Todd Bentley is not the Problem
Volume 31 – May/June 2008
By Michael C. Gaudiosi
I have read so many articles and blogs from wonderful discernment web sites regarding Todd Bentley. I have seen hours of video footage from the “Healing Revival” services in Lakeland Florida. There are many so-called signs, wonders and manifestations occurring at this event which cannot be found anywhere in scripture. I believe what’s going wrong here is quite the obvious…Todd Bentley is not the problem! People like him will come and go…the scripture says this:
Matthew 24:24 – For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
There are no shortage of false prophets and false Christs….they will always be in great supply. What really grieves me here is not Todd Bentley, although what he’s doing is bad enough, rather it’s the massive amounts of people who believe this “revival” is a move of God, and it matters not how much evidence from scripture you can show to prove Bentley is a false prophet, these people don’t care, they will continue to defend this heretic! Sound biblical doctrine does not matter to the thousands of people who go to this so-called revival…this is the real problem…NOT so much Todd Bentley!
2 Timothy 4:3-4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Proof of this scripture in 2 Timothy 4 is evident at Bentleys “revival” comes from a comment written in response to a Todd Bentley You Tube video:
“video’s of tod less than 9:57 min. should be forbidden on youtube. I love his shows. From satan or from God, I don’t care. If it is from satan, I must say I never heard a satanworking talking this much about Jesus (Really? how about Mark 5:7, Luke 8:28, Acts 16:16-17 emphasis mine). Different from clips of Marillin Manson or clips about the satan church. I agree, no bible teaching only healings, but I still love watching it. What is the destuction in me after watching this? I think it doesn’t harm me. Wolf in sheepsclothes or not. I just don’t care.” (Bold letter emphasis mine)
This is a prime example of the bad fruit coming from the Lakeland Fl “revival”. This comment is no different than the many testimonies coming from the multitudes attending this event. Please take notice where this person says “I love his shows” or “no bible teaching only healings” and especially “Wolf in sheepsclothes or not. I just don’t care.” Sadly, this is the attitude of many who attend this “revival”. Not one testimony I have heard remotely mentions the cross is being preached, or the Blood of Jesus, or of God’s wrath and His judgment to come upon all sinners lest they repent of their evil…instead, it’s nothing more than a show with no sound bible teaching, but an over abundance of signs, wonders and miracles!
The following is taken directly from Todd Bentley’s statement of faith from his web site Fresh Fire Ministries (www.freshfire.ca):
We Believe in…
1. THE WORD OF GOD
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error, unified in their redemptive purpose, yielding a complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of mankind. We hold the Bible to be trustworthy, the only supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Scripture is our source of revelation of God, the knowledge of salvation, the origin of all things and of the hereafter-it is the final Court of Appeal on all points of doctrine, life and godliness. (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12) (Bold letter emphasis mine)
It is very clear from the first point of Bentleys statement of faith scripture is their final authority on all matters of faith and all points of doctrine. However, if you look further, you’ll see point number 12:
12. FURTHER REVELATION
We recognize that God is continually restoring truth and light to His Church. Therefore, we place no limit on further revelation; however, each must be substantiated according to the Scriptures. (Bold letter emphasis mine)
If Todd Bentley believes scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith and all points of doctrine, why then is God “continually restoring all truth and light to His Church?” Why does Bentley insist there’s “no limit on further revelation” if he calls scripture “our source of revelation of God?” Either scripture is not complete and insufficient, or Bentley is contradicting himself…well…which is it?? The first point of his statement of faith says scripture is all the revelation from God we need, yet his last point says God STILL has to restore truth and light to His Church! Let me make this perfectly clear, there is no more need for further revelation if scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith and all points of doctrine and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 confirms this:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
I do believe God speaks to us today, however, He will NEVER speak contrary or against His Holy Word, which brings me to what he also says in regards to “further revelation” in point 12: each must be substantiated according to the Scriptures. (Bold letter emphasis mine) This is interesting considering most of what Bentley has said and done CANNOT be substantiated according to the Scriptures. For example, his “vision” of a female angel named “Emma” who walks around spreading “gold dust”. Bentley claims God revealed this is the “angel of finance” spreading prosperity. Scripture mentions the archangel Michael (Jude 1:9) and also the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:19, Luke 1:26), however there is absolutely no mention whatsoever in scripture of an angel named “Emma”, nor of any female angels, let alone an “angel of finance”. Instead, Bentleys “Emma” comes straight to him, not from God, but rather from Buddhist mythology:
“in Japanese Buddhist mythology, the overlord of hell (Jigoku), corresponding to the Indian deity Yama. He judges the souls of men, while his sister judges the souls of women. The sinner is sent to one of the 16 regions of fire or ice assigned him by Emma-ō for a fixed period of time until the next rebirth, unless saved by the prayers of the living, in which case he is reborn either on earth or in a heavenly paradise. Emma-ō is usually represented with a fierce expression, wearing a Chinese judge’s cap and holding his mace of office.” (Britannica Online Encyclopedia - http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/185925/Emma-o)
If Bentley truly believes scripture is “the final Court of Appeal on all points of doctrine” as described in point number one of his statement of faith, how then does he justify his “vision” from an angel that’s straight from Buddhist mythology? This is just one of many examples of Bentley’s violation of scripture. But again, to Bentley’s supporters, this does not matter!
Some may try to defend Bentleys extra-biblical “angelic visions” and other manifestations by claiming “since scripture is silent about certain things, we should not automatically forbid it.” This is a very poor line of reasoning and scripture has something to say about this:
Deuteronomy 29:29 – The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
1 Corinthians 4:6 – And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1 Timothy 3: 14-15 – These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Based on this, if it’s not written in scripture, then we are not to make any assumptions, no matter how “Christian-like” it may appear, and go beyond what God has already revealed to us via the written scripture…PERIOD! God has sufficiently provided us all we need to know about Him in his written Word.
Now, some may also say, “isn’t this putting God in a box?” Absolutely not! On the contrary, if Todd Bentley and the Charismatic movement behaved according to the New Testament Church pattern as God revealed in scripture, then this would limit what they can say and do, ultimately putting Todd Bentley and the Charismatic Movement in a box…not God!
This is why most of Bentleys supporters strongly disagree with this viewpoint. There are guidelines set in scripture in how the Church is to behave (1 Timothy 3:14-15), if Bentley were to abide by this, then his “revival” services would be more orderly and organized. However, this is not the case.
According to Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church in Lakeland Florida, he states in regards to the services “It’s chaotic, it’s disorganized.” (“A Working Man’s Revival,” The Ledger, May 18, 2008) Now, does the Bible say anything about this? Yes it does:
1 Corinthians 14:33 – For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Notice it says “as in ALL the churches of the saints?” This means it was not just for the church at Corinth, but for ALL churches for ALL time, past, present and future.
Most of the comments I read on blogs are from people who claim healings taking place, some have even claimed they were healed themselves at the nightly “revival” services. Can we really believe this is a move from God simply because people are being healed? Please don’t misunderstand me, I do believe God heals today and I’m happy to hear about people being healed, but are signs and wonders the basis we need to go by?
Well, considering all these miracles and other manifestations are supposedly occurring, we need to remember what 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 says:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Paul is giving the Church at Corinth a warning, which also applies to us today as well. Just because miracles are occurring does not mean this is a move of God, again, I’m not saying God does not heal, I’m simply saying miracles are not the basis in which we are to discern truth. I would challenge any Todd Bentley supporter to read through the New Testament, beyond the Book of Acts…especially read both 1 and 2 Timothy, then show me where Paul encourages Timothy to demonstrate the Gospel with signs, wonders and miracles. You will not find it there! Instead, Paul encourages Timothy to remain faithful to sound doctrine and the holy scriptures!
SOLA SCRIPTURA – THE SCRIPTURE ALONE!
You will not find anywhere in the New Testament the Church seeking signs, wonders and miracles, with the exception of the church at Corinth, in which Paul called them carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1) and immature (1 Corinthians 14:20). Also, there are no records in scripture of “healing revival” services. The only basis scripture gives is for the the local church to pray for the sick:
James 5:14 – Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord
It was, and still is, the duty of the elders in the local church to pray for those who are sick, not for believers to go to a “faith healer” or “healing revival service”. James 5:14 does not say anything about signs, wonders, miracles, or healing revival services! Bentley can say anything from that pulpit and people will believe him, even if it adds or takes away from scripture. Another example of this is Bentleys constant claims of the “anointing” being tangible and is transferred to everyone who comes to the “revival”. There is NOT ONE mention in scripture of the anointing from God as being a tangible substance which is transferred from one person to another.
Doctrine does not matter at all, as long as people are getting the desired results they want, biblical teaching is irrelevant. This is the real problem…not Todd Bentley. Now, I realize people truly want to receive a touch from God, I do not fault them for this in particular, however, if people really believed scripture is the final authority on all matters of faith and all points of doctrine, then Bentley’s “revival” meetings would be an empty sanctuary. As long as there are blind sheep who disregard sound biblical teaching and doctrine, wolves like Bentley will continue to devour the sheep and lead them deeper into apostasy.
Everything I’ve said in this article can be summed up in this passage of scripture:
2 Timothy 3:3-4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
This describes exactly what’s happening at the Lakeland Florida “revival”
Search the Scripture for yourself! SOLA SCRIPTURA! The Scripture ALONE! May the Lord bless you!
