before we stand accountable Kris. God is always just. Your analogy is a poor one. Why are we comparing leaders in God's church to carnal, unsaved business leaders? The CEO doesn't worry because he does not know God. The religious leader, should know God. They should fear God. They should know that the real problem is not losing your job, which is not a birthright, but never having been saved and thus being consigned to hell. More importantly as we are almost through this sermon, where is ANY consideration for the victims? Like Strang and many before him, this has been all viewed through the lens of protecting the wolf instead of worrying about the sheep.

"According to Galatians 6:1 it is really important that we restore people in the spirit of gentleness. We have to break the power of isolation. We have to break the power of "we need justice." We have to be people that say, we need reconciliation. By the way, in reconciliation is a line for justice. I've been watching what is happening with IHOP and let me say publicly, that I love Mike Bickle. I don't know what the outcome will be but it is not going to change that I love Mike Bickle. He's my brother. It's not going to change that I love him." - Kris Vallotton

Except Galatians 6:1 is not talking about lying leaders who were wolves in sheep's clothing. And restore does not mean to their job or ministry. It actually means to their walk. Now, I do not see any evidence that Mike Bickle has been saved all this time but if you think so and wish to restore him in his walk with Christ, by all means. That has absolutely nothing to do with restoration of ministry or employment. You love Mike Bickle and it doesn't matter how this turns out, you still will love him. How low can we go? If the next victim was 12, will that change you mind? Where is your love Mr. Christian leader for the victims? Where is your concern about reconciling them back to the body of Christ? You fraud.

"Somebody posted on my social media page the other day "You haven't said anything about IHOP so you obviously are part of the problem. I replied, you're an idiot. If I have a problem with someone I know, I don't have to post something on social media so you all know where I stand. This is not entertainment. This is a tragedy. I'm not going to play it out on social media. If you can't look at my life and know where I stand, I guess I don't have much of a life. My goal for IHOP, Mike Bickle, and everyone else who is struggling, including Bethel's struggles is that we would reconcile and see righteousness grow out of it, not another documentary. It's so easy to sit behind a screen and throw rocks at people you've never met. I want us to have a culture where people can fail successfully." - Kris Vallotton

Better to be thought of an idiot for your silence than speak and remove all doubt. The hypocrisy is staggering. This entire sermon is Kris complaining about people he has a problem with, doesn't know and is now throwing stones at. What is worse is he also complains on social media, about using social media to complain! Mike Bickle did not have "struggles!" Stop cheapening the victim's experiences! What reconciliation is Vallotton hoping for here? That Mike Bickle be allowed to prey on more women by lying about what God is saying? No righteousness can grow from the polluted cesspool of IHOPKC. God is tearing it down and we need to stand back and let Him. Don't worry, maybe one day they can do a documentary. Keep failing successfully Kris. You are so good at it.

Reverend Anthony Wade - February 23, 2024

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.