Pure and Spotless Bride
How did we get so Dirty & A Call to Something Better.
First off, I want to say thank you to everyone I sent this to who put their eyes on this document and gave feedback. I want to especially thank Wanda Alger and, of course, Justin and LeeAnn Perry, whose feedback was invaluable.
Please feel free to distribute this to any Charismatic leadership you feel needs this.
There is coming a point, and I think most people who have a reasonable understanding of scripture, ethics, and our history understand this. That something needs to happen, something powerful and meaningful within the Christian Charismatic community.
Now, before I start talking about it, I want you to wait for a moment as I step back in time and add the context. Because a lack of context for a subject is like a house without order, and everything gets to run rampant without consequences.
The Charismatic move of God has equipped believers to walk in power and boldness. Yet decades of unchecked excesses, untested prophecies, platform-centered celebrity, hypergrace without transformation, and a neglect of justice for the poor have eroded trust, produced large-scale wounded believers, and left the broader church questioning our maturity and validity.
For many decades and perhaps a century or two, the religious swamp has done as it pleased. Victims were silenced in the shadows through culture, innuendo, or mental reprogramming. Those few who chose not the silence were quickly labeled as backslidden, rebellious, or an accuser of the brethren.
By the early 1900s, the spiritual effects of the Victorian Age were being felt in the seminary. The changes seemed small as various pet theories of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries rose up, finding footholds in seminaries. This included, but was not limited to, Christian Fundamentalism, Cessationism, and Replacement Theology.
River of Death
But with the popularization of the occult under the cloak of “spiritualism” at the start of the 20th century, people started embracing and tolerating demonic visitations in social gatherings in the 1920s.
After the big revivals of street preachers like Billy Sunday. The great wars ended, and wolves like William Branham entered the picture. There is much and growing evidence of his family’s connection to the mob, occult, hard alcohol distribution, gambling, and extortion. This is a man who led a double life, and apparently taught other ministers to live the same way.
Scripture paints a fairly clear picture that the sins of the father can be punished as far as the third and fourth generation, Exodus 20:5 and Exodus 34:7. This is because what one generation lays down as a pattern, the following generation often follows as fact. Therefore, the roots of today’s errors and sins were planted in Charismatic leadership that was established many decades ago.
William Branham’s primary mentors and general influences in his early years seem to have come from two men, Franklin Hall and Roy E. Davis. From these, Branham was mentored in Egyptian mysticism, the signs of the Zodiac, Clairvoyance, Masonic symbolism, as well as the transfer of pyramid energy through the laying on of hands. From them, he acquired an “Angelic” spirit guide that seemed to assist him in healings and his prophetic messages.
Starting out with his first meetings in Masonic Halls, Branham’s gatherings grew to larger venues. Becoming the “father” of the post-WWII Healing Revivals. He laid out the doctrinal foundation for much of the mindset for the modern Charismatic movement through his model of unchecked prophetic authority. Pioneering a “higher level” of supernatural discernment that he claimed superseded scripture, he soon declared himself into the role of the end-time prophet Elijah.
Through his self-serving teachings, he established a charismatic authority base that became a license for the exploitation of the flock. This is evident not only from the numerous testimonies of survivors but also from the fruit of the lives of his direct disciples, Jim Jones and Leo Mercer.
Jim Jones - Cult leader, mass murderer who founded and led the Peoples Temple between 1955 and 1978. Orchestrated a mass murder–suicide that resulted in the deaths of over 900 people.
Leo Mercer - Cult leader and Christian minister who led a commune in Arizona. Mercer enforced and taught his followers to sexually abuse not only each other but also children in horrific ways. Much of this was backed by “visions” that led him to beat and torture people for their sins.
It is now known through the testimonies about Branham that he used homosexuality, prophetic words, and manipulation tactics to fracture the thinking patterns of the leaders he trained. This tactic of breaking the mind and rebuilding it is common in the occult and various government mind control programs. These men then moved forward in ministry, spreading spiritual death disguised as life.
The dark foundation he created seemed to have influenced other ministers. This foundation became the platform for the growth of personal wealth and influence. Becoming exactly what the Lord condemned through the prophet Ezekiel: “Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? … You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured… You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd…” (Ezekiel 34:2-5). God has always judged leaders who exploit the sheep while living double lives.
The waterfall effect of this corrupted spiritual teaching was absorbed and, to some degree, emulated in later movements like the Shepherding movement. Started by Ern Baxter, who was Branhams’ campaign manager. Names like Derek Prince, Bob Mumford, Don Basham, and Charles Simpson facilitated a top-down, heavy-handed approach that became a pre-shadow of today’s high-control religious environments. From this, various biblical concepts became weaponised, like spiritual covering, discipleship, and submission to authority.
Growing in the dark, these acts and intentions influenced generation after generation. It is in my opinion that this directly infected, like a disease, the fall of Jim Bakker, who had personal issues long before he was arrested, and Falwell, as well as others.
But the Body of the Lord was not ready to listen to what was happening; we were still asleep in our pews, mesmerized by the show, and the show must go on. So we assumed these were isolated events, not realizing the whole system was corrupt.
There was no better evidence of this than in the Todd Bentley fiasco. This bit of news and the events surrounding it gained very little traction with Christians. And the further away you lived from it, the less you knew. Even though Todd lost his ministry and Morningstar took a few hits, this storm did little.
The downstream effect is that, as the main “spiritual father” of the Charismatic movement, William Branham’s influence in today’s long parade of victims isn’t peripheral; it is the root architecture enabling these scandals.
Political - 1 Cor 15:46
But the Lord did something else, something politically. The exposure that needed to happen in the religious world, biblically, needed to happen in the physical world first, before the Spiritual. “The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.” 1 Cor 15:46
I believe the Lord did this by turning up the heat in the political realm, exposing that swamp first. As many now understand, there was a military intelligence program called Q, or as some people called it, QAnon. Like, love, or hate it, this program got the ball rolling, and soon people started looking very closely at politicians, bankers, world leaders, rock stars, and more. Trump and the MAGA movement then added more momentum, and millions of eyes around the world started to open.
So, after COVID, many in Christianity were either awake or starting to stir when Mike Bickle got exposed. All the tactics of the religious swamp failed, and they failed in a big way to control it. Spiritual eyes were opening, and no one was willing to go back to sleep. Scripture tells us judgment must begin somewhere: ‘For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?’ 1 Peter 4:17. The political swamp was exposed first (natural), so the spiritual swamp could be cleansed next.
What started as a pebble of faith tossed into an ocean has now become a Tsunami, and it has not reached landfall yet. Yes, I mean what I say, we have not seen the full force yet.
What we have seen is the smaller ships, trying to seek safe harbor, getting destroyed at the edge of the coming wave. The seeds of this Tsunami have been watered for generations by the whispered prayers of the victims who lived in silence. The Lord has heard, and like the Israelites waiting 400 years in Egypt, freedom is coming.
A Call to Something Better
So, what is needed? What is the next step? When the Lord has broken the last of the old system, when the hearts have turned, and new, wiser pastors are needed to fill the void. It will be time to gather the few who are considered wise on the regional and national levels. Things need to be rebuilt, decisions need to be made, but with wisdom, integrity, and a sound mind. These people need to be living examples of the biblical qualifications for an elder. This group should also be a mix of various Christians from different Christian cultures. Yeah, we might have issues with understanding each other’s cultural points of view on topics. But perhaps that’s a good thing. Perhaps part of the reason for this mess is the extreme tunnel vision the Victorian Age created in the church.
It is recorded that Jesus is coming back for a pure and spotless bride. “Paul makes this crystal clear, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Well, that does not exist right now; if anything, we are a very long way away from that reality. But at some point, repentance needs to happen, and we need to get back on the road. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Right now, we have a few faces and names that are slowly rising to the surface. These are people who have stood up for victims, exposed major cracks, and this is a good thing. But I feel like the Lord is cautioning us not to jump too quickly. I say this because it’s a normal thing for leaders to want to fix things as soon as possible. But I really don’t think we have seen all that the Lord wants us to see yet. So let’s walk this out carefully.
The Charismatic and Pentecostal movements have been among the most vibrant expressions of Christianity in modern history. Despite errors, scandals, and bad teaching, many have come to faith, as healings and deliverances have been documented. This has been fueled by a fresh hunger for the Holy Spirit that has spread globally. Therefore, there is much to redeem and a new foundation to lay. So a Summit on Charismatic Renewal should be assembled at some point.
Here is my suggested list of topics a Summit of leaders should address.
Establish Transparent Processes for Accountability and Correction of Leaders.
Problem: Accusations against leaders are often dismissed, mishandled privately, or ignored, allowing sin to fester and trust to erode confidence.
Biblical Principle: Scripture requires multiple witnesses for accusations against elders (1 Tim 5:19) and public rebuke for persistent sin to warn others (1 Tim 5:20). Matthew 18:15–17 provides a redemptive process, while James 3:1 reminds teachers they will be judged more strictly, and Hebrews 13:17 calls leaders to give account for souls.
Proposal: Create a standing, diverse advisory board (rotating members from various regions, generations, and giftings) with transparent processes open to the body. This board would review serious accusations and national-level prophetic words yearly, making public recommendations (via written reports and social media) to local participating churches—always advisory, never overriding local autonomy or civil laws. Include an appeals process and annual summaries for accountability. Model after the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) for collective discernment.
Expected Fruit: Leadership issues addressed, restored trust, warning to the body, and a culture where leaders exemplify humility rather than immunity.
2. Reexamine and Rebuild Healthy Charismatic/Pentecostal Teachings
Problem: Decades of self-serving and demonically misleading theologies (e.g., weaponized concepts of faith, authority, or revelation) have damaged credibility.
Biblical Principle: “Test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), weigh prophecies (1 Cor 14:29), reject what fails established criteria, and discern by fruit (Matt 7:15–20). Prophecy must edify, exhort, and comfort (1 Cor 14:3) while exalting Jesus.
Proposal: The accountability board or a dedicated doctrinal review team should prayerfully develop and publish a testing grid that:
Aligns with the whole counsel of Scripture.
Exalts Jesus and produces holiness/love.
Confirmed by the mature community that has evidence of fruit.
Edifies the body while addressing any historically contentious areas
Expected Fruit: Doctrinal clarity, reduced deception, public recognition of true and fake prophets, renewed confidence in genuine prophetic ministry.
3. Reprioritize Ministry in the Context of Biblical Gifting.
Problem: Exaltation of leaders has turned ministry into entertainment, with platforms overshadowing the presence of God and equipping.
Biblical Principle: Ephesians 4:11–13 gives apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip saints for works of service until maturity and unity. Gifts exist for the common good (1 Cor 12:7), and leaders serve rather than lord over people (Matt 20:25–28; John 13:1–17).
Proposal: Shift metrics and mindsets away from attendance/viral impact to how many believers function in gifts. Five-fold leaders prioritize small-group equipping over public stages. Congregations learn to celebrate every-member ministry in homes and communities.
Expected Fruit: Believers are no longer “tossed by every wind” that comes from the stage (Eph 4:14), authentic signs following obedient love.
4. Reprioritize the Ministry of All Believers.
Problem: Corporate/pyramid models pressure conformity to leaders’ image, stifling individual identity and growth.
Biblical Principle: Every believer is a royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6 ), lacking nothing in Christ (Col 2:10). Mentors add wisdom and correct lies while walking alongside royal sons/daughters.
Proposal: Replace top-down conformity with identity-based discipleship. Leaders function as wise companions, releasing the priesthood rather than replacing it.
Expected Fruit: Accelerated maturity, reduced fear/doubt, vibrant body life where every part contributes, replaces “I am only a number” mindset with a valuable member of the Kingdom.
5. Reprioritize Ministry to the Poor as Central to Our Mission.
Problem: Charismatics are often critiqued as “ungrounded.” This is because our zeal for gifts has outpaced our actions to the poor that facilitate grounding.
Biblical Principle: Jesus declared His mission as good news to the poor (Isa 61:1; Luke 4:18–19). Paul urged remembering the poor (Gal 2:10); caring for them is pure religion (James 1:27) and proof of faith (James 2:15–16; Matt 25:31–46). The poor become our biblical testing ground for genuine power.
Proposal: Require networks and churches to adopt measurable mercy initiatives (e.g., food distribution, orphan care, help for the homeless) as part of five-fold accountability. Gifts prove themselves in obedience to the marginalized.
Expected Fruit: Grounded grassroots movement, deeper relationship with the Father, signs confirming compassionate mission.
6. Ensure Church Ministry Never Supersedes Internal Spiritual Growth
Problem: Emphasis on gifting sometimes ignores inner spiritual transformation, fueled by hypergrace that excuses sin.
Biblical Principle: Clean the inside first (Matt 23:25–26); grace teaches us to renounce ungodliness (Titus 2:11–12). Pursue holiness (Heb 12:14) and the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23) as the true measure.
Proposal: Prioritize discipleship tracks toward character, repentance, and inner healing before official public gifting recognition. Require mentoring on fruit alongside gift development. Example older, more mature prophets should teach younger prophets.
Expected Fruit: Authentic power flowing from transformed hearts, reduced hypocrisy, credible witness.
These priorities are interconnected: the idea is that accountable leaders enable tested teaching, producing truth to flow forth; real truth releases and equips every believer who serves the poor; service to the poor grounds the movement in action; action flows from clean hearts. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
The fact is, we need something better than what we have. We’ve had the dog and pony show, the circus of fools, and the parade of the pretenders. But where are the real Apostles and Prophets? The ones who are supposed to be working in greater things? Has the Lord been holding all this back until we finally clean the house? “God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets…” 1 Corinthians 12:28.
With all the exposures and scandals that have taken place in Charismatic Christianity, with ministries like Morningstar, IHOP, Bethel Church in Redding, etc. All the titles of Apostles and Prophets are now in doubt. Because of all of this, Charismatic Christianity is now looking at long-term mental health issues for people who were a part of these systems and the systems connected to them. Are we ready to deal with this?
Outflow of the River.
Christianity is based today on the foundation of Jesus himself, and he outlined his mission in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
The core wordage of Charismatic is Charismata, i.e., “Gifts of Grace.” As the earthly hands and feet of the Lord on earth, these gifts were given as tools for the continued expansion of the Kingdom. But in our modern age, many of the gifts have turned into titles that have turned cold, and in some cases, weaponised to control the flock.
As a movement whose intentions were to bring the “greater works” of the Lord to the people of Earth, we have most likely produced just as many wounded and destroyed lives as we have healed.
The outflow effect of RTS (Religious Trauma Syndrome), I believe, is a banner that covers a wide range of long-term issues that include, but are not limited to. PTSD, Chronic Anxiety, Depression from loss of community, Low self-worth, and loss of identity. These victims include not only the primary people who were present when the problem happened. But also what I call secondary victims who became aware of the issues or functioned as the support system, or even just read it online.
The patterns of abuse that started under Branham soon became predictable abuse cycles that have followed us into the 21st century. Many of these became repeatable cycles that are now found in what many have assumed were the present-day fathers of the Charismatic faith: Bill Johnson, Mike Bickel, and Rick Joyner, who have now released another generation into the Christian community, laboring under the same sickness.
Conclusion and Call to Action
It is in my opinion that those who are left carry the duty to gather and rebuild with a better, more solid biblical foundation. In saying this, I am reminded of two things.
The first words of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence say, “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve…” We must dissolve our old bonds to the corrupt system, put in place a divorce, if you will, in order to move forward.
A prophetic word that was given to me in a meeting in the 1980s. I was told by the person who said it that I would need to remember this word one day. It is, “God went to his football team and removed the first string, for they were rebellious. So he ordered the second string to the field. But they were also rebellious like the first. Away with them all, the Lord declared in his anger. So he went to the third string and warned them to do His will, and they got up.”
I believe we are the third string. This is our moment, Esther 4:14. “For if you keep silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
The promise of the Spotless Bride is a prophetic promise, a bride that He will summon. But let’s be honest, what we can hand Jesus right now is not very clean, and doesn’t the Lord GOD of Heaven and Earth deserve better?