Examining Greg Locke’s Teachings in ‘Come Out In Jesus Name’

My heart is broken over how churches and ministries use Jesus to propagate false and sometimes dangerous teachings. Manipulation paired with a veneer of Christianity seems to be enough to convince people to believe unbiblical teachings and to become ardent supporters of these ministries. In my opinion, churches functioning under New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) leadership (which I’ve already written about) and deliverance ministries are currently the worst offenders. Over the summer, Greg Locke released a movie entitled Come Out in Jesus Name. The film centers around Locke and his deliverance ministry, and it’s a dumpster fire. Let’s use this movie as a learning tool in order to defend ourselves and our loved ones against these false teachings.

What Is Deliverance Ministry?

Before we get into anything, you need to know what deliverance ministry is. You might be lucky enough to not have encountered it. Some of us, unfortunately, have it creeping into our communities claiming to be doing God’s work. It’s a cancer in the Church, and we need to recognize it when we see it.

These ministries focus heavily on casting out demons and spirits. These demons and spirits are blamed for the struggles and sins in believers’ lives. We’ll look more closely at deliverance ministry later.

Greg Locke is a famous pastor who is perpetuating this type of ministry. So, who exactly is he?

Greg Locke: A Primer

The main character of Come Out in Jesus Name is Greg Locke. The beginning of the film discusses how he was saved and his early ministry. Currently, he is the founder and pastor of Global Vision Bible Church (GVBC) in Mt. Juliet, TN. Formally, GVBC was a Baptist church, but Locke separated from independent Baptists in 2011 and changed the church to a Bible church.

Some Good In There Somewhere…

My commentary regarding Greg Locke is going to sound rather ungenerous, therefore, let me begin by saying that he isn’t all wrong all the time when he teaches from the Bible. That’s a danger, of course, because his supporters will point out true things he has said to defend the deceptions he teaches.

I would also have to agree with some of his political stances. Yes, Locke takes them to extremes, but I can appreciate his willingness to not bow the knee to authoritarian governmental power grabs.

Yup. That’s all I have for the “good stuff.”

The Birth Of A Preacher

Greg Locke says he was saved at a youth revival in a Baptist church in Nashville, TN, and he immediately felt the call to preach. He attended college to learn to preach and considered himself a cessationist. Essentially, cessationists believe “the end of the apostolic age brought about a cessation of the miracles associated with that age.” In other words, some spiritual gifts have ceased.

As an evangelist, Locke traveled around the world and witnessed things he didn’t encounter in the Western World. Namely, he believed he was seeing demon possession and healings. However, he denied it to himself because it wasn’t in keeping with his education or other preachers’ beliefs.

Greg Locke’s Pivotal Moment

In Come Out in Jesus Name, Locke recalls a service in which he was baptizing many people. Among those in the group was a grandmother and her eight- or nine-year-old granddaughter. She held the girl in her arms as Locke dunked them. The girl was uncooperative, and she growled, hissed, and clawed at him. Locke “knew” this girl must have a demon to behave in such a way. (Personal Note: It sounds like he’s never worked with or even encountered children with various disabilities…)

Not long after Locke began to inwardly turn toward accepting deliverance ministry as a legitimate path for himself, his wife began reading The Secrets to Deliverance by Alexander Pagani. They loved the book, and Locke went full steam ahead with deliverance ministry.

Greg Locke Goes Viral

It’s commonplace these days to find a Greg Locke video making the rounds on TikTok and YouTube because of something controversial he said. His first viral video, though, was called “Pastor Greg Locke is Coming Out of the Closet.” It wasn’t that controversial or particularly special in my opinion, but it caught on.

Later, as Covid-19 shut churches down and masked the world, Locke stood against vaccines, masking, and closing churches. As he did so, GVBC grew.

(Paige Pfleger/WPLN News)

More Current Greg Locke Controversies

I want you to have a clear picture of Greg Locke. He doesn’t occasionally say slightly odd things. No, he regularly says abhorrent and/or unbiblical things.

Here is a clip of Locke claiming that children with autism actually have a demon. You can image how parents with children with autism reacted to this claim.

The next clip is from when Greg Locke said demons told him his church had six witches in it. So, he went on a rant to threaten those witches, telling them to leave the church. If they didn’t leave, he would expose them by name. He even taunted these women about knowing someone’s personal address.

The following video records Greg Locke kicking a man out of service for publicly saying Locke is not fit to be a pastor.

You might be thinking that the man who we just saw being removed from the church deserved it because he was disruptive. All right. I don’t necessarily disagree. We can’t have people just taking over church services to yell out criticisms. The final clip, though, gives a more thorough picture of Greg Locke’s character as displayed in these sorts of scenarios.

Is he calling his opposition demons? That’s not how this works, sir! I guess that’s one way for a church to take an offering…

The Greg Locke Divorce

Among the various criticisms people make concerning Locke, his divorce seems to be neglected. A divorce is a private matter between two people, but it’s a public affair when you’re a pastor. This is even more true when the pastor is famous. So, what happened?

No one knows the whole truth except for Greg Locke and his ex-wife, Melissa Biggers. One of the biggest controversies surrounding the Locke divorce involves the secretary. I know… It couldn’t get any more stereotypical. Melissa’s best friend and church secretary, Taisha Locke (previously McGee), married Greg Locke just three months after the divorce was finalized. They had officially separated, however, eight months prior to the divorce. Can you guess what the rumors were at GVBC?

I can’t say Greg Locke and his current wife were having an affair, but I do know that two married people who worked at the church both divorced their spouses and quickly married each other.

Poor Character

A source I do not generally trust, Pulpit and Pen, wrote an article based on an interview with Melissa Biggers. I do not recommend this website, but this article is one of the only ones I can find that even addresses the Locke divorce. So, take it with a grain of salt. Also, I have to give you a word of warning before you read the article. It is filled with profane language, and it may be more than some of you will want to see.

OK. In addition to the rumored affair with the church secretary, Biggers brings a few more concerns about Greg Locke to light.

First, although he was doing well financially, she was living in a women’s shelter after they separated. He was apparently unwilling to help her get on her feet after serving her with divorce papers.

Second, his language in text messages to his wife was inappropriate for any person to use with another, let alone a pastor. The article includes images of the text exchanges. In them he used vulgar language, made fun of her haircut, called her fat, and blamed her for his ministry being at risk.

Third, Greg Locke told his wife he had romantic plans with his secretary while he and Biggers were still married. He bragged to her about seeing his love interest at work, church, and most nights for dinner. Locke was not a faithful man in his heart whether or not that relationship became physical before his divorce.

Not Qualified To Be A Pastor

The article claims more about Locke, but I think that paints a clear picture. Whether or not someone likes this guy or enjoys his speaking, he is obviously not qualified to be a pastor. Perhaps he founded his own church for that very reason. Start a church and make yourself pastor. That certainly cuts out accountability and gives a man quite a bit of power.

Biblical Qualifications For A Pastor

Enough of my thoughts, though. Doesn’t the Bible have qualifications for a pastor? Yes, it does.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)

In the verses above, I italicized any qualification I feel convinced He does not meet based on hours of sermons I watched, Come Out in Jesus Name, and others’ reports and observations.

I’m not telling you all of this to gossip or pick on Greg Locke. You see, this is the man who is shepherding many hundreds (over a thousand?) people. Yet, he’s unfit for the role of pastor. Frankly, he doesn’t even represent Christ well through his personal living testimony.

What Does Come Out In Jesus Name Teach?

All right. Now that you know what deliverance ministry is about and who Greg Locke is, we can get into some of what Come Out in Jesus Name teachers. Overall, the film is a propaganda piece for Greg Locke, but it is also quite instructive concerning what he, and others like him, believe.

I’m going to share five concerning things I heard while watching this film. There were many more issues throughout, but I’m limiting myself to these. If you feel as if I am misrepresenting deliverance ministry or Greg Locke, keep in mind that I am only sharing what the movie stated. Take up your issues with Locke.

1. Christians Can Be “Demonized.”

This whole idea of being “demonized” is ridiculous. Greg Locke attempts to make a distinction between demon possession and being demonized. If you’re demonized, then the demon doesn’t have 100% control over you. Therefore, a Christian can be demonized. That’s the claim, at least. But as you listen to him speak about it, it’s obvious this is just a game of semantics. Either way, we’re talking about a demon living inside a person’s body.

One of the preachers in Come Out in Jesus Name said that a believer is owned by Jesus Christ, but a demon can still be in that person’s flesh. According to him, light and dark can coexist.

Another argument for Christians being able to be demonized is allegedly in Ephesians.

“Neither give place to the devil.”

Ephesians 4:27

According to deliverance ministry workers, this verse indicates that the devil can be in your flesh because you can give him a “place.” But the verse isn’t suggesting a literal space for the devil. Rather, it is metaphorical and is referring to giving an opportunity to the devil to influence us.

Moreover, the context of Ephesians 4:27 is anger. Verse 26 tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger indicating that anger gives the devil an opportunity to influence us. This is not about being demonized.

What About The Bible?

The Bible gives no examples of believers being demonized/possessed. On the other hand, we do have Scripture which informs us that believers are indwelled by a Spirit. The Holy Spirit.

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Romans 8:9-11

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

1 Corinthians 3:16

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

1 Corinthians 6:19

Spiritual Oppression

Spiritual attacks are not being disregarded just because the Bible doesn’t teach that believers can be demonized. Satan and his demons undoubtedly seek out Christians to oppress.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

1 Peter 5:8

The Enemy wants us to have a terrible testimony and to feel defeated in our spiritual life. He doesn’t have our souls, but he still desires to make us ineffectual Christians.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Ephesians 6:10-13

We’re in a spiritual battle, but we can resist Satan’s schemes with the armor of God. And in more good news…

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

1 John 4:3-4

We have already overcome the Enemy because the Holy Spirit in us is more powerful than anything Satan can throw down. So, then why do we still give way to sin at times? Greg Locke would claim you’ve got a demon, but may I humbly suggest that it’s because you have a sin nature? Y’all, we bring sin upon ourselves. We are our own problem.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (emphasis mine)

James 1:13-15

Satan may tempt us, but he doesn’t need to live within our bodies to do it. In fact, the Bible never shows an event like that take place for a believer, and why would it? All we need to resist the devil is already inside us, the Holy Spirit, if we are saved. And as we read the Bible, pray, and study to grow in our faith, our resistance will be even stronger.

2. Seemingly Everything Is Evidence For A Demon!

So, how do you know if you have a demon? That seems like a sensible question to ask. Well, deliverance ministers will tell you that they have special discernment and vision in the spiritual realm. You might not know you have a demon, but they can tell. Of course, this makes it difficult to disagree with them because they’ll just say you don’t have that special gifting.

Greg Locke’s Come Out in Jesus Name spends a considerable amount of its approximate 90 minute runtime telling the viewers about evidences we might see for demons.

No, you won’t see red horns, a pointy tail, and a pitchfork. But pretty much anything else is potential evidence. Allow me to list some of the things the film claimed can potentially support the presence of a demon.

1. You don’t like deliverance ministry.

This indicates the evil spirit of religion, apparently. So, I guess anyone who thinks Greg Locke and his pals are grifters is being demonized. Another explanation for that suspicion, though, could be discernment. Just sayin’…

2. You’re having bad dreams or sexual dreams.

Could it be a wild imagination, anxiety, or bad Chinese food? Nope. That’s a demon.

3. You fear abandonment.

A woman shared her story in the film about how her mother was an addict and had literally abandoned her as a baby. In her lifetime, this woman claims to have only seen her mother about five times. Instead of dealing with her understandable emotional reaction to that trauma, she addressed it as an evil spirit of the fear of abandonment.

4. Sometimes you have intrusive thoughts.

Another woman shared how she knew she was demonized because she had “intrusive thoughts” that she thought were mean and ugly.

Her reaction?

That’s not me! I’m being demonized.

Apparently, mean thoughts we regret having can only come from demonic influence?

5. You have anger issues.

As I mentioned earlier, God’s Word addresses anger and warns us against allowing our anger to give the Enemy a foothold in our lives through it. However, Scripture doesn’t blame Satan for your anger issues.

6. Your addiction to something is indicative of a demon.

These kinds of beliefs are what make the world think we are science deniers. The brain is incredibly complicated and intricate because we have an amazing God. Addiction and the brain often go hand-in-hand. Can I say always here? I think so. Some drugs actually change brain chemistry. Alcoholics going sober can die from withdrawal and need to be monitored for their safety. Addiction is physical.

Addiction is also spiritual. Oftentimes, addictions begin with a sinful decision. Before I was Christian, I drank and smoked heavily. I made those choices, and despite wanting to quit, I struggled to stop or even slow down. In my case, Christ freed me from the bondage of alcohol and cigarettes. My mom, on the other hand, died as a result of her alcoholism from cirrhosis of the liver. By God’s grace alone am I not in a grave alongside my mother.

My mom and I didn’t have demons. We sinned. We chose to sin by consuming substances that affected our body in such a way that we strongly desired more. That first sinful choice led to another and another and another. No matter where someone stands with addiction concerning whether or not it is a disease or a decision, there is no doubt where it originates. A sinful choice. It belongs to the individual alone, not to some conveniently named demon to carry the blame.

7. If your doctor doesn’t know what’s wrong with you, then it’s probably a demon.

Did you hear that? That was my head banging against the table that I’m writing at. In no world is the next logical step after an uncertain doctor…DEMON.

After watching Come Out in Jesus Name, I wondered if there is literally anything that doesn’t suggest a demonic presence. I also worried about the possibility of this false teaching being weaponized.

For instance, would a pastor shame, bully, and throw people out of his church who challenge him on the basis of those individuals being demonized? Would he call women witches and threaten to “expose” them to protect his reputation? I’m not making any accusations, OK? I’m just asking questions.

3. Demons Cause Your Sin.

Even more concerning to me than labeling every undesirable thing about someone a demon is the natural conclusion stemming from that line of thinking. Demons cause sin rather than we choose to sin.

No one in the film said demons cause sin, but it is almost impossible not to extrapolate that idea from the various “evidences” those in the movie provided for demons. It appeared to me that some folks were blaming demons instead of taking responsibility for their sinful behavior.

One of the things that Greg Locke said that bothers me the most is a dangerous teaching that absolves Christians from responsibility for their sins.

Battling With Sin As A Christian Suggests A Demon.

Greg Locke said it is demonic if a believer still feels “enticed” by a sin. The implication is, of course, that Christians won’t battle fleshly desires. Does he realize that he is suggesting that Christians would be sinless if it weren’t for demons attacking us?

What’s more, he referenced Paul’s thorn in the flesh from 2 Corinthians 12:7. He attempted to normalize being demonized by suggesting even the Apostle Paul struggled with a demon giving him a “spirit of infirmity”. Then he said, “If something is still causing your flesh to not have victory, you’re being manipulated by the Enemy.” Oh my, Greg…

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.”

2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

None of Locke’s interpretation makes sense because the verse clearly states the purpose of this “thorn.” God did not remove the thorn (many scholars believe to be poor eyesight) in order to keep Paul humble and to ensure God received the glory.

Let’s take a look at more Scripture in light of Locke’s statements.

The Flesh Vs. The Spirit

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

1 John 1:8-10

John is making it clear to believers that a part of the Christian life is to sin and repent. It will happen. But we don’t cleanse ourselves of demons, we repent and ask for forgiveness. We grow in Christlikeness through the lifelong process we call sanctification. Christian, we take ownership of our sins.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

Galatians 5:16-17

Paul reminds us that our flesh and Spirit are at odds with one another. Which will we follow? He tells us to walk in the Spirit. If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives, we will not pursue our flesh. This takes maturity, intentionality, and a willingness to take responsibility for our decisions.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

How do we escape temptations, attacks from the Enemy, and sin? God provides the escape. Greg Locke doesn’t command a demon of disobedience out of you. No, God gives you all you need to resist the devil, and it begins with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

4. Deliverance Ministries Prey On The Vulnerable.

In fairness, Come Out in Jesus Name doesn’t admit to preying on people, but they make it pretty obvious to the casual observer. In the film, two groups are singled out as very likely to be demonized. 1.) Those who have been involved with the occult. 2.) Anyone not in “the West.”

First, those who have a natural draw to the occult will obviously be pulled toward demon cleansing. Frankly, ministries like Greg Locke’s are the perfect compromise for supernatural-seeking former occultists. (By the way, I identify with this group.) Deliverance ministries are occult practices (i.e., allegedly communing with demons) with a shiny Christian coating. Throwing around Jesus’ name while communing with the “other side” doesn’t make what’s happening Christian. It does, however, scratch an occult-interested person’s itch for some of the dark while still offering light.

Second, Greg Locke said he saw demonic activity early in his ministry but not in the West. Why is that? Culture. Many of the places around the world where we see “demonic activity” being played out are the same places where superstition runs rampant. Rather than feed into deeply instilled superstitions and traditions that are in complete opposition to the Bible, preachers and evangelists ought to help individuals break free from those lies.

I’d like to note that I am not completely disregarding demonic activity in the world, but I believe the Greg Lockes out there are making it sound like a much more prevalent occurrence. And, of course, he pushes the idea that Christians can be demonized.

5. The Gospel Isn’t Complete Without Miracles, Signs, And Wonders.

Before I begin, I want to be clear that I do believe our God is a supernatural God. He answers prayers, works in wondrous ways, and miracles are real. But He is real whether the rest of it is true or not.

But Jesus…

One of the bigger arguments in this community is that Jesus used signs and wonders to share the Truth. So, they say, we should, too. My first thought when people make this statement is, “Jesus is God, so I suspect that I won’t be doing everything He did on Earth.”

Why did the Lord do these things if we aren’t expected to do the same? I would answer with a question. What do we have today that people didn’t have then? The completed canon of Scripture. God has revealed Himself fully and completely in His Holy Word. No one had any reason to believe Jesus without some sign for proof as to His identity. Today we can look back at His completed work on Earth, history books, and most importantly, the Bible to be saved. Not to mention, believers indwelled by the Holy Spirit are living testimonies for how Christ changes a person.

Are we so desperate for a supernatural and spiritual experience that we have turned our backs on the simplicity and accessibility of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

How To Be Saved

*Below is a piece of my previously written testimony. It’s the gospel. No signs and wonders needed.*

“Here’s just a small sample of verses that address why we need to be saved and how.

We Are Not Good Enough

First, we are never going to be good enough. We cannot work ourselves into Heaven.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 3:10 “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one;”

Sin Gets In The Way

Second, sin has consequences. There’s no such thing as a sin that’s “small.” If you break one of God’s laws, then it’s as if you’ve broken them all.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

We Have A Savior

Finally, there is good news for all of us. God sent his Son, Jesus, to take our punishment on the cross. He was buried, and three days later he rose back to life, defeating death. His sacrifice and victory over death means we can live, too! All we need to do is repent (turn away from our sin and toward Christ) and believe in Jesus.

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 3:16 “’For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,”

Romans 10:13 “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

These aren’t the only verses that point to salvation through Christ, but it’s a good start. If you are wanting to start reading the Bible and aren’t sure where to begin, I suggest the book of John. Take special note of John 3, when Jesus explains to Nicodemus that he must be born again.”

Final Thought

Greg Locke’s Come Out in Jesus Name is filled with false teachings and twisted Scripture. It’s deeply unsettling to watch, and it has compelled me to warn others. These “ministers” are engaging, entertaining, and make you feel pumped up. I understand how someone could innocently walk into one of these meetings and leave convinced Greg Locke is telling the truth. But as always, examine everything you hear through the lens of Scripture. Does it contradict other verses? Does this sound man-centered or God-centered? Is the source reliable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

I’ll end with a quote from Greg Locke. He criticized other pastors and said it was shameful that they won’t give the people what they want. He said, “We want authority. We want power.” Then, he finished by saying that we have those things over the devil. Christian, who has authority and power? What does the Bible say?

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.”

Jeremiah 10:12

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:28

What are your experiences with deliverance ministries?

Image courtesy of Pablo Arenas via Unsplash.