Ep. 40: Is Power the Measure of Faith? Bethel, Miracles, & Problems w/Modern Charismatic Culture
Is power the true measure of Christian faith — or have we misunderstood what Scripture actually teaches?
In this episode of Deformed Theology, we sit down with Adam Parker (Bold Apologia) to examine one of the most pressing questions facing modern Charismatic Christianity: when power, miracles, and supernatural experiences become the benchmark of faith, what happens to the gospel? Using Scripture, church history, and careful theological reasoning, we take a hard but fair look at Bethel theology, Bill Johnson’s Christology, and the growing emphasis on experience-driven Christianity.
This isn’t a cessationist attack — it’s a continuationist critique. We affirm the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit while asking uncomfortable but necessary questions:
• Did Jesus perform miracles as God or merely as a Spirit-empowered man?
• Are miracles meant to authenticate movements — or reveal the Son of God?
• What happens when power replaces Scripture as the measuring stick of faith?
As we unpack ideas like “when power becomes the measure,” emotional manipulation, cover-up culture, and the rise of deconstruction within charismatic spaces, the conversation moves toward something deeper: recovering a Christ-centered, gospel-shaped faith that values obedience, holiness, and truth over spectacle.
If you care about biblical theology, healthy charismatic practice, and guarding the church from subtle doctrinal drift — this conversation is for you.
⏱️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Why experience is a dangerous foundation for theology
The theological risks of redefining Jesus’ miracles
How power-focused movements reshape Christology
Why deconstruction is accelerating in charismatic churches
What Scripture actually says about faith, power, and obedience
📢 Join the Conversation
Do miracles validate faith — or does faith rest somewhere deeper?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s wrestle with this together.
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