I’ve been wrestling with questions about John and Lisa Bevere’s teachings. I have always been taught to test everything by Scripture (1 Thess. 5:21), and I was surprised to hear concerns raised by discernment ministries like LongforTruth1 and Mike Winger.

The Beveres seem like a sincere couple, but their ties to Bethel Church and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) have left me uneasy. Here’s what I’ve learned and why it matters.

The Appeal of the Beveres

John and Lisa Bevere are popular for their passionate books and talks, like The Bait of Satan and Girls with Swords. They emphasise forgiveness, spiritual boldness, and intimacy with God, which resonate deeply with me, especially when my life as a carer feels heavy.

Their transparency about personal struggles makes them relatable, and they don’t deny core Christian truths like salvation through Christ. From my viewpoint from the bornagainchristians.org lens, their zeal for faith feels familiar, echoing an openness to the Holy Spirit.

Red Flags in Their Teachings

However, critics like Mike Winger and LongforTruth1 point out issues wrong with biblical teaching.

The Beveres promote ideas like “legal rights” (suggesting Satan has claims over believers unless broken through specific prayers) and “God-whispers” (personal revelations beyond Scripture).

These concepts, found in books like Relentless, lack clear biblical grounding, unlike the straightforward spiritual warfare, taught from Ephesians 6:10-18.

Their heavy use of The Passion Translation, a controversial paraphrase, raises concerns, as it’s tied to NAR theology rather than the reliable translations like the KJV, NJKV bibles

Ties to Bethel and NAR

The Beveres’ connections to Bethel Church and NAR amplify these worries. They’ve shared platforms with Bethel leaders like Bill Johnson and endorse practices that echo NAR’s focus on modern prophets and spiritual power.

While they don’t engage in Bethel’s wilder practices, like grave soaking, which feels outright cultish, their overlap with NAR’s emphasis on extra-biblical revelation strays from the sola scriptura foundation of bornagainchristians.org.

I welcome the Spirit’s work, but I am cautious about unchecked “new revelations,” and the Beveres appear to extend beyond that balance.

Not a Cult, But a Concern

I don’t see the Beveres as cultish; they’re not controlling followers or rejecting Jesus. But their teachings risk leading people toward NAR’s shaky ground, where personal experiences can overshadow Scripture.

As a carer with limited resources and time, I cannot afford books to dive deeper, but free resources like Winger’s BibleThinker YouTube channel and LongforTruth1’s videos have been eye-opening.

They urge discernment, reminding me to compare every teaching to God’s Word (Acts 17:11),

Moving Forward

This journey has reminded me to cling to the Bible’s simplicity. Caring for my son is my calling, and I want my faith rooted in truth, not flashy ideas.

The Beveres’ passion is appealing, but their extra steps, prophetic claims, warfare formulas, feel like more than Scripture requires.

I’m grateful for free tools like Blue Letter Bible and discernment voices that help me stay grounded without spending a penny.

If you’re wrestling with similar questions, check teachings against the Bible yourself.

The Holy Spirit guides us into truth (John 16:13), and we don’t need complex formulas to know Jesus.

I’m leaning toward caution with the Beveres, sticking to the Word that’s carried me this far.