Would You Rather Have A Bentley Or The Gospel?

I'm sure many of you thought this was going to be a commentary on Materialism vs. Christianity when you first read the title.

Although it's an equally important topic to discuss in these last days, I want to draw attention to one of our world's most popular wolves in sheep's clothing - Todd Betley and his Fresh Fire Ministries and Lakeland Revival.

Canadian Todd Bentley doesn't look like a minister as some would expect. The 32-year-old openly sports body piercings and tattoos on his arms and neck, which has caused many to question his purpose and motivations.

On April 2, 2008, Bentley was invited by Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church in Lakeland, Florida, to lead a 1-week revival. The revival quickly became a religious and media phenomenon, attracting up to 10,000 attendees nightly. It continued after the first week. In addition to showcasing Bentley's evangelism (an important distinction because it truly is HIS BRAND OF EVANGELISM AND NOT JESUS CHRIST'S!), the revival features colorful light shows and power-chord Christian rock music.

In other words, it was more show than substance and another shining example of everything that's wrong with the Emerging Church these in these troubled times.

As background information, Todd Bentley is relatively a new Christian with no formal training or experience in the exposition of Scripture - and it shows! Consider so of these blasphemous comments from Bentley...

• "[God] told me, 'Kick her in the face.' "
• "Sometimes when you're dealing with a demon spirit, it's done with great force."
• Todd Bentley claims that the "outpouring" in Lakeland had produced 13 resurrections.

Christians realize that a soul can be saved by grace from any sin, however, he personally claims that he was demon possessed after having been born-again, which poses a problem considering his self-acclaimed position. Did I fail to mention that he also talks often about an angelic experience with an angel named Emma?

Without any exception that I have found, every questionable spiritual movement is marked by intervening Angels giving guidance, not necessarily God’s Word or the Holy Spirit of Truth. Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, Jerry and Esther Hicks, Rhonda Byrne, Helen Schucman, JZ Knight…the list is long for those who are popular and have "spirit guides" from the fallen realm.

Bob Jones and Todd Bentley and their spirit guide "Emma" are no different. Todd attributes his "miracles" to an angel that he says is called "Emma." It should be interesting to note, in the book of angels, Emma (Imma Ila'ah, feminine, in the Kabbalah) means "Embrace Everything." Also closely related, another name used is "Emma-O," which in Japanese mythology means "King of Hell" or Satan.

Todd Bentley believes God acts through him to cure cancer, heal the deaf, and raise the dead. This same Todd "Bam" Bentley also runs and kicks people in the stomach with metastatic stage IV colon cancer while ignoring children lined up in wheelchairs, who hope in vain that the revival is real and they might get healed. You read that correctly. In other videos readily available, Bentley explains how he kicked an elderly lady in the face, choked a man, banged a crippled woman's legs on a platform, "leg-dropped" a pastor, and hit a man so hard it dislodged a tooth.

He causes physical harm to the sick and the dying in the name of our Lord and Savior and yet so-called Christians think that he was sent to us from God Himself for a time such as this.

People leave in a hypnotic state from the charismatic frenzy, which almost makes it sound akin to Barack Obama's political rallies and speeches. But don't take my word for it. Check out this video from YouTube of this evil man in action for yourself and see with your own eyes what he's doing the name of the Lord.

If that doesn't make you sick and want to weep for these poor people who are being deceived then consider the following.

The Bible tells us that in the end times there will be many false workers, or many “Who are called by His name”, but very few will be genuinely authentic, this is just the facts (Matthew 7:22). The anointed servant are those who work without seeking recognition or fanfare as Christ and the Apostles humbly served. The Holy Spirit filled doesn’t seek fame, recognition, money and may never be known, such is the humble and contrite of heart.

Those of the Pharisee spirit, egocentric and endued by principalities and powers, seek an exuberant audience, accolades, affirmation, financial gain and make a spectacle of the precious gifts of God like a side show circus. Those given to the extreme charismatic (emotional or fleshly) bent are susceptible prey to these types of leaders, whereas such is the power of hypnotic manipulation through the drone of their voice.

With his website getting 8 million hits per month and his "ministry" gaining widespread popularity, pray for those who are caught in this spiritual deception and pray that Todd Bentley will genuinely repent and seek forgiveness before it's too late.

The situation with Todd Bentley makes Matthew 7:15-20 really stand out..

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

It seems that on occasion we so want to believe that something is from God that we ignore the obvious. Hopefully, we'll all learn from this so that we're not decieved next time.

J. Lee Grady said it best when he wrote, "I blame this lack of discernment, partly, on raw zeal for God. We’re spiritually hungry - which can be a good thing. But sometimes, hungry people will eat anything. Many of us would rather watch a noisy demonstration of miracles, signs and wonders than have a quiet Bible study."

God help us to discern the truth.

***UPDATE ARTICLE: BENTLEY ANNOUNCES THAT AS OF 8/23 HE IS LEAVING LAKELAND, FL TO TAKE HIS MINISTRY OVERSEAS***

***UPDATE 12/4/2008: Todd Bentley Controversy Continues***

RECOMMENDED READING:
Some 'Healing Revivals' Draw Even Pentecostal Critics
Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out The Confusion by J. Lee Grady
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies

Posted in: How Close Are We?,Spiritual Deception