I posted my only written public comment on this matter on May 15th., entitled ‘Why the ‘alleged’ revival in Lakeland, Florida should invoke caution.’ My final comment if I might quote myself was – “Take this as the warning of your pastor, who loves LOG with a father’s heart – Todd Bentley, Paul Cain and the situation in Lakeland is to be treated with great caution, and prayerful word-centered consideration. I believe that if you wait and listen you will see this ‘alleged’ revival prove to be something with little or no value to the church.”

First, let me say very clearly I care nothing about my view of this situation being vindicated with what has finally been admitted about Todd Bentley and this ‘Lakeland Revival.’ No Christian should ever under any circumstances take delight in or derive any sense of self importance from the moral failings of another. This should be cause for mourning and great soberness.

But allow me to set before you the words of those who were initially supportive and enthusiastic, but who now feel quite disturbed by the ‘Lakeland revival’.

Lee Grady, editor from Charisma Magazine writes: LIFE AFTER LAKELAND: Sorting Out the Confusion – Todd Bentley’s announcement that his marriage is ending has thrown our movement into a tailspin—and questions need to be answered. He raises the following question:

1. Why did so many people flock to Lakeland from around the world to rally behind an evangelist who had serious credibility issues from the beginning?

2. Why didn’t anyone in Lakeland denounce the favorable comments Bentley made about William Branham? (My comment – William Branham is a well known revivalist/healer from the late 40’s and 50’s who taught many strange and heretical doctrines)

3. Why did God TV tell people that “any criticism of Todd Bentley is demonic”?

4. Why did a group of respected ministers lay hands on Bentley on June 23 and publicly ordain him? Did they know of his personal problems?

You can read the full article by clicking the following link – Lee Grady on Lakeland

Not long after this I received an email from David Bryant with comments made by Dutch Sheets -

A STATEMENT and APPEAL REGARDING LAKELAND
-Dutch Sheets. (Aug 21, 2008).

It has now been a couple of weeks since I heard about Todd Bentley’s plans for separation and divorce. Like everyone, I have had a variety of emotions including anger, sadness, and grief. Every time I see this scenario repeated, I grieve: for the husband and wife involved; for the family that will be scarred in so many ways; because of the incredible reproach it brings to Christ; and the distortion it gives concerning God’s heart and ways. I am praying for Todd and his family. Click the link and read the entire comment – Dutch Sheets

Finally, and most sobering was this comment I received from Peter Wagner:Speaking of the public figure going down the tubes, Todd Bentley now carries the label of a liar and a deceiver. I’m sorry to mention it, but I felt personally deceived in the same way when Ted Haggard’s sin was exposed and he was immediately removed from ministry. In the Lakeland I case, I am elated at the way things are turning out. The Revival Alliance with whom Todd was aligned on June 23 has kicked into action with a vengeance. Ché Ahn and Bill Johnson, like me, were overseas when things broke, but John Arnott stepped up to the plate and moved in apostolically. It has since become clear that Todd’s Fresh Fire Board could not have handled the situation, Stephen Strader and Ignited Church could not, nor could any of his other close friends. Only the Revival Alliance could. I am delighted that they are not buying into typical charismatic soft morality, also called “greasy grace” or “don’t touch God’s anointed” or “mercy must triumph over judgment,” phrases that have been used on other similar occasions as convenient religious cop-out excuses. They’re proceeding in love, but it is tough love!

Since this is an update, I will share some of what I know about what is happening with Bentley, but not all because some things need more verification and it is up to discernment of Revival Alliance what and when this will be revealed. Suffice it to say that there is more than I am going to mention. First of all, Todd has been removed from public ministry until further notice. He has resigned from the ministry he founded, Fresh Fire, so he is no longer a part of that board. It has become clear that he indulged in periodic drunkenness. He has no intention at the moment of reconciling with Shonna, nor does she with him. Their marriage has been torn for years by his emotional attachment with at least one other female whose physical contact went beyond hugging and kissing and holding hands. Enough said-maybe more details will be revealed later-but it was clearly immoral. All of this was skillfully concealed by lying and by swearing close associates who had observed his behavior to secrecy. Stephen Strader, for example, knew nothing of this before June 23. Apparently some of his board members did, but they did not have the ability to deal with it. Please read the entire article – Peter Wagner on Lakeland

It now stands that Todd Bentley has been exposed as an adulterer, and periodic drunkard. It is also clear that some near his ministry knew of these matters and were sworn to secrecy by Todd Bentley. It is also clear that at this time their is no intention by either party in the marriage to reconcile (And from the sound of things who can blame the poor wife of Todd Bentley).

Add to this that individuals sympathetic to the ‘movement’ went to Lakeland and attempted to follow up on the stories of people being raised from the dead (From the platform Todd Bentley claimed 27 had been confirmed). The truth is not a single story could be verified by those who attempted to follow up on these claims. There is also flimsy evidence being offered for other ‘dramatic’ healings. It is important for the reader to understand that Lee Grady and Peter Wagner were initally supportive of this, and to my knowledge Dutch Sheets did not question those things which were obvious from the beginning (for example – Todd’s endorsement of the disgraced ‘alleged’ prophet Paul Cain, his claims to being regularly visited by a female angel named ‘Emma’, his claims to have regularly visited the ‘third heaven’ and there received revelations about things like who wrote the book of Hebrews).

Now – what is it that should be learned from all this? One thing is this – T.V. is a harsh mistress. This entire debacle would have likely been greatly diminished had it not been televised by God T.V. The well meaning folks that run that operation need to acknowledge their responsibility and humble themselves and ask forgiveness for promoting this thing with so little discernment. You want to do the body of Christ a favor? Televise excellent biblical teaching, done by skilled godly men (with known, proven character) and nourish the minds of the pathetically gullible folks that apparently regularly partake of a steady diet of God T.V.

Second, we must face the fact that Western Christianity has most certainly become extremely weak minded and lacking in spiritual depth. Look for a moment at how easy it was for thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of Christians to be deceived by this ‘revival.’ Why is is considered somehow mutually exclusive for Christians to be both deep thinkers and passionate Jesus freaks? I love the Puritans. They produced some of the greatest thinkers, pastors and spiritual writers of the entire span of Christian history. They taught the Word, precept by precept. They believed with all their hearts that holiness was for every area of life. They also believed fervently that Christianity had to touch the heart, and stir the emotions. There is a wonderful quote associated with them – ‘His whole life he accounted a warfare, wherein Christ was his captain, his arms, prayers and tears. The Cross his Banner and his word [motto] Vincit qui patitur [he who suffers conquers]. Is it not entirely reasonably to expect that we can practice this kind of Christianity?

Third, we cannot give up on pursing revival. The fact that counterfeits come along, or that poorly charactered men come along and mislead many can not detour us from pressing in to lay claim to the promises of God. Jonathan Edwards, a great believer in revival wrote -“It is God’s will through His wonderful grace, that the prayers of His saints should be one of the great principal means of carrying on the designs of Christ’s kingdom in the world. When God has something very great to accomplish for His church, it is His will that there should precede it the extraordinary prayers of His people; as is manifest by Ezekiel 36:37. and it is revealed that, when God is about to accomplish great things for His church, He will begin by remarkably pouring out the spirit of grace and supplication (see Zechariah 12:10).”

We then must, like Jacob, lay hold of the Lord and not let go until He blesses us with a fresh out pouring of the Holy Spirit. Pray that God will help Todd Bentley to face the truth, humble himself and be restored to his wife and family.

I was also taught to be highly suspicious of Pentecostalism. Most of this ‘caution’ was prejudical and unfair. My Baptist theological orientation was ‘cessassionist’, meaning that I was taught that ’signs and wonders’ belonged exclusively to the age of the apostles and the first century. Over many years of inquiry, study and experience with balanced teachers I came to see that there was no ‘theological’ reason to believe that spiritual gifts and signs and wonders had ceased. Additionally, there was and is good evidence to suggest that spiritual gifts and signs and wonders had continued through the centuries among the body of Christ.

While I was in college (Taylor University) and then in graduate school/seminary (Ashland) I gradually changed my views and began to open myself to an understanding of the Christian life that included signs and wonders and ‘charisma’ as normative to the N.T. church. This was a lengthy experience, but one that has allowed me to reflect and move along through this evolution over a number of years. I am grateful for teachers like Ray Nethery, Ned Berube, John Wimber, Jack Deere, Sam Storms, Dr. John White, Dallas Willard, and Dr. Gordon Fee for helping me to overcome my prejudices and ignorance. I say all this to say that I am sympathetic to the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. In some sense I consider myself and LOG to be part of that movement.

I also feel a certain culperbility for trends which developed early on in Pentecostalism. When the Azuza awakening (1906) began most ‘evangelicals’ rejected and severely criticized this fledgling movement. This harsh rejection helped to lead to a reactionary counter-rejection among Pentecostals of theological training. Alongside the development of a legitimate ‘renewal’ movement grew anti-trinitarians (Jesus only), and a host of other strange doctrinal teachings. Much of this aberrant theology managed to remain within Pentecostalism, albeit on the periphery, but still occassionally raising up to confuse and even on occassion to dominate large parts of Pentecostalism. I think those of us who come from a more traditional evangelical tradition share some guilt for helping to drive Pentecostals away from balanced theological study. I feel sad, and slightly ashamed that few Christian leaders from that era sought to reach out and come along side the Azuza Revival and help to bring balance. This is an unfortunate tragedy.

I spend the extra time in this entry to say all these things because I want to convey to anyone who happens upon this post that I am not an enemy of Pentecostalism. I believe that God moved in a mighty way through the Azuza Street Revival, and that wonderful blessings came about as a result of this global revival movement. Pentecostal churches have spread the gospel with boldness, transformed the nature of worship, brought a Biblical emphasis on the supernatural and generally advanced the Kingdom of God with great blessing and benefit to millions of people. In fact it is because I believe in what Pentecostals termed the ‘full gospel’ that I humbly call upon Pentecostal/Charismatic leaders to have the courage to correct the extremes for the sake of Christ.

Lakeland is only the most recent example of the strain of extremism which has come out of Toronto and Brownsville. Instead of beginning with alleged ‘experiences’ of healing, or strange and bizarre phenomenon like uncontrolled laughter, or twitching, or various weird vocalizations begin with what can be fairly and throughly evaluated – (1) what is said and taught (2) the known character of those who are part of this ‘revival.’ This simple act on the part of responsible Pentecostal/Charismatic leaders would serve as a great blessing for all followers of Jesus whether from the Pentecostal tradition or more traditional evangelicals.

If Todd Bentley is evaluated on the basis of what he says and teaches I believe that even with the most gracious possible allowances being given Mr. Bentley, his teaching would be declared heretical. Alleged encounters with angels are one thing, but the elaborate detailed descriptions of angels and various directions given to Mr. Bentley by angels are beyond the pale of Orthodox Christian teaching. Paul specifically warned of those who ‘going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind.’ (Col. 2:18) Mr. Bentley also describes visits to the ‘third heaven’ in which he has face to face encounters with Biblical characters, including Jesus and is given ‘revelatory’ material that exceeds what is revealed in scripture. The Apostle Paul on the other hand, speaking of his own experience with extraordinary supernatural activities writes – ‘he (meaning himself) heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.’ (2 Corinthians 12:4) Yet, Mr. Bentley thinks nothing of going into elaborate public discussions of things about which the Apostle Paul would say nothing. Not once in scripture does Paul, writer of 2/3 of the N.T. go into details about angelic visitations, or even revelatory experiences. I plead with the leaders of Pentecostal churches to disassociate yourself from this kind of ridiculous heretical teaching. There is more of this aberrant teaching in Mr. Bentley’s writings and public speaking if anyone cares to look.

Next, I humbly ask those among the Pentecostal leadership, in colleges and graduate schools and various spheres of influence to be willing to correct these borderline and even clearly heretical practices/teachings. I think to myself – ‘I know there are wonderful, scholarly, balanced leaders in this movement – why are they unwilling to speak more courageously?’ How is it possible that someone as notoriously scandal ridden as Paul Cain can get up in front of thousands and be publically endorsed and hardly anyone utters a peep? This is a man whose sinful predilictions are publically known and yet he is still being given a platform to ‘perform’ his prophetic wonders. He has been unwilling to accept a sensible path of restoration laid out to him by the likes of Jack Deere and Mike Bickle, yet Cain stood on the stage of Lakeland and denied his already confessed past sins. Where is the outcry? I’m not talking about those with some escatological agenda that see Bentley as a foreboding sign of the end of the world – I’m talking about theologically astute Pentecostals who simply want a measure of purity and integrity and won’t tolerate these kinds of shenanigans.

But this is only the beginning of the house cleaning that needs desperately to come to the church. Where are the Pentecostal leaders with the courage to question the financial improprieties of large intinerent ministries like Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyers, Oral Roberts and others. What about fascination with the so-called ‘health/wealth’ theology of so many public Pentecostal/Charismatic ministries. What of the utter unwillingness to challenge non-trinitarian theologies of huge public ministries with superstar leaders? As someone who is both obscure and not from this tradition I can only plead that men and women of courage from this Pentecostal background will have the strength to stand up and say let us return to ‘a sincere and pure devotion to Christ‘ (2 Cor. 11:3)

Lakeland is a travesty. I believe time will prove this out. But it is hardly an abberation. Those who long for real revival are heart broken when the false and theatrical gets passed off as the real deal. Those who long for revival want desperately to see a humble, broken, and Christ-centered out-pouring that will change the face of the weak, impotent Christianity that permeates the Western Church. However, judgment begins in the house of God. Please my dearest Pentecostal brothers and sisters be courageous and name names, and bring merciful correction for the sake of the Kingdom of God.