Cory Asbury, a Bethel-affiliated “worship” artist, recently took to Instagram to make claims that leave one questioning not just his theology but his grip on reality. According to Asbury, hitting the milestone of 500 thousand followers on Instagram was not just a social media triumph but a prophetic and divine appointment. He claimed that Jesus appeared to him—in “bodily form”—to impart to him that reaching this exact number of followers would result in “incredible” blessings—including a “guaranteed ticket into heaven,” a life devoid of worries, and, if he hits a million followers, a palatial mansion in heaven complete with luxury cars.

Frankly, the absurdity of these claims is staggering. It doesn’t matter if he is only kidding or if it is satire, it’s completely distasteful and a mockery of God. Here we have a self-proclaimed “social media guru” blasphemously conflating Instagram followership with divine endorsement. Let’s make this clear, God is not a cosmic bellhop awaiting our social media metrics to dispense heavenly rewards. this rank blasphemy brings disrepute upon the name of Christ and misleads people into a delusional spirituality that is utterly devoid of Biblical grounding.

Asbury’s assertions are not just theologically problematic—they’re also morally questionable. To imply that the older women praying in churches—those without social media clout—might not “make it into heaven,” while he himself secures a place through his follower count, is spiritual exploitation. The manipulation is real, and it’s cloaked under the guise of faith, presented as a supposed revelation from Christ Himself.

Yet what makes this even more alarming is the fact that music from Bethel and its affiliates continues to be played in numerous churches. Pastors need to seriously reconsider whether they are honoring the Lord by aligning themselves with movements that openly espouse such unbiblical, aberrant teachings. Are we okay with supporting and promoting a ministry where leaders make such blasphemous and outlandish claims about divine encounters tied to social media popularity? It’s time to draw the line in the sand—if you’re church plays Bethel music, it’s time to leave.

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