Examining Coverup Culture: Bethel Church's Response to Mike Winger
The Remnant Radio's Podcast
Background on Victims and Allegations
Hosts summarize Jubilee and Elijah Stevens' stories and alleged harms from Sean Bowles' prophecies.
What happens when leaders stay silent about abuse? In this episode, the Remnant Radio hosts—Joshua Lewis, Michael Rowntree, and Michael Miller—break down Mike Winger's explosive six-hour investigation into Shawn Bolz and the devastating coverup culture plaguing charismatic Christianity.
The hosts dive deep into the evidence Mike Winger presented showing how Shawn Bolz faked prophetic words through data mining, committed sexual misconduct, and how Bethel Church leadership knew about it for years but failed to warn their own congregation. This isn't just disappointing—it's dangerous. When victims suffered devastating consequences from fraudulent prophecies, where was the public accountability?
Joshua, Michael, and Michael also respond to Kris Vallotton's recent sermon that many see as damage control rather than genuine accountability. They examine his claims about social media fake news, family confidentiality, and shepherding complexity—but find these arguments fall short of biblical standards for church discipline.
This episode tackles critical questions every Christian needs to wrestle with:
-What does biblical prophecy actually look like versus manipulation and fraud?
-When should church leaders publicly expose false prophets and abusers?
-How do we balance mercy with justice against deception?
-What does 1 Timothy 5:19-20 require when multiple witnesses come forward?
Whether you're navigating charismatic theology, concerned about spiritual abuse, or simply want to understand what biblical accountability looks like in the modern church, this episode provides crucial insights.
EXTRA LINKS:
Mike Winger episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH05S53QlY0&t=14543s
Bethel Sermon: Starts at 1:41:36 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s25IuN0oDrs
0:00 – Introduction
0:51 – Overview of Mike Winger's Investigation & Kris Vallotton's Response
3:48 – Background on Victims
5:38 – Timeline of Bethel's Knowledge
9:50 – Analysis of Kris Vallotton's Speech: Complexities of Shepherding Claim
22:04 – Critique of "Everyone Has a Platform" and Fake News Narrative
27:03 – Evaluating the "No Family Talks Anymore" Defense
34:26 – The Problem of Breaking Confidentiality vs. Protecting Victims
43:58 – "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" and the Investigation Excuse
55:17 – Using Judas and Broken People as Justification
1:10:04 – Were the Prophetic Words Valid? Addressing Nuance vs. Deflection
1:21:04 – Revelation 2:20 and Tolerating Jezebel: A Self-Defeating Argument
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