www.boblarson.org
If you're reading this, it is probably because you are either
searching for truth concerning the legitimacy of Bob Larson
Ministries (and the "deliverance ministry" in general), or
perhaps you hold a strong opinion one way or the other
concerning Rev. Larson’s ministry. Whatever the case,
Welcome!
The following essay represents my personal opinions in
defense of Bob Larson Ministries. I am NOT affiliated
with Bob Larson Ministries. Additionally, I do not know
Bob Larson personally, although I have attended his
conference and witnessed his speaking and deliverance
personally.
I chose to create this page in hopes of offering some sort
of defense from the many websites that now attack Bob
Larson and his ministry. In particular, the parody site
operated by one Ken Smith of Colorado called the “Bob
Larson Fan Club”. This site is somewhat unavoidable for
those seeking BLM’s (Bob Larson Ministries) real
homepage by way of a search engine.
It is because of my fear that fellow Christians may stumble across this (or some similar) website and come to think of the deliverance ministry as “fake”, I have decided that it is worthwhile to make a few points and present them here
This page is intentionally short and right to the point. I don't have the time or the resources to create an exhaustive presentation. If you are not satisfied by my writings and would like to further discuss the matter, feel free to email me.
So, right to it then:
So, why do I not find what Ken Smith has to say very compelling?
Well, in the first place:
To my knowledge, Ken Smith does not know Bob Larson personally. Yet, somehow he manages to tell us the many, VERY personal, very immoral, things that Rev. Larson supposedly spends his time doing in the privacy of his home or hotel room. I would argue that these accusations of personal misconduct, even if they were true, shouldn’t be possible for Ken Smith (or anyone) to know any more than it should be possible for this writer to tell you, the reader, what you had for dinner last night. These allegations of Bob taking part in things like child molestation, satanism, and adultery are clearly fabricated for the purpose of slander.
Additionally, from what I can gather on his website, Ken Smith does not work in law or law enforcement. He does not work for the IRS nor is he a Christian or minister of any persuasion (in fact, he is a deist). Yet he manages to carelessly hurl a number of serious legal and ethical accusations at B.L.M.--everything from illegal personal conduct, to federal tax fraud, to Bob Larson’s supposed crimes against the church. (Which is just a bizarre thing for someone who is not a Christian to propose in and of it’s self really.)
Nevertheless, something should be said in the way of a defense.
So, Why is Bob Larson not defending himself from these allegations?
Well, I think I can understand why he doesn’t bother to respond to people like Ken Smith. Remember, Smith’s allegations aren’t coming from a police officer, IRS auditor, legal prosecutor, etc. My guess is that Bob Larson has better things to do than publicly refute fanatical accusations coming from some random critic who’s website has all the compelling rationale of an Alice Cooper concert!
A side note before I get to some points: I must immediately suggest that Mr. Smith appears to be a deeply disturbed individual. By this, I do not mean that he is a man who is under some evil or demonic influence necessarily. What I am saying is that any person that takes time to read over his very morbid website, which includes little side jokes such as “How to cook Bob Larson” and papers which he proposes are Rev. Larson’s actual handwritten tax forms and personal diary, need not rule out the prospect that this man suffers from possible mental health issues to the likes of schizophrenia. In fact, as of when this essay was written, Mr. Smith’s website offered “witches”, “atheists”, and I suppose any other Larson haters personal directions to Rev. Larson’s Colorado home! If Bob Larson really is taking legal action towards Mr. Smith as Smith's website suggest, then I hope, for Rev. Larson’s sake, a restraining order is in the works!
So, what of the allegations?
I’m not going to touch on everything that Ken Smith has written, just the things that I feel are worthy of discussion.
Concerning BLM finances: Perpetual going out of business sale?
As far as I can tell, BLM does set goals and then push hard to get support. For example, a recent BLM email I received urgently pressed for financial support to build up more ministry teams. So, Yes, they are urgently asking for financial support, not at the threat of the ministry’s going under so much as the threat of not being able to obtain the goals they’ve set. This is ethically consistent with any well-run organization.
Concerning Bob Larson’s pay: Ken Smith says Bob Larson is too wealthy.
Right away I’ll say that I have no idea how much money Bob Larson makes. Frankly, It doesn’t even matter to me what his salary is as long as his ministry is really helping people (and it is). I suggest that Bob Larson could (and should) be fairly well-off considering he has written so many books which have sold so well. But still, I don’t know Rev. Larson’s salary and I would suggest that neither does Ken Smith.
But doesn’t Ken Smith have tax forms that show Larson’s outrageous annual salary, and other forms that hint of tax fraud?
Does it not seem strange that on his website, Mr. Smith just happens to have a copy of Bob Larson’s handwritten tax forms? I think this is truly laughable. I mean, does he really expect us to believe that Bob Larson scribbles up his own taxes with an ink pen, and then irresponsibly makes numerous copies of these personal forms, which somehow find their way in the hands of critics like Smith? C’mon! This is obviously a fake, fabricated by Ken Smith.
In fact, If you just take the time to look at the scanned images of all of the “evidence” on Smith’s website, you immediately realize how all the forms, documents, and letters have sort of a “Hollywood” fabricated look to them. Many look like they were keyed up on some early 20th century typewriter while they all have the look of “top secret” documents in a James Bond film.
To anyone who is honestly concerned with BLM’s finances: let’s not forget that we can rest assured. If Bob Larson, or anyone else here in the United States violates tax laws or steals from not-for-profit organizations then we have this amazing super power called the IRS. They put people who do these types of things in jail.
Did Bob Larson really write the book “Dead Air”?
Ken Smith says that a certain disgruntled former employee of Larson’s actually wrote this popular Larson novel.
Well consider the following:
I think the old adage “You write what you know” is helpful here. Although I haven’t read this book, I did find a helpful review on Amazon.com. Apparently the plot of this novel concerns a radio talk show host who helps a teen-age, female caller that is suffering from satanic abuse. Remind you of anybody? This is obviously Larson’s idea.
Besides, Bob Larson himself admits that he received some help on this novel but the plot and story ideas were his. I see no reason to doubt him considering he has written well over twenty other books.
Ken Smith says Bob Larson is an adulterer because he was divorced and re-married.
I think this is a fairly ridiculous accusation really. Bob Larson is not perfect and ministers aren’t supposed to be perfect. There’s nothing to refute here at all really. Apparently, Bob was divorced and remarried. Is this a sin? Maybe. Does this mean Bob is not fit to be a minister today? No. (See Romans 7:15 quote below)
Ken Smith says Bob Larson had a sexual affair and therefore shouldn’t be in the ministry.
I don’t see any reason to believe this at all really. Ken Smith gives us a couple of reasons to think that Bob is a womanizer/adulterer and I don’t find them compelling.
The first reason is that Ken Smith supposedly has read of infidelity in Larson’s own personal diary (which Smith apparently has in his possession).
Why Ken Smith has Bob Larson’s diary in the first place is a great mystery to be explained in it’s self. It’s absurd really. But let’s give Smith the benefit of the doubt to make a point. If he does have Larson’s diary, that means we ARE necessarily expected to believe that Bob Larson:
A. Keeps a diary in the first place, which in all honesty in not something that many men do.
B. Writes incriminating information in this diary.
C. Throws it in the trash the night that Ken Smith goes “dumpster diving”--rather than burning it of course.
Ken Smith is obviously making this stuff up.
The second reason is because Smith tells us that specific former employees have legal confidentiality agreements with BLM and this somehow proves that Larson is out to cover up his promiscuous tracks.
My question is, how do we know that these confidentiality agreements (assuming they really exist in the first place) have ANYTHING to do with sex or anything personal for that matter. These agreements may be concerning how the ministry was run or any number of things. And because Bob Larson is something of a public figure, perhaps it is just commonplace for everyone he works with to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Consider this: As a teenager, I worked in a fast food restaurant. While I was employed there I was given a memo that said in the event of a public incident (theft, fire, etc) I was REQUIRED not to talk with any person in the media or otherwise about the incident.
Bob Larson may have similar agreements in place with his help.
I think it’s obvious that Smith is just looking for any angle to accuse Bob Larson.
Finally. I have a few suggestions for someone who would critique a minister that had committed some type sexual sin, (Though I see no reason to think Bob Larson has).
Just because a minister sins:
1. It doesn’t mean that this person is currently living that lifestyle, and
2. I don’t think it necesarily means he is unfit to be a minister. For example, DURING his ministry Paul wrote:
I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing that I hate. Romans 7:15
This shows that even ministers aren’t perfect
Ken Smith and other critics say that exorcisms are fake.
There is so much to say about this topic that I would have to write an entirely new essay to address everything.
Let me just say that exorcisms are Biblical and if you are a Christian that rejects the idea of demons, you are obviously picking and choosing what you want to believe.
To those who proclaim that deliverance and exorcism are not real, I challenge you to prove it. It's not enough to just say "that must be fake".
The way I see it, if the exorcisms performed by Bob Larson are fake, then there are only two possibilities:
1. Bob Larson is staging his exorcisms with actors.
2. There is some psychological reason why people "act out" as if demons are talking out of them.
The problem with the theory that these exorcisms are staged is that Bob Larson has performed (atleast) hundreds of public exorcisms. What a ridiculous scheme it would be to hire hundreds of actors to fake such a thing! Many of them would be coming forward to tell all and cash in by exposing such a scheme to the network tv media! Yet no one has done such a thing.
The problem with declaring exorcisms to be purely psychological manifestations is that you have to explain why in the world someone would "pretend" or act out as if there is a demon inside them. You have to describe what anthropological or psychological need would cause not just one person, but thousands of people to speak in bizzare voices and scream and yell at the specific mention of the name of Jesus. I don't see any other explanation except that it is real.
Let me finish by saying that I believe that Bob Larson is a legitimate minister.
Is he a bit eccentric? Most definitely. Bob Larson is not your average minister, but he is helping people overcome demonic strongholds in their life.
I would urge you to go to one of Bob Larson's conferences and see for yourself that deliverance is real.
If you are questioning the reality of God, demons, and exorcisms, I would suggest that you to pray and ask for guidance and understanding. Also, open up your Bible and read!