This is concerning a so-called "Revival" that is currently occuring in my state, which has become extremely popular.
Coming as far as England to see this "Florida Revival"
This is what they came to see:
Todd Bentley Raging Revival
The Luminous Vibrating Todd Bentley
Raised From the Dead?
In defense of false prophets
Article on Todd Bentley being Fraudulent
A False Revival?
Article by Andrew Strom, who spent 11 years in the same Prophetic movement as Todd Bentley
Angels, 'Healing Mantles' and William Branham
The following is not Todd Bentley. It is Patricia King and Joshua Mills, but they are involved in the same kind of thing as Todd Bentley.
Examining Claims of Faith Healers
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8 comments:
Have you attended any of this for research purposes?
Russ:)
I have not personally attended it, but I have watched it on TV a couple times, since they are airing the "Revival" live on TV.
In fact, I just now finished watched a little of Todd Bentley on TV this morning. I figured that, even after all I've read about him, and after the YouTube videos I've seen on him---since one of my brothers, plus my friend in an online prayer group I'm in, as well as many others, believe so strongly in Todd Bentley---well, then, for the sake of any future discussions I might have with any of them, maybe I should find out more about Todd, just so that, when I talked about him, I could be talking from experience (i.e., watching him myself), instead of just from the perspective of what others had said about him.
Well, I hadn't watched him for more than 2 or 3 minutes before he began saying that he couldn't (i.e., wouldn't) pray with anyone who had been praying or entering God's
presence "in the same way" for the past 20 years or so. In other words, anyone who is praying, or speaking in tongues, or 'entering into God's presence,' in the same way they did back in 1981 or so, well, he just couldn't fellowship with them. And any church that has members that pray or 'enter God's presence' the same way they did back in the 1980's, well, Todd said that the church should get rid of those members.
That, along with the fact that Todd Bentley kept using the name of the Lord God in vain, disgusted me, and I changed the channel.
Someone emailed this to me last night:
"Does Todd Bentley Have Anything To Do With Jesus?
June 5, 2008 by Michael
When I teach about Jesus, I point out several things that are usually overlooked.
For starters, Jesus did things that other “charismatic” prophets, healers and exorcists did, but what impressed those who experienced and witnessed these miracles?
1) His miracles were assigned to his authority, which was tied to his teaching. It was the authority of Jesus that stayed with the witnesses. It clearly connected him to God.
2) His healings were immediate, total and public.
3) His healings and exorcisms did not depend on possible exaggeration or subjective reports. The blind saw. The lame walked. Lepers were healed. The dead were raised.
4) Jesus’' miracles extended into “nature---miracles” that showed power over weather, and creation itself.
5) Jesus didn't set up a “show.”
6) Jesus wasn't trying to get personal acclaim. He actually told many whom he healed to not say anything.
7) Jesus'’ healings and exorcisms often caused fear and a demand that He leave the area.
8] Jesus was teaching the presence and power of the Kingdom of God.
9) Jesus sometimes refused to do miracles when asked to do so.
10) Jesus didn't do bizarre, insane things in the process of healing or exorcisms.
11) Jesus also claimed to forgive sins.
Todd Bentley embarrasses me as a Christian. Of course, I probably embarrass some of my family. I am an American who is sometimes embarrassed by other Americans.
Some view Bentley as demonic, and his movement is clearly about taking advantage of the desperate desires of his audience to be healed or to see their loved ones healed. I would judge him to be a criminal and a man who will prove to be a showman, a phony and a con artist.
The relationship to the real Jesus is absent, or so distant, so distorted and so perverted as to be microscopic.
I can evaluate Bentley, but I can't judge him. God will judge him and God will judge me. I pray that the Jesus I'm seeking is the one who will recognize in me faltering faith and imperfect sincerity, but a reality of trust and love for Jesus. For Bentley, I can only pray God’'s mercy."
In response to the fact that many Christians are criticizing Todd Bentley; as well as the fact that those who believe that what Todd Bentley is doing is of God, get very agitated, angry and defensive when others make accusations against Todd Bentley; someone emailed this to me several days ago:
"Question: "What does the Bible mean that 'we are not to judge others'?"
Answer: This is an issue that has confused many people. On one hand, we are commanded by the Lord Jesus, “"Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1). On the other hand, the Bible also exhorts us to beware of evil-doers and false prophets and to avoid those who practice all kinds of evil. How are we to discern who these people are if we do not make some kind of judgment about them?
Christians are often accused of "judging" whenever they speak out against a sinful activity. However, that is not the meaning of the Scripture verses that state, "Do not judge." There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise, with careful discernment (John 7:24). When Jesus told us not to judge (Matthew 7:1), He was telling us not to judge hypocritically. Matthew 7:2-5 declares, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." What Jesus was condemning here was hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others.
In Matthew 7:2-5, Jesus warns against judging someone else for their sin when you yourself are sinning even worse. That is the kind of judging Jesus commanded us not to do. If a believer sees another believer sinning, it is their Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the person with their sin (Matthew 18:15-17). This is not judging, but rather pointing out the truth in hope —and with the ultimate goal —of bringing repentance in the other person (James 5:20) and restoration to the fellowship. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are to proclaim what God's Word says about sin. 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs us, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction." We are to "judge" sin, but always with the goal of presenting the solution for sin and its consequences—: the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)."
"Sign me up!" Of course people are going to love God if all Christianity is is getting diamonds and gold.
When Todd Bentley said something about increasing their faith in reading a testimony of a resurrection, that's ridiculous. After all, isn't faith believing in something that you can't see? Isn't that completely opposite of what he was saying? And, my goodness, he's pretty rough on his audience! I'm surprised he hasn't had a lawsuit filed against him or that he hasn't been locked up!
I think Benny Hinn is coming to Denver later this year. I want to go and sit in the front with a perfectly straight face. I don't think he'd like me too much. He'd probably say I'm resisting the Holy Spirit.
Seems to me that this is more of a cult than it is Christianity.
Thanks for your comment, Abbey!
Of course people are going to love God if all Christianity is is getting diamonds and gold.
Good point!
I'm surprised he hasn't had a lawsuit filed against him or that he hasn't been locked up!
Another good point! And it may yet happen, who knows?
I think Benny Hinn is coming to Denver later this year. I want to go and sit in the front with a perfectly straight face. I don't think he'd like me too much. He'd probably say I'm resisting the Holy Spirit.
My post tomorrow concerns Benny Hinn and others like him.
Seems to me that this is more of a cult than it is Christianity.
That's the million dollar question. It's a scary thought.
"My post tomorrow concerns Benny Hinn and others like him."
Looking forward to it! I love picking on Benny Hinn. Don't forget Kenneth Haggin and his holy laughter. Everytime I see it, I start laughing just to see these guys laughing. :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SgByE0pX1M
Abbey,
Wow...the "church service" that the video shows, if you can even call it that, looks more like a carnival sideshow!
The phrase at the beginning of the video, "How I found Jesus but lost my mind," seems very appropriate!
Personally, it makes me want to cry, seeing how people are partaking in such deceptions.
My post tomorrow will include one link to a website that has a long list of false teachers, including Kenneth Hagin.
Other than that, I will have specific links to videos and info on Arnold Murray (who I don't think is even a Christian at all), Benny Hinn, Derren Brown (who is not a Christian or a televangelist, but rather a hypnotist who demonstrates that some of the same things done by many televangelists can be done through hypnotism---what he shows is amazing!), Fred Price (btw, I think that Fred Price and Creflo Dollar have very appropriate last names, because money is certainly a major part of their 'gospel'), holy laughter, Joel Osteen, John Hagee, Peter Popov, Rick Warren (whose book, "The Purpose Driven Life," I own, and I did a study on his book at one church, and I thought it was good; however, there are some things about him that I do not agree with). It will also include a video comparing Voodoo with some of the things practiced in some Charismatic churches.
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