fusionatl

I just want to get some other opinions about Todd Bentley, is he the real deal? Or is he one of the many the bible warns us about?

When I compare what he does to what the bible says I should expect of someone who makes the claims he does, he doesn't pan out. Does anyone agree or disagree???

Just interested in some feedback.

I've seen this gentleman knee a man in the stomach to "heal" him. I've heard him claim things from being demon possessed to kicking old women in the face so that the "Spirit" would break out in the meeting. I see no precedent for these things in scripture. This is a small reason for why I question him and those like him.

If you agree please say why. If you disagree please say why. I know that there are alot of people that feeling strongly about issues like this. I just want to hear what people have to say.

I honestly don't know, but I'm going to lean towards "yes." Simply because this guy's been around for a while. He's always seemed a little "off," doing crazy stuff & coming off a little super spiritual. He is just in the spotlight now with all this "revival" stuff going on, so he's getting a lot more attention.

Personally, I think they are making a bigger deal of this 'revival' than it actually is. The best description I have heard is that "they are trying to turn a trickle of God into a flood."

But I am always very cautious of condemning or sharply criticizing someone who is out there doing what Bentley is doing. Scripture DOES talk about that (I know that's not what you are doing, but there are plenty who are). If you look back through history, there have been some really unconventional people who lived crazy lives for Jesus. I'm sure when people saw that Peter's "shadow" was healing people some got offended. When Smith Wigglesworth was punching people to heal them people definitely murmured. I'm not saying Bentley is 100% legit, but I'm not saying he isn't either. I don't get the kneeing & kicking part, and while there isn't a precedent for it in scripture there also isn't anything speaking against it (bear with me... if some dude kicked my wife in the face I would probably punch him).

The one comforting thing I have seen is that within the past month or two he has submitted the ministry to an accountability board. Previously he had no accountability in the ministry.

Shouldn't the criteria be more strict? You say he's been around for a long time. What does that have to do with how scriptural he is? You say that there isn't anything against what he is dong in scripture. Now shouldn't the absence of what he is doing being presented in scripture, in light of what the bibledoes say about healing and miracles lead us to question him more seriously?

Now I'm not saying prophets are sinless but if they aren't 100% legit aren't they 100% false? Now every man is fallible, but can he be fallible in the exact moment he is under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit?

What I really want to know is, where do we find scripture to support him and authenticate his claims.

I'm sure they asked the same thing of Jesus when he spit in mud & put it on the blind guy's eyes.

Of course I'm not equating Todd Bentley with Jesus. I'm just saying that just because something isn't specifically supported in scripture doesn't meant that it can't be of God.

"Holy laughter" is nowhere in scripture but I've been consumed by it. Does that mean it was of the devil? Was I making it up in my head? Believe me, I didn't even know what was going on but it was one of the most intense experiences I've ever had with God. What about "falling out in the Spirit"? Nothing really written about that in scripture, but it is a reality today. Of course it's been abused & misused & faked, but that doesn't mean that at times God isn't operating that way.

Also...
You wrote, "where do we find scripture to support him and authenticate his claims." I guess I really don't know what his "claims" are so I can't really comment on that one man.

(No realy basis for this, but...) I absolutely believe that a prophet can be fallible in the exact moment he is under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I've seen it before. A prophet gives a right on Word from the Lord... but then he puts a time on it himself. "God will heal you of ______... April 12th" or whatever it is. God was giving him those words to speak but he added his own little part at the end. Of course one could say that for the first 15 seconds he was under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit but the last 4 seconds he wasn't. I guess that's true, but when it's in the same sentence it's a little hard to tell. That's why they say to test prophecy, which is kind of what you're talking about. I haven't heard a lot of the prophecy coming out of there, so I'm having to speak in general terms.

You know what I can truly hear both sides...
"some of the things this guy is doing don't line up"
"If this is Gods anointed man then putting your mouth on him will get you where it got Miriam in Exodus"

Ha! I just looked at the survey and saw that 1 person has answered each of the 4 questions. I guess the jury is really out on this one!

And this doesn't make it any better... I just saw that Todd & his wife are getting divorced (or at least legally separated). That sucks. I'm guessing it was stuff that was already present before the Lakeland thing & just grew during this. Sucks for them & sucks for Lakeland & sucks for Christianity (b/c this will get blown up by the media probably).

You know what pastor J I don't think it sucks, I think it means that it's time for us to step up our walk.
Time to start praying for those in leadership, because lets be honest how many of us expect or our pastor to "Walk worthy of his calling." ... Ok then how many of us really keep our pastor lifted up in prayer?
I know a number of our brothers and sisters who did more complaining about Todd than praying for him.
He's our brother... he may have been doing some stuff that made us a little uncomfortable, but he's part of the body none the less and he is in the spotlight so that means the the attack on him is exponentially greater that it is on any of us

Wow, only four votes huh.

It is sad when a marriage goes through this. Hopefully, it can be resolved without divorce.

Yah, that hit me pretty hard when I saw that. You're right Samuel, I think it's something like this that brings prayer to the light. How many people were praying for him (his integrity, his faith, his marriage) instead of praying against him (God, reveal this devil worshipper!)? You get the point.

Even if some of the stuff going on at Lakeland was shady, nobody wants to see this happen. It's not good for anybody. So... I still think it sucks!

I agree with Sam Love covers a mulitude of sin and if that I was our leader how would we feel. God uses anyone even sinners hint if we canjust comprehend that. He is leader and a servant of Christ and we need to pray for one another the bible put emphasis on that so much. 1 Timothy 2 and in Galatians 6. We are a body I dont care what ministry or domination you come from if you confess JESUS you are part of the body of Christ. Instead picking on one another we need to be praying, because no one is exempt from sin. Personaly I am trying my best not to be apart critizing no one ministry because I dont want to be judge in the same manner is what the word says. 2 Timothy 3 also states the dangers of the last days boastful, and proud, unloving, unforgiving and slander others and have no self control. Betrayl and son on so the point is love one another pray for one another while everything is good and love jesus with all you have for real. God uses the foolish things and always said when God gives our community power to to miracles and signs and wonders we will get the same critism and attacks, if you dont believe read Acts because people are religous and have evil motives. Our minds can be so dull with the vanities of this life if an arm would grow out right before our eyes that would still could deny the power of God because we havent allow themselves to see God's beauty they depend on carnality. Romans 14 speaks on the danger of criticism.

Let me add lets not be worried about trying to firgue out if he is a servant I think that is just flat against what JESUS teaches about love. And lets pray for the restoration of his family and community. Love you guys!