Questions and Answers about Todd Bentley & Lakeland
Note: I shorthand Todd Bentley to be TB and Lakeland to be L, and the two together are TB&L.
Given Fresh Fire Ministries’ announcements over the last few days regarding Todd and Shonnah Bentley’s separation and the subsequent announcement that Todd had developed an emotional bond with another woman that was inappropriate, a number of people are asking questions.
Perhaps the most common is, “How did all those leaders, pastors, and people who flocked to the revival lack discernment?”
My satirical response is, “Did YOU know it was going on?” (to which you’d reply, “no, but I knew SOMETHING was…”, and my further response would be, “Because millions and millions of Christians are poor, ignorant slobs who are dumber than a big bucket full of hair and who are incapable of hearing from the Lord and who should bow to your obviously superior connection to God” … except that the complainers generally have complained that many felt that Todd Bentley had a superior connection to God and I’m sure that said complainers don’t want THAT association. (not to mention that it’s rather ridiculous!)
The simple answer to “Why didn’t you know?” is, “He didn’t tell me.”
Contrary to popular opinion (mostly among non-prophetic folks), God does not tell His prophets everything. He doesn’t tell anyone everything. Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 13 that even if God DID tell us everything, but we lack love (KJV=”charity”), it’s all rather pointless.
My question is, “Where’s the love and charity for the Bentleys?”
Best ask God before you reply, “But we knew something was wrong from the beginning…”
Kathie Walters has a GREAT piece over on the Realms of Glory blog - talking about discernment and bitterness with regards to this whole situation. She even talks about Branham, Ron 
Someone else (when I remember who/were, I’ll edit) said that perhaps God has reasons for not telling people - because He’s wanting to teach the church about how to respond in love and humility to this situation.
A counterpart to the above question/response is this: The revival is/was never about Todd Bentley. TB is a man. But Jesus is Jesus, and that’s Who the revival is about.
A second counterpart to the above question/response is this: God used a flawed man. Find me one that’s not. [self included there!]
There’s no “excuse” for sin - but when it happens, what is the one who sinned supposed to do? Perhaps the critics and heresy hunters would be happy if TB doused himself with gasoline and lit himself on fire? One would hope not (but I wouldn’t doubt it!)… all TB has to do is go to God with it and get right, and take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again, and marvel at His grace and love (as the rest of us should, daily!)… and it sounds like he’s doing just that.
I do wonder what God thinks of all the curses that have been leveled at Todd and Shonnah. The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. That’s not some magickal formula, but it is a practical spiritual principle. If it’s true that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks - and the mouth is speaking vile words against a Christian - what is in the heart? Jesus says that we’ll give an account for our words, you know! (NOTE: again, I’m not referring to people who disagree. I’m sure if I attended my local Baptist church I’d find a lot to disagree with, and I might say so - but I’m not going to call their doctrines demonic and denounce the pastor and warn people about them! *)
(I’m going to talk about me for a second, because to talk about Todd with my next statement would be speculative and that would be wrong to do. Could it be part of what happened? Yes. Is it? Time, and God, will tell.) I’ve been the recipient of loving, constructive criticism. It can be hard to take sometimes, but when God is in something, even when two people disagree, all grow more in Him. I’ve also been the recipient of hateful, spiteful, cursing, venomous words - most often from people claiming to be Christians. Some of it’s current, but most of it’s in the past from my involvement at EW. Hopefully I’ve learned some lessons from that time, that I can apply to now. 
But I can say that discouraging words do tend to do just that - discourage. When it seems that not only is every demon on the planet out to get you, but friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, and complete strangers are out to get you also - it’s hard to maintain focus. It’s hard to escape the bitter soap opera (it just occurred to me, lots of the Psalms are about this very subject…).
I speak of the revival in the present tense, and will continue to do so. To the best of my knowledge, services are still going on at Ignited Church, but even if they were to cease, the impartation I received and revival I experienced still live in my heart. There is a holy passion for Jesus and a level of intimacy with Him that I have now that’s qualitatively and quantitatively DIFFERENT from what I had pre-revival (and I had no small measure before).
Someone (Anita or Alycin, I think) said that we should not take “pride” in our relationship with Christ. I think I’m going to have to write another post, about intimacy and relationship. To an extent I agree - if we start thinking that because we’re in tight with God, nothing bad can happen to us, and we can do no wrong, then things are likely to unravel. But we also must rest secure in Jesus and strive to grow in that relationship every minute of every day! I’ll say more in another post, maybe later today - we’ll see.
Again, I’ve written a much longer post than I intended to! I just get wordy in my old age and general sleepiness (it’s been an odd day - had to have Kayt to the RDU airport 90 minutes away, at 4:30 this morning for her flight to Florida. That means we got up at 2 and left here around 3. Came home, took a nap, but still zzzzzzzzzzz!! She just called a bit ago, arrived safely and is headed to Southeastern to get settled in! Thank You, Lord, for her safe travel!!)
* Clarification - since I’ve mentioned them before - There are two Baptist churches in our town that I DO warn people about - not because they’re Baptist, but because they routinely throw people out of church for not giving enough money and not dressing “appropriately” (One church asked Mother Louise not to ever come back, because she attended an evening service wearing a pantsuit). However, these two are exceptions to the rule and most of the other churches are quite nice.
August 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am
The post is a good one, but one thing that will always be remembered not matter what good was done or not done, it will always be tained because of TB did. People tend to remember the bad and never the good, if good was done
August 16th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Rev, I agree… but… is that a biblical approach?
August 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Kathi,
For the record, it wasn’t me that said the thing about pride, but I can see where whoever said it was coming from. I can point to a Mormon friend of mine who is very secure in his spiritual life, his relationship with God and with Christ, and I can also point to a woman involved in what I consider to be a cult (The Family International) who I’ve been e-mailing back and forth with, who denied the child abuse by her cult’s founders and said to me, “Jesus’ work was ill spoken of, too!”… which is the response I get a lot when people have doubts about Todd Bentley or other controversial people. She is very sure of herself and of her relationship with Christ. Do I doubt she is seeking Christ with all she has? Nope. Do I think she is convinced of the innocence of her leaders? Yep. I don’t doubt her sincerity, but I do wonder if she is seeing clearly or if she has been blinded by something somewhere along the line.
I think it’s a cop out to say that people who speak out about the problems with Bentley are lacking charity. As a parent, I am sure you can agree that disapproval of actions does not equate to an absence of love. You keep making statements like “what you SHOULD be doing is XYZ”, usually saying people should go “pray about it”… prayer is wonderful, but prayer is like the fuel of evangelism. That is not to say that prayer cannot stand on its own, because it can, but oftentimes people are called to do more than just pray. It’s the difference between apostolic and contemplative.
I don’t doubt that there are people out there who are uncharitable in the way they speak about Todd Bentley, but I would venture to say that they are not the majority. I am willing to bet that people like myself make up the majority of naysayers. However, these uncharitable/extreme naysayers… they are people too. With flaws, as you said. And when you imply that they aren’t real Christians, or that “maybe they will get saved”, I have to wonder what it is that you think makes you so different from them. What could be more hateful than hurling accusations at fellow Christians that they hate Christ? What could be less charitable?
August 16th, 2008 at 11:29 am
OH HOW ANNOYING. I just typed out a really long comment and it got eaten when I git submit.
lol.
Try numero dos.
August 16th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Kathi,
For the record I am not the one who said the thing about pride, but I do understand it. Lots of people who are not on the right path think that they have a great relationship with God and/or Christ. I have a Mormon friend named Joe, for one. I have been in e-mail correspondence with a lady from The Family International who feels her relationship with Christ is superb (and it very well may be…) and when I asked her about the abuse that occurred at the hands of TFI’s founders, she denied it (though photographic evidence is well-documented and available freely online) and said to me, “Jesus’ work was ill spoke of, too.”
Ironically, that’s the response that I get from a lot of people when sharing doubts about Todd Bentley. That, or I get people telling me that I have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, the unforgivable sin, by having (and sharing) doubts about TB.
I think it’s a cop out to say that people who speak out against TB are lacking charity. As a parent, I am sure you can agree that disapproval does not equate to an absence of love. I would also venture to say that the people who lack charity in their presentation of arguments against TB are not the majority of TB naysayers.
But even if they were, I would point out that they are just people, too. With flaws, like you said. What makes you so different than them, when you imply that they aren’t really Christians or that they “maybe they’ll be saved”? What is charitable about hurling accusations at fellow Christians that they hate Christ?
August 16th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Have you created a length limit on comments?
August 16th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Alycin, I *hate* when that happens!!
Sometimes I compose really long comments in Word, and then paste them in, for that reason.
Looking forward to what you have to say!
August 16th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Alycin - not that I know of!! Let me go and look…
August 16th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I just read your thing about approving comments… but some of mine are going through okay… I have tried several times… I thought maybe it was too length so I tried breaking it up… do you have keywords that block comments? Maybe I hit one somehow…
August 16th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Nope - no restrictions that I can see. Maybe WP has some internal limits??? I’ve posted some LONG comments before and not had a problem.
If you need to, break it up and post several, or email it to me, and I’ll try.
Sorry for the trouble!
August 16th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Are you getting an error message?
August 16th, 2008 at 11:49 am
AHA! Akismet caught them, too. I posted two of them - the third said the same words and I think you were copying/pasting to try breaking it up.
I went ahead and did two, even though they say essentially the same thing, because you expanded more on a point in the first one…
Again, why is Akismet doing this (after a couple of years of 99.9% accuracy)??
:::scratches head:::
August 16th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Haha… well, that works. Yeah, I was typing the second try from memory, so it came out PRETTY darn similar to the first one. Thanks… though I just typed it all over again in word.
August 16th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
While I’m feeling sympathy for TB’s wife and especially children, not to mention his followers that will no doubt be affected by this, I am not feeling the tiniest bit sorry for TB.
This man took on a very serious position - a ministry of huge magnitude. Thousands looked up to him (whether they should have or not matters not, you know they did), believed in him, hung on his every word. They were born again through his teachings, healed(?) through his teachings, and found their faith in God strengthened, as you did Kathi, through his teachings. Not a little job he committed to!
Yes, every man sins, but when you make a commitment like this to God, his word, and the many souls that you in a sense become responsible for…well, I feel a little self-control might have been the better choice?!
This revival hadn’t even come to a close yet! He couldn’t have found strength within himself to tell this woman she could no longer work for him?! I mean, if not for the God that he proclaims to know so well, or for his wife and children, or for the thousands that follow and support him, then why not, at the very least, for the hundreds of people that have been standing by watching and trying to decide if he truly was of God or not?! Wasn’t there anything to make this man think twice??
I’m sorry. This AM I was brokenhearted, for his family, for his followers, for you Kathi. I still am. But this afternoon I’ve become just a little angry at this man. Too many people left disillusioned. Once again!
Todd Bentley, foolish move buddy!
August 16th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Playing devil’s advocate as my position on TB is very clear.
Everyone sins. Some of them become more public than others, and some of them create more scandal than others. But the sins do not discredit, necessarily, the work for Christ that said sinner did before.
I was incredibly (spiritually) nourished at a Baptist church in the town I grew up in. I was young, 12, when I started going to Sunday school and the Wednesday youth program. For the next year and a half, I grew closer to Christ and became happier and more fulfilled than I had ever been before–in large part due to the youth minister there. And then one day, out of nowhere, my youth minister tried to initiate sex with me.
It shattered my entire world. I could not BELIEVE it. I was shocked and my emotional and spiritual life crumbled.
But many people, to this day even, I’m sure, would talk about how this youth minister influenced them and helped them grow closer to Christ. They wouldn’t be lying–it is the truth, I am sure. He made a mistake and that mistake cost me–and probably him–big time. But his work for God beforehand was still valid in many ways…
I dunno if that makes much sense… but I thought it was worth a try.
August 16th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Donna, I agree with you to large extent. No doubt it was a “foolish move” on his part. No doubt he failed. How COULD he? Especially one who walked with God so closely?
You’re asking valid questions, Donna. The answers to them aren’t easy, and perhaps we’ll have to wait until we see Jesus face to face to know about some things (if they even matter, compared to His glory!)
How can anyone fail God and fall? How about Adam (who knew God in the intimacy of the Garden), or King David (anointed of God and a man after God’s own heart), or Peter (who walked with Jesus *personally*)?
And no doubt that God will hold him to account and yet forgive him as he repents - as He does any of us when we sin (…do not despise the chastening of the Lord…For they [human fathers] indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness…afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:5,10,11).
August 16th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Alycin, thank you for sharing that experience :::hugs:::
August 16th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I don’t feel angry with Todd; I tend to think of him as a young and foolish believer. My stronger feelings are reserved for all those people who put him on a platform instead of encouraging him to sort out the longstanding family problems; the pastor Strader from Ignited Church has stated Todd and Shonnah have been in counselling for several years, and then C. Peter Wagner’s lot went down the ‘commissioning’ route. They had no business taking a man in a troubled state and putting him into the limelight in front of the cameras. I can only imagine the pressure that was on him in this global ‘personality cult,’ and it doesn’t seem there was any older more mature man around that he could confide in. So there he was down in Florida on stage nightly for months while his family seem to have been elsewhere. Where was the concern and support for Shonnah who needed her husband and the kids who needed their father? It was like a rockstar on tour; the whole thing seems like a runaway train where no-one could reach the brakes before the wreck happened.
I also feel a particular burden for this ‘other woman’ whoever she is; those in the inner circle will no doubt ostracise her, I should imagine she’ll cease working for the ministry, and I hope she too encounters a wise Christian who can lead her towards repentance and forgiveness. It’s a Corinthian situation alright.
August 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I agree much with what you said here, Kathi. People may be saying “Oh NOOO! He sinned! His entire approach may be all wrong! My faith is shattered!”
I pray for those who will waver as a result of this fallout. Goodness knows it happened with far too many when [I can't believe I'm bringing this up, but it's relevant] the priest scandal broke.
People are infallible. People sin. That doesn’t mean they’re not of God. It it did, none of us would belong to Him.
As much as I may disagree with TB, it’s time to step up and pray for him, and for his family.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
been at my church with family and friends today so haven’t been able to comment. Kathi, what will be said is there was nothing bibical about TB. Again its never the good people remember its always the bad. Pete Rose remembered for gambling, not a player, OJ killing his wife, but found not guilty, and still has to be knocked for it. So the bottom line is, he fell, now has to pick himself up. And really if he was having marriage problems he should have prayed and sought heavy advice before he did the revival. It is a shame, but the witch doctors will come after him strong and we may never hear of him again.
August 17th, 2008 at 1:26 am
I think you may be referring to my comment on being carefull not to be pridefull in our own “perception” of our relationship with Jesus….just like whatshisname Peter
August 17th, 2008 at 5:44 am
>> before he did the revival<<
Rev, that’s the thing… HE didn’t “do” the revival.
Beyond the first couple of days of it - which is what most churches do when they have “revival” services - and the thing picked up steam - that wasn’t something man could’ve planned, IMHO.
August 17th, 2008 at 6:15 am
I agree Kathi, but to most people he did.
August 17th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Kathi,
Any revival that happens in this country will have two big things working against it:
(1) Satan making it his Numero Uno Priority to labor overtime to find something he use as a wedge to smash into it.
(2) Xtians likewise working overtime to destroy it because it doesn’t exactly fit whatever “paradigm” they expect things to fit into.
Years ago I watched a small revival get destroyed. It was not a pretty process, but I am not surprised that another revival can likewise be destroyed.
For me, the real miracle would be anything that managed to last for any amoount of time.
That anything happens at all in this country is a miracle.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
then most people are wrong, Rev.
August 17th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Gotta love how Mark can say in six words what it takes me 1600 to say…
August 17th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
But Kathi remember, the word World, not church, but again the biggest ones who will come against will be the church as this makes the world happy to see someone fall. I told my people this morning, this is time to pray for TB not come against him.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:10 am
I wish I could agree 100% Rev, and I do agree that we should be praying for him rather than kicking him.
What I don’t quite agree with is that the world is happier to see someone fall.
There are times when it seems that the church is happy to see it.
And that disturbs me more.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Ya know Mark, its a shame the church does do this. I remember when Michael English fell the church came against him so strongly and then was watching a Gaither Video and when he was through singing he walked over to Vestal Goodman and she held him and then it seemed right after that he was okay again.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Stephen Strader from Ignited who invited Bentley to Lakeland has confirmed that this was Bentley’s second affair:
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080818/BREAKING/1280971&title=Popular_Evangelist_Todd_Bentley_Had_Inappropriate_Relationship__His_Organization_Says
My question is: if they knew that he had had an extramarital affair/liaison/whatever 3 years ago, exacerbated by time away from his family, why invite him to be away from them AGAIN for months? That’s not right or loving; that’s lining him up for the same temptation. Yes he bears the ultimate responsibility for his actions, but what about those leaders? It’s like giving a twist of heroin to a recovering drug addict, then distancing yourself when they succumb.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Jules what a great question in light of what you said. I would assume that TB went through some type of counseling after the first affair, but an earlier comment suggest he was still in counseling with his wife, so maybe pressure was put there. But if he was then why did the leadership allow him to preach. Did they say he was okay to preach. We don’t know the answer, but if he was still in counseling for the first affair, then the blame falls on the leadership for allowing it.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
AS woman were’s a pants suit and gets tossed out of the church building….wow, and I thought I had it bad when an “old timer” in my church literally grabbed a baseball cap off my head before I entered the sanctuary…it was only by God’s grace that I didn’t knock him senseless after he did that on fromt of others and then attmepted to lecture me about my “inappropiatness.”
August 18th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
And to be honest after what I wrote earlier, Todd has to be able to shoulder the blame also knowing he was not fully recovered from last affair
August 18th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Quotes from The Ledger link above:
“One of the things we don’t understand is how God uses people of flawed character. People ask me, why choose someone who’s dysfunctional? Because God does it,” he said.
God knew ahead of time Todd’s frailty but chose to use him anyway,” she said. “Unfortunately, some Christians are going to be disappointed with God. It’s a good lesson for Christians to say, maybe you had unrealistic expectations.”
So why do I keep hearing that God chose TB? Maybe God made good out of what possibly was not supposed to be at all?
You once said Kathi that God can and does work miracles from those that don’t necessarily even serve him.
I’m not saying that TB wasn’t in service to God, but it’s obvious he should not have been in the position he was in. And if those above him were not aware of this, then he should have been.
I don’t think God put TB up on that stage. I think man made that decision. But, if God did have a hand in that revival, then in my opinion he was there to salvage what he could before it all came tumbling down.
Todd Bentley to lead a revival and then fall before it’s concluded, God’s choice? I don’t think so. But again, that’s just my opinion.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Good reasoning Donn. This from the beginning was a man made “revival” that was encouraged by Bob Jones last winter. And quite honestly, it is well documneted that Jones, personally and theologically is bereft of any spiritual discernment along witht hhose of others that were at Todd’s coronation ceremony…errr, I mean “commisioning.”
From the so called prophets and apostles they beleived they were hearing from the Spirit and prophesies all sorts of falsehoods that never came to pass, as well as theoligical errors when using Old Testamnet verses that foretold…ACCURATELY the coming Messiah, not anything remotely to do with Latter Rain outopouring theories.
This was from the first week Todd got there a paln in place, web sites ready, and Madisdon Avenue marketers that got theis “thing a rollin’.
God had very little to do with it. He is not obligated to honor heresy, financial manipulations, false prophecies etc.
I know Kathi you testify to being healed. But if I my memory fails me, did you not mention that Ken laid hands on you while watching. I would be more confident by the Spirit that God worked throuhg your beleoved than anything or anyone else. Just my opinions. It has also been stated here that healing is NOT a sign necessarily of God’s blessing to the person who claims an aointing, rememeber the words of those who wil say Lord, Lord, didn’t we heal, cast out demons, etc, and the LORD will reply away from me you evil doers I never KNEW .
Yes, obviously he uses flawed people. I am flawed hurt and struggling, but there are people who are in the minstry for personal gain, and who use the “touch mine anointed”, as a defelction, and have refused correction, rebuke, and to submit to those who are concerned for the integrity of sound biblical exegesis, being sound in character, speeech, and being above reproach. Bentley and those who propped him up in my heart are flagrant violators of this, and will give an account.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
some great post here lately. My covering is my wife, my mentor is my spiritual adviser. I tend to believe if we will seek the Lord then we will see the move of God go forward. Not a time to stop revivial but open your heart and that is where revival begins. If it can’t start in us then it can’t start anywheres
August 19th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
“Unfortunately, some Christians are going to be disappointed with God. It’s a good lesson for Christians to say, maybe you had unrealistic expectations.”
I have to also say that I’m having a real hard time with this statement above. ‘Unrealistic expectations’?? And what would that be? Would it be the expectation that this evangelic leader of this revival, the man that saved the lost, healed the sick, spoke with angels and Jesus himself, and visited the heavens, that he would be true to his wife and children?? That he might be true to the gospel that he was teaching every night?
I’m sorry, the more days that go by…well, I’m just hurting for the MANY that I know are hurting.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Donna your last statement is so true. I don’t care what anyone says, this became all about TB and now someone will have to pick up those who are hurt. For those who are strong enough they might make it, but for those who were new to Christ this can turn them back again.