Todd Bentley and Lakeland ::2
I’ve got to say that this Youtube clip has disturbed me greatly. Hitting people with bats, leg dropping people, kicking. In Australia if this stuff happened you could be charged with assault.
I don’t think Jesus did anything this violent. The closest that I know of is spitting in a persons eye. Still pretty weird I know. There is some weird stuff in the old Testament but I believe we are to imitate our ministry on Jesus.
I don’t mind people doing their own weird stuff, barking, roaring, laughing, sobbing, running around, but when it gets violent you have to draw the line and ask some pretty hard questions.
Todd, to my knowledge, has never hit anyone with a bat. The quote is that the Lord told him to bang the crippled girl’s legs up and down like a baseball bat.
The point was, the girl didn’t get hurt, she got healed. God had him do something outside the box and He released miracles in response to faith (ya gotta admit, it took faith to go bang the girl’s legs in front of thousands of people …)
None of the people Todd talks about were ever hurt. As a matter of fact, they were either healed, delivered or thought it was great.
Thanks for pointing out that distinction Rahabsplace.
I just don’t think its right, its actually against the law. (For us in Australia anyway)
What disturbs me is that people where actually laughing and shaking their heads in agreement, when he was giving these illustrations.
The other thing that disturbs me is that I don’t hear many Christian leaders saying this is wrong to act violently.
I’m all for healing, prophetic words but when there is talk of violent acts and people laugh along in agreement. Mmmm
I am more concerned with Todd Bentley’s teaching about the “angel” Emma and his so called extra biblical ideas like that one that says God did not inspire the book of Hebrews. I am concerned that he is a false prophet allowing witchcraft into his meetings. The church need to use Discernment when it comes to all of this type of hype.
To be honest I haven’t really been that interested in what is happening in Florida. What I would be praying for is wisdom for Christian leaders who are critiquing the situation openly and honestly. There are some theological voices which I take note of which have been silent so far.
The you tube clip above is pretty obvious to discern. For me the other stuff is harder to discern without really engaging in what is happening over there. (Australia and the curse of distance.)
The other thing is that I’m always happy for people to sincerely change their position. Especially when it comes to talking about violence. For all I know Bentley may have done this.
I’m sure in a few year we will be able to see what has happened in Florida a much more clearer.
I felt disturbed that the U tube you show only has tiny extracts out of context. I haven’t seen/heard of Todd Bentley but now I will have to find out whether he is being villified, is mad or has a God given ministry.
Glad you dropped by Kerry. I think you are right that you do need to see the entirety of something to make a good evaluation. Maybe a better heading for the blog could have been ‘Should Violence or threats be used in Christian meetings?’ Or something along those lines. I don’t think you need to see the entirety of the clip to get the point. The three examples are clear enough. I think any threat or act of violence is just not right by Christians. First and foremost it is not in the nature of Jesus as I read the gospels.
I hope you find success in your search for Bentley there is alot of good reports as well as weird ones. As I said in the previous comments
“The other thing is that I’m always happy for people to sincerely change their position. Especially when it comes to talking about violence. For all I know Bentley may have done this.”
Christian City Church Vermont are promoting Todd as a Godly man. I have had to leave that church.
If you read the following scripture it says we will be judged on how we treated the poor and needy, and not if we blindly accepted any old prophet.
Matthew 25:31-46 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]
The Sheep and the Goats
31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34″Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37″Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
41″Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44″They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45″He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46″Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Hi Ben, thanks for dropping by. I’m not sure that I would be leaving Christian City Church to quickly. From what I’ve known of Christian City Church in Box Hill (I think it is now Vermont) they have done a lot with the underprivileged and poor.
I agree that you shouldn’t accept any old prophet. Yet I’m not sure that you should throw out the baby with the bath water for all people with prophetic gifts.
My issue is not about Bentley and his style. It is the use or threatening to use violence. I just don’t see Jesus doing this.