Scripture is replete with examples of divisions within the church bodies and most of the divisiveness is centered around false teachings that are contrary to what Jesus, Paul, and the Apostles taught. Paul says in Romans 16:17, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” Paul is clear, it is those teaching false doctrines who are causing divisions in the Church.

But one pastor says the reason most churches split is actually that witches have infiltrated the intercessory prayer teams in these churches. Bobby Conner, a well-known traveling tel-Evangelist and self-described “seasoned prophet of God” retells of a time when he was able to “discern” that a woman standing in the healing line at one of his healing events was actually a witch speaking curses against him in tongues. Despite the fact that she was on the intercessory prayer team at some church, and even though she was speaking unintelligibly, his supposed God-given gift of discernment led him to expose her as a witch.

According to Conner, he told God to command her to speak in English where she then cursed him and cursed Jesus.

But here’s what the Bible actually says about those causing divisions. If this story is even true, that this woman screamed at him what he claims she did, churches are not splitting en mass over witches joining intercessory prayer teams. That’s just silly. The Bible says that churches split over the false teachings of factious men like Conner who teach false doctrines.

The Bible does teach that God can heal and that we can pray for that end confidently, but the Bible does not teach that any man has the ability to perform miraculous healings on other people. That is a false doctrine. The Bible does teach that the Holy Spirit helps us discern right from wrong, but it does not teach that we can command God to do anything—we are able to discern by comparing what is being said to what God has said in Scripture and the Holy Spirit illuminates our hearts and minds.

Instead, what Connor does is suggest that he is one of the few people who have the ability to discern whether or not someone speaking in tongues—something that does not exist in the present Church age at all—is doing so as a witch or as a Christian elevating himself to a position of authority over and above the Word of God. That makes him a false prophet, a divisive and factious man, and one who should be avoided.