Dr. Michael Brown is begging for another debate. The answer should be no.

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Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, - Thessalonians 2:1-3 (NKJV)

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Dr. Michael Brown is a gifted debater after decades of perfecting his brand. His strategies are inherently unfair. He is a bully, as I can personally attest to from one of my visits to his radio program. He has many schemes that he implements when debating. The first of which is perfect sounding reasonableness. Dr. Brown is nothing if not disarming, especially when the debates start. Everything is couched in terms of just wanting a dialogue and trying to find common ground. He concedes points without ever assigning those points to someone that might be properly blamed. For example, he has written a book on the evils of hyper grace but refuses to call Joseph Prince false. In fact, he calls him a "good brother in the Lord." In a debate however, Brown will readily concede that hyper grace is heresy and might even say something along the lines of "I wish Prince would not preach that." It ends there however, as the goal is to sound reasonable, while doing nothing.

Once he uses his folksy charm and disarming reasonableness, Brown moves onto setting up core agreements he can later use to his advantage. We really saw this in the American Gospel roundtable with Justin Peters and Jim Osman. At the onset he wanted to establish an agreed upon definition of what a false teacher was. Brown's definition was a hell bound reprobate. He tried this when I was on his radio show too regarding Bill Johnson. When I called Johnson a false teacher Brown responded that I was saying he was going to hell. I never said this of course - Brown did. Justin and Jim too quickly agreed to his bogus definition and then every time they brought up a false teacher, no matter how egregious, Brown just said, well, I am not ready to consign them to hell. So, even people like Benny Hinn, who outright lied to Brown and used him when he was a guest for a week on his show, was not labeled false.

The third slimy strategy he employs is known as the Proximity Fallacy, which is when we make the argument that because we are closer to something, our argument is more valid. When berating me about Bill Johnson for example, he eventually settled on the argument that because he knew Johnson and I did not, his argument was correct. When I pointed out how Bethel's absurd "School of the Supernatural teaches people how to manifest the gifts, he settled on the "I have taught there, so I am right" argument. These arguments are entirely specious of course as I have actually read the curricula from the school. Not to mention Bethel holds a conference every year to teach people how to prophesy. Keep in mind that Dr. Brown and his partner in the Justin Peters roundtable, Sam Storms, both staunchly defended Mike Bickle that day, which preceded the revelations about Bickle being a serial child molester and lying about the fake prophetic history of IHOPKC. Storms actually said that he knew Bickle to the depths of his soul and that he could not think of a more biblically orthodox, humble, Christ exalting individual. Here was Brown's exact quote:

"If I am going to be judged on my orthodoxy for refusing to call a fine man like Mike Bickle a false teacher then I am going to say you are out of line. You do not know the man. You do not know his fruit. His walk, his life." - Dr. Michael Brown

Turns out we knew the man better than he did and this is a perfect example of why the Proximity Fallacy is a poor argument. Now, there are a myriad of other schemes that Brown uses but for today, we also want to focus on why Brown debates so much. It is part of his brand. It is part of his grift. Dr. Brown leeches credibility off of debating other people, even those he disagrees with. He bills himself as the voice of moral clarity and is fond of calling himself a "Christian leader." He has also perfectly insulated himself in a sycophant only, hermetically sealed bubble. If anyone dares to breach that bubble with truth they are dismissed out of hand as mudslingers, divisive, or somehow using unequal weights. Go check out one of his Facebook posts. All of the comments are extolling how wonderful he is, and he openly admits that he is actively deleting comments that he finds disagreeable. It is narcissistic confirmation bias. Brown fancies himself the cutting-edge voice of the church and he surrounds himself with people who will tell him he is the cutting-edge voice of the church while dismissing out of hand any legitimate criticism. I say this as the backdrop to a recent challenge he posted on Facebook where he is trying to land a debate with anyone speaking at the recently held Cessationist Conference. Let us reason once more together through some of the substance of this post:

"To all the speakers at the G3 Cessationist Conference and to all those who appeared in the Cessationist movie, I want to give you a personal invitation. This is not a challenge, and this is not meant to be a provocation. Instead, this is a genuine, heartfelt invitation for the glory of God and the good of His people, an invitation to enter into a serious public dialogue about the cessationist-continuationist controversy. Will you please take a moment to read on?" - Dr. Michael Brown

As I pointed out, Dr. Brown always leads with perfectly sounding reasonableness. This aw-shucks routine is quite common for Brown. This is just a harmful little personal invitation! It is not a challenge or a provocation! Wink wink. It is heartfelt! Won't you please take a moment to read on? Ugh. Of course, he has to try and apply some good old fashioned Christian guilt to it. If you dismiss him out of hand, you of course would not be interested in exalting the glory of God and the good of His people, right? For the record, I do not agree with cessationism as the bible simply does not support it at all. One can hold that position however and openly acknowledge that the way the gifts are manifested in modern Charismania, which Brown vehemently defends, is equally wrong. One need only look at the evidence from Toronto, Pensacola (where Brown was a speaker) and Lakeland to see how false Charismania is. I understand why people gravitate to Cessationism and Dr. Brown is a driving force in that regard.

"Since 2013, I have offered to debate any of the speakers from the Strange Fire conference on a simple topic: According to the Scriptures, are the gifts of the Spirit - including tongues and prophecy and healing - normative for today? To date, none of the speakers responded to my invitation, although I subsequently had debates with Dr. Sam Waldron, Dr. Theodore Zachariades, and (in more limited form) with my friend and colleague Dr. James White." - Dr. Michael Brown

It is somewhat encouraging that many have resisted the ego-siren call to answer Brown's debate challenges. As for the limited scope of debate he is seeking, a word about the gifts he outlined. I understand why Brown would want to debate Cessationists because the bible is on his side when it comes to the gifts. That is not the proper debate to be had with Brown. The correct focus should be on how Charismania manifests those gifts. Tongues would be an interesting debate as the bible does not support the baby babble tongues that Dr. Brown supports. Private prayer language? Sure, but emphasis on the word private. I would show clips of Heidi Baker and ask Dr. Brown to defend "Shaba" being screamed over and over again. I would show the myriad of clips where false teachers randomly lapse into tongues in mid English sentence, for seemingly no reason and with no interpretation. When it comes to prophecy, I would review David Taylor prophesying the Broncos would win the Super Bowl and how they lost 44-8. I would review the myriad of Trump prophecies, which Brown has denounced while still supporting the false prophets who uttered them. I would ask, how can someone claim to hear from God but be wrong. Brown's position is the untenable notion that God somehow is only speaking to their hearts, but we already know their hearts are wickedly deceitful. There is no question that healing is for today, but I would show him clips of Benny Hinn knocking people over with his suit coat or the silly scenes from the Holy Ghost movies of healing people of random pain in the park at midnight instead of visiting cancer wards. Or the Todd White leg growing scam considering White is supported by Dr. Brown. In my opinion, debating IF the gifts are available today misses the boat and Brown knows it, which is why he only wants to focus on that angle.

"But for now, I want to offer an alternate proposal to any of the G3 speakers or to those who appeared in the movie: Let's sit down together one on one in a full-length, non-hurried, non-timed discussion where clarity and understanding is our goal. We will each lay out our positions in a private setting before video cameras, we will make sure we understand one another's positions, we will have opportunity to challenge one another's positions in a gracious way and to respond to those challenges. Then, we will post the video for free viewing on our respective social media platforms for everyone to watch and evaluate for themselves. Will you do it?" - Dr. Michael Brown

I sincerely hope the answer is no. Brown routinely debates in an unfair manner after promising puppies and rainbows. What he is trying to do is elevate his heretical beliefs by playing to the "we are all brothers" angle. Dr. Brown stands by his involvement at Brownsville and still swears that this demonic Kundalini spirit outpouring was a move of the Holy Spirit. He still stands by his weeklong stay on the Benny Hinn show. While he pays lip service to some of the errors Hinn traffics in, he refuses to call him false. Fifty million dollars fleeced? No problem! Absurd false prophecies never coming true? Hey, let him who is without sin cast that first stone! Knocking over swaths of people with his magical suit coat? Well, God used a donkey once! Brown is also an uber dominionist and refuses to stop working for Steven Strang, an even more uber dominionist. He stands by the false prophetic history of IHOP. He calls Ravi Zacharias a great holiness teacher. He defended the Jennifer LeClaire sneaky squid spirit. He affirmed the moronic Kevin Zadai Jesus at the foot of my bed playing a saxophone nonsense. He thinks Joseph Prince is a good brother in the Lord. He defends Bill Johnson ferociously. Why in the world would anyone want to debate that platform and loan it any credibility?

"My own view is that cessationism is either based on one's personal spiritual experiences or bad exegesis or faulty theological presuppositions (or all three). You, for your part, feel you have very strong and robust Scriptural arguments against my position. You would also question my interpretation of the Word, my theological presuppositions, and my own spiritual experiences. Fair enough! That's why we need to have this discussion: the Body of Christ deserves it. We will not debate contemporary miracles. We will not debate contemporary abuses. We will simply discuss one question: What does the Bible say?" - Dr. Michael Brown

We will not debate contemporary abuses? Wow. Hmm, why not I wonder? Could it be because he knows that is where he loses any rational discussion? This is supposed to be a discussion about the gifts in operation today but the topic of contemporary abuses of those gifts is forbidden? That is how you know this is a scam offer. What the body of Christ deserves is false teachers to be exposed. It deserves the truth, not a pseudo-intellectual display of narcissism disguised as a "healthy debate." This is designed purposefully by Brown the way he likes it. To talk tangentially about topics instead of people. This way he can wax eloquently about how much he agrees with you about hyper grace but say that he is not ready to consign Joseph Prince to hell. Brown recently did an event with Todd White! Yes, that Todd White! Under the bovine excrement rules he is setting up here, there can be no discussion about Todd White going to a Korn concert and doing the fake leg growing grift. Do not fall for this. It is designed to prop up Brown's brand and avoid the one thing that is anathema to him, the truth about the people and movement he supports.

"Surely, you know that the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement is growing rapidly around the world, with an ever-increasing number of Reformed continuationists as well. It is my conviction that there is a powerful, glorious wave of the Spirit sweeping the earth that cannot be stopped, mixed with many destructive excesses and even heresies that must be addressed. (For my relevant 2018 book, see here.) In your view, this is a dangerous movement that is deceiving many that must be confronted as loudly and clearly as possible lest millions of people are led astray. Suffice it to say that the stakes are high! Let us, then, as leaders with platforms in the Body, have a respectful, face-to-face discussion, one where we will be sure that each of us is satisfied that we have been able to present our views and respond to relevant questions." - Dr. Michael Brown

Yes, the great apostasy is indeed growing, as the bible says it will. Charismania is just the opposite extreme of Cessationism. Both are wrong. The powerful wave of the spirit across this earth is demonic, not the Holy Spirit. What bible does Dr. Brown read? Do the key verses promise this great wave of the spirit or a great falling away? It is the destructive excesses and heresies that are sweeping the earth and cannot be stopped. I didn't say it - God did! Would Brown even advocate for getting together with a Mormon for a debate? I assume not but Charismania is just as much of a cult at this point. Is it mainstream? Sure, but so is Mormonism and that does not make it any less false? No, it does not. Sharing the debate stage with Dr. Brown at this point might sound reasonable but, in the end, it only legitimizes his positions as being worthy of debate. They are not. The debate is over, and God has spoken through His word.

"And rather than try to score points or win a debate, we will present a discussion between leaders in the Body with the goal of magnifying Jesus, exalting the Word, and building up the people of God. Are you in? You can reach out to me here. Of course, if you are convinced that I am not a brother, I can only pray for God's grace to flood your hearts afresh. Be assured that I hold no animosity towards you! I do hope, however, that at least one of you will take me up in this invitation. May Jesus be glorified and may we all walk in the fullness of the Spirit for today." - Dr. Michael Brown

Pretending that glory clouds, angel feathers, gemstones and gold dust are "signs that make you wonder", does not "magnify Jesus." Teaching clairvoyance as prophecy and that you can be wrong 35% of the time and still be considered a solid prophet is not "exalting the word." Marine demons, sneaky squids, and demon slayers do not "build up the people of God. So no, I am not in. I am all out. I am out of patience in sugar coating Dr. Brown and out of tolerance for wolves devouring the sheep because we are running all out of time. So, I hope that no one takes Dr. Brown up on his offer. He needs to be properly marginalized by the remnant, recognizing that he is too far gone at this point and openly supports far too many egregiously false teachers. On these matters, there is no debate.

Reverend Anthony Wade - October 8, 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.