Thoughts on Mike Bickle and the Techniques of the Narcissistic Charismatic Leader #ihopkc #mikebickle The following is an analysis of the following promo video for OneThing09 with @mikebickle and Misty Edwards because it is a fantastic example of Mike Bickle acting as a cult leader. “IHOP is going out and the Holy Spirit’s telling us it is time to confront the compromise and the rise of darkness emerging in the Church, to respond to the Holy Spirit in the crisis in the land… If [God’s people] want to do the works of the Kingdom, [if] they want to heal the sick, [if] they want to prophesy, [if] they want to win the lost, [if] they want to be involved in an active way in compassion, [if] they want to impact society, now is the time! Yes!... We got to win the lost now, but we want to prepare for the unique things that are coming in the generation of the Lord’s return that are still some decades away… [ we must go] deep as a Forerunner so we have clarity in the Word for the unique dynamics of the generation of the Lord’s return while confronting the crisis in the Church of compromise and the crisis in our nation that are coming out of our government policies that are encoding so much liberal darkness… It’s a dangerous time if you’re not walking in the Holy Spirit or if you’re not paying attention. Many negative things are being said [out of] emotion, but many powerful things are being released as well. So we want you to come, we, again, we believe this is the most significant season for IHOP and we’re going to be sharing what the Holy Spirit is telling us, but more than that, what He’s saying to the Church and our nation.” - Mike Bickle youtube.com/watch?v=yCY2gGmL… In this video, Mike does the following to promote a negative view of people outside of IHOPKC and promote his own community in an elitist way. Mike creates a "us versus them" paradigm (See what I did there?), promotes a doomsday mentality, utilizes but doesn't define his grandiose ideas/terms, creates an unbiblical sense of urgency, and uses the false image of Misty Edwards. In doing so, he creates a culture where people must depend on him and his vision for spiritual growth. 1) Us versus them paradigm. Mike sets this up with his subtle switching of pronouns. Notice how he uses the "they” pronoun when he talks about the Church at large and if “they” want to prophesy and if “they” want to impact society. This is a subtle way to critique others in the Body of Christ, inferring that other Christians who aren’t partnered with IHOPKC aren’t going to impact the culture at large because they don’t share @ihopkc (and, thereby, Mike Bickle’s) vision. He also uses “you’re” to emphasize that you might not be walking in the Holy Spirit or paying attention. He then switches to “we” when he starts talking about the “uniqueness” of what his own organization is doing or going to do. “We” want to prepare for the unique things that are coming. “We” want to have clarity in the Word for the “unique” dynamics of the generation of the Lord’s return. Mike also utilizes Christian Nationalism to further underline the uniqueness of IHOPKC in God’s eyes by stating that there is a crisis in our nation coming from “the darkness” of liberal policies. This reinforces the “us versus them” mentality. He also states that the Church is in compromise and must be confronted. While I agree things must be confronted in the Church at large, Mike Bickle makes it a personal assignment for IHOPKC and their partners to do. 2) Doomsday cult The belief that Jesus is returning this generation or the next/within the next few decades is a characteristic of cults. As many have testified, this sense of urgency led people to not take care of their children, not build skills or careers, and to look down on people who did. Instead, they spent an exorbitant amount of time in the Prayer Room trying to be part of the "elite" group of Christians who can gain "clarity in the Word" necessary for the last generation before Christ's return. This unbiblical theology created an elitism within IHOPKC. Notice how he wants the Forerunners to “go deep” (aka pray in the Prayer Room) to have “clarity in the Word” for the “unique” dynamics of the generation of the Lord’s return. Note, this is not to say Jesus isn’t returning in the next few decades. He might. But to state that it is a fact is unbiblical. (Matthew 25:13) 3) Unspecified terms/Plausible deniability Notice how Mike Bickle uses grandiose phrases without defining what he means. He says: a) There is compromise in the Church. (What compromise is he specifically referring to?) b) There is darkness in the Church. (What darkness is he referring to?) c) We need to respond to the Holy Spirit in this time. (What is the Holy Spirit doing in this time that we should respond to?) d) There are unique dynamics of the generation of the Lord’s return. (What are those unique dynamics?) e) The government is encoding liberal darkness. (What policies are encoding “liberal darkness”?) f) It is a dangerous time to not be walking with the Holy Spirit or paying attention. (Why is it a dangerous time? What does he mean to be “walking with the Holy Spirit”? Paying attention to what?) g) Many negative things are being spoken out of emotion. (What things?) h) Many powerful things are being released as well. (What things?) And the granddaddy of them all. i) Jesus is returning in the next few decades. (How convenient to have a prophecy about the near future, but leave it so vague that it is impossible to disprove. I think Mike intentionally did this so that he could die and still have his “prophetic history” live on without him because you couldn’t disprove this prophecy until 100 years after his death). (Side note: @kvministries does the same thing when he refers to restoring leaders but doesn’t mention Bob Hartley specifically in his recent post, even though we all know that his post is a justification for why Bob Hartley is still doing ministry at @bethelredding despite a video of him being a sexual predator circulating the internet. By not referencing Bob Hartley, he has plausible deniability and it is impossible to "prove" the post isn't about Bob, even though we all know it is.) 4) Creating a sense of urgency Mike says, “Now is the time” to impact society and “now is the time” to win the lost. This idea of urgency is biblical in a sense (we should always be attempting to win the lost and commune with the Holy Spirit), but Mike uses it to underline the importance of this generation and appeals to the narcissism in individuals. Everyone wants to be part of the “unique” generation that “brings Jesus back”. Everyone wants to “impact society” in a meaningful way for Christ. Only a narcissist believes that Jesus made it their destiny to do so. Bickle underscores the importance of this urgency by saying it is a “dangerous time” to not be paying attention (implying that he is paying attention) and to not be “walking in the Holy Spirit” (implying that he is walking in the Holy Spirit… even though he never says what this means). 5) Using Misty Edwards Notice how little Misty says in this. In fact, I don’t think she even smiles until two minutes into this entire thing. She is visibly zoned out and clearly uncomfortable. This video could be done completely without Misty at all. Mike railroads her throughout the video. Misty Edward's celebrity status is used solely to endorse Mike's vision. She's a tool to use in this video, not a person. Much like how Mike tried to use Francis Chan's, @TheRemnantRadio's, @Samuel_Storms' and Bill Bright's endorsement to validate his ministry, prophetic history, and vision as legitimate, Mike used Misty's image as the ideal Forerunner to gain followers to the IHOPKC way. (Side note: @chloedroberts has an excellent article on the "Misty Thing" and its use to create an impossible standard that even Misty couldn't live up to: thechloeroberts.substack.com…) Conclusion: This entire culture of urgency and narcissism is incompatible with 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12: “… [m]ake it your ambition to lead a quiet life. You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” The cult of IHOPKC made people’s faith dependent on Mike Bickle, dependent on the prophetic history, and dependent on others for financing their “prayer life.” It made the Prayer Room the foundation of their faith because you can't "feel the presence of God" or be a part of God's end times works without being involved in the prayer movement. Depend on nothing else but the provision of God. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

For all the prosperity gospel exposes, I’m not seeing anyone mention Bethel Music leading worship at dozens of Life Surge events 👀

“President of the Unites States”

There is nothing less serious than Christian nationalists who support Trump. They claim to want a “Christian Prince” while supporting a president so corrupt he would make Nixon blush and consumed by a pride rivaling Nebuchadnezzar.

Megan Basham's "morality" is ENTIRELY subservient to political convenience. She's never had any qualms nuking people for supporting, say, David French. But don't you dare ask her to hold consistent standards for vile people from more MAGA-aligned factions!

Disagree w/ @jamestalarico on policy but don’t make his faith a debate. My theology is very diff from his - I’m Evangelical he’s liberal. He hasn’t hid his theology/positions. Waiting for cons evg pastors trashing Talarico theology to also address Paxtons immorality & corruption

So Josh excuses working with Paula White even though she exploits people in Jesus name, but Talarico is the worst of the worst. The difference? Josh likes Paula's politics. That's it. Josh's moral compass perfectly aligns with Republicanism. He's just a politician with a pulpit.

But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. -1 Timothy 4:7 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. -Titus 3:9 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 1 Timothy 6:20

“There is a pile of dead bodies behind the Mars Hill bus and by the grace of God it will be a mountain by the time we’re done. You either get on the bus or you get run over by the bus, those are the two options but the bus ain’t stopping.” -Mark Driscoll

For guys who act like Sharia law is comin to America they certainly seem to be really cool with… Sharia Law

When people ask how I can hate the prayer movement, it's because it is built on the bedrock of dominionism and cares very little about the gospel. The foundation is just about control and looks like a City of Man rather than a City of God.

Pastors in Utah are supposed to influence Mormon cults with Biblical Christianity. They are not supposed to be influenced by the Mormon cults.

Stop talking about revival and explain why church after church played hot potato with an admitted child predator. 📣I’m looking at you IHOP Atlanta/Gate City Church📣 Why should his victims and family bear the brunt of exposure? roysreport.com/atlanta-worsh…

This is important -- theology that doesn't produce good fruit should be questioned, and when theology systematically creates terrible, rotten fruit, then the fruit test should create a presumption of profound error.

This Christian Nationalist sent my wife a friend request today, before commenting this. The PCA’s partial report on Christian Nationalism was right to note their sinful language and actions online.

The greatest protection for the church isn’t having the right Christians in power. It’s making sure the government never gets to decide whose Christianity counts. thegospelcoalition.org/artic…

Everyone says they want a “Christian government.” My question is simple: Who gets to decide what counts as “Christian”? thegospelcoalition.org/artic…

Brian really claimed he did this

It's not that a fraud gets away with it for a time. That's not what's shocking and so trust-breaking for people. It's when he gets exposed and leaders don't champion truth and accountability. Brian Simmons has been exposed in MANY ways. False prophecy, documented lies, fake translating, altering the Bible to suit his own agenda, etc. One example of him being exposed is how he once claimed he had credentials because he was (1) trained to translate by New Tribes mission group and (2) that he had previous experience having translated the Paya Kuna Bible for a tribal group in Panama. Well, as for #1 we have info from New Tribes mission group (now Ethnos 360) that Brian was not trained as a translator. As for #2 we have Wycliffe saying explicitly that Brian did not work as a translator on the Paya Kuna Bible project. In a world where leaders care about truth and accountability The Passion Translation would be roundly rejected. Instead, they are drug kicking and screaming to finally "distance" themselves from it instead of actually protecting people from the evil-minded fraud, Brian Simmons. If I'm lying then Brian Simmons is welcome to sue me or simply publicly prove me wrong. Instead, we get smoke and mirrors. We get secret conversations and careful public damage control. We get Cover-up Culture and they circle the wagons as if I was the problem, not Brian Simmons and his adulterating of God's Holy Word. I am grateful for those who have boldly come out against TPT and Simmons but I am understandably suspicious of those who are trying to play both sides by distancing themselves and pretending their hands are clean. Brian is a false prophet, false apostle, false translator, and he's an enemy of Scripture. If all one is willing to say is "I don't recommend TPT" but is unwilling to warn against Brian Simmons then I don't trust them as a leader. Here's Wycliffe's statement...