See? I Was Right…Doctrine DOES NOT Matter!!
Volume 32 – July/August 2008
By Michael C. Gaudiosi
As a follow up to the previous blog “Todd Bentley is not The Problem” it goes without saying that I was right…biblical doctrine, sound theology is completely irrelevant. I can say with confidence that whatever scripture teaches concerning the pattern of the New Testament Church does not matter to the masses of people who have been deluded by Todd Bentleys Florida “revival”.
This one particular comment I received from a reader sums up everything I have been saying because it represents the way Charismatics and Pentecostals alike have been justifying their unbiblical behavior for years…they use the old “scripture does not mention everything” song and dance:
“The Apostle Paul said, “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift.”
He obviously believed in impartation! The point is that scripture is the authority. The scripture forbids some things. On other things it is silent. Any revelation beyond the scripture must not contradict the scripture. In the scripture people talk to angels, people get healed, people impart things.
Paul recognized this principle when he said, Do not forbid speaking in tongues.
There are some things that are forbidden, but when something offends us, we need to be careful to discern whether the scripture actually forbids it, or whether we just find it unusual and acceptable in our own thinking. How wonderful that more of the attention of the nation is being drawn to the claims of Christ. People are being saved and set free in Lakeland.”
I especially like this part: “There are some things that are forbidden, but when something offends us, we need to be careful to discern whether the scripture actually forbids it, or whether we just find it unusual and acceptable in our own thinking.” In other words, if we do not like something that’s happening, don’t say anything negative about it…that is, unless scripture actually forbids it! This is another way of saying…”don’t think…just accept it by faith!” If we went by this foolishness then we would have to accept every claim which cannot be found in the Bible and simply say “as long as it does not contradict scripture, then it must be from God!” If this is true, then scripture is NOT the authority!
It’s no wonder Todd Bentley supporters think this way. After all, Bentley has taught them well. From his Fresh Fire Ministries web site Bentley has written an article entitled “Lifting Jesus High! Bringing Biblical Light to Your Questions about the Lakeland Outpouring & Todd Bentley – June 8, 2008.” Bentley states:
“While it’s good and right and biblical to test the spirits to see if they are of God, it’s vital to realize that just because a type of vision or a sign is not listed in Scripture, that it’s unscriptural, to be discounted, or false.” (Authors note – scripture does mention lying signs and wonders (Matthew 24:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) how would we test the spirits to determine truth from error if what Bentley says is correct? It would be insane not to discount manifestations as false which have no solid biblical basis!!)
“We have no account of miracles like amputated limbs growing back, but the absence of this is Scripture doesn’t mean that such a miracle unbiblical.” (Authors note – According to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, Satan can also appear as a angel of light, as if he were sent by God. Based on this fact, if there’s no account of amputated limbs growing back in scripture, how would we then be able to tell if the miracle is a lying sign or wonder, or a true miracle from God apart from scripture?)
“To apply doctrine to the response of God in our lives is wrong.” (Authors note – WHAT?? Will somebody PLEASE show Todd Bentley 1 Thessalonians 5:21!!)
“If a person is of the mind-set that everything spiritual that happens or manifests in our lives has to be found in Scripture to be divine and of God, then that standard or belief would have to be applied to every area of one’s life.” (Authors note – heaven forbid Christians should apply biblical teaching to every area of their lives!!) – (2 timothy 3:14-15)
SOLA SCRIPTURA – THE SCRIPTURE ALONE!
Scripture puts a huge hole in Todd Bentleys “scripture is silent” theory:
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.
This scripture is very clear! No room for misquoting or taking out of context! Whatever is written is what we live by and also to discern truth from error! Whatever is silent, belongs to God and to God ALONE!! We have no “gray areas” when it comes to God’s Word, nor can we take it upon ourselves to assume something is of God simply because scripture does not mention it! The apostle Paul also agrees:
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.
Please note Paul says “not to think of men ABOVE THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN”! Again, very clear! We are not to go beyond what is already written in the scripture! In 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Paul tells Timothy that he will come to him in person, however, if he is delayed, Paul then explains to Timothy he will know how to behave in the local church because he already has what Paul wrote to him:
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.
So, what about the other churches? Paul has this covered as well:
Colossians 4:16 – And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
1 Thessalonians 5:27 – I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
This is crystal clear! The Church patterns herself by what God has written in scripture and is not to assume whatever scripture is silent about must be from God. I heard a preacher on radio give an account about a man who came to him claiming he had a “message from God”. The preacher asked the man if this “message from God” had any basis in the Bible. The man replied “this message is not in the Bible…it’s a new message from God”. The preacher immediately responded “if it’s not in the Bible…I don’t want to hear it!” Now that’s a true man of God…willing to stand and defend sound biblical doctrine at any cost! We need more preachers like that in our churches!
It’s amazing to me how some people accept the word of “church leaders” over scripture to determine if something is a move of God. It’s no different with Bentleys “revival”. I found this one comment on YouTube regarding a video which shows “great leaders of the Church” giving their approval of Todd Bentley and his “Florida Outpouring”
“Great leaders of the church “Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson, Che Ahn, John Arnott, Rick Joyner” support and commission Todd Bentley, approving that Lakeland Revival is a Move of God.“
Notice the last sentence: “approving that Lakeland Revival is a Move of God.” According to this, it’s the so called “great leaders of the Church” who approve this “revival”, but nowhere does it say if it’s approved by the Word of God. So the masses of Bentley-ites would rather take the word of these so-called “church leaders” over scripture, again proving….SOUND BIBLICAL DOCTRINE DOES NOT MATTER!!
I am not saying God cannot or does not do miracles today. We cannot put God in a box! No one has the power to do so. However by remaining steadfast in sound biblical doctrine, the Charismatic Movement is put in a box, and would have to stop the outrageous things they claim is from God…hence the reason they use the excuse “scripture is silent on some things” to try and explain things not found in the Bible.
However, what I am saying is God WILL NOT say or do ANYTHING contrary to His Written Word, nor will he ever deny His own Word!
Psalm 138:2 – I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
If I have said this once, I have said it a million times…Scripture is sufficient! (2 Timothy 3:16-17) If I live to be a hundred, I will never understand why this is not good enough for some believers in the Church today!
Search the Scripture for yourself! SOLA SCRIPTURA! The Scripture ALONE! May the Lord bless you!
