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Supremely sad.

My prayer is that God would bring healing to Todd's marriage as He brings Todd to a place of true repentance and restoration.

I'm NOT a huge fan of what is going on in Lakeland.  Not my cup of tea, that's for sure.  But I really hope God can touch Todd and his wife to a place of strength and healing.

Certainly strange things were happening in Lakeland.

I tried to follow the programmes a few times. They were on late at night and I just didn't have the concentration. I wondered when Todd was going to preach and then I realised he was preaching...

Not really my cup of tea either.

But I did meet a number of people who had been to Lakeland and had only got there from Europe by supernatural provision, that was not sought after. Some of these people seem to have been equipped to impart faith to other (an ability that wasn't there before).

I am saddened more than anything that the Christian media (God TV) put this servant of God on a worldwide pedistal. Like us all, he was an earthen vessel. Perhaps we could see it coming.

Praise the Lord for men like Graham, Warren, Hybel and perhaps two years ago I would have put Haggard up there too. Brothers! He who thinks he stands beware that he doesn't fall... Take care of yourselves, men!

The moral failure part is personal, IMO. If Todd Bentley had been teaching the truth and doing things in accordance with scripture, that body of work would have survived his moral failure. However, what he was doing before the moral failure needed to be condemned as unbiblical and, frankly, a blight on the body of Chirst.

Where is the discretion when nonsense like this comes up? Have we fallen that far from the truth of God's word that we cannot see the problems with these false "signs?" I am deeply troubled that it takes a moral failure to speak out about a guy who was promoting false signs and really, really bad theology.

Did you see the Nightline interview with Todd Bentley? When secular media can ferret this out before a large part of the church, there is a problem of discernment.

Instead, we saw a parade of the usual suspects going down there declaring that Todd's power would increase, his favor would increase, his influence would increase. That is pretty much a direct quote from C. Peter Wagner, former head of Fuller Seminary, and now head of the International Coalition of Apostles, at a "commissioning service" for Bentley in June or July. You can find the video of this on YouTube. In the clip, Wagner mentions his "special gift of discernment." He was joined in the service by some of the usual suspects: John Arnott (laughing revival from what was the Airport Vineyard in Toronto, Rick Joyner). Even Paul Cain and Bob Jones (originally part of the KC Prophets group) showed up. Most of these guys have been discredited before and confirmed what we should have know.

When people saw what was going on, they should have spoken up. Some did, but many remained silent and now lives lay in ruin.

I, too, pray for repentance on the part of Todd Bentley. . . . . and everyone else who endorsed this stuff.

Maybe I should start a group called the International Coalition of the Appalled. . . . .

BTW, it is my understanding that this has caused a split in the Latter Rain and Apostolic reformation movement. I'm glad that some saw the light. Too late, IMO, but good that they have recognized it.

John Piper had a great post on this the other day:

Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma, one of the main charismatic magazines, has written a lament and critique of the Lakeland “revival” which is now in a tailspin over the leader's announced separation from his wife. Grady’s summons to pray for the church and our nation is right, and among his commendable questions and observations are these:

• "Many of us would rather watch a noisy demonstration of miracles, signs and wonders than have a quiet Bible study. Yet we are faced today with the sad reality that our untempered zeal is a sign of immaturity. Our adolescent craving for the wild and crazy makes us do stupid things. It’s way past time for us to grow up."
  
• "True revival will be accompanied by brokenness, humility, reverence and repentance—not the arrogance, showmanship and empty hype that often was on display in Lakeland."
  
• "A prominent Pentecostal evangelist called me this week after Bentley’s news hit the fan. He said to me: “I’m now convinced that a large segment of the charismatic church will follow the anti-Christ when he shows up because they have no discernment.” Ouch. Hopefully we’ll learn our lesson this time and apply the necessary caution when an imposter shows up."

Charismatics will not be the only ones who follow the Antichrist when he rises. So will the mass of those who today in thousands of evangelical churches belittle the truth of biblical doctrine as God’s agent to set us free (John 8:32).

Discernment is not created in God’s people by brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance. It is created by biblical truth and the application of truth by the power of the Holy Spirit to our hearts and minds. When that happens, then the brokenness, humility, reverence, and repentance will have the strong fiber of the full counsel of God in them. They will be profoundly Christian and not merely religious and emotional and psychological.

The common denominator of those who follow the Antichrist will not be “charismatic.” It will be, as Paul says, “they refused to love the truth.”

I say AMEN to that. I hope this helps right the ship.

Stacyjam, if that is a creepy interview - how wuld you describe your avatar picture?

 I've been around in vocational/pastoral ministry long enough to have seen these sorts of things again and again - preachers and leaders become celebrities, get people all excited, and then pull people off to the edge or over the edge of the Gospel.

My current congregation is pretty well grounded now and there's enough going on to keep them so interested in whar WE are doing that they're not looking for excitement elsewhere, but there are a lot of Christians who are spiritually immature or who are bored or who are just looking for SOMETHING more who will latch onto these guys. 

The problem with our time period in history is that these things can spread world wide in WEEKS.  It used to be that a lot of things would burn out before they could get too far.  Current communication and travel technologies let things spread out so quickly that it doesn't leave a lot of time for the inevitable crash to happen before tens of thousands of people have been deceived.

I can't help but think that this situation means that we, as pastors in this time period, have to redouble our efforts to make sure that out folk are continuing to grow in spiritual maturity so that they won't be drawn into these things.

I had not heard of TB until someone from another country said they were going to FL to see him.  So I investigated and watched a few shows as well as the NBC Dateline piece.  It is all so sad.  I agree with the author of the article ... people are hungry for a spiritual - supernatural touch of God.  People want the spectaular.  Doesn't God come in the quiet and gentle breeze of the wind - the calm after the storm.  Jack, your right.  We need to know and not look for the show.  This is not my cup of tea nor my background or desire.  I am sadden for the harm and disgrace caused to our King and His kingdom - for the people who will feel betrayed and for those who will still believe in TB and want to see him again once again lacking discernment.

Hey Bryan,

Good to hear from ya. Hey do you remember when we were at Saddleback and pulled that outragious stunt on Deb - saying it was her birthday?  The couple from out of the country at dinner were so excited to go see TB in FL at the end of the conference - that's when I first heard about TB and investigated.  I'm thinking of those dear saints who really believed this was a move of God - it's those followers I am sad for.