Same Old Scam? (TODD BENTLEY LAKELAND REVIVAL)

World Magazine ^ | June 2008 | Rusty Leonard and Warren Cole Smith

[Terriergal]

Justin Peters also reported on the Bentley revival -- he is in a wheelchair and talked to people who went up for healing who didn't get healed.

Way of the Master Radio June 17 hour 2 about 37:30 into the show until the end

Smelling a scam
How can you tell if a ministry's claims are too good to be true?

1. Ask for financial information. An inability or unwillingness to make such disclosures should be a warning sign.

2. Is there an emphasis on money? Passing the plate is one thing. Passing it multiple times in a service, or dwelling on money issues, should raise questions.

3. Ask for proof of claims of healing. Reputable ministries are not defensive when asked for proof of their claims. They don't make claims they can't prove.

4. Seek wise counsel. Before following the latest Christian celebrity preacher, check with your pastor or others you trust.

—Sources: MinistryWatch.com, Calvary Church Melbourne —

Entire article here - http://www.reformationjournal.com/2008/06/toddbentley/

[mkjessup]

Jim Bramlett (formerly with CBN, friend of Pat Robertson, United States Air Force veteran, fyi) had the following to say about Bentley:

"The overriding consideration is that Todd Bentley preaches Jesus Christ, and for that I rejoice, reminding me of Paul’s words:

" But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice (Philippians 1:16, NIV).

Also, I know from experience that when Christ is preached as Savior, He shows up and saves. When he is preached as Healer, He shows up and heals. He manifests Himself according to the way He is preached and believed, even if the vessel has tattoos. Bentley, Hinn, Copeland, nor anyone else I know claims his own healing power, but they always credit and point to Jesus.

Pastor and friend Regner Capener says:

" For folks to call Todd Bentley a false prophet because he does and says some strange things really crosses the line in my estimation. I’ve heard him -- and a whole lot of preachers throughout the years -- make some statements in the heat of the moment they’d like to -- and generally do in the course of time -- retract. That’s a far cry from being a “false prophet.” There are many times I’ve wished I could go back and retract some of the stupid things I’ve said from the pulpit in past years in my youthful exuberance; and thankfully the Lord doesn’t hold us to those stupid statements…."

One thing is abundantly clear…. There is spiritual warfare going on. Demonic spirits and "rulers of darkness" have taken aim at this stupendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We can start pointing at individuals and all that, but the truth is that the opposition to what is taking place in Lakeland, Florida is not embodied in flesh and blood but in the realm of the spirit.

A false prophet in the New Testament sense does not preach Christ as Lord, and Christ crucified and raised. They preach another Christ. That is why they are called “false.” In our accusative day, a minister is called a false prophet if he merely disagrees with the biblical interpretation of someone.



I think those words merit some consideration.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Let’s consider these words - and how they’re spoken by this spiritual agent for the dark side: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LzbLUQWodk

[TommyDale]

Sorry, but I am not getting good vibes from a preacher with a pierced chin and tattoos. Call me old fashioned, but I think a "man of God" would not do this. Something about the term "separate yourself from the world" speaks volumes.

[mkjessup]

(Acts 2:14-21)

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day. And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

You don't like Todd Bentley. I get that.

I assume you don't like "Bob" either? LOL

You be a skeptic, I'll look for the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

[mkjessup]

Sorry, but I am not getting good vibes from a preacher with a pierced chin and tattoos

Would you lend greater credence to what he preaches if he were to have his tattoos surgically removed, take out the pin in his chin and look 'traditional'?

It's my undertanding that as a former biker, he had those tattoos and piercings long before he came to Christ.

[TommyDale]

I would indeed have more respect for him if he looked normal.
But the real proof would be whether he really preaches the Truth from the Bible, not his own version of the Gospel.

[AppyPappy]

Carnival Christianity. Worship the creation rather than the Creator.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

It’s not whether or not I like him nor what he looks like. It’s his clear abomination of twisting scripture. You think Bentley is the Apostle Peter? Can you imagine any disciple of the Lord Jesus doing and saying the thing Bentley (and the other 3rd and 4th wave “prophets” around the world) says and does? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LzbLUQWodk

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

I agree - a former Satanist (which Bentley is) who was redeemed (which Bentley claims he is) WOULD do something to NOT look like a freak of the world, enjoying his appearance as a way to draw attention to himself.

That being said, it’s what Bentley says and does that are MOST grievous. gag

[raynearhood]

My about page.
My theology = Calvinist
My comments on Bentley related articles here, here, and here.

"1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.... 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written,
"AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean...22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
-Romans 14

There is a lot more wrong with his "theology" than his tattoos. His teachings should be judged against Scripture, not his appearance.

[TommyDale]

His teachings are extra-Biblical. He should know better than to stand in front of a congregation with that appearance, however. He is supposed to be a spiritual leader, and a good example. I don’t fault him for his tattoos nearly as much as I do for his pierced face. That can be corrected easily.

[raynearhood]

I agree, his teachings are way extra-Biblical, and as I’ve posted in the past, I don’t believe he preaches Christ. His says Jesus, he says God, but the Jesus and God he teaches aren’t the Jesus and God of the Bible.

Bentley aside (his sacrilege has been covered numerous times, arguing scripture with those who trust Bentley is a frustrating thing) should a Christian (a true brother in Christ) be judged by a fellow Christian for his or her appearance? Or is it a matter of Church leadership? If that is the case, does the content of the congregation matter?

I know this is off the subject of the article, but the subject is present.

[Ready2go]

Luke 14

Folks maybe this is what’s happening?

Parable of the Great Feast

15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”

16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.

17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’

18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’

19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’

23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.

24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’”

[TommyDale]

It is about being a leader, and not “separating himself from the World”, but appearing AS the World. Pastors are held to a higher standard than lay members.

[MsLady]

TommDale said, Sorry, but I am not getting good vibes from a preacher with a pierced chin and tattoos. Call me old fashioned, but I think a "man of God" would not do this.

Guess you wouldn't have liked John the Baptist then?

[MsLady]

Amen!!!!

Just a side note to all those who are slamming Todd about the angel Emma. Here you go: Zechariah 5:9 Then I looked up and there before me were two women, with wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork

[TommyDale]

I don’t know what John the Baptist looked like, but after he received salvation, did he continue to look like a man of the world, or did he become a follower of Christ and separate himself from the world? That is my point. Not about appearance, but about being an example and a leader.

[MsLady]

God can use anyone, that’s the point. Doesn’t matter what they look like. Looks should be the least of anyone’s worries. What does the fruit look like? Are people getting saved, healed, delivered? Is the word of God being preached? Is Jesus being raised up? The answer is yes.

[MsLady]

Actually, I don’t know what you mean about separating yourself from the world? If your talking about the tattoo’s, I still don’t see your point.