Todd Bentley - Lakeland Outpouring Thoughts
August 19th, 2008 by Carl Thomas.For the record, I support Todd Bentley. I support the move of God. I support healing. I support miracles. I support prophecy. I support the Bible and every ministry that it contains.
I also support testing fruit. I support seeking the scriptures. I support oversight. I support testimony. I support accountability. I support all of these things.
I do not support demonizing things we don’t understand. I don’t support demonizing people we do not agree with. I do not support “the end justifies the means.” I don’t support the ministry justifies the man. I do not support slander. I do not support gossip. (and i won’t approve comments that slander or gossip)
Since I have been a public supporter of Lakeland and Todd I feel I need to comment on the latest goings on. Indeed there have been moral failings. And this is a big deal.
At the end of the day, God used a man in sin. He has done it before. He will do it again.
I don’t judge Todd. Not because I am looking past his faults, but because of Gal 6:1. I am fearful of falling. I mean, I really am fearful of falling and I have found pride and judgment the 1 - 2 knockout combination for that.
Kathryn Kuhlman was restored and Todd Bentley can be as well. I hope he is able to get to the root of the issues, get it dealt with and move forward.
But while Todd is looking at his issues, I hope that along the way, we charismatics can come to grips with the fact that we are willing to look past almost anything if we see the right manifestations. I am not sure that Todd could not start his ministry back tomorrow without a lapse in his schedule as long as he comes and performs. Many people would restore him without repentance.
And in a day when we think it is beneficial to “toke the Ghost” smoke “gloryjuanna” do shots of the new wine or inject the anointing in our arms, we need to “be sober minded” and see if this foolishness has any biblical basis.
There is an extreme lack of reverence for the third person of the trinity. His first name is Holy for a reason.
After his last sabatical, Todd came back with an extreme humility in ministry. It is my hope that all of Fresh Fire ministries comes back with a new sobriety.
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I couldn’t have put it better myself!
“I don’t judge Todd. Not because I am looking past his faults, but because of Gal 6:1. I am fearful of falling. I mean, I really am fearful of falling and I have found pride and judgment the 1 - 2 knockout combination for that.” (wise words)
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Thanks for the thoughts, Carl. My hope is that the repentance for Todd will be true and deep, bringing real heart change and transformation. So many in the church have a superficial understanding of repentance and true holiness. Wouldn’t it be great if Todd could lead the way in demonstrating the power of Jesus to really transform a person at the deepest levels?
In my experience, it is only this depth of heart change and humility that protects us from really messing up our lives…and Todd will need it if he is to ever go back to similar levels of influence and authority in ministry. The attacks and persecution and word curses (sadly, from “brethren”) are so intense that if you have any weaknesses, you are going to go down.
This is a defining moment for Todd…will he respond with genuine brokenness and change, or will he take the easy way? I know I’m praying for him.
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Carl, I completely agree with you. I am very saddened by what has happened to Todd and his family. Thankfully, we have a fully sovereign God who saw this coming and will still be glorified despite Todd’s mistakes. I think you hit the nail on the head with Gal 6:1.
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I just saw this video from Bill Johnson, which strikes me as full of wisdom and truth, but also balanced with grace and mercy. Check it out if you want an inside view of some of the people God has raised up for this hour:
http://www.ibethel.org/features/sermonoftheweekvideo/
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excellent points. I’ve been concerned for some time about the chasing of the next new thing, rather than the real purposes of the filling(s) with the Holy Spirit: 1) sealing us into a deep knowledge of our identity in God, 2) granting of spiritual power to spread the good news of Jesus and live the life of Jesus.
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Thank you Carl for this balanced response. I was really saddened to hear about Todd and Shonna’s separation, but also prayerful that there will be reconciliation. I believe even in the midst of what we see as sad and a “ministry-killer”, that the Lord is allowing this for a reason we may not yet know, and for the greater good of His ultimate purpose for both their lives, and everyone else who is close to them.
I am also grieved that once again, when a Christian leader “falls from grace” the very ones that should be holding his/her hands and lifting him/her up in prayer instead cry out for crucifiction instead of praying for grace and mercy.
I observed much of the same reaction last year, ironically around this same time, when Juanita Bynum and her husband, Thomas Weeks were suddenly thrust into the spotlight when their marriage fell apart for all the world to see.
As for the new breed of manifestations such as “toking the Ghost”, I agree that yes there needs to be more examination of the things we are so willing to accept, but I am slightly familiar with the ministries of those who practice this. I also agree we need to reverence the Father and His Holy Spirit, but perhaps God is giving them grace and mercy in the midst of what appears to be ignorance and overzealousness on the part of the guilty parties who appear to be treating God lightly.
Blessings my brother!
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Also a comment about toking the Ghost, etc. I’m a little perplexed on this one. On one hand, the Holy Ghost boldness of these folks is great, and the kingdom fruit is there. They are doing it intentionally to reclaim the bliss that the the drug culture counterfeits, and to reach out to those in that lifestyle.
I admit that aping drug use offends me, too, and I do find it irreverent. I wish they could have stuck with new wine–I was really liking them up to that point. But I don’t want to be hasty to judge their hearts and character, which up until now I found to be good and compelling, in a kingdom sense. So I’m still waiting for further light on this one.
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Wise words Carl - this article echoes a lot of what I have in my heart lately. One statement really hit me:
“I hope that along the way, we charismatics can come to grips with the fact that we are willing to look past almost anything if we see the right manifestations.”
I think one of the critical issues the Charismatic movement really need to get right here is whether we will love Todd more than his gift. Charismatics really love the gifts, often sadly at the expense of the person. That, in my opinion, is akin to using the person for the sake of the gift. It makes the person a commodity to be used, and easily expendable when the next “miracle man” comes into the limelight. It is the inverse of the attitude displayed by many of those who have attacked him in a cruel and poisonous way - mainly, that we so love the gift that we are willing to overlook things that may be questionable, or that may cause them to stumble further on.
There is much to pray and think over here, and although I am really sad and grieving for the Bentley’s I am also really encouraged that some sectors of the Body of Christ are really responding to this with grace and mercy whilst holding out for righteousness and purity - it is the twin combinations of righteousness and peace, lovingkindness and truth (Psalm 85:10) that will help restore such a lovely gift as Todd is for the Body of Christ, and highlight the Charismatic movement for it is destined to be: an awesome company of Spirit-filled laid-down radical Holy ones that are ushering in the Kingdom.
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@Matt - Though Patricia King was the first to call it sin, Bill Johnson expounded upon the details thus deflecting the criticism of Mrs. Bentley. John Arnotts letter went into the greatest detail.
@Rain & Matt - I have never met anyone who came out of the drug culture who thought that faking drug use glorified God. At The Mission we hold onto the scripture’s instruction to avoid the appearance of evil. It baffles the mind how feigning drug use would not fall under that category.
@John - Wow! Times like this I wish I had nested comments. I never thought about the commoditization of preachers. Thanks for sharing that.
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I just read something that came in my inbox from Dutch Sheets in Colorado Springs:
http://www.dutchsheets.org/images/images_A2521/A_Statement_and_Appeal_Regarding_Lakeland.pdf
I recall a while back, he had expressed some concerns about what was happening in Lakeland, but in the above article, he’s more direct, and I think spot on in his assessment of the Charismatic movement as a whole.
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It’s my observation that ALL human beings have something to hide!
We are all sinners - even the ones who are quick to point an accusing finger at someone else - and such accusers are only disciples of Satan - the Chief Accuser.
Such accusers are far more clever than the accused in hiding their own sins.
Only the Perfect should ‘throw stones’!!!!!
I am a follower of Jesus Christ and have a deep desire to become more and more like Christ - but I find myself like Paul in the Bible “doing things I don’t want to do or not doing things I want to do”.
When I sincerely confess my sins He is faithful and just to forgive my sins!!
Only Christ in us makes us stand totally righteous before God our Father.
I certainly DO NOT SUPPORT sin of any kind and I don’t understand everything that folks like Todd Bentley do - but I love Todd Bentley and all those accused - because the work that God has started in them (and in me) HE WILL COMPLETE in due course - even if we seem imperfect for a while!!
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I think out of Todds failures brought to light. We will look more to Jesus than man as they will always fall short. We can become stronger through this.
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September 10th, 2008 at 8:04 am
That is certainly the hope.
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You guys should check out, Shifting Shadow of Supernatural Power by Julia Loren. It dives deep into the subject of the supernatural, healing, and prophetic encounters and helps the reader discern origins. There is nothing like this work in the church today. Julia is a journalist, licensed counselor, and the author of several books. Her Shifting Shadow of Supernatural Power book is well researched and compelling. I believe it will become a living classic and manual on discerning the true power of God and how to move in it. It should bring much light to any real seeker of truth. And help calm the storm surrounding the Lakeland Outpouring and Todd Bentley.
Check out Julia Loren’s blog post, “In respect to Todd Bentley & leaders who crumbleâ€
http://julialoren.net/index.php?id=8502473226487290795?v=2
Shifting Shadow of Supernatural Power by Julia Loren
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