The #wakeupolive move from Bethel Church is problematic for many reasons. I fear for the despair of the family, first of all, and grieve for their loss. So what I say here is with mercy and gentleness toward them as people. The doctrine, however, that is driving their movement is ruthless to its adherents. Here’s why:

First, resurrection is real. The issue is not resurrection. Miracles are real. The issue is not miracles. Faith is real. The issue is not faith. The issue is about how people express their faith, experience miracles, and gain resurrection. Bethel teaches a form of, what seems,  old world paganism in which he who asks the miracle must meet a requirement in order to get God to move in his favor. For them the equation is about quantity of faith. If a person has enough faith, God will do the miracle. One could take the same algorithm and apply different offerings than faith. For instance, in old paganism, if one offered the right sacrifice to the god, the god would favor their efforts. God however, does not work on our plans or according to any manipulation. Sacrifices of faith, prayer, or fasting do not change what God has established to do. Satan works by manipulation, but not God.

Does God hear and see our prayers, fasting, and personal devotions? Sure He does. But Christ followers pray, fast, and devote in order to get on page with God, not to get God in page with them. Herein lies the fundamental conflict with the Word-of-faith deception. For Bethel and their kin, God’s actions rely on their faith. This is a destructive heresy for its adherents. It is a trap of Satan. In this system, when God doesn’t move as requested, the only one to blame is one’s self for a lack of faith. Such ideals of faith are not from God.

God gives, He does not take. His medicine is hard sometimes – and I am confident any feeling person connects with the grief that a lost child brings – but His medicine is healing for the soul. God does not take our faith and convert it into actions. He gives us faith and heals our souls…often through hard and grieving circumstances.

So what is the response to #wakeupolive? First, Olive will “awake” in the resurrection of the Lamb, and even now her soul is with the Lord Jesus (this is my understanding of what happens to too-young-to-know children who die – they are with the Lord). Second, hold the despair defeating true faith: God is a good God regardless. Third, grieve alongside the grieving parents. This is right in the Lord’s eyes.