I publish this artcle because I think it is a very balanced viewpoint. Home churches have been contacting me about this revival. See the third posting below.
by J. Lee Grady (EDITOR OF THE WELL RESPECTED CHARISMA MAGAZINE)
I support any holy outbreak of revival fervor. But let’s be careful to guard ourselves from pride and error.God is stirring deep spiritual passion in the hearts of the thousands of people who have traveled to Florida during the last month to experience the Lakeland Healing Revival. Since these meetings began in a 700-seat church on April 2, the crowd has moved four times to bigger venues, the fervor has intensified and the news has spread worldwide—thanks to God TV and online broadcasting.Within a few weeks, the bandwagon effect was in full swing. It’s safe to say that no outbreak of Pentecostalism in history has gained so much international exposure so quickly as these meetings have.
I’m a cheerleader for the charismatic movement, so I rejoiced when I heard the news about revivalist Todd Bentley’s extended visit to Ignited Church. It was thrilling to hear the reports of miracles and to watch the crowd grow until a stadium was required to hold everyone. When I visited a service on April 15, I was blessed by Heather Clark’s music and the audience’s exuberant worship. And I laughed with everyone else as I watched Bentley shout his trademarked “Bam! Bam! Bam!” as he prayed for the sick and flailed his tattooed arms over the crowd. Hey, Jesus didn’t pray for people according to the Pharisees’ rulebook, so I’m open to unconventional methods.
But I would be dishonest if I told you that I wholeheartedly embraced what I saw in Lakeland. Something disturbed me, but I kept my mouth shut for three weeks while I prayed, got counsel from respected ministry leaders and searched my heart to make sure I was not harboring a religious spirit. The last thing we need today is more mean-spirited heresy hunters blasting other Christians. I am not a heresy hunter, and I support what is happening in Lakeland because I know God uses imperfect people (like me and you) to reach others for Jesus. At the same time, I believe my questions are honest and my concerns are real.My motive is not to criticize Bentley or the pastor who is sponsoring these meetings, Stephen Strader. In September 2002 Charisma featured a seven-page article about Bentley’s amazing conversion from drug addiction. I believe Bentley is a sincere brother who wants people to encounter God’s presence and power.
No doubt this 32-year-old evangelist needs our prayers now more than ever, especially since he has become the focus of international media attention.
But as the noise from Lakeland grows louder and its influence spreads, I’m issuing some words of warning that apply to all of us, not just the folks in Lakeland. I hope everyone understands that these cautions are offered in love:
1. Beware of strange fire.The name of Jesus is being lifted up in the Lakeland revival, and three people came to the altar for salvation the night I attended. Larger numbers have come to the front of the auditorium to find Christ every night since then.
Yet I fear another message is also being preached subtly in Lakeland—a message that cult-watchers would describe as a spiritual counterfeit. Bentley is one of several charismatic ministers who have emphasized angels in the last several years. He has taught about angels who bring financial breakthroughs or revelations, and he sometimes refers to an angel named Emma who supposedly played a role in initiating a prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. Bentley describes Emma as a woman in a flowing white dress who floats a few feet off the floor. All of us who believe the Bible know that angels are real, and that they work on our behalf to protect us and minister to us. But the apostle Paul, who had encounters with angels himself, issued stern warnings to the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Colossians about angels who preach another gospel or that demand attention. In Colossae, believers were so enamored with angels they had seen in visions that they became “inflated without cause” by spiritual pride (Col. 2:18, NASB). Paul was adamant that preoccupation with angels can lead to serious deception. We need to tread carefully here! We have no business teaching God’s people to commune with angels or to seek revelations from them. And if any revival movement—no matter how exciting or passionate—mixes the gospel of Jesus with this strange fire, the results could be devastating. We need to remember that Mormonism was born out of one man’s encounter with a dark angel who claimed to speak for God.
2. Beware of bizarre manifestations.When the Holy Spirit’s power comes on people they may feel weak or even fall. The Spirit’s power can also cause people to tremble, shake, laugh or cry.Such manifestations are biblical and we should leave room for them. But where do we draw the line between legitimate experience and fanatical excess?The apostle Paul had to deal with outrageous charismatic manifestations in the Corinthian church. People were acting like raving lunatics —and turning the church in to a free-for-all of unbridled ecstatic behavior. Paul called for discipline and order, and he reminded early Christians that “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, Paul was saying that no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit should act out of control. In many recent charismatic revivals, ministers have allowed people to behave like epileptics on stage—and they have attributed their attention-getting antics to the Holy Spirit. We may think it’s all in fun (you know, we’re just “acting crazy” for God) but we should be more concerned that such behavior feeds carnality and grieves the Spirit. When exotic manifestations are encouraged, people can actually get a religious high from jerking, vibrating, screaming or acting intoxicated. (I have even been around people who writhed as if in pain, or made sexual noises—thinking this was a legitimate spiritual experience.) But emotional euphoria doesn’t guarantee a heart change. The person who is bucking like an untamed bronco in a church service would benefit more from sitting still and reading the Bible for an hour. When we put bizarre behavior on the platform we imply that it is normative. Thus more strange fire is allowed to spread..
3. Beware of hype and exaggeration.Our hearts are crying out today for a genuine move of God. We want the real deal. We’ve read about the Great Awakenings of the past and we long to see our nation overcome by a wave of repentance. The church is in a backslidden state, and our nation has rebelled against God. We are desperate!In our longing for a holy visitation, however, we must be careful not to call the first faint breeze of the Spirit a full-fledged revival. If we do that, we are setting people up for disappointment when they realize it may not be what we blew it up to be.Some of the language used during the Lakeland Revival has created an almost sideshow atmosphere. People are invited to “Come and get some.” Miracles are supposedly “popping like popcorn.” Organizers tout it as the greatest revival in history. Such brash statements cheapen what the Holy Spirit is doing— and they do a disservice to our brothers and sisters who are experiencing New Testament-style revival in countries such as Iran, China and India. We have a long way to go before we experience their level of revival. Let’s stay humble and broken before the Lord. I am rejoicing over all the reported healings at the Lakeland meetings. Miracles are awesome. Crowds are great. But miracles and crowds alone don’t guarantee a revival. Multitudes followed Jesus during His ministry on earth, but many of the people who saw the dead raised or ate food that was supernaturally multiplied later crucified the Son of God.It was the few disciples who followed Jesus after Calvary who ushered in a true revival—one that was bathed in the fear of God, confirmed by signs and wonders, tempered by persecution and evidenced by thousands of conversions, new churches and the transformation of society. We should expect nothing less. -J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.
What a wonderful well balanced article & given in the right spirit.
Thankyou.
Left by Gail Pritchard on May 16th, 2008
Hello Bessie. Thanks for publishing this. I think we all should more and more appreciate Lee Grady’s perpective as a responsible but gentle commentator on some of the more controversial aspects of pentecostalism. He contrasts well with a lot of the harsher critics and self styled ‘defenders of the faith’ who seem to abound when something outside the box happens in the church. God bless you.
Left by Phillip Walters on May 16th, 2008
I really believe that God has led you to write what you did. I believe God wants us to fervently pray for Todd against falling into error - as so many mighty men and woman of God have done in the past.I would suggest binding ANY deceiving spirits (if controlling Todd in any way, and pray for him to be released into the true realm 9f the Holy Spirit)——–AND ENJOY WHAT GOD DOES !!! God Bless. Peter Adams. Australia
Left by peter adams on May 27th, 2008
well written.. best thing we can do is pray for Todd, bind any deceiving spirits and enjoy Gods outpouring!!!
Left by peter adams on May 27th, 2008
I have serious checks in my spirit about this revival.
I was part of Brownsville and Toronto and found both revivals to be genuine moves of God, I am a graduate of BRSM (Brownsville Revival School of Ministry).
They messages at both revivals were simple, at Brownsville, repentance, at Toronto, the love of the Father.
The emphasis on the Lakeland revival is unfortunately angels.
The “Wind of Change” angel is getting credit for this revival and not the Holy Spirit. Todd and “Sharniel” even gave this angel credit for the “winds of Penteocst” in one revival service.
Bob Jones, a false prophet who sexually manipulated women with his gift, is the main “elder” for this revival. Bob Jones also teaches guided visions and visualizations and third heaven visitations as everyday occurences.
Todd Bentley teaches that Abraham wrote the book of Hebrews.
Emma is given lots of credit and is just plain weird.
This revival has some serious errors.
I say this as somebody who has no problems with “manifestations.”
I have been drunk in the Spirit.
However, this spirit seems different than what I saw at both Brownsville and Toronto.
Left by Negev Eden on May 31st, 2008
It is disturbing to see how many Christians are judging this outpouring by their experience or natural-mind interpretations rather than by its fruit.
I, too, was “there” for Toronto, etc, and I have diligently followed the Prophetic History of those moves and the current one. I was there in Queensland when this move was prophesied at the Downpour conference, I was already aware and expecting something to happen because of several prophesies by various prophetic ministers.
The religious spirit is alive and well, with everyone willing to jump in and criticise something about this outpouring: Angels, Todd’s humility or lack of, deception… the list goes on.
What happened to “my sheep hear my voice?” This should be the starting point of our walk, not the end-point. Biblically, Todd does not need to have everything correct to be used of God, and just maybe, God has a different view of what is correct than some of the critics.
People are being saved, others are claiming to be healed - Praise God. I’m sure He is able to sort out the rest without our less-than-informed “issues”.
PauL D
Left by Paul Davies on June 22nd, 2008
Paul,
I was a part of the Brownsville Revival and was in Toronto. I was and still am one of their biggest defenders. Especially Brownsville, the amount of drug addicts and prostitutes I saw saved there still makes me weep. I have no problem with most (not all) of the manifestations that many criticize.
However, my “beef” with the “river” movement is that they swallow everything that comes down the River-charismatic pipe like lemmings. They do not have any ability to discern…if it says “river” or “prophetic”, they believe it.
Todd Bentley says that the Apostle Paul told him that Abraham co-wrote the book of Hebrews….. the River lemmings believe it.
Todd Bentley and Bob Jones say you can visit the Third Heaven daily…the River lemmings believe it.
Bob Jones takes Bentley’s hands and “guides” him into a third heaven experience where he smells vanilla and then Bob Jones “guides” Bentley back to earth with the smell of vanilla. … which is New Age visualization…. the River crowd does not test it. Whatever you say Todd…keep on doing miracles for us to ewww and awww.
My wife has had 2 third heaven visitations, I believe in them.
However, they are sovreign experiences for desperate times….they are not the everyday norm.
They are also “unlawful” to speak in nature as Paul said.
Most of all, the whole idea of Bob guiding Todd into a third heaven experience is NEW AGE! If God wants to give me a vision, it is sovreign…I do not need to grab Bob’s hand and let him guide me into it.
Left by JewishHeart on June 24th, 2008
Also not to mention that Toronto and Brownsville were not directly related to the Kansas City Prophets…. Todd is claiming that the KC prophets revival is the same as Lakeland with the same angel (Emma).
You know what the fruits of Kansas City Prophets is…
1.) The Shepherd’s rod heresy
2..) Paul Cain and homosexuality and drukedness.
3.) Bob Jones sexually manipulates women to undress and be “naked before the Lord”
4.) Kevin Prosch, worship leader for KC prophets, has multiple affairs on his road trips with prophetic worship.
5.) Christian civil war heresy
I love the prophetic, I love signs and wonders, I love revival!
I would much rather look East to China and what is happening in India with Victor Choudhrie (REAL REVIVAL!) than to look at the sexually immoral KC prophets revival restored in Lakeland.
Left by JewishHeart on June 24th, 2008
My question is : what is revival? There seems to be a belief that revival is when lots of people get together, praising and worshipping God, and signs and wonders follow… but is that revival? I believe revival is the reviving of faith within the Church and within our society. I worry about a revival that is literally, “out in the middle of a field” and not within the life of the church. Where does this Lakeland event go from here? I like to think of ‘revival’ not as a ‘what’, but ‘Him’. I, too agree that it is quite arrogant and self centred to proclaim Lakeland - or any ‘revival’ - as the ‘biggest move of God’… I think this shows a lack of understanding of the heart of God: He is a God that pours Himself out abundantly on the earth. It’s quite possible that a little group of faith filled believers in, say, Mozambique, could usher in a world wide revival of faith!! It’s certainly God’s way to use small, faith-filled groups of people. (I love that about Him!!) So, I am one of those sitting and wondering about this current revival. Does the use of God Tv and the internet make it a ‘bigger thing’ or does the technology over-inflate something?
In my life I have seen amazing ‘revival’ fire fall on: a youth group of 50 teenagers; a Roman Catholic charismatic parish; on a home church of 12… in a Baptist church…. if God TV had been there, could these have been a ‘Lakeland”? I’m not trying to sound negative, but I believe, we Christians need to move in both faith and reason.
Left by Cate on June 27th, 2008
I commend you for your article and discernment but I am dismayed that more Christians are not coming forward for fear of being Pharasaic, judgemental, in the wrong spirit etc… These people have long used these lables and tactics to stymie dissent in thier organisations - I would bet any money that if you post your thoughts under a Youtube video of Todd Bentley that you will immediately be labeled as such - I have even seen comments such as “how dare you question his annointing” for someone who was making an observation in the same way you have….. It is either of God or its not…..I say lets stop messing around and call this what it it is - False Teaching AKA HERESY
Left by Ryan Moss on July 4th, 2008
Case in point - Paul D above stating that the religious spirit is alive and well…..LOL
This article could not be any more balanced and non-judgemental….what do you want??? why cant someone express their disapproval without being labled as having a “religious spirit”??? - could it be they just disagree?
Left by Ryan Moss on July 4th, 2008