digg this
save to del.icio.us
Technorati
Tweet this story
There are a lot of Christians sad, angry and confused right now. Canadian evangelist Todd Bentley, leader of the Lakeland Florida Revival, announced that he and his wife Shonnah are divorcing.
“It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated,” the statement read.
“We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been. Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, which approaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create an atmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issues in their relationship,” the statement continued.
“We wish to stress however, that the Outpouring is not “to blame” for the current chain of events and that in effect we have no interest in blaming anyone, but rather we deeply covet your prayers for Todd and Shonnah and for Fresh Fire Ministries during this time,” the statement said.
When I first read the news I felt sad and prayed for the Bentley’s and their children. Then I got angry because this didn’t have to happen. There were plenty of danger signs along the way. Even Dr. George Wood of the Assembly of God offered some wise guidance on scriptural revival for people to read. We posted it on this web site, “AG Statement on Revival.” We also posted our concerns “Thoughtful Concerns about the Lakeland Revival.” Unfortunately those that questioned anything were told they were attacking Todd Bentley, a mighty move of God and were quickly labeled as judgmental. People need to remember not every caution is an attack from the devil and can save lives and even marriages.
It’s obvious now the danger signs were ignored by mostly everybody anywhere near the Bentleys and the enemy has more ammo to discredit Christianity. With help from God TV and the Internet the revival was marketed as the hottest thing since sliced bread and people by the thousands came to Lakeland from Europe and America. Were the Bentley’s ready for this level of ministry? What about the people around them?
When cautions of concern regarding scriptural error, the angel Emma and exaggerated testimonies of healing, miracles and people raised from the dead were offered it appeared that Bentley was finally receiving some counsel, guidance and possible positive advice on his edginess. (Physical aggressiveness on international television, for example, can get you and others sued.) Some thought this might stabilize the revival before it got even crazier.
On June 23rd well known leaders and members of C. Peter Wagner’s, International Coalition of Apostles, Canadian pastor John Arnott and California pastors’ Che Ahn and Bill Johnson ordained Todd and offered apostolic oversight to the Lakeland Revival. Many wondered what that apostolic oversight would entail. This televised ordination (spiritual covering) through the laying on of hands with personal prophecy over Bentley’s life opens up a lot of questions such as:
-
Did these men have a personal relationship with Todd Bentley? (1 Timothy 5:22)
-
Did they know he was having marriage problems? (Somebody sure did.)
-
Were those prophetic words judged? (Then, now, ever?)
-
Did they think the Bentleys were able to handle the spiritual warfare on that level?
-
What about the other ministers on the platform?
-
Were they taking an active role in the revival?
-
Did they provide wise counsel regarding the questionable esoteric messages being taught?
-
Did they stick around?
-
What is the role of true spiritual fathers?
-
What are they going to do now?
-
Who helps clean up the mess?
We should all remember that revival is not about Todd Bentley or any other preacher, it’s about Jesus. It’s not about being on TV, big crowds under a tent, or selling tapes, videos or air time either. It’s about turning the hearts of men, it’s about repentance from sin and it’s about reaching the world for Christ. It looks like a lot of people used this revival to advance their ministries. Now the Bentleys need some serious help to restore their marriage. I wonder how many will come to their aid without the television cameras and big crowds.
I know there are lots of people as frustrated as me that have something to say about this but let’s remember the thousands of people who are hurt that need to know that Jesus is still Savior. He is still the one that shed His blood for their sins. We also need to pray for the Bentley family and all those who worked with them in the Lakeland meetings. Again, this could have been avoided with wise counsel. The warning signs were there and few saw them.
The Lakeland explosion is a classic example of what not to do. I think we should all repent because this didn’t have to happen.
Your partner,
Jonas Clark
Publisher
The Voice magazine
Tags
