Lakeland and Discernment

August 20, 2008

Here are some more tidbits on Todd Bentley. I have cut and pasted these from emails I have received from Charisma and Ministries Today:

After originally claiming no third party was involved in his filing for separation from his wife, evangelist Todd Bentley confessed to his ministry’s board of directors last week that he had engaged in “an unhealthy relationship” with another woman—the second such occurance in three years. A letter written by Fresh Fire Ministries’ board stated that Bentley had “entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.” Another statement released by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship pastor John Arnott, one of the three leaders appointed during the Lakeland Outpouring to oversee Bentley, added reports of “excessive drinking” to the mix. Bentley has since resigned from Fresh Fire’s board of directors and will “refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.” “I am deeply saddened for the body of Christ that has been disillusioned yet again,” Arnott said. “Had any of us known what was just ahead, perhaps we would have been able to intervene before things went into crisis.”

And this:

Evangelist Todd Bentley, leader of the Lakeland Revival, stirred up interest in angels when he wrote about Emma, a female angel he said wears a long white dress, floats above the floor and resembles Kathryn Kuhlman.

It is obvious that the naysayers, many of whom were very reputable Full Gospel leaders, kept telling us something was fishy in Lakeland. They were accused of being doubters and worse. Just three weeks ago we were told that to disbelieve in this fellow was going to start a “charismatic civil war.”

Now the Body of Christ is reeling in the wake of the revelation of Bentley’s drinking, womanizing and visits from the angel Emma. This is just terrible. I am grieved. The Full Gospel did not need another A.A. Allen/Robert Tilton type who makes everyone question our legitimacy. Why can’t we grow out of this?

Let me say that it isn’t a matter of my caring what those outside of the Full Gospel camp think of us. We have been looked down on from the beginning and will always be by some. But we had made such strides. The kind we read about in the Book of Acts. Miracles are certainly important. I am all for miracles and signs and wonders. But doctrine and discernment are important too. I would also have to think that Apostolic oversight would be important now as then. Where was that?

You may ask, what about those who did receive miracles during this “move of God?” I believe they received because they had personal faith in God. God honored faith. He always does. Even when an alcoholic A.A. Allen prayed for folks some did receive. Was it because Allen was anointed? Not in my book. It was because people who had no knowledge of his real lifestyle trusted God. I think the same probably happened in Lakeland.

So let’s do this:

1) Ignore hype and sensationalism (we have to be careful in these last days)
2) Trust God (where you are, right now, living room or local church… He’s just as real)
3) Don’t ignore red flags (talking to an angel that says it also visited William Branham, a sure enough heretic, would be one)

I don’t want to seem critical but now is the time for discernment. We are living in the days of deception and apostacy. The devil knows his time is short.

Brother Jesse


Lakeland Confusion Continues

August 14, 2008

Check this out concerning recent developments from Lakeland:

Todd Bentley Separation Shocks Followers, Apostolic Overseers

Also, read this from J. Lee Grady:

Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion - Fire In My Bones

I have pretty much kept my mouth shut about the Lakeland Revival with Evangelist Todd Bentley. I haven’t been there. I don’t know much about Bentley. I have no idea what kind of theology he preaches. When I would watch on TV he was usually just talking about the miracles God was doing there. The times I saw him praying for folks it was similar to Benny Hinn and of course there was the trademark “bam.” Nothing terribly new or different outside of the rather unorthodox ways he was known to pray for some. In short it hasn’t come up so I have offered no judgement to anyone.

But I was reading some of the questions about the revival. Who was Todd Bentley? Who was he accountable to? Why was he so violent when praying for some people? Where was the proof for the miracles he was claiming was happening? These are just a few of the questions that was being asked… and not by the usual anti-Full Gospel thought police. It was those from within the Full Gospel who were concerned.

Quite frankly that impressed me. Discernment within the ranks of the Pentecostals? We have folks asking who he was affiliated with and who did he answer to. That’s new. Were miracles actually taking place? Let’s see evidence. More new stuff… coming from Charismatics no less. Once again, I was impressed that Full Gospel people were actually “discerning the spirits.” We may just be maturing.

But what about the thousands who flocked there? Grady had this to say:

“Among those who jumped on the Lakeland bandwagon, discernment was discouraged. They were expected to swallow and follow. The message was clear: ‘This is God. Don’t question.’ ”

I’m sad. I’m disappointed. And I’m angry. Here are few of my many, many questions about this fiasco:

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?

To put it bluntly, we’re just plain gullible.”

We are maturing yet, we still need alot of work I guess. I still don’t want to venture a judgement on the revival but I do want to say something at this point.

I have a big problem with his seperating from his wife and his ministry being blamed. I don’t know that he has said that but others are. It’s the same excuse we heard from the Paula White camp. Marriage can be sacrificed if it gets in the way of “ministry.” Ministry demands trump all other obligations we have as born again Christians is what I’m hearing.

I was told by a mentor that if my marriage was allowed to fail because of ministry then I had failed in my ministry (no matter what it looked like). I have always held to that pearl of wisdom. My marriage comes first. I am not indespensible. God’s work can carry on without me and if ministry “demands” that I neglect my wife then something is not right with me or my ministry. My first responsibilty before God is my relationship with my wife. My Bible clearly says that if there is a problem between me and Kathy then my prayers would be hindered. How could anyone minister with hindered prayers?

Jesus placed a premium on marriage. His view was that it is a sacred gift from God… and it is for life. There are alot of people who need us ministers to be an example of righteousness. I know we live in a mixed up world that needs lots of mercy but God is still on the throne. His power is real. His Word is right. The Spirit still works within people to make God’s will happen. Even in the challeges of marriage.

So what kind of message is this to the world or the church.

What kind of a revival do we really need? One where some more headaches and backaches get touched? A leg lengthened? Some more gold teeth and gold dust? I think we need a revival of real life Kingdom reality in the real world. People need to be born again and to be Spirit filled to live in happy homes. I think God would be more interested in that becoming a reality than in impressing folks with the same old “show.”

I’m just sayin…

BroJesse


Hard To Believe… Sodomite Sues Bible Publisher

July 30, 2008

Click here for “Lawsuit Against Bible” story.

“Bradley LaShawn Fowler of Canton, Michigan, does not like the fact that the Bibles produced by Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Publishers both accurately convey God’s prohibition against homosexual behavior. So he is suing in federal court, seeking $10 million from Thomas Nelson and $60 million from Zondervan.”

“We know that the homosexual activists are now targeting, essentially, born-again Christians and committed Catholics and Mormons who oppose their agenda. They’re out to re-write the Bible, to say that the Bible really does not condemn homosexual practice, which it obviously does…”

Its laughable!

Brother Jesse


Greed in the Spirit

July 25, 2008

From the world of Pentecost:

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A man says he was so consumed by the spirit of God that he fell and hit his head while worshipping.

Now he wants Lakewind Church to pay $2.5 million for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Matt Lincoln is suing after the church’s insurance company denied his claim for medical bills, he said.

The 57-year-old has had two surgeries since the June 2007 injury but still feels pain in his back and legs.

He said he was asking God to have “a real experience” while praying.

Lincoln said he has fallen from the force of the spirit before but has always been caught by someone.

Lawyers for the church said other congregants saw him on the floor laughing after his fall. They said he failed to look out for his own safety.


Charismatic Civil War?

July 19, 2008

Can We Avoid a Charismatic Civil War? - Fire In My Bones

Wow! Really? I wasn’t aware. I guess that’s what I get for being out of the TBN loop (what I call “Hollywood Christianity”). Us little guys are just having church and trying to live for God and these guys are setting up big tents and starting wars. Not this charismatic. I for one will be a conscientious objector and flee to the Kingdom of God. There are no blues and grays there.

Great article by Grady who is generally right on the money. I understand that after increasing scrutiny and a lack of documented evidence for all the miracles he has been boasting of, Bentley has moved on. It is truly unfortunate that we who are in the Full Gospel tribe have to keep dealing with this sort of thing. The supernatural does not have to be weird and if God heals someone there should be some evidence. Hopefully we will all learn something from this.

Brother Jesse


Fellowship Groups

July 15, 2008

In May of this year we started a new journey here at ALF. We began a shift to small group oriented ministry. The reason is very simple. It is the Biblical way to disciple the believers who make up the ALF family. We are convinced that relationships must be established and grow for born again believers to become the Body of Christ. This generally isn’t going to happen attending a worship service on Sunday. Lots of great things happen on Sunday morning but meaningful fellowship usually isn’t possible. It takes small groups to cause this to happen.

So we came up with a plan. We would form “Fellowship” groups with an emphasis on relationship building and assimilation. We also believed it would be a way to reach out to others, something we were really not doing well before. This would require leaders. It would also require folks willing to open up their homes.

To be honest I was concerned. Would people commit to something so new to us? How thankful I am that the Body of Christ at ALF responded as they did. Leaders came forward. People opened their homes. Now we are going into our third month and we have three well-led Fellowship Groups meeting in homes from DeLand to Astor.

I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for the response. The leaders have gone over and above the call of duty. People have committed to their groups. The Bible discussions are lively and interesting. In a word, successful.

Thank God for His presence in His people!

Agape,

Brother Jesse


Hello world!

July 15, 2008

Shalom and welcome to my brand new blog. I will be posting news, views and commentary on my world. I am a Christian and I pastor the church I go to so this will be from a very Biblical world-view. I am also conservative politically so be advised I will also be commenting on things from the right.

I desire your input and hope to stimulate the thinking of those who come here. Most of all I want people to consider the reality of God in our world and just what that should mean for our lives everyday.

Brother Jesse