Friday, August 01, 2008
My posting of this article by William Fawcett doesn’t mean that I somehow think that these kinds of shenanigans, as demonstrated in Lakeland, are over. Nor do I agree with some others who have linked to this article and are stating that the folding up of the circus top in Lakeland, is somehow indicative of a ‘seed’ falling into the ground and dying, in order that more meetings just like Lakeland will crop up all over the world! I hope not! Bentley has been proved to be an embarrassment. Enough commentary by me though. Please read what William Fawcett has to say, he makes some good points.
How to build a credible argument.
R.I.P. Lakeland
On one hand we have people claiming that Todd Bentley is dealing with Kundalini fire (Serpent-spine power), an aspect of Eastern religions. I’ve also seen accusations that Bentley’s female (now male) angel Emma is really Emma-o, some sort of eastern demon (actually the “King of Hell”). And people trying to see a monkey in the beard of a Tatto of Jesus. Nipple rings in the tatto of “Medusa.” And on ad nausueum.
Such arguments represent intelluctual laziness. Granted, for many in the non-prophetic church, it is just too tempting to equate Bentley and his followers with eastern religions, because that automatically makes it wrong. Case shut.
But these are not people from without the Church, these are our brothers and sisters being sucked into this deception.
Something signficant is happening with the Lakeland Revival. In case you haven’t noticed, it is shutting down (in its present form) on August 3. In recent weeks, Todd Bentley has been absent more than present. Why just a month or two ago, they were talking about this as if it would never end. Paul Cain propehsied that God would move on some individual to fund a permanent center of revival in Lakeland. What happened?
It seems that people within the Charismatic and Pentecostal church- people within the Apostolic movemen- have been making a case against Todd Bentley’s ministry. And making a case in a way that can be heard.
This has not been easy. The meetings of the “nameless and faceless” revival have looked like a who’s who of Charismania.
Who is Speaking
Lee Grady, no foe of revival wrote on May 14 an article entitled Honest Questions About the Lakeland Revival. He said:
“But I would be dishonest if I told you that I wholeheartedly embraced what I saw in Lakeland. Something disturbed me, but I kept my mouth shut for three weeks while I prayed, got counsel from respected ministry leaders and searched my heart to make sure I was not harboring a religious spirit.”
You need to read his entire article fully. I’ll wait. In summary Grady pointed out problems with the Angels, the manifestations, and the “hype and exaggeration.”
Grady’s statement was the warning shot across the bow. It was a reversal for Grady and Charisma magazine, that had promoted the “revival” only a few weeks previous.
It was followed by a statement released by George Wood, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God. Ignite Church, the birthplace of the so-called Lakeland Outpouring is an Assemblies of God church. The A/G is a fellowship, not a denomination, and to some it appears to let its churches get about as goofy as they want to- but here’s what George Wood had to say:
“…the message must always be examined. If the message and the messenger line up with God’s Word, then the revival is on safe biblical ground and it should and must be embraced. If not, then even though miracles and manifestations occur, it should be avoided. ”
Read or view full statement here.
Wood, to his credit prophesied “Unless these initiatory events (Jesus exalted, Word preached, repentance occurring) of the Christian life occur, along with the sanctifying work of the Spirit that leads to a holy life, then the miracles, crowds, and enthusiasm will quickly wane. ”
Lee Grady has followed up his original artice with several more. And some have not liked what he had to say.
“When I wrote an article in mid-May calling for scrutiny of some aspects of the Lakeland Revival, I was labeled a Pharisee and a “religious policeman.” People who said they had been deeply impacted by the Holy Spirit in Lakeland used spiritual threats and harsh terms to tell me that I had become the enemy.”
“I refuse to go on the defensive, and if I need to retract any statement I’ve ever made about this revival I will. But what these nasty exchanges have shown me is that a divisive spirit is certainly at work in our midst—and we need urgent prayer to short-circuit what the devil wants to do.”
I’m sure by now he has been told to “not touch mine anointed.” Well, I’m no Charisma magazine fan, but A close look at all of Grady’s articles since April is in order. The archives are listed at the top of all of his columns. Here’s a few must-reads:
An Appeal for Unity in a Divisive Season by J. Lee Grady 5-28-2009
Can We Avoid a Charismatic Civil War?by J. Lee Grady 7-9-2008
The guy is not backing off. Grady recently stated “So much of what is passed off as prophecy today resembles what you might find in a daily horoscope. The so-called “prophetic movement” in the contemporary church has been tainted by silly fads and charismatic witchcraft. One prophetic e-mail list sent out a word recently saying that dormant angels were being awakened out of the walls of our churches. (That’s not remotely scriptural.) Another predicted that God would begin to speak to people through the names of candy bars and blue jeans.”
Many of us “recovering charismatics” have been saying the same thing for the last several years. It’s almost as if there has been an awakening of others within the movement. Grady, by the way, is a member of Peter Wagner’s International Coalition of Apostles (ICA), many of the the same group, along with Peter Wagner, performed the “coronation” of Bentley back in May. Thank you, Lee Grady.
Let’s hear it from the Apostles
More significant, some of the other leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) are now speaking out. I guess Dutch Sheets started the avalanche, with his sermon on Lakeland back in May. And one observer said “He stated the obvious, that most of those he sees come forward really aren’t being healed. And that Todd and his team need to be much more guarded in how they approach these folks and stop all the hype.” Let me make it clear that I’m not aligning myself with Dutch Sheets- the point is that he is a leader in the same movement as Bentley.
Most outspoken has been Robert Ricciardelli. States Ricciardelli, who has spent much time in Lakeland, “Truth is there are very few people being healed in Lakeland.” He has other concerns as well.
“Friday night, Todd said that God said there were 1000 people that were to give $1000, and they were to receive a 1000 fold blessing. The one hour drama on this giving subject was so deceptively evident that it was embarrasing to watch. On top of that, those that would give that money were able to come to the platform to be recognized.”
His conclusion about Bentley:
“But he cannot go on embellishing, speaking untruths, hyping, manipulating, shoving, kicking, slapping, leg dropping, and bamming his way on the pulpit without consequences. God will not be mocked, and Todd and others must answer to Him for everyone led astray.”
“The biggest thing about Lakeland is the lack of the fear of our Awesome God, lack of repentance and humility. Many have exchanged the truth for a lie and chosen experience over content. Angels, trances, and 3rd heaven focus has replaced the gospel as a focus… Lord do what only you can do to bring your divine alignment to all of us in Jesus name..”
Ricciardelli appeared on a recent radio talkshow and the interveiw is well worth the time. You also may want to reveiw an email sent out by Andrew Strom with statements from Ricciardelli.
Pastor David Cannistraci of GateWay city church in Los Angeles has released a rather stunning statement on Bentley. In it he states:
“The lack of a Scriptural basis for Todd’s “revelations” and exotic experiences is by far my biggest apprehension. The message seems to be “experience trumps Scripture.” There is dangerously small ratio of Bible teaching to controversial experiences.”
“There are some pretty obvious and wild exaggerations of resurrections, healings, the significance of the meetings, and the overall results of Todd’s ministry. Hype undermines Todd’s credibility, but also the credibility of all who believe in the power of God. The power of the Holy Spirit needs no embellishment. Our exaggerations may be fooling immature Christians, but they are not fooling the media or the public.”
He goes on in his letter to talk about prophetic mysticism in general. He mentions angels, necromancy, claimimg mantles of past fallen leaders, and “a culture of weirdness.”
Most recently the annual campmeeting was held at John Kilpatrick’s church with speakers Steve Hill. Dutch Sheets, John Paul Jackson and others. Apparently ALL of the sermons prepared independently were warning about discerning truth from error. Kilpatrick and Hill, or Brownsville fame, had visisted Lakeland and prayed a blessing over Bentley. Many viewed that as an endorsement although my take on it was that they were put on the spot when Bentley asked for an impartation. In response, Kilpatrick stated “I, John Kilpatrick, went down to Todd Bentley’s meetings, the Florida Outpouring, and gave my blessing to revival. I made it clear that I didn’t know Todd, his doctrinal belief nor who he is affiliated with, if anyone. To me, doctrine is very important. It always has been and it always will be. It is the infrastructure that a move of God runs on. You can not separate a man from his doctrine.” I’ve yet to hear the sermons, but will be ordering the 14 CD set very soon.
Where am I going with this? Well it seems that all the rabbit trails concerning Emma-O, and Kundalini fire really have done nothing. But when leaders from within start raising issues about doctrine and character, people are listening. Indeed this madness has been around a long time. Bentley’s model for ministry was Benny Hinn, and it shows. We do not have to chase rabbit trails when there are obvious doctrinal errors staring us on the face. And Todd Bentley makes it easy. Recently Bentley even came out and stated that he was teaching Manifested Sons of God doctrine. I’ll be blogging on that soon.
What has been the effect?
Since July 4th Todd Bentley has been at Lakeland a total of 3 nights (as of July 24). The crowds are dwindling, and basically confirming the notion that this revival was not about God, it was all about Todd Bentley. Even his biggest supporters are noticing this.
“If you go back and view the earlier meetings which are archived on the GOD TV website you can feel the difference in the ‘atmosphere’ compared to what is happening today.” Regarding this contagious anointing: “As for taking the ‘ark’ and moving somewhere else, if last weekend in Los Angeles is an example of what to expect, I am afraid this revival has been killed before it got out of the starting gate. Los Angeles was just another conference!” This misguided person blames the demise on the need for verification of the healings and states that they should not have to be verified. Funny thing about how TRUTH always gets in the way.
The big tent in Lakeland shuts down on August 3. Before we throw the last shovel of dirt on the Lakeland “Outpouring” let us not forget that our contending for the truth should always include truth, not vain imaginations. Let us study the Word and know what truth is, so was can point out the difference between truth and darkness the next time this arises. And it will.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Thank you Scott for your part.
Scott,
I just watched a little tonight and Todd was there. If you
didn’t see it, he had everyone shooting arrows. Then I
switched over to TBN to hear Paula White urging people to
pledge sixty some dollars a month and receive a daily
benefits package from God. There is always something
out there. What next?
Only $60.00 per mo.? Wow! That’s cheap! 😉
These things (Bentley and Hinn type revivals) will spring up again under another wacked out leader, at some other location in America. Charismatics are addicted to this kind of stuff.
What we need is a genuine revival for the word of God. We live in a biblically illiterate church culture. And as long as we place personal experience over the revealed word of God, this type of **&^ will spring up again and again
Steve, what’s really sad is that in many cases, the Pastors of churches from near and far are loading up the people from their congregations on buses and planes to go ‘get some’ and bring it back!
Scary thought.
Bye bye Bentley. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Scott,
Thanks for posting this very informative article.
Prasie God for those within the AG movement who had the spiritual integrity to call things as they were.
This kind of stuff will continue to come and go. I have seen it over the last 28 years. The weird and scary thing is this: it keeps getting more bizarre every time it pops up.
Those with itching ears want more and more, bigger, greater, grander.
It’s frightening to think what the next wave will look like, but Jesus is on the throne, and Acts 5 can still happen if it needs to. Uudgement begins in the House of God.