#262 Leaving Bethel: Christian Couple Shares Their Deconstruction/Reconstruction Story

Sep 1, 2024

Guest

Kali Westwood

Guest

Jesse Westwood

Jesse and Kali Westwood share their gripping journey of leaving Bethel church culture. Jesse, a former worship leader at Bethel, and Kali, who faced immense grief after her brother's tragic death, delve into the emotional fallout from their experiences. They discuss the challenges of deconstructing faith, the complexities of miracles, and the pressure of charismatic beliefs. Through personal stories, they advocate for a biblically grounded approach to spirituality, emphasizing critical thinking and authentic grieving processes as essential for reconstructing faith.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Jesse's Journey to Bethel

Jesse grew up in a charismatic church near Bethel and played saxophone during worship services.
He attended Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry, drawn by the promise of enhanced spiritual practices.

ANECDOTE

Treasure Hunts at Bethel

Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry focused on identity, revival leadership, and treasure hunts.
Treasure hunts involved seeking 'treasures' (people) based on prophetic clues with a low bar for accuracy.

INSIGHT

Bethel's Gospel Emphasis

Bethel's gospel presentation lacked emphasis on sin, repentance, and Christ's atoning work.
It focused on God's love and acceptance, sometimes affirming people in their unbiblical practices.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Today's show features Jesse and Kali Westwood as they share their powerful story of leaving the culture of Bethel church and the affiliated organizations. Jesse graduated from Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry and went on to lead worship with former Bethel Worship artist Sean Feucht. The Westowood's share their personal stories of deconstructing out of that culture and belief system, and then ultimately coming back to the historic Christian gospel. Kali shares the deeply personal and gut-wrenching story of her brother dying suddenly in an accident, and a "Dead-Raising Team" being called to bring him back to life in the hospital. Reflecting on their failure to raise her brother, she explores the emotional fallout from the teaching of Bethel alum Tyler Johnson, and his book, "How to Raise the Dead."

------------------------------------------------------------------

This video is sponsored by:

FOUNDATION WORLDVIEW

Foundation Worldview creates curriculum series that will empower your child to think

Biblically in a deceptive world. Go to www.foundationworldview.com to get 10% off any Family License!

GOOD RANCHERS

Subscribe to any Good Ranchers box and you can choose a free add-on for the next year!

Free in every box for 1 year:

Boneless Chicken Breasts or Angus Ground Beef or Applewood Smoked Bacon

Or Wild-Caught Salmon

Plus, with my special code, ALISA, you’ll get an additional $25 off your first box and free express shipping.

Go to www.goodranchers.com/alisa for more information.

SEVEN WEEKS COFFEE

Taste the Coffee that is Saving Lives.

Use the code, ALISA, to get 10% off, plus Subscribe and save and extra 15% off for a total of 25% off!

Will you join us by drinking more coffee so we can save more lives?

www.sevenweekscoffee.com

LOGOS

Go to logos.com/alisa to get 10% off on LOGOS Bible Software.

The Logos Bible Study app contains a powerful Bible study and sermon prep platform that allows you to study Scripture and consult commentaries, devotionals, Bible dictionaries, and more—all from your computer, tablet, or phone.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music

There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”: www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/

To order “Live Your Truth": www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/

To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

For Alisa's Merch: https://alisachilders.creator-spring.com

To see what gear Alisa uses to record her podcast, go to:

https://kit.co/alisachilders

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

Product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.