The Lakeland Revival and Todd Bentley’s current situation presents an excellent opportunity for the church to grow in maturity. There are several lessons with broad application that all believers, regardless of their stance on TB&L, should take to heart. These are in no particular order:

#1 – The media is not your friend. Even Christian media.

Yes – media can and should be utilized by Christian leaders – but leaders must understand that journalists are almost universally biased, and they will write either to their own bias, or to the bias of their particular outlet. No, it’s not supposed to be that way – but that’s the way it is.

Leaders should never trust that quotes will be reported accurately or in context. Leaders should never assume that just because a reporter is nice to them, the resulting product will be complimentary. Leaders should never assume that what a reporter says about the resulting product is true. Some will lie, but more often they will be superceded by an editor’s opinion on the subject. Leaders should prepare their staff for the fallout of an article or broadcast well before the actual publication date.

Likewise, all Christians should know that things reported by the media are not always accurate (anyone remember a world-renowned network purposely blowing up cars (trucks??). Items get over- and under-reported all the time (Don’t think for a SECOND that Natalee Holloway’s disappearance would have gotten even an honorable mention if she was black or Hispanic). Even the Christian media distorts things. Sometimes it’s bias or prejudice, and sometimes it’s just because the reporter really had no clue about the subject to begin with. That happened to me a lot at ExWitch.

#2 – Accountability must be in place from the beginning

The whole apostolic alignment thing was nice – and many have noted that it’s out of that relationship that Todd’s restoration will come. However, had they been in place from the beginning, with LOCAL hands-on oversight, this might not have happened. All leaders need people in place who can speak into their lives and who can see what’s going on. I suspect that the intent was there in Lakeland – but there wasn’t enough follow-through – perhaps due to the frenetic pace they were trying to keep.

#3 – Be wary of discouragement and fatigue

When you’ve got days leading to weeks leading to months non-stop without a break, even if GOOD STUFF is happening, you’re setting yourself up for a fall. Regular breaks and family time should have been in place from the beginning, and should be for all ministers – whether they’re in charge of a small house church like ours, or an international in-your-face ministry like TB’s.

When you’ve got random people gunning for you, threats made against your family, the media getting you down, protesters picketing your meetings, and the very core of your faith doubted by strangers who really have no clue, watch out – discouragement can lead to a fall. Surround yourself with grounded, encouranging people who WILL NOT be “yes-men” but who will speak life to you.

#4 – Watch out for entanglements

Be careful not to be alone with someone you might become attracted to. In the post-Ted Haggard days, we shouldn’t say, “of the opposite sex” – it could be anyone, and it might take you totally by surprise. If you notice an attraction forming, create distance and seek counsel. Many ministers simply refuse to be alone with anyone other than their spouse and children. This is perhaps overkill – but perhaps not. Ministers who do this will never have opportunity to sin in that way – and will never have to endure a false accusation, either.

As pointed out in the blog comments below, counseling should never be between a man and woman alone. Our old pastor has a strict policy that he’ll counsel a woman – but only with the door open and his secretary at her desk right outside the door (Said secretary has been there forever, is unflappable even in a hurricane, and is one of the most close-mouthed people I know. So no one minds her presence.)

#5 – If you do/say controversial things, anticipate controversy and move to explain or defuse it.

There’s no sense bringing condemnation on yourself when it can be avoided. I’m not saying that TB shouldn’t have, for example, talked about the angels he sees – but he SHOULD have, from the beginning, cited Scripture and explained things more rather than assuming that everyone out there was capable of doing so, and were doing so. At Lakeland, they tried to address many of these issues at the morning meetings – but these were missed by the wider audience. By the time solid teaching came about, many people had formed rather wild opinions as to what was going on.

#6 – God using you greatly doesn’t preclude you screwing up.

Ministers must keep a balance and walk in the authority that Christ gives us, without crossing the line into pride. Many a minister has fallen because they see all the great things that God is doing through them, and assume that nothing bad could happen. Abraham, King David, and Peter, along with many other men and women from Bible times, knew this firsthand. Always guard your heart, and keep watch for the tiniest roots of trouble.

#7 – The Body of Christ must be more discerning in its criticism of ministers.

The Body would do well to remember that it IS the Body – All Christians are related to one another by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We’re family. We should treat one another as a loving family would – rather than as the largest disfunctional, hateful, spiteful family in the world!

It’s to our shame that lone wolves have emerged to hunt for heresy in the church, spewing venom and hatred at every turn, attempting to force the Body into the mold they’ve created. It’s to our shame that ministers stand up in the pulpit on Sunday morning and preach hatred against other ministers and denominations, making fun of them and calling them “demonic” or “satanically inspired”, and call that “protecting the flock”. I don’t for a minute think that the Apostle Paul was talking about Todd Bentley or any other Christian leader when he spoke to the brethren in Acts 20, warning them of savage wolves who would come in to ravage the flock. I think he was talking about the heresy hunters.

When one family member is moved to speak against another family member, it should be with care, love, and concern, and preferably begin with the family member themselves. There will be times when we must judge that someone is, in fact, not a member of the family – but that should be done with extreme care, extreme prayer, and extreme adherence to the Word of God… coupled with an extreme examination of one’s own life and relationship with Jesus.

When we do speak, it should be either to voice differences or encourage restoration. Speak life! Speak to build the Kingdom and God’s people up – not tear them down. It’s possible to say, “I don’t agree with something and don’t feel that you should either” without lashing at someone with your whip of words.

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I’ll add more to this as time goes on, I’m sure.