Hate To Say I Told You So, But…

Clearly the mantle of prophet needs to be added to my list of spiritual gifts because, well… I told you so: first HERE, loudly HERE, once again HERE, especially HERE, and HERE. Openly mocked HERE, HERE, and HERE. Called to task those with an uncritical allegiance HERE, and HERE. Finally giving up and hoping that satire and humor might somehow get through to those that for whatever reason just could not seem to deal with the matter at hand in a critical manner HERE. My concern? Todd Bentley and The Lakeland ‘Outpouring’.

In response to the usual jargon from a Bentleyophile on May 28, 2008 I wrote:

My mind is not “closed” rather, having years of church experience, a degree in Religion and Theology with an emphasis on biblical studies, a minor in Greek and Hebrew, serving in a church community, having read and re-read the Bible, and most of all having LISTENED and WATCHED Bentley I find him not profitable for myself or my church community.

My attitude is not “bad”, my reaction is not “knee jerk”, and my mind is not “closed”.

Blind unthinking allegiance, however, I find very disturbing.

If you take the time to read through all of the posts and comments one thing becomes painfully obvious: clearly some sort of super cool title should be granted unto me soon; however, “prophet” (of humility) shall have to suffice in the meantime. Anyways…

So here we find ourselves post-Lakelandianity and a lot of people are now commenting about what was going on there and how Todd conducts himself; especially in light of the revelation that Bentley is involved with another woman that is not his wife. With the amount of deception that has poured forth from him recently I find it highly doubtful whether his admission to that relationship only being “emotional” is truthful. This is not the ‘enemy’ as Fresh Fire Ministries (FFM) is asserting breaking into Todd’s camp and attacking; it’s just the way sin works (the cosmic passing of the buck in the latest FFM letter show some of the serious theological assumptions that lead to problems for the movement – more later this week). When you operate in sin, unfaithfulness, and deception in your married life it’s going to take control of some other areas as well, it is not compartmentalized; as Paul says it becomes our master.

Some recent articles on Bentley and Lakeland:

• Michael Spencer: A Note to Todd Bentley
• John Piper: Test Revival With Doctrine
• And in what must surely be a first and most likely NOT a regular occurrence at Scotteriology an actual link to Charisma Magazine. It must be bizarro backward universe day: Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out The Confusion
• And using all of his usual gifts of tact, diplomacy, and understatement Dr. Jim West: Todd Bentley: Deluded False Teacher. Don’t mix words Jim tell us how you really feel! Anyways, Jim’s support and links throughout this discussion have been greatly appreciated
• The Jesus Paradigm: We Have, And It’s On. Via: JSS
• There are more; many more, though the amount of hypocrites within the charismatic movement now coming forward and expressing their “concerns” they have “always” had with Todd’s doctrine but did not want to question a “move of God” because of “signs and wonders” show just how easy it will be for the Anti-Christ to deceive many believers who have absolutely no concern for Scripture and discernment but love the “spiritual masturbation” of signs and wonders and nothing more

There really is about a million ways I could go with this from here. I could point at Todd’s lack of training, theological weaknesses (which are many), unverified healings (which are many), lies or elaborations (which are many), or fallen humanity (which we all have) as a way to discount his ministry. I won’t do that. I could ask questions like Grady who wrote the Charisma article (and he asks some very good questions from within his bubble). My questions are the same ones before, during, and after Lakeland. I’ve asked some of them before, and I’ll save the others for another day.

See the thing is, in some of my weaker moments, I sometimes want what was being reported about at Lakeland. God shows up and moves in ways that no one, and I mean NO ONE has any choice but to believe. One hundred percent epistemic certainty. Signs and wonders that leaves no one wondering. I understand that sort of hunger.

But I have these problems: I can’t stop reading Scripture and thinking it is valuable for the way we conduct ourselves as followers of Jesus together and in the world; I think the witness of brothers and sisters in Christ who came before us is very useful; I think the many things I have witnessed, profitable and hurtful to the body, are experiences that are beneficial; and all of these things taken together give me a litmus test and questions that I can’t help but apply to situations such as Lakeland and Bentley’s “ministry”.

Like Nate who wrote the Jesus Paradigm article I have no problem with Todd Bentley as a person. I mean he’s Canadian so he can’t be too bad away from the podium right? I wish him no ill will and earnestly hope that his marriage can be restored because Todd’s public failure is our public failure. Secular persons cannot discern the difference between pentecostal Christians or baptist Christians. We’re just Christians. So yeah, you should be praying for him and his marriage, and his conduct, and his theology, and his ministry, because a lot of people are getting exposed to “Christianity” by him. I know, I know… I wish it was someone else as well. I would way, way rather unsaved people meet Shaine Claiborne than Todd Bentley too.

But I don’t have a problem with Todd the person. However, I have massive problems with the church culture and horrible doctrine that created Bentleymania… and it turns out I was right. This is why way back in May I directed your attention to a quote by Philip Schaff commenting on the original Todd Bentley and the movement that grew up around his leadership called Montanism

It is the first example of an earnest and well-meaning, but gloomy and fanatical hyper-Christianity, which like all hyper-spiritualism, is apt to end in the flesh.

There is an incredibly, massive, large difference between spirituality and hyper-spirituality. Next time sane, sober minded, well trained men of God and theologians point out that difference: LISTEN! And I am NOT talking about myself here, but the many voices that said, “Something is wrong here,” and the usual garbage that was thrown in their faces to not question God, that they had no ‘authority’ to question Todd (because clearly the ones who did were doing an excellent job), to not question the man of God, or signs and wonders… sigh. It genuinely depresses me when people abandon Christianity for the heresy of Neo-Gnosticism and Neo-Montanism that was being offered up at Lakeland.

Finally, Todd is stepping back for a season for some restoration and this is good because there may have been nothing more pathetic and sad than Paula White getting separated last summer (which led to divorce) and the following week leading a conference for women called ‘Satisfied Woman’… my brain still near reaches stroke levels when I think about that. At least FFM is smarter and more humble than that, and I wish Todd all of the best and truly hope he can find some peace and healing in this time.

This part is for Todd: I have moved right down the road 15 minutes away from your office. If you’re looking for some mentoring and a little tutoring in biblical hermeneutics, exegesis, and theology during your break I would love to help you out after you are done working on the marriage… because not only am I good at these things clearly I’m a prophet!