Update: For those of you that wrote me and told me I was spreading lies and gossip about Bentley, here you go. Straight out of ‘Apostle’ Peter Wagner’s mouth: “First of all, Todd has been removed from public ministry until further notice. He has resigned from the ministry he founded, Fresh Fire, so he is no longer a part of that board. It has become clear that he indulged in periodic drunkenness. He has no intention at the moment of reconciling with Shonna, nor does she with him. Their marriage has been torn for years by his emotional attachment with at least one other female whose physical contact went beyond hugging and kissing and holding hands. Enough said-maybe more details will be revealed later-but it was clearly immoral. All of this was skillfully concealed by lying and by swearing close associates who had observed his behavior to secrecy.”
Read his full statement dated August 25, 2008 here.
The Phoenix Preacher comments on this on August 26, 2008 here.
Thanks to PJ Miller at Sola Dei Gloria for posting this up over at her blog.
After reading this post read my post “I’m moving on“
Robert is a member of Peter Wagner’s group called the ICA. He has been sounding an alarm for over two mos. now. Thanks Robert. *NOTE* If you have any questions about Bentley’s ‘other women’, write Robert, not me. I’d like to stay on track regarding the substance of the many excellent points of concern he outlines.
by Robert Ricciardelli
Robert@vision2advance.com
http://www.vision2advance.com
Robert wrote the following story:
Todd Bentley’s moral failure was publically exposed this week. There is more that has come forth from young women and pastors from his home town and around the world, so more information should be forthcoming, unfortunately.
We have tried to be wise in our reporting, as we felt compelled to report because so many questions were being asked and so many were being influenced by wrongful doctrine and untruthful claims. Many leaders have been deceived and so we know the deception was very powerful, even though many of us were wondering how so many had been caught up in it.
Lakeland was not revival, but there were many who made the journey who were touched. The question was, how could that be? Well we know that God inhabits the praises of His people and there were many who came to worship Him in the Lakeland meetings. Many came expecting, and God met them in their expectation of Him.
There were claims of the dead raised and other extravagant miracles, and this simply did not happen.
Some people were healed and many were touched in the worship. We have seen in the past from Ted Haggard, William Branham, Paula White, etc., that results can happen regardless of the character and lifestyle of those from the platform. Todd’s lifestyle, character, doctrine, methods, etc., often did not line up with the Word of God and that is why there was such a schism in the charismatic church. Those that supported Lakeland and felt touched and those of us that were watching in shock as we seemed to be watching a completely different story.
We have asked leaders to not put a spin on their involvement and to consider acknowledging that they were duped.
I have been duped before and will again. I was fortunate that on this occasion, we had information early on of the deception that was going on. We witnessed how this was in fact perpetrated by man, for man’s agendas. We shared this with many of leaders involved, and many would not listen. Instead they warned us to not come against Todd Bentley, his lifestyle, his methods, or his doctrine, because he was God’s choice to mess with our religion. We were called “revival police”, and other names for asking questions.
The fact was that they needed revival police, because there was criminal activity going on. Todd should have been arrested for assault when he kicked a sick man to the ground in Jesus name.
I am hoping that those leaders who supported Lakeland and used the same platform for gain would come forth and admit that they either were too concerned with their own agendas to listen to those who warned them of such things, or they simply just missed it. God TV has an enormous responsibility in all this and ignored wisdom from many leaders regarding this. At the time of this writing, many have back pedaled claiming that they did not lay hands on Todd, or endorse him. It would be refreshing if they came out and said, I am so sorry, please forgive us for our blindness in these matters. And also ask Todd for forgiveness in using his platform, rather than having Todd come down from the platform for the ministry and healing that was needed.
If you have talked to the people who have been hurt by this violence and abuse, you would understand the frustration from many of us.
When we questioned staff members, and former staff members about Todd, many used the same words to describe him, Pathological Liar”.
These lies in the guise of ministry and Todd’s behind the scenes lifestyle made it difficult for his board and others to discern. I have gotten emails wondering if I am happy now that Todd has been caught in an affair, (see message from Todd’s board). We are not happy about this, it has been sickening and impacts us all. I am saddened for him, for his family, for the other woman, and for all of those who have been hurt through this process and Todd’s lifestyle. I pray for repentance, I pray for mercy, I pray for reconciliation and I pray for total exposure so that Todd can finally get the deliverance and healing he needs. This did not happen 3 years ago, and this led to this sad moment.
I would like to thank all the brave souls out there that stood for righteousness, holiness, and reverence towards the things of God.
One man whom I love and respect is Lee Grady. He has been guarded and only released responsibly needed information, and he did so in the love of God, and the love of the truth of His Word. My prayer is that we could all learn from this. It could happen to any of us, if we refuse to walk humbly in the fear of God .
We must also choose to walk with those around us that that will provide relational accountability, get in our face when they need to, and encourage us towards righteous living before God and man.
Todd has a chance now to be whole for the first time in his life and that is what we should all pray for. We should also pray for a miracle in his family and also for the charismatic church to walk in plumb line truth of God’s Word. We also pray for the church to rid themselves of the self pleasure pursuit of signs and wonders, and adrenaline rush experience, and instead pursue King Jesus and His righteousness in every aspect of our lives. As they die to self, and serve others, they will see signs and wonders follow their lifestyles of obedience while living in His presence.
“We also pray for the church to rid themselves of the self pleasure pursuit of signs and wonders, and adrenaline rush experience, and instead pursue King Jesus and His righteousness in every aspect of our lives.”…
A hearty Amen to this prayer and sentiment and thank you for posting this article here.
I think that the body of Christ is entitled to an admission and apology from C. Peter Wagner himself to the effect that he was duped. He not only commissed Todd Bentley, but said God directed him to do so. He stood on stage on June 23 and affirmed all of the prophecies that were obviously NOT of God. If Wagner is an apostle (I don’t believe he is) then he ought to make an example of himself for the body of Christ and step to the front of the line on this matter. In addition, an apology ought to be publically issued to all of those who warned about Bentley BEFORE this news came out — simply because it was evident that what was going on there was not of God. People were accused of blashpheming the Holy Spirit because they questioned Bentley’s ministry. And finally, for all those who believed that Lakeland was a true revival — God is being merciful to give the body of Christ a wake up call. He is showing people that they did not a relationship with Him that enabled them to discern. Do we dare hope for actual repentance and discernment to emerge from this awful situation? THAT is up to us. God has shined His light and exposed the Truth.
David,
In fairness to C. Peter Wagner. He issued a letter clarifying the commissioning…before the news of Todd’s marriage failure was released.
It stated…
1) He did not commission Todd but he did participate in the ‘alignment’ ceremony that placed Todd under the oversight of Ahn, Johnson and Arnott.
2)The commissioning was done by the three members of the revival alliance… Pete even backed away after his part was done.
3) He blessed but did not prophesy over Todd. He felt the distinction was important.
However, you are correct, we all now have a reason and necessity to repent our sins…
I wonder if, in these days of instant mass media, that the deception became widespread quickly and the accompanying rebuke, repentance and retraining might also need to be spread far and wide.
GOD TV certainly shares responsibility in this, as do other forms of mass communication, including blogs. It seems these are the appropriate mediums for setting folks straight, now.
Babylon’s Dread, would you consider that you might be splitting hairs over Peter Wagner’s role in granting his “blessing” as opposed to “prophesying” over Bentley? Especially in light of what he said that night:
“I decree to Todd Bentley, your power will increase, your authority will increase, your favor will increase, your influence will increase, your revelation will increase….I also decree that a new supernatural strength will flow through this ministry. A new life force will penetrate this move of God.”
And again,
“God will pour out a higher level of discernment to distinguish truth from error. New relationships will surface to open the gates to the future.”
In your opinion, in terms of ‘Apostolic’ governmental authority, which carries more weight? A ‘Decree’ or a ‘Prophesy’?
Scott,
From the outside I would totally call it splitting hairs. But as an insider I paid close attention and noticed that Pete was cautious. Honestly I consider his decree to have been the equivalent of a prophetic utterance…he plainly said he did not. So on that I have to give him leeway.
I did notice that after making the alignment decree and blessing that Pete stepped back. And when Todd asked the apostles to ‘come get some’ Pete did not as I recall.
So clearly Pete was trying to distance himself… clearly he was trying to take care…BUT…
It was not clear to the general public and it basically looked like 17 leaders were TOTALLY endorsing everything at Lakeland and Todd as the God appointed and anointed leader.
Nothing offended me more that Todd lining up those people and knocking them down at the end…the symbolism of his taking authority over them was unmistakable. Punctuated by the fact that he physically pushed most of them down.
In my comments I only want to be fair…not to endorse Todd … I do not. You will remember Scott that for me the issue has always been to parse the line between what God was doing and what Todd was doing at Lakeland. It was a hard line to toe.
Peace to you
For all those who would defend Peter Wagner in the least, go back and watch the June 23 commissioning. Any attempt on his part to distance himself from that commissioning is nothing more than a flat out misrepresentation. These people have been exposed for what they are and now we are going to see damage control like never before.