Charismatic chaos - It is a time for courage to bring correction to the excesses…
I grew up in a Christian home. This is something for which I am deeply grateful. My father, Charles, also grew up in a Christian family and at least on my dad’s side this Christian linage goes back several generations. This is a wonderful blessing.
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.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
One thing that has always bothered me is the complicity of the Christian publishing industry, including the Christian bookstores in spreading this claptrap. I have on occasion confronted the managers at some Christian bookstores and pointed out to them that they are answerable to God for the material that they put on their shelves. I usually get the line that since they are a chain, they have to sell what senior management tells them to sell. Time to become an independent bookseller, if that’s the case.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Blessings on you and Lamb of God Fellowship! I got to this through the ARC newsletter and going to your website. I speak as someone who has been intimately involved in the ARC, and still retains a measure of contact. I speak as someone who has the utmost respect for Scott Pursley and his love for God and his gift for teaching. I speak as someone who was delivered from depression almost 7 years ago by a healing pastor in Toronto. I speak as someone who currently is membered in Grace Church in Franklin, TN, pastored by Lindell Cooley who God called from Brownsville to pastor this church. I have also experienced Lakeland first hand, having been there with my wife in June 2008.
I cannot begin to speak to the theological expertise that Scott brings. I am not that well versed in theology. I do appreciate the balance that he seeks to bring to the discussion, and the honest imploring for this balance that he suggests. And I am not acting as an apologist for Todd Bentley. There are most assuredly things I would, in my understanding of the gospel, do differently than he does. What of the fruit of this event? Are you questioning the veracity of the healings that have occurred? I feel that Mr. Bentley does act a little full of himself. He presumes things and utters them with the kind of authority that may convince folks of their truth and perhaps not encourage delving more deeply into the matter. This can be dangerous when appealing to the masses. That being said, to say that Lakeland is a travesty is yet another attack from within that divides the bdoy of Christ and diminishes the good that has come from this event.
I am not prepared to say whether time will bear this out as a travesty or as part of a true revival. I am not convinced in either direction. I do not believe that we are to “long for revival.” I believe we are called to “seek ye frist the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.” We are to long for the face of God, for His kingdom to be made manifest. When we do that, God will bring what God’s gonna bring, and it will be wonderful. John Arnott from Toronto has said that “manifestation without transformation is pointless.” Heidi Baker has said that this time in history will be marked by intimacy with the Father, and that a true nameless, faceless generation will be what God uses to bring His kingdom. Folks in leadership in the Church who feel this way are not condemning Lakeland. If correction is to be brought, then let us do it without words like “travesty.” You can certainly make the argument that Todd Bentley is working a little to hard to have his face be at the forefront of this. If God feels that repentance is necessary here, Todd Bentley, if he is being truthful before God, will be encouraged by God to do that. And if today’s church leaders need to bring balance to this, then I agree, Scott, they should step up in love.
Yes, we as a church should not sit back and merely accept what is going on there as gospel. We need to use our minds, hearts, and souls to discern God’s truth. I do pray that Todd Bentley is accountable before someone who is not simply a “yes” person and who will bring God’s holy presence into his life in a way that causes him to express the true gospel in a humble way. Beyond that, I will continue to pray that God will be made manifest throught what is going on there, that whatever is not of Him will be cast into the lake of fire, and that we as His church will know the difference well enough to do the right thing in response.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Dave,
Since you made this comment I suppose you are aware of situation with Todd and his marriage, which is a great tragedy. I pray that he is able to reconcile with her and be restored to his marriage.
Also, you may or may not be aware that Lee Grady, and editor at Charisma Mag has published a rather sobering assessment of the whole Lakeland ‘revival.’ He was an early enthusiast and after some careful investigation took a much more circumspect point of view.
Check out the following link for his editorial - http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=081308%7ELife+After+Lakeland%3A+Sorting+Out+the+Confusion