Writing about people’s lives is personal. Publishing a story that intends to malign a person’s name, reputation and character is even more personal. You better have your facts straight! You better have ROCK SOLID sources!! It’s no joke, for you are hurting someone else.
Of course, getting other people’s life-details correct requires more effort, more research, more FACT CHECKING. Yeah, well, you better put in the EXTRA EFFORT!
So … what happens when a journalist realizes he’s been lied to? Will he be honest enough to admit it? Will he have the integrity to publish the truth, even if it turns the story against his once-trusted sources?
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After Harrison’s “introduction,” He begins a personal history of General Deborah (Lila) Green. He mentions how Lila joined the Bear Tribe, a back-to-the-land group who practiced Native beliefs. “Lila … threw herself into this new life, marrying another member, Jim Green of Kentucky.” 1This is incorrect.
Deborah did join the Bear Tribe, but Jim wasn’t even part of the group when she joined. Actually, Deborah was “dating” another member of the group when Jim did join.
Eventually, Jim and Deborah became a couple, but even then they didn’t marry when they were part of the Bear Tribe. It wasn’t until after they were saved that they married. Notably, for a time before they married, they “separated” and consecrated themselves unto God. They put God first and put their relationship before the Lord. God did confirm to them His will that they be together, but this time, they weren’t shacked up as lost souls seeking meaning and light; rather, they were beautifully married as committed Christians under God.
Hill briefly wrote about the Greens’ conversion experience. He explained that Jim met a man when he was hitchhiking, and this man “told him and Lila about Jesus’ message of redemption. …The man led the couple in a prayer.” 1Again, he got it WRONG.
Jim was trying to get back home and was hitchhiking, and the Holy Spirit had told a man to pick Jim up. That part is true (although Hill’s very abridged account is lacking in some amazing and miraculous details). Jim actually prayed with the man on the way home – not together with Deborah – powerfully giving His life to Christ right then! When the two of them finally made it to the cabin where Deborah had been alone for three days, the Spirit-led missionary proceeded to tell Deborah about Jesus. She broke down and wonderfully received Christ by a MIRACLE of God!!!
You might think these details so far are not significant, but here’s the problem:
Harrison Hill recounted personal biographical details on key moments in the Greens’ life and couldn’t get their relationship, marriage or salvation experiences correct. What if someone screwed up your personal history? Would you trust them to write anything about you? Wouldn’t you start questioning everything they were saying about you?
It’s a running pattern. It’s already a fiction story.
Hill further claims that the Greens “went on a series of harrowing mission trips to far-flung locations: Panama, Aruba, Nicaragua.” 1Not exactly. See, that was one mission trip. It ended in Miami, FL, by the way. In Miami, the Generals were hired by a large Salvation Army center, where Jesus blessed them with counseling jobs, helping alcoholics and others turn from their addictions and sins.
“Out of money in the early ’80s, they returned to Sacramento.” 1First, it seems Hill doesn’t even know about Miami. And he obviously doesn’t know that after Miami, they moved back to Montana – not Sacramento. Sacramento came into the picture a bit later, and not because they were “out of money.”
Wrong About Personal Details, Wrong About Biblical Details
Jump ahead two paragraphs in Hill’s story. We read, “Lila soon began to believe she was a prophet of the apocalypse.” 1This, too, is WRONG. She is simply a Christian Prophetess of God. You know what’s funny? As long as I’ve known the Generals and heard their teachings, exhortations, testimonies and personal comments, I have always heard them encourage the idea that we are NOT near the “End” or some “Apocalypse.” Truth is, they’ve taught many times in recorded messages that the “Bride of Christ” (the professing Church) is NOT ready to meet God (cf. Revelation 19:7). I agree with this. The “End” will not come until God’s people cleanse their hearts through repentance and get serious about obedience towards Jesus.
For the record, being a Prophetess is not some spooky doomsday title, although that’s the way Hill is presenting it. Lots of Biblical men and women were prophets and prophetesses, like those in our day. The Apostle Paul, who wrote HALF the New Testament, said this about prophecy: “…EARNESTLY DESIRE the spiritual gifts, ESPECIALLY that you may PROPHESY” (1 Corinthians 14:1).2He also wrote how “prophets … equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). 3Remember, also, Philip the Evangelist, who had four daughters who were prophetesses (Acts 21:9). Bible-believing Christians know that God-given prophetic leadership in the Body of Christ is a positive, respected position for men and women.
From my perspective, Hill is disrespecting the idea of Prophetesses (and Prophets). I believe he’s disrespecting all prophets and prophetesses by the way he chooses his phrases.
You cannot show me a prophetless Bible. We wouldn’t have a Bible without the prophets! Men and women called to be God’s “mouthpieces” in this earth have always been and continue to be integral to Christianity. For those of you who have not yet accepted Jesus as your Savior, you still can’t say prophets and prophetesses aren’t Biblical simply because you don’t believe in the Bible.
Now here comes the BLASPHEMY. Hill reports that Deborah conducted “unsettling ceremonies” where she “prophesied, performed exorcisms, and led rituals where participants lay on the floor, violently ‘birthing’ new souls into God’s army.”
1Tell me, how is prophesying “unsettling”? It’s Biblical. How is exorcism “unsettling”? It’s Biblical. Jesus tells us in Mark 16 that those who BELIEVE in Him would practice the casting out of demons (Mark 16:17-18)! As for the “birthing new souls” comment, Hill is actually BLASPHEMOUSLY maligning intercessory prayer, which is explained in Scripture: “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for [us] with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26-27).4Read also the book of Lamentations.
To all Christians out there: Please realize that Hill is making a mockery of our beliefs. Maybe he doesn’t realize that God’s people do cry out in deep prayer for souls to be “BORN AGAIN” in the Spirit and come to God. Perhaps he’s never read the verse in John 3 where Jesus plainly declares,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN he cannot see the Kingdom of God. …That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is BORN OF THE SPIRIT is spirit. …Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be BORN AGAIN.’ …If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, HOW WILL YOU BELIEVE IF I TELL YOU HEAVENLY THINGS?” (John 3:3-12).
How unprofessional! It’s not just character assassination against Deborah, it’s mockery of every Bible believing Christian out there. If Hill’s words do not offend you as a believer, if you have no desire to give a Biblical refutation of his slander, how are you obeying the command in Jude 3 to “earnestly contend for the faith”?
There’s much more coming on Harrison’s lack of scholarship. As for his soul, I really do pray he repents and comes to Jesus.
– First Sgt Amos, ACMTC Member
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1 In this critique, all citations of Harrison Hill’s work, “The Oracle’s Daughter,” were cited from the following: Hill, Harrison. “The Oracle’s Daughter.” New York Magazine, The Cut, June 8, 2021, www.thecut.com/2021/06/sarah-green-escaped-mother-cult.html. Accessed 1 May 2025.
2 “1 Corinthians 14 (ESV) – Pursue love, and earnestly desire.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 2 Jun, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/1co/14/1/s_1076001>.
3 “Ephesians 4 (ESV) – And he gave the apostles,.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 2 Jun, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/eph/4/11/s_1101011>.
4 “Romans 8 (NASB95) – In the same way the.” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 2 Jun, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb95/rom/8/26/s_1054026>.