I posted yesterday about the Spirit of the Antichrist. Here's more evidence that it is alive and well among us. Todd Bentley has been lauded as having some kind of special anointing. It appears that this anointing went into some unsavory places indeed.
Todd Bentley, the evangelist who has led the Florida Outpouring revival here in Lakeland since April 2, has filed for separation from his wife and might not return to the revival, according to his former local spokesperson, Lynne Breidenbach.
Separation May End Bentley's Lakeland Appearances | theledger.com | The Ledger | Lakeland, FL.
Why would such a thing happened to one so blessed and anointed with the Spirit of the Lord? Surely this is a child of God?
We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.
Of course a few days before this, Fresh Fire Ministries reported this:
It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been.
Sure, at the time there could not have been any possible way that this blessed anointed one of God, this vessel of the healing power of the Holy Spirit, the very source source of God's outpouring grace, would engage in any kind of sexual immorality! Turns out it's all a bunch of lies.
Thanks for messing up Christianity for us Fresh Fire! Not that you needed to help that cause in the world. You can just add your own healing vessel of the Lord to the list of charlatans, snake-oil salesmen, liars, and losers before him who could not keep their genitalia in proper check. What a crock of crap.
To close, I think this take on it sums it all up very well:
Regardless of what one thinks about Bentley’s ‘revival’ — and just so there is no confusion: we think it is an unbiblical, unchristian, an inexcusable display of sensuality vs. Scripture — fact remains that God uses flawed people. If that were not so, there would be no Christian in ministry anywhere.
That said, along with everything else that has been said about this so-called revival, this latest revelation underscores the severe lack of spiritual discernment on the part of Todd Bentley, his staff, the spiritual ‘leaders’ who enabled him, and the the tens of thousands of Christians who keep chasing after false teachers, pretend ‘apostles’ and ‘prophets,’ fake ‘revivals’ and so on.
Mind you, Bentley and his cohorts are people who claim to be visited by angels, talk about their trips to heaven and their conversations with the apostle Paul, and pepper their language with the word ‘prophetic’ — pretending to speak the very words of God into people’s lives and situations.
We have referred to this whole charade — not just Bentley’s show but the entire cast of ‘New Apostolic’ leaders — as a Christian Role-Playing Game that brings nothing but spiritual tragedy.
Our prayer is that these events will act as a wake-up call for many Christians — Todd Bentley included — caught up in chasing after experiences.
And Jim adds this little bit on how Bentley can "end" his revival…
Hold on now Toddy Poo. If the revival is really of God, as you and your psychotic sycophants have claimed, then isn’t it really up to God to pull the plug on it? Isn’t it arrogance of the highest order to say you will bring the ‘revival’ (which never was a true revival anyway but just another example of mass delusion) to an end?
No related posts.
I posted on Bentley's delusions not 10 minutes ago!
Great minds…
I posted on Bentley's delusions not 10 minutes ago!
Great minds…
You know I feel pretty sad about what is happening to his relationship. I don't know whether the revival that he has been a part of was genuine or not. It is possible that the Spirit was moving heavily in those meeting, however when God does show up then some bad things in us are going to be revealed and things that were kept secret are going to come to light. God is serious about his church and those who lead it in any way are held to a higher level of accountability by him. I don't know if that's the case here but if the Spirit was genuinely moving in those meetings I wouldn't be surprised.
Bryan
You know I feel pretty sad about what is happening to his relationship. I don't know whether the revival that he has been a part of was genuine or not. It is possible that the Spirit was moving heavily in those meeting, however when God does show up then some bad things in us are going to be revealed and things that were kept secret are going to come to light. God is serious about his church and those who lead it in any way are held to a higher level of accountability by him. I don't know if that's the case here but if the Spirit was genuinely moving in those meetings I wouldn't be surprised.
Bryan
You sound as frustrated as I feel. I get exasperated with the sheer foolishness of some people. How gullible can you be!!!
You sound as frustrated as I feel. I get exasperated with the sheer foolishness of some people. How gullible can you be!!!
[...] Todd Bentley is a Sad Loser [...]
You really need to learn the difference between sexual immorality and an unhealthy emotional relationship. The latter is wrong and may lead to the former, but it is not the same thing. There is no evidence that anyone involved "could not keep their genitalia in proper check" and any suggestion that there is is potentially libellous.
Peter, that is absurd. Emotional intimacy and physical intimacy are rather blurred for most women and for good reason. Ask a woman and she will tell you why. That is the true spirit of Jesus' radical redefinition of the ten commandments on the Mount. I think you are being unreasonably selective and have affronted a screen of irrational justification for the true impact of Bentley's behavior.
[...] Todd Bentley is a Sad Loser [...]
[...] never thought the issue of Todd Bentley's affair would result in what looks like an intellectual screen to filter out the spirit of adultery and [...]
[...] twist, it has been announced that Todd 'Punch-people-in-the-name-of-the-Lord' Bentley has stepped down from his California based revival ministry. The reason? Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have [...]
Todd Bentley insulted Christianity and Blasphemed the Holy Spirit every time that he said the Holy Spirit told him to punch, choke and kick people. God would NEVER say that. Todd was under spiritual attack throughout the crusade. He discerned NO spirits but every voice he heard he assumed was from God….So all the voices he heard were demons whispering in his ear "Kick that person with your biker boot." "Punch him in the stomach" "Choke her." Obviously demons were telling him to do so and that angel "Emma" was probably the SAME messenger that appearred to Joseph Smith…For the bible CLEARLY says Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.
Todd Bentley scared many people away from Christianity as a result of his violent ministry. Lord have mercy.
Sadly a Muslim doubts Christ because of Todd Bentley. Please check out this Muslims youtube and please EVERYONE lets work together to bring him to the TRUE knowledge of Christ. Here is the link you can cut and paste:
http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=MmjUVmMJNbg
Anyone could tell todd bentley was not of God from the beginning,He didnt follow the bible,and to so many lies it was sad.He has hurt many sick people and will pay the price i dont think he should ever be in the pulpit or leading people ever again.I dont know who would follow him but i am sure there are so many out there that doesnt know gods word and i know will.Put a donkey on stage and they will follow him.And it is wrong to try to soften his affair with another woman as people are trying to saying an unhealthly relations ship sill just say an affair it has happened before with him and i saw where on here it was said he drinks he dont nedd to lead people he needs to get saved first and let sit under good gospel preachers about a 100 years and then i say todd would be ready.
Bentley is an obvious charlatan. I would not be surprised to learn that he is a simple con man, not unlike any gypsy fortune teller.
But he is much worse than that. He has not only degraded many people spiritually, but, like all faith-healers, he is undoubtedly responsible for much physical pain, misery, and even death.
Set aside drunkenness and adultery; he is a murderer.
I have to agree with Peter. Whatever one's theological disagreements with what's happened in Lakeland, accusing him of something that's not at all clear isn't the way to go. An unhealthy emotional relationship is not the same thing as an affair, and I think one of the reasons cross-gender friendships become 'emotionally unhealthy' is because Christian spirituality hasn't provided us with guidance to have emotionally healthy friendships with the opposite sex. I highly recommend anyone interested in exploring this matter further to read Dan Brennan's excellent blog.
I think that Jesus is quite clear with why such a relationship is the same thing as adultery. Otherwise the only problem with adultery is that it is a physical relationship. Then the question is if one can have the same kind of emotional relationship with someone without the physical aspect. I would say, and I think this was Jesus' point, that the answer is yes.
So when does a healthy friendship, even a very close one, with a member of the opposite sex cross the line? I think taht if we are honest with ourselves we know where that threshold is. If there is lack of clarity where that threshold is, I think it is a wonderful opportunity to discuss it with your wife. The fact that this emotional relationship was characterized as unhealthy is the point here. If this was just a normal friendship with a member of the opposite sex that was not invasive, non-intrusive, and not a distraction from the emotional accounting that is given in the covenant of marriage to one's spouse, then it would not be unhealthy would it?
So talk to your spouse, girlfriend, mom, etc. and learn what that boundary is. We can all agree, I think, that it is there. There is a point where an emotional relationship with anyone can become something that is destructive to the health of a partnership with someone to whom one has covenanted their self.
One more point, this is not even necessarily about opposite-gender relationship as I think the same exact thing occurs in same gender relationships as well. I am now quite convinced that most people are not quite confident of where this boundary is for their own well-being. What is clear is that Bentley breached that boundary. Note that I am not accusing him of anything other than what I think a properly directed understanding of what adultery means – what he confessed to already but with more direct language. I am, however, accusing Fresh Fire and his supporters who simply refuse to hold a stronger standard for how adultery ought to be defined in my judgment, which I think is consistent with Jesus reinterpretation of the Ten Commandments.
[...] arguing over the past week continues to be associated specifically to Todd Bentley's "unhealthy emotional relationship" with a member of his staff. In order to be clear about what I am arguing, as I thought I [...]
Finally the behavior of this so called anointed Christian Man, Todd Bentley, has come under examination.
I am greatly saddened that this type of behavior was tolerated for so long. The damage done by this man and the many people behind him has been devastating and unholy.
I agree with the woman (Corrine King) who commented that the people involed in this farce of a revival condoned violent behavior and mockery healings in the MIGHTY name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thus heaping shame and disgrace upon all who are Christian.
Who in their right mind who knows the Heart of God and His Holy Word could have let this abhorrent behavior slide for as long as it did?
Where are the "Elders" who oversee the ethics of Christianity and why did they not step in and stop this revival before more damage was done? I could not believe my eyes when I tuned into GodTv and watched a portion the lakeland revival, it is horrible display of "Circus Christianity". I am ashamed to be a Christian when people like Todd Bentley and the like, represent to the world their form of Christianity.
I have a question to the fellow bloggers…do you think power and greed fueled this farce of a revival and maybe that was the reason a so called Christian program like GodTv aired this revival with the agenda to rob vunerable, unknowledgeable in God's word, people of their money?
I personally will never give my money (loaned to me by God) to any Christain revival or establishment on TV. I think that there is corruption and lies abound in many of the Ministries that air on all Christian TV.
In closing I want to say that I am upset that Todd Bentley and those other Ministries..(they know who they are) think that they can make a fortune to fullfill their ungodly desires by selling us their lies and unholy claims of healing. Shame be upon them all !!! "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven" Romans 1:18
In God's light and holiness all darkness will be revealed
Praise be to the True Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Your Sister in Christ…..Helen.
Finally the behavior of this so called anointed Christian Man, Todd Bentley, has come under examination.
I am greatly saddened that this type of behavior was tolerated for so long. The damage done by this man and the many people behind him has been devastating and unholy.
I agree with the woman (Corrine King) who commented that the people involed in this farce of a revival condoned violent behavior and mockery healings in the MIGHTY name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thus heaping shame and disgrace upon all who are Christian.
Who in their right mind who knows the Heart of God and His Holy Word could have let this abhorrent behavior slide for as long as it did?
Where are the "Elders" who oversee the ethics of Christianity and why did they not step in and stop this revival before more damage was done? I could not believe my eyes when I tuned into GodTv and watched a portion the lakeland revival, it is horrible display of "Circus Christianity". I am ashamed to be a Christian when people like Todd Bentley and the like, represent to the world their form of Christianity.
I have a question to the fellow bloggers…do you think power and greed fueled this farce of a revival and maybe that was the reason a so called Christian program like GodTv aired this revival with the agenda to rob vunerable, unknowledgeable in God's word, people of their money?
I personally will never give my money (loaned to me by God) to any Christain revival or establishment on TV. I think that there is corruption and lies abound in many of the Ministries that air on all Christian TV.
In closing I want to say that I am upset that Todd Bentley and those other Ministries..(they know who they are) think that they can make a fortune to fullfill their ungodly desires by selling us their lies and unholy claims of healing. Shame be upon them all !!! "For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven" Romans 1:18
In God's light and holiness all darkness will be revealed
Praise be to the True Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Your Sister in Christ…..Helen.
I am a healing evangelist, and that is a statement I normally don't say either. I prefer just my name or the word evangelist. But I have seen the Lord heal hundreds in my crusades and church meetings. I can see how one who has seen the miraculous can fall as Todd has. Pride is subtle and sneaky and comes in multiple ways to trip you up. But my intimacy with the Lord has strengthened my relationship with my wife of 34 years. I have been a Christian since I was 9 and have been steeped in deep Bible study and saw the poor exegesis of Todd and others who seek after the latest "revelation" from the Lord. There is an unholy competition in the Charismatic and Pentecostal, New Mystic people, whoever they are to be the one to come up with the newest and most bizarre revelation from the Lord. Supposed Third heaven experiences made the unaware think they were hearing something from God himself when it was a foolish imagination. We all can hear the voice of our Lord and we don't need these telling us foolish stories and swallowing them. Todd supposedly went into heaven and met Paul who told Todd that the book of Hebrews was a collaboration between Paul and I think Abraham. That is the most foolish thing I had ever heard. What good is that!? We in the Charismatic and Pentecostal camps need to practice discernment and stop the foolishness.
Mike Morrell 3 weeks ago:
I have to agree with Peter. An unhealthy emotional relationship is not the same thing as an affair.
So it's ok to have an emotional relationship with a woman OTHER than your wife? And if you think it was just "chat over tea", you are naive. Todd was exposed just as the Lord showed me he would be.
That clown was a fake and it continually astound me how many in the christian have no discernment and are ready to follow the next one who comes along using words like "prophetic" and "in the spirit". Christians who truly desire godly leadership will, like the Bereans, check everything they are told with the Scriptures. If the scriptures are, as I believe, truly the inspired word of God then they are written to the church and are revealed in plain enough language where the average seeker can understand what they are reading. But time and again we see so-called spirit-led charlatans gather a mass of gullible followers who seek confirmation for their lifestyles from those who will satisfy their itching ears, listening to hear what they want to hear. From the first moment I saw that guy I knew by spiritual discernment that he was a lying, money-and-lust chasing deceiver, speaking as he did about his trips to heaven and consultation with angels. Hoo-boy! Will it ever end? Of course it will, once the justice of God prevails during the true and physical Kingdom of God, presided over by Christ. Until then, we must search the scriptures and not trust everyone who opens his mouth about God or Jesus.
Sadly, many people who been yet again deceived by yet another phony, so-called 'Evangelist' – and a nutty one at that, a guy who if listened to for five minutes would reveal himself as an unbiblical, untruthful, psycho whose only goal was to separate gullible so-called christians from their assets. I say so-called christians because I believe true christians who are mature in the faith have been blessed with spiritual discernment. The New Testament warns believers over and over again about not being deceived, and how it is essential to a walk with Christ spiritual discernment is. Some folks with believe anything and anyone. I am not talking about babes in the faith. They should always be counselled by Christians who are mature enough and have had their spiritual meat. The worst outcome of this unholy mess is that it goes a long way to further turn off the faith to spiritual seekers, those who have a need for Christ. May the Lord deal with Todd they way he dealt with his "flock".
As a christian for a long time and having friends who asked simple questions while watching the bentley thing i wonderd and got very fustrated earley on watching him act and i mean i know god is love and polite never kicked anyone if he wanted to do that i know a few guys who are christians who would meet him in the ufc ring. Imean i wonder how gulible christians are i asked wuestions the frist day it started to my dad and pastor. When will we listen to our hearts and common sense. I am well i dunno just really sad when i talk to friends about the lord all i get oh ur like the ones who scammed. I know leaderships is hard. Christians start thinking forurselves god gave us a brain and to ask questions. never made sense being a life skills coach hearing some pastors say we cant ask questions when the world soes. Come on people! I'd get into the specifics i had a problem with, but we all saw it. Lets just love one another and have fun. And be ourselves. People will see how real u are and ask questions. sometimes makes me think if i want to be a christian when this happens. Anyone else feel like this??
Thanks gbu all
Matt019:012 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb (without a penis): and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men (penis cut off): and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake (erectionless). He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
Those of you who will make THE commitment of their life RIGHT NOW and surrender this to the LORD, then come join me in an act of faith. Yeah we don't want to be sex addicts anymore. No, we don't want it to have dominion over us. We don’t want it steering us into a ditch called guilt and condemnation! We want to get closer to God! We want MORE of God! We want God to be more REAL with us! We want to get PASSIONATE with him! The Lord is calling for eunuchs! And eunuchs is what he will get if I have anything to say about it! Are you a eunuch? Are you able to receive it? I am! Are you willing to go on the frontlines and do BATTLE with the enemy on behalf of the Lord God Almighty? Are you ready to do warfare against the enemy because of something that you believe in? Will you do this for him? Who is willing to put their life on the line and go the extra mile? Who will do what few will even consider? Do you know that you can be set free from the entrapment of it all? That it can all be done easily IN OUR THOUGHT LIFE? JUST DO IT! Well God has placed this issue on my heart to help us move a little closer. Un-entangle yourself from dead works! IT’S NO GOOD! My friends, we need works in order to be annointed and THERE IS NO ROOM FOR SEX! NONE whatsoever! Even married people are tied up in chains by their immoral sexual activity! Don’t you be one of them! "I believe that Todd Bentley was attacked by the devil in an area that we all are vulnerable!" We gotta make that weakness a strength or WE LET THE DEVIL IN! I will go the rest of the year and beyond WITHOUT AN ERECTION to show God and all of heaven that I want to get CLOSER to him, I want to REALLY KNOW him! I want to be lost in him! I want to be NEAR the one that CREATED me! Join me and become a part of this. As short as life is, it will always be something that we can look back on and say LORD, THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON THAT I WANT TO BE LIKE! No dominion, principality, power, might or spiritual wickedness in high places shall usurp authority over us! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
Can you take a Paxil or something? Wow.
It is the same thing as an affair, according to Jesus anyway. Someone who lusts after someone has committed adultery in their heart.
[...] of Todd Bentley and rather curious flexibility regarding what stands for adultery. I called him a loser as well. Finally, I held Fresh Fire Ministry's covering for him accountable as well. It was a [...]
Christians treat the Word of God like a restaurant menu. They pick and choose whatever they want and forget the rest. When they don't like what's in God's Word they ask the waiter to cook up something different for them (add strange doctrines to God's Word). These emotional astral projection head trips Bentley does opens people up to satan's demons through deception. Bentley had no right to commit adultery and marry his sweetie, they're living in SIN. They must either repent before God or reap the consequences in the World to come.
Christians treat the Word of God like a restaurant menu. They pick and choose whatever they want and forget the rest. When they don't like what's in God's Word they ask the waiter to cook up something different for them (add strange doctrines to God's Word). These emotional astral projection head trips Bentley does opens people up to satan's demons through deception. Bentley had no right to commit adultery and marry his sweetie, they're living in SIN. They must either repent before God or reap the consequences in the World to come.
Well , the view of the passage is totally correct ,your details is really reasonable and you guy give us valuable informative post, I totally agree the standpoint of upstairs. I often surfing on this forum when I m free and I find there are so much good information we can learn in this forum! http://www.canno-tmake.com/
Some of the things I've read about his meetings are absolutely INSANE! I don't see how barking like dogs, "holy laughter" and other antics helps get souls saved and people genuinely healed. The apostles would roll over in their graves to see the dung that passes for christianity today.