The Bait of Satan

Rating:
Summary: Buyer beware
Review: After having read several of John Bevere's books, including The Bait of Satan, I feel qualified to make the following statement. Mr. Bevere's useage of scripture and doctrinal teaching should be watched closely by the body of Christ. As I read this book, along with several of his other books, I began to notice suttle misusage of scripture within the context of his writing. While Mr. Bevere can make good on delivering basic themes, "we should fear the Lord, not man", "beware of satan's bait and his tactics", and "forgiveness not offense", he fails miserably at utilizing scripture correctly. I truly believe he could make the same point without getting off the beaten path so quickly. Forgiveness, restoration, and emotional balance is what the body needs. Not misusage of scripture which produces paranoid and misaligned thinking. One problem many leaders within the body of Christ face is the lack of accountability by a greater body. Pastor personality churches are typically driven by the leadership language Mr. Bevere describes in his book as being healthy. If I were to guess, it appears that Mr. Bevere has had his share of confrontation within the church and writes pointedly to leaders, telling them to beware anyone who questions their authority, labeling them intimidators or rebellious individuals. Reader "beware" and make certain that your bible is open when you read any of this authors work.

Rating:
Summary: Heavy on experience; light on rightly dividing God's word
Review: After reading the entire book I feel qualified to make the following review. Scripture makes a clear distinction between how to handle unbelievers/pagans that sin against us(Matt 5:39-42), and how to handle fellow believers that sin against us(Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:9-11). John lumps everyone into one pot and draws the unbiblical conclusion that we should always turn the other cheek. He also seems confused about the repentance/forgivness relationship. He makes the assertion that forgiveness can come without repentance. The biblical model, and God's own requirement for forgiveness is a repentant heart(Luke 17:3-4; 13:3-5). True biblical forgiveness doesn't come without repentance. Save your money, but if you still want to read it that badly go check it out of the library.

Rating:
Summary: The Bait of Satan
Review: An excellent book written in an informal easily read format. I disagreed with some things in the book, but essentially it is an outstanding book with a splendid, needed message.
S. J. Buxton author of "A Thousand Pieces", and "Road Tales".

Rating:
Summary: Powerful spiritual resource!
Review: As a pastor, I know many folks struggle with forgiving those who have wronged or hurt them. I have literally seen God use this book to change whole families! If you struggle with forgiveness, this book is a must read for you. You will be radically blessed and set free.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, life-changing book
Review: Excellent book, and an important eye-opener for anyone! I cannot begin to say how much this book has helped change all of us in our church fellowship. We now require this book as a part of our church membership!

Rating:
Summary: For those reading the bad reviews
Review: Good news. This bookt isn't the dogmatic drivel they say it is. Now, if you are going to be judgemental, and you wish to believe the words judgemental critics, then do so. But it's not like there are forces out there shoving this into people's heads. My father told me, like the Bible, You get out of it what you are looking for. If you are in search for inconsistencies in the Bible, you'll find it (giving a shout at the intellectual critics out there). If you search for how God wants you to live prosperously, without offense, then you'll find it. But the catch is, if you're looking for inconsistencies to justify your search for how God wants you to live prosperously, you'll find it too. If all you have is a hammer, almost everything will begin to look like nails. This book has refined me, bringing me from glory to glory by God's grace. It also isn't addressing denominations, nor non believers. It's you, the believer. - the only problem you'll have with this book is if you don't take it with an open heart of humility, and trust instead of the wisdom of man.

Rating:
Summary: For those reading the bad reviews
Review: Good news. This bookt isn't the dogmatic drivel they say it is. Now, if you are going to be judgemental, and you wish to believe the words judgemental critics, then do so. But it's not like there are forces out there shoving this into people's heads. My father told me, like the Bible, You get out of it what you are looking for. If you are in search for inconsistencies in the Bible, you'll find it (giving a shout at the intellectual critics out there). If you search for how God wants you to live prosperously, without offense, then you'll find it. But the catch is, if you're looking for inconsistencies to justify your search for how God wants you to live prosperously, you'll find it too. If all you have is a hammer, almost everything will begin to look like nails. This book has refined me, bringing me from glory to glory by God's grace. It also isn't addressing denominations, nor non believers. It's you, the believer. - the only problem you'll have with this book is if you don't take it with an open heart of humility, and trust instead of the wisdom of man.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but not without flaws
Review: Having now read "Bait" for the third time in three years, I feel I understand it better than before, and would like to comment on it.

John Bevere indeed has written a very powerful, very insightful book. It in fact is prophetic in nature, just as it claims to be. However, I find it is not a book without flaws, and perhaps for some, potentially fatal flaws.

Bevere expounds powerfully on the nature of betrayal and offense, using foremost the Biblical examples of Joseph's betrayal by his brothers, and David's persecution by Saul. Here he does an incredibly good job, and for anyone who has experienced abuse from loved ones or authority figures, I highly recommend this section.

However, it is afterward, when the book turns to "Spiritual Vagabonds" that misunderstanding can arise. Bevere shows so very well that those who are stumbled by a church or ministry often leave embittered and become spiritual wanderers, never putting down roots, never bearing fruit. This point is all too true and very timely, and needs all the attention it gets. But this reader, at least, came away from this section with a definite sense that it is incumbent upon the one who leaves to be fully reconciled to the offender.

Now, "reconciled" is a slippery word - and therein lies the problem. I feel that not nearly enough effort was spent by Bevere mitigating one's responsibility toward those who remain unrepentantly abusive. That is to say that there are cases in which, yes, we must fully purge our hearts of all "overflow of bitterness" and love our enemies, just as the scriptures say, but no, we cannot be manifestly reconciled to those who continue in sin. So, there are degrees of possible reconciliation, and sometimes our responsibility is simply "If possible, as much as it depends on you, be at peace with all men", for no more actually is possible.

This simple balanced and Biblical truth, I feel, is obscured in "Bait", and it is very possible for one to come away from this section feeling unjustly condemned. True, Bevere does give a bit more balance later on, so that in taking the book as a whole (especially the third time through) it does somewhat better in this regard, but I nevertheless found the balance not sufficiently drawn, and its lack deeply disturbing.

As another reviewer here previously cited, extrapolating Bevere's stress on reconciliation and submission even to flawed authority raises the very interesting and compelling question of Bevere's ecclesial position. For as that previous reviewer cites (and I encourage you to read his review), if such is the case then the Body of Christ's integration into a unity headed by Rome was - and is - though flawed, a natural progression entirely sanctioned by God. If there are no issues of doctrine or practice that can justify leaving authority, if the anointing must be respected despite all flaws, then Bevere really is arguing implicitly for the return of all branches of Christianity to the Roman fold.

The implications here are enormous. In my estimation, Bevere needs to devote much more time to the subject of the legitimate ground for leaving authority. Despite Samuel's continued submission to the compromised Eli, which Bevere cites, the overriding theme of 1 Samuel really lies in the limits of unjust authority - David flees Saul for his dear life, and though for years he must go through hell on earth, is in God's will and blessed by Him for so doing. The question that must be answered here, and that I feel Bevere does _not_ do a good job answering, is whether there actually are modern-day Davids out there who have come up against the spirit of Saul in the ecclesial authority placed over them, and were justified in leaving, and whether all non-Roman ecclesia, such as Eastern Orthodox or Protestants, acted as anointed Davids in leaving Rome's dominion.

I need to emphasis (and I realize this is a long review) that "Bait" truly is an excellent book in many ways. I have spent my time here with criticisms of it only because I feel they are crucial to balance. Fact is, I think that if Bevere would add to this book greater development of this aspect of his theme, he indeed would create a new Christian classic for the ages. The book is that good, and has that much potential.

Accordingly, I wish I could give the book a 5, but I cannot. I wish I could give it a 9/10, but that is not available, so I will give it a 4.

John, if you read this, thank you for the book. I appreciate it, and take it very seriously.

Paul Batchie ( paulobTake^[e-mail] )

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but not without flaws
Review: Having now read "Bait" for the third time in three years, I feel I understand it better than before, and would like to comment on it.

John Bevere indeed has written a very powerful, very insightful book. It in fact is prophetic in nature, just as it claims to be. However, I find it is not a book without flaws, and perhaps for some, potentially fatal flaws.

Bevere expounds powerfully on the nature of betrayal and offense, using foremost the Biblical examples of Joseph's betrayal by his brothers, and David's persecution by Saul. Here he does an incredibly good job, and for anyone who has experienced abuse from loved ones or authority figures, I highly recommend this section.

However, it is afterward, when the book turns to "Spiritual Vagabonds" that misunderstanding can arise. Bevere shows so very well that those who are stumbled by a church or ministry often leave embittered and become spiritual wanderers, never putting down roots, never bearing fruit. This point is all too true and very timely, and needs all the attention it gets. But this reader, at least, came away from this section with a definite sense that it is incumbent upon the one who leaves to be fully reconciled to the offender.

Now, "reconciled" is a slippery word - and therein lies the problem. I feel that not nearly enough effort was spent by Bevere mitigating one's responsibility toward those who remain unrepentantly abusive. That is to say that there are cases in which, yes, we must fully purge our hearts of all "overflow of bitterness" and love our enemies, just as the scriptures say, but no, we cannot be manifestly reconciled to those who continue in sin. So, there are degrees of possible reconciliation, and sometimes our responsibility is simply "If possible, as much as it depends on you, be at peace with all men", for no more actually is possible.

This simple balanced and Biblical truth, I feel, is obscured in "Bait", and it is very possible for one to come away from this section feeling unjustly condemned. True, Bevere does give a bit more balance later on, so that in taking the book as a whole (especially the third time through) it does somewhat better in this regard, but I nevertheless found the balance not sufficiently drawn, and its lack deeply disturbing.

As another reviewer here previously cited, extrapolating Bevere's stress on reconciliation and submission even to flawed authority raises the very interesting and compelling question of Bevere's ecclesial position. For as that previous reviewer cites (and I encourage you to read his review), if such is the case then the Body of Christ's integration into a unity headed by Rome was - and is - though flawed, a natural progression entirely sanctioned by God. If there are no issues of doctrine or practice that can justify leaving authority, if the anointing must be respected despite all flaws, then Bevere really is arguing implicitly for the return of all branches of Christianity to the Roman fold.

The implications here are enormous. In my estimation, Bevere needs to devote much more time to the subject of the legitimate ground for leaving authority. Despite Samuel's continued submission to the compromised Eli, which Bevere cites, the overriding theme of 1 Samuel really lies in the limits of unjust authority - David flees Saul for his dear life, and though for years he must go through hell on earth, is in God's will and blessed by Him for so doing. The question that must be answered here, and that I feel Bevere does _not_ do a good job answering, is whether there actually are modern-day Davids out there who have come up against the spirit of Saul in the ecclesial authority placed over them, and were justified in leaving, and whether all non-Roman ecclesia, such as Eastern Orthodox or Protestants, acted as anointed Davids in leaving Rome's dominion.

I need to emphasis (and I realize this is a long review) that "Bait" truly is an excellent book in many ways. I have spent my time here with criticisms of it only because I feel they are crucial to balance. Fact is, I think that if Bevere would add to this book greater development of this aspect of his theme, he indeed would create a new Christian classic for the ages. The book is that good, and has that much potential.

Accordingly, I wish I could give the book a 5, but I cannot. I wish I could give it a 9/10, but that is not available, so I will give it a 4.

John, if you read this, thank you for the book. I appreciate it, and take it very seriously.

Paul Batchie ( paulobTake^[e-mail] )

Rating:
Summary: Saved today...but tomorrow?...
Review: Having read several of John Bevere's books including this one, all I can say is that the same recurrent theme comes up in all of them: Obey those in authority, or else you go to hell.

This is an oversimplification and on the surface, trite. But the one thing that has annoyed me about this book and the two before it was his display of being the one who was right, speaking down to the lowly lay person who is to swear allegiance without question. Sorry, I have marched in lock-step to those in ministry "offices" for too long without scripturally examining what they say.

This is not rebellion. It is taking the responsibility of Biblically evaluating what you hear. ANY teacher who does not advocate that their teaching be examined by the scriptures should be discarded. It's just that simple.

For instance, in this book, Mr Bevere relates a story about a person who had a vision showing a relative in hell. They questioned God since this relative was saved.

According to Bevere's account, God said that because this person's relative did not forgive, they went to hell.

I am sorry but this teaching is AGAINST the teaching of scripture!

After you are Born Again, forgiveness allows you to walk in fellowship with God but your relationship is secure. If you died without "making it right," or forgiving someone against whom you had a grudge, it would not affect your salvation.

This is not a once-saved-always-saved reasoning but a reasoning based upon the Biblical teaching of spirit, soul, and body and the difference between relationship and fellowship. My, how the Church needs to be taught in this area!

This is but one example of that which has been taught by Mr. Bevere.

If you read all of Mr Bevere's books, you will find yourself losing your salvation at some point if you fail to obey what he recommends. I challenge you to read the two books which preceeded this one and you will find it in there somewhere! I'm sorry, but my salvation is more secure than what Mr. Bevere would have me believe.

That said, I do believe that the teaching on forgiveness is vital to the body of Christ, but it must be taught scripturally and without "teaching down" to "the laity."