I received an official looking email from an organisation today saying that Todd Bentley has begun Canadian law divorce proceedings with his wife.
I haven’t blogged at all about the Lakeland happenings or the subsequent Pentecostal excitement surrounding it primarily because I couldn’t trust myself to give a balanced account of it due to my distance from it and the self awareness that I am not inclined towards such events at the best of times. I have had serious reservations in it all, despite wanting to keep somewhat of an open and generous mind to the wider activity of the Holy Spirit.
I give that background to say, it will be very easy for those who, like me have been either quietly pessimistic or even spoken out against the Lakeland ‘Revival’ to get smug in response to Todd Bentley’s marital breakdown, or see it as an opportunity to pridefully proclaim ‘I knew it all along’. Contrary to that I think that Todd Bentley’s marital issues can realistically tell us very little regarding the legitimacy of the Lakeland healing’s. As discerning believers who have felt nervousness with Lakeland was an issue of preserving integrity in Christian faith and doctrine, we must show the same integrity to grieve the break up of a family, not because family is the moral pinnacle or goal of the Christian life but because whatever has happened in this marriage separation it will create some form of distance from Bentley’s children to their Dad and it will be a tragic event in a marriage where love has not conquered all, which after all is the eschatological promise that the Christian life should serve as a witness to. Pray for Todd Bentley, his wife and 3 children.
13 responses so far ↓
1 mark // Aug 16, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Thanks for you mature approach to what is happening at this time. I wish there were more who would balance their responses in this way rather than simply criticise and attack.
I too received an email from fresh fire ministries with the revelation of of the true(?) situation with Todd & Shonnah.
I have been to the revival in Lakeland and yes was challenged and somewhat uncomfortable at times but I have always tried to balance my response by how it effects me in the long term in my walk with God and I can say that I have found a new level of freedom in God, never a bad thing! Our church is benefitting from our experience of attending and receiving, not from Todd, but from God himself.
I, and the church here, will be praying for them both that God will do that which only He can do, bring real restoration which from my understanding of scritpture, is making something better than it was before, and cause what the enemy has meant for harm to be a springboard into even greater ministry
2 Jabini // Aug 17, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I came across your article whikst looking for verification on this news.
Thanks for a very balanced view – one that I wholly share.
We must pray for Todd and his family and also that this does not damage the good things that have come from this “move”. After all, there before the grace of God go I.
Jabini.
3 Cheryl-Lee Raine // Aug 18, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Can I be honest from the beginning, please? I was once very judgemental and critical of Mr Bentley and his sometimes-erractic doctrine. It almost became an obsession that I believed that this man was NOT of God. I would like to mention that I was also bitter regarding the whole outpouring.
However, I am currently praying for Mr Bentley and his family that they come to both a emotional and spritiual restoration. I was praying that the Lord would forgive me too as I feel very very convicted by my feelings towards this man. I still do not believe in EVERYTHING that he preached about but who am I to judge? I know that the Word tells us to “test the spirits” but it does not – in any way shape or form – tell us to judge the teacher but rather the teaching.
I have been upset at my behaviour and am currently asking Fresh Fire Ministries to forgive me for what I was being like. The Lord has spoken to me – through His powerful Word – alot in the last few days and I felt so convicted by the Spirit that I was wrong in judging Mr Bentley. (I do not call him ‘Todd’ as I am too polite, I suppose)
Like I said, I do not fully accept his teachings nor condone his recent acts but we all should take a lesson from this well-balanced blog and stop fighting and being puffed up with pride over what has happened.
There are so many people out there needing Jesus and that, and that only, shoud be our primary focus!! It breaks my heart that there are so many lost out there and, sadly, some Christians are battling it out over Todd Bentley and the “revival” at Lakeland, Florida. We can all say “I knew it!!”, but that would be wrong as well – pride, people, that is what it is!!
Let us unite in prayer for the Bentley family – whether we agree with him or not – and let us realise that the lost are more important to us (as Christians) than squabbling over this matter.
God bless & love in Christ
CHERYL-LEE RAINE (23)
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
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4 David // Aug 18, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I haven’t heard Todd Bently do anything but declare his outright desire to see people saved from a godless eternity, be totally born again and to start serving god. Lives of many a minister could be exposed and they may well be deeply ashamed too. All sin is sin and the pharises hoicked the woman caught in adultery before Jesus who gave here the all clear one he knew she wanted to change. Something smacks of religion here but not much about Jesus. If God only used perfect people he wouldn’t use you who may sit on your high horse. Pray for Todd and his little family. The devils at his throat cause he wants to see Gods glory change
the world.
5 nicky // Aug 19, 2008 at 6:04 pm
There for the GRACE of GOD go I. I pray blessings on Todd, his wife, their marriage and their children.
I leave them all in the very capable and loving hands of JESUS. Did everyone of us look to Todd instead of GOD….. Was our obsession with him license for the enemy to gain entry and wage war ….. Let us learn for the future that NO MAN can take the place of JESUS, and use this experience to help us stand in these last days.
6 Mid Week Round up | Byrnesys Blabberings // Aug 20, 2008 at 11:35 am
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7 The need to redress the balance in Charismatic Churches | Byrnesys Blabberings // Aug 21, 2008 at 10:04 am
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8 Steve // Aug 26, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Thanks for the balanced view! There is so much sniping and contention out there. My experience has been one of real excitement at what God has been doing. Our church has been tremendously encouraged by the Outpouring and many folks travelled to the meetings and experienced it at first hand. Todd was clearly trying to go with what the Spirit was doing and unfortunately his personal life took a back seat. It’s a lesson to us all that we need to be accountable and give our family a high priority in these days. Let’s take the positives and learn from the negatives. We can’t judge – who among us is free of sin? God is gracious and my prayer is that the Bentley family will be reconciled and fall back in love! Christians should be always looking for the best in people – I seek to strengthen, build up and encourage rather than pull down. Praise God for the genuine healings and miracles and signs.
9 Baba // Sep 10, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Such refreshing responses after seeing the extend of all forms of criticism, condemnation and contempt for a very human servant of God, with his image regarded by many as uncomely. However scripture also make reference to the uncomeliness of Jesus which is why His own people disowned him. So yes we should all stand in the gap for this man,in prayer as we lift up Todd and his family. Weshould know dthe authority that we have to warfare against the real enemy in all of this. Thank you each for being on the side of God in nall of this
Baba
10 junnette tait // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:34 am
Tod was being used as a vessel and an instrument though not yet perfect which is on the day of Jesus Christ. yes the enemy will be on his back because he wants to wreck the work of God. We as fellow brothers and sisters have to carry his burden as the word says and be positive for Tod. If Tod and his wife are hurting then if we are the same body, we should hurt too because we have one Father God and our Father God is hurting for one of His own. Thank God for all who do not judge. I fear that if I judge then I will be judged. We are an army not waging war against flesh but against principalities and darkness with spiritual weapons of love, forgiveness, kindness, etc.
God will come through for Tod and his family if we all are of one accord. Lets not be on the other side of Gods army.
God Bless all fellow children of God who are praying for them.
junnette tait
11 tom // Oct 19, 2008 at 4:49 pm
please pray for the churches and the people that satan and todd have damaged.
12 1000th Post | Byrnesys Blabberings // Feb 27, 2009 at 5:50 pm
[...] 1.Please Pray for Todd Bentley [...]
13 Daniel // May 18, 2009 at 9:06 pm
here’s some truth from behind the scenes in Abbotsford. Jessa first of all was an intern in the fall 08 cycle. She never applied for it Todd invited her into the internship. Even after a board member severly opposed it. Later Todd invited her and another intern to live in his house during the internship, and after the internship as a live in nanny.
At the same time the Bellingham, Washington church was being established so fresh fire could get a legal foot hold in America. This is evident by the lack and the sheer refusal to work with the local churches. It was just for the papers not the church.
In January 2009 2 members of the board confronted Todd about Jessa, and that it was wrong and they couldn’t stand by him about it. They where “relieved” of their position for doing so. This shouldn’t be surprising as another member of FFM was faceed with the same threat, after he caught Todd with another woman in England (this is what the dark night of the soul was actually about), the FFM member was forced to either work for FFM outside of North America or be fired. Jessa is woman number 4 that Todd has cheated on Shonnah with.
Todd isn’t 100% to blame just 80% the rest of the blame falls on those board members and pastors that refused to confront Todd on his infidelities. One in particular had the mind set that if Todd does it, it’s okay even if it isn’t for others. Others refused to confront because they didn’t want to loose their jobs (like many have over the years)
Even in Lakeland which I personally think was a two edged work of God, it was a blessing to the locals who have prayed for God to move. And the other edge was a judgement on Todd, in total over the top Todd style. During the highet of revival there was excessive drinking, slasher flicks, and other things I wont get into now with Todd and his inner circle (yes men). There was infighting with the leaders on stage, and the interns where just slaves with ministry badges. Or the fact that all the money collected for the orphans and for sudan never made it to them, it was instead used to pay for the buildings/land for the revival.
Even after Lakeland fell apart, and the news finally became public, Todd never returned home to Abbotsford. He remained in America (illegally) in California, then a breif stop in Reno for their quickey divorce rules. Then it was off to Rick Joyner and his marriage with Jessa
These words are not made up, this is a summary of many conversations I have had with former FFM employees, board members and former interns. I just can’t stand by and see Todd get away with this for a fourth time. A man who has turned his back on his wife and children once again. yet will be received by the masses as THE man of God.