Lakeland Revivial Fruit: Rotten

As a follow up on yesterday’s post, how about testing this “fruit” – the preaching.  According to Todd Bentley at the center of the Lakeland, FL revival, God told him that preaching Jesus isn’t important – the church believes in Him already.  Yeah, I guess the whole church has that down pat.  (That’s sarcasm, if it doesn’t come through in print.)  Preaching about "the angel" and the supernatural is a more important message God has for Todd to preach as the way to revival.

Here's Bentley's own explanation of "the angel."

Now that isn’t the teaching that has sparked past revivals, and it’s not the central message of any teaching in the New Testament.  I know God has spoken to all of us in Scripture and that is our standard to judge all other teaching.  The only way to judge whether Todd or any other person is teaching on God’s behalf is to compare it to Scripture.  This claim doesn’t measure up.  Here's what we know God has said.  Here's how we judge whether the Holy Spirit is involved.  Here's how we evaluate a preacher's message.

John 15: 26  "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

John 16: 7-11, 13-15  "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged....When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

And did you catch the desire for a “new” message?  That’s not what Paul counseled Timothy and us to hold fast to.  "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them" (2 Tim. 3:14)

People's testimonies aren't authoritative.  Claims of God speaking to individuals isn't authoritative.  God's Word is, and all else has to be measured against it.  Bentley's teaching falls sadly, tragically, and radically far afield, and those who are following him are ignoring Paul's directive.  Bad teachers should be ignored, not celebrated in the church.

(HT:  Thanks to the commentor on yesterday's post who alerted us to this claim.)

Comments

[rick]

Melinda - I absolutely do not support support Bentley or what is happening in Lakeland but I don't think this video is as bad as folks would like to make it sound.

"The church has no problem believing in Jesus, what we don't believe in is the supernatural."

I hear, "you have an empty religion of knowledge but you fail to see the power and glory of Almighty God."

My point isn't to defend him. Things are very wrong there. I only suggest that we guard ourselves from extracting sound bites and drawing broad conclusions.

I hope that makes sense and I'm not trying to be contentious on this point.

[kyle]

Melinda, Great post!

"And did you catch the desire for a “new” message? That’s not what Paul counseled Timothy and us to hold fast to. "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them" (2 Tim. 3:14)"

Excellent point!

[Karen A.]

I wonder if Bentley's angels aren't related to the ones who appeared to people like Mohamed and Joseph Smith?

[SD]

Rick;
"My point isn't to defend him. Things are very wrong there. I only suggest that we guard ourselves from extracting sound bites and drawing broad conclusions."

If this was a 10 second clip, and only one clip that says only one thing that is not consistent with the rest of Mr. Bentleys "Ministries", then I would agree with you. However he has said these sorts of things multiply ways and at multiply times. "Woe to them who lead my little children astray", is the appropriate biblical passage that comes to mind.
Cell phone camera's are wonderful things are they :)

[Four* Pointer]

Let me see if I've got this straight:

We believe that God wrapped Himself in flesh, dwelt among men, cleansed lepers, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, died on the cross to pay for our sins, rose bodily from the grave, ascended to the right hand of the Father, will snatch up His church from off the face of the earth, will return to reign and rule on earth for a thousand years, after which a city called New Jerusalem will descend from the sky.

But we don't believe in the supernatural. ::rolls eyes::

Karen A--you hit the nail on the head!

[David]

I so appreciate Melinda's and Greg's writings and careful, thought-provoking comments.

I've had excited friends share with me about these things. When I don't immediately share their enthusiasm, there's an obvious disappointment. They have little to no interest in discussing and weighing the claims and events.

I know I only speak of the people I've personally encountered. Yet, all of them who are "into" this "revival" shake their heads in confusion when I don't "jump on the bandwagon with them." I've been asked "Why would you NOT want to go?" As if, every Christian should go!

Even the soldier asking for Jesus to heal his daughter knew that physical location was no hindrance for God's power. Yet, today, these friends think I should, by whatever means, get to that revival! Sorry friends, my Bible is nearby and the Holy Spirit is present. Here. Now.

[Joy Bell]

I think it is wrong to accuse the Bride that she does not believe in the Supernatural.
Jesus rose from the Grave, how Supernatural does it need to be?
The sun rises everymorning,
A baby is born every second,
The miracle of redemption that we are saved, proves we as a church believe in the Supernatual healing power of God.
I will not give Satan this ticket!
Praise the Lord!