August 17, 2008

• Todd Bentley & the Revival in Lakeland

  I’m going to break my habit of not posting very often… well, I do have something to say this time, that I feel compelled to write (I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep because this was on my mind).  And no matter how you think or feel about Todd Bentley and Revivals, don’t stop reading here, because what I’m about to say applies really, to “everybody”.

  Todd Bentley has a ministry that is pentecostal and full of “signs and wonders” in nature.  Some would say he’s just another nut like (you fill in the name here).  Others would say God works through him in a strong, tangible way and that his ministry changes lives for the better, and that miracles happen in his meetings.  I’m not going to pass judgment on his ministry right now, because a) I don’t know enough to make a “decision” on it yet, and b) that’s not my purpose for writing this.

  A couple of months ago in Lakeland Florida, Todd Bentley preached for several days. Many who were there (and who heard from people that were there) witnessed and experienced things that inspired it to be called a “revival”.  I wasn’t there.  I read things about the meetings and saw a few minutes of it on God tv.  Again, I’m not going to pass judgment on it.

  I had dinner last night with a dear female friend, and she told me that it was just announced from Todd’s ministry, that he and his wife have separated, and that Todd “had an inappropriate emotional attachment to a female member of his staff”.

  I’m sure his critics are having a field day with this.  But I’m writing because I feel compelled to say a few things about condemnation.

  We have all read about evangelists, ministers, etc., being caught being bad examples, doing immoral things, and even doing outright criminal acts.  Sometimes things are so bad that it destroys their ministry (Jim and Tammy Faye Baker for one) and undoes any good they may have  done (whether on purpose or accidentally).  It also offends people to the point where they want no part of Christianity at all (which to me is the worst effect).

  I say to all of us:  instead of condemning ministers like this, we should be praying for them.  We should be saying, “Lord, please help this person repent before you, and change his life so you may use him again for your purpose and glory and furthering the work of the Kingdom.  Please turn evil for good, let no weapon formed against Your work prosper; turn the enemies of your work away and please don’t let any good that’s been done come undone.”

  Even if you don’t like Todd Bentley or his ministry, pray for him, that this scandal doesn’t do what I just said I think is the “worst” effect, that of turning people off from God completely.

  Scriptures come to mind like the one telling us not to try and take the mote out of someone’s eye when we have a whole beam in ours.  Or the one that says, “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall”.  Or the famous saying not in scripture, “there but for the grace of God go I.”
  Or the phrase, “love delights not in iniquity “(I Cor 13 I think).  I’m sure there are lots more scriptures that fit this situation, all telling us to not judge but pray for someone overcome by sin.

  And this applies not just to famous people or people in ministry, but people in our own churches that we hear gossip about.  Scripture calls Christians the “weak of the world”… and the devil spends way more time trying to mess Christians up than he does non-Christians… 

  Instead of writing Todd off as being somehow not credible any more or this being “proof” that his ministry was fake in the first place, pray for him.  Pray for any place God is or may be working, whether you think He is or not.  Pray for the furtherance of the gospel and for the Lord to stay the hands of the enemies of that gospel.  And pray for Todd personally, this has got to be hard…sure he brought it on himself, but isn’t it better that he be “corrected” in this and not allowed to just go his merry way down to destruction beyond the point of no return?

  Paul mentioned that while he was in prison people were bolder about preaching Christ, and even said some were doing it out of bad motives — but that it was “ok” because even that would further the gospel, which is the bottom line anyway.  So I’m guessing that even “bad” ministries (or ministries that you think are weird) might be doing some good for some people.  That’s why I say pray for any place God might be working, whether you think He is working in that ministry or not.  And pray for your brothers and sisters in your congregations, too, when you hear they’ve “been naughty”.

  I’ll get off the soapbox now.

  Love to all,
  Gerrie
  

  • 8:46 am
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