The Jezebel Label: How Leaders Twist Scripture and Wound God’s Children
Jezebel, Absalom, and Misused Labels in the Church
In many hyper-charismatic and NAR (New Apostolic Reformation) circles, leaders label God’s children with demonic names. Old Testament figures like Absalom or Jezebel are characterized, and then leaders claim those “spirits” are inside of or leading God’s people.
This kind of teaching creates fear, suspicion, and division in the body of Christ. Instead of rooting believers in their secure identity in Jesus, it produces insecurity and paranoia. “Do I have Jezebel in me? Am I being used by Absalom? Am I under a curse?” This is not the freedom of the gospel—it is spiritual bondage.
Let’s look at the Scriptures to see the truth.
1. God’s Children Are Never Defined by Jezebel or Absalom
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
The gospel declares that when someone believes in Christ, they are made new. They are not labeled by their past, and they are not defined by demonic titles for their actions and behaviors.
Throughout the New Testament, believers are called:
“To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.” — Ephesians 1:1
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.” — Colossians 3:12
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” — 1 John 3:1
Not once are Christians called Jezebel, Absalom, or any demon’s name.
2. Who Jezebel and Absalom Really Were
Jezebel (Old Testament): A Phoenician queen who married Ahab, promoted Baal worship, and murdered God’s prophets (1 Kings 16–21).
Jezebel (Revelation 2:20): Jesus rebuked the church in Thyatira:
“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” This was about a real false teacher tolerated in the church—not believers being possessed by Jezebel. The name was symbolic of corruption, not a mandate to assign a demon to Christians.Absalom (2 Samuel 15): David’s son who led a rebellion against him, trying to seize the throne.
These were historical people with sinful choices—not demonic spirits that “rest on” or possess believers today.
3. “Bowing to Jezebel”
Another common belief and phrase in these movements is that the world—or even the church—is “bowing to Jezebel.”
This is not how the Bible explains sin or worldliness. Scripture points to two main sources of evil:
The flesh
“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” — James 1:14–15
The problem is not Jezebel—it’s our own sinful desires apart from Christ.The devil
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” — 1 Peter 5:8–9
The enemy is real, but the Bible never tells us to fear Jezebel or that we can be possessed by her. It tells us to resist the devil by standing firm in the faith.
Believers in Christ are not bowing to Jezebel in the same sense Israel did in the Old Testament. What Scripture says is that Christians can fall into sin, compromise, or be enticed by the world.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” — 1 John 2:15–16
But when this happens, the call is to repentence— changing one’s mind to line up to scriptural truth so that different actions will follow —not to accuse believers of being possessed by “Jezebel.”
Idolatry today isn’t about bowing to Jezebel—it’s about anything that takes the place of God in our hearts (money, power, self, addictions, approval of others). The solution isn’t to label people with Jezebel but to preach the gospel and teach them their new creation identity that has the power to make them free.
The claim that part of the church is “under Jezebel” creates superstition and mystical thinking. It shifts the focus away from the gospel and onto hunting for spirits, blaming people, or finding enemies in the church instead of preaching Christ. Instead of resting in the finished work of Jesus, believers are taught to live suspiciously—wondering who around them might be “influenced by Jezebel.” This mindset produces fear, accusation, and division rather than faith, love, and unity. It also keeps people chasing shadows instead of standing firmly in their identity as new creations in Christ. The gospel calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus, not demons lurking in the body of Christ.
4. The Impact of These False Labels
When Christians are told they might “have Jezebel” or “carry Absalom,” the effects are devastating:
Fear and suspicion — believers look at one another with distrust instead of love.
Condemnation — many live under the weight of false guilt, wondering if they are secretly controlled by demons.
Division — churches fracture as leaders and members accuse each other of being Jezebel or Absalom.
Distraction — instead of focusing on Christ’s finished work, attention is put on “spiritual warfare” against demons within the beloved children of God.
Many will say that people act like “Jezebel” through their sin and the things they do.
But here’s the truth… That’s not an opportunity to slap a demonic label on someone and condemn them. It’s an opportunity for the love of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ to shine.
The gospel—and the truth of who we are as new creations in Christ—is what makes us free. Not trying to hunt down demons. Not living in fear of “spirits.” Not condemning the children of God with false labels.
Jesus didn’t die to rename us with accusation. He died to give us a new life as His beloved and redeemed children.
5. The Gospel Truth
The good news is that believers are secure in Christ:
“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” — Ephesians 1:13
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” — Romans 8:1
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21
Believers are sealed, secure, and righteous in Christ.
Final thoughts
When we stop demon-hunting and look through the lens of the gospel, we often see something very different. We don’t see a Jezebel, we see people who don’t understand God’s grace. We see people weighed down by trauma, living with insecurity, struggling financially or emotionally, and believing false doctrines that keep them bound in fear and performance.
That doesn’t excuse controlling or manipulative behavior but it definitely reframes it. The problem isn’t that God’s people are Jezebel. The problem is that some are hurting, deceived, and in need of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many have fallen for mixture - a false gospel that’s grace and works and the fruit stinks.
Labeling people with demonic titles dehumanizes them and keeps the church living in fear. We are talking about people that Jesus shed His blood for when we call them demons. Take of the demon glasses, take a step back, and see what’s really going on. Broken people who need healing, false teaching that needs correcting, and hearts that need to encounter the grace and truth of Jesus.
So calling Christians “Jezebels” or “Absaloms” is not discernment—it is spiritual abuse and a twisting of Scripture. It weaponizes fear, divides the body, and distracts from the gospel.
If you have believed the good news about the death and resurrection of Jesus and have placed your trust in Him as your Savior, I have good news for you. You are not Jezebel. You are not Absalom. You are a child of God who is beloved, redeemed, and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
The enemy loves to confuse identity, because if he can get believers doubting who they are in Christ, they will live in fear instead of freedom. When leaders weaponize names like Jezebel or Absalom against God’s people, it heaps condemnation where God offers no condemnation (Romans 8:1). It shifts focus off of Christ’s finished work and onto self-examination fueled by fear. “Maybe I have that spirit. Maybe I’m the problem. Maybe I’m under a curse.”
But the gospel says otherwise.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” — Ephesians 1:7
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.” — 1 John 3:1
Jesus didn’t die to rename you with demons and accusations—He died to give you a new life, a new heart, and a new Spirit. He calls you His own.
When the church starts labeling its members with Jezebel or Absalom, it’s no different than agreeing with the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). But when the church holds fast to the truth, it speaks life — saint, beloved, new creation, holy, forgiven, child of God.
So if you’ve ever been told that you “are Jezebel,” or that you’re controlled by a demonic identity, hear this clearly — that is not the voice of your Shepherd. Jesus says-
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” — John 10:27–28
Your Shepherd doesn’t call you Jezebel. He calls you His beloved child.
Stand firm in your identity. Rest in the gospel. And remember that your life is not defined by a false label but by the eternal love of Christ who purchased you with His blood.
