UPDATE 08:16:08: Oh Well.
From Fresh Fire;
“We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.
Well Todd, here’s what I’ve learned.
Despite all your concentration of miracles and revival; despite all your time on television; despite the fact that thousands look at you as “anointed;” despite your preaching and teaching; despite the offerings; despite all the attention and acclaim….
Despite all that, Jesus is pursuing another agenda in your life and my life, and the fact is that success in the ministry, on the small stage or on the large, isn’t what he’s working toward.
Jesus will not hesitate to allow into your life crushing pain and rejection to make you into his disciple. Not anyone else’s hero or anyone else’s “anointed prophet.” HIS DISCIPLE.
This is the one who said:
Mark 8:34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
So if you belong to him, and he knows you want to be his follower, and you won’t take up HIS cross…..HIS gospel…..HIS supreme value…..then he may put you in a place in your life where HE is all you’ll have.
(Note: I’m not implying God ends marriages. Good grief. I am saying that God will allow events that have been “buffered” by his mercy to go to their normal consequences.)
He’s unafraid for you to be alone, rejected and in failure. He’s unafraid to let the consequences of our sins come back to us if that’s what it takes to make us HIS follower. The steps on the way to holiness don’t look like the advertisements we run for Your Best Life Now. Jesus hasn’t signed on to that scam.
I’m sure there are moments when you say “This is the devil” or “This is just a test.” Probably not. Wherever Satan or God’s secret plan are in the picture, you’ll never figure either out and it doesn’t matter.
Paul said
II Corinthians 12: 5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Who gave him the thorn? With what purpose?
So why is Satan in the picture? That’s something we see in scripture, but what we don’t like to see is that God designed it to drive out pride in a proud man. A successful church planter. A great preacher. A man who performed miracles and had visions.
Sound familiar? (Of course, his were the real deal, but that’s another note.)
But none of what was going on in Paul’s life was driving out simple pride, so God allowed pain. Paul prayed with all his faith, and God said “No. I prefer the humility and the dependence in your weakness to the pride in your strength. Keep it.”
I’ve learned this at my house, Todd. I’ve learned it in my life and friendships. I’m not a very good Christian. All I can bring to Jesus most of the time is a very weak desire for God in my life. So Jesus does it his way. This year he took my wife into the Catholic Church and reduced me to a broken, bitter, angry, confused, useless man.
And in that state, God has done more in my heart than any time in my life. Jesus is a treasure he wasn’t before.
When Jesus is all you have, then Jesus will be all you need.
Praying for you. If you are a follower of Jesus, then this experience will make you more of a disciple than ever before. If you are a purveyor of miracles and a pursuer of fame, money and attention, then God is being merciful to you.
I believe God wants to rid YOU of the person we’ve all seen the past few months, and bring out of this brokenness a man quietly, deeply, genuinely devoted to Jesus. Not the show or the “revival,” but Jesus in your brokenness.
God’s peace.
Excellent, Michael. Thanks.
Hopefully it’s not too late to rescue their marriage.
Good stuff, made me think of this,
“… God is more interested in making you holy, than he is in getting a job done.”- Elisabeth Elliot
…it’s tragic… I don’t care how anyone feels about Todd or his ministry, the ending of a marriage is a tragedy.
“So if you belong to him, and he knows you want to be his follower, and you won’t take up HIS cross…..HIS gospel…..HIS supreme value…..then he’ll put you in a place in your life where HE is all you’ll have.”
To me that infers that Todd’s marriage is in trouble because HE isn’t first in Todd’s life. Did Job do anything that warranted the testing God allowed in his life?
I haven’t followed the Florida stuff–so I honestly don’t have an opinion either way on Todd.
Judge Todd’s doctrines, but don’t judge his circumstances as being retribution from God.
The first thing I said was “here’s what I’ve learned.”
Secondly, neither scripture passage implies anything about retribution, which is punishment. The 2 Cor passage is clearly about sanctification.
Third, to say that God is not involved in these events with a purpose to sanctify us is to say something far worse than that God is punishing him.
Let me be clear: A marriage falls apart because of our sin. God mercifully may keep it together because he is kind. But he won’t hesitate to let the consequences of sin take its course in order to bring us to a place of knowing him through suffering.
Michael,
I know you didn’t *mean* to say that God wanted Todd’s marriage to break up in order to teach Todd a lesson, but I also agree with Daniel that it’s easy to take such words that way. “…If you had just been closer to God, then XYZ wouldn’t have happened.” Nah. The finest Christians in the world can get cancer or lose children just like the rest of us.
Also, maybe marriages break up because they need to break up. It’s often because of our sin, but often, too, because the two people have grown far apart and they *can’t* stay together without severe damage to one of them. It’s true Jesus said that divorce is only allowed for adultery, but in first-century Palestine, that could have been directed at the creeps who, for their ‘hardness of heart,’ wanted to get rid of old wives and marry new trophy wives without making any provision for the first wife, who would then be doomed to destitution.
I don’t know anything about Todd, but since you have been open and generous enough to share your story with us, I do know that your marriage went through a rough patch (or perhaps is still doing so) because your wife did what she felt God wanted her to do but you definitely *didn’t* want her to. The struggle went on until you were able to (at some level) accept her decision and let God handle it.
I know having a wayward child is probably not as painful as the breakup of a marriage, but when I was struggling every day, with every cell in my body, to change my daughter and ’save’ her from the hellish life she preferred, I was about as miserable as I ever expect to be this side of the flames.
It’s only when I got into some groups and 12-step programs that I learned, slowly and reluctantly, to ‘let go and let God.’
I assume neither Todd nor his wife were abusive — if they were, the marriage *should* break up and the sooner the better, IMNSHO.
If they weren’t abusive, then maybe the marriage just cannot work for the good of both people. I don’t know what evangelicals believe, exactly, but the ‘good old days’ of no divorce were pretty brutal for a lot of people, usually women. Just 50 or 60 years ago in this town, Roman Catholics couldn’t get a divorce, but there were a heck of a lot of them living separate lives where the husbands had the front part of the house and the wives had the kids and the back part. Those are some not so good old days I hope never return.
Golly, I do go on. But in any case, I will join you in praying that Todd and his wife will both find the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and God leading them along to the next place they belong.
Heather
I appreciate the tone of this post, although I believe that Todd is already “a man quietly, deeply, genuinely devoted to Jesus” even while I have some issues with some of the ways he expresses this. See by the way this article about Todd as well as a number on my blog.
But I am concerned that all of this post is based on an unconfirmed report from a former employee who might well be disaffected. This, even if it is substantially true, is a private matter for Todd and his wife which they have not made public. I don’t think it should be discussed publicly, especially by Christians who should respect one another’s privacy. Instead let’s all pray for Todd and Shonna, for a closer walk with one another and with Jesus.
Reminds me of a quote from Henry Nouwen:
“Our life is full of brokenness – broken relationships, broken promises, broken expectations. How can we live with that brokeness without becoming bitter and resentful except by returning again and again to God’s faithful presence in our lives.”
Followers of Jesus take up their crosses, die daily to themselves and their hellish cravings to be recognized, honored, praised, perceived as ‘anointed’, and successful in ministry and ’spiritual’ endeavors. There’s no other way to interpret New Testament discipleship. I’m pretty sure Michael is not pronouncing the retribution of God on Todd Bentley. Only that ‘the fruit reveals the root,’ so to speak. I recently saw Bentley, but a quick perusal of Youtube is enough to discern that what he’s saying(even without a judgement on the authenticity of the healings) is light years away from these simple, constantly reiterated themes of Jesus.
Easily discerned upon even a surface reading of the gospels. Easily restated by any “minister” who is legitimately following Jesus.
Nowhere to be found in Todd Bentley’s ministry.
Nope, not even a spirit of it– Just a whole bunch of super-spiritual garbage. I guess not even super-powers from another planet can compel you to love like Jesus did. Maybe he’s not better than the rest of us after all.
Peter:
I have rechecked the documentation on this story and I believe it has been cross verified and adequately fact-checked. If there were a chance the story was a lie by a disgruntled employee, I would remove it.
thanks
MS
Quoted from the article that Michael linked to at the top:
“She called the situation “very sad” but insisted it “doesn’t invalidate what Todd did” at the revival.”
Thank goodness we’re not relying on anything that Todd does, but only on what Jesus does, through his own grace and mercy. I don’t have to worry about whether my God’s work will stay effective. I hope the Todd-followers will find someone reliable to believe in, perhaps the Jesus of the Gospels.
Just for clarity, the story is also reported on the front page of Todd’s ministry site: freshfire.ca
It’s legit. And it’s sad.
Michael, you put your finger on it. You got to the crux of the matter. Out of hearing the same pastor preach sermons week after week for 25 years, I can remember only a couple of statements that reached out and smacked me in the face and made me sit up and take notice. He said it a little differently from you, but the message was the same: “Some people will never know that Jesus is all they need until they get to the place where He’s all they have.”
For those of you needing more verification, this is the message from GOD TV to their supporters.
Dear One,
It is with great regret that we as Founders and our Board call you to urgent prayer.
As you may have already heard, Todd and Shonnah Bentley are experiencing some current marital difficulties and have separated.
GOD TV is anxious that our viewers and partners will first of all respond to these unfortunate circumstances with an attitude of Christ-like maturity and pray fervently for Todd, Shonnah and their children as a family who are precious to the Lord. While we have learned today that immorality was not an issue, no doubt the enemy has exploited vulnerabilities in their marriage.
What the devil has not counted on is the Christ-like maturity and intercession that is currently being raised up all across the earth in response. We hope you will join us as a part of this prayer covering.
It is GOD TV’s position that marriage is a foundational cornerstone to those families called to ministry and would believe that those who have spiritual oversight for Todd and Shonnah’s ministry will recommend a time of sabbatical for the family in order to seek reconciliation within their marriage should these reports be accurate.
As many of you know, August 8th was our final ‘Lakeland’ broadcast. We do however, believe that it is important to recognize and defend the authenticity of this outpouring by the testimonies of the countless thousands who viewed on GOD TV or attended at Lakeland and were healed, set free and delivered through Jesus Christ. There are many
churches around the UK, USA and the world who are currently holding nightly revival meetings affecting whole communities.
Once again at this time may we encourage all to pray for the family and soberly remember that all of us will be required to give account to the Lord for our lives. It is our earnest prayer that Todd and Shonnah will be fully reconciled.
(Names)
and the Board of GOD TV
I have gone through a divorce almost a year ago. The Lord gave me two scriptures only. He hates divorce. What God put together let no one separate. In this time I have grown closer to God, but I have only proclaimed the Word of God. I trust that the Lord will restore my marriage. I am still wearing my wedding ring, have my husband’s picture on my desk and our wedding picture in our home. God has graced me to accept His Word and live accordingly. I still pray for my husband. Since then the Lord has commanded me to pray for marriages. I am trusting God to restore all marriages. I have had two accounts of couples that got married again after being divorced and God saved them both. I praise God for it. I don’t know why it is allowed – all I know is that we should only proclaim the Word of the Lord in cases like these when nothing makes sense. This is what the Lord has spoke to my heart. I will be praying for Todd and Shonnah.
[Moderator edited: I do not print lengthy scripture citations in the comments.]
Here is a interesting article on Bentley from Lee Grady of Charisma.
http://www.charismamag.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=3155
Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion
By J. Lee Grady
Todd Bentley’s announcement that his marriage is ending has thrown our movement into a tailspin—and questions need to be answered.
It was not supposed to end like this.
Evangelist Todd Bentley had heralded the Lakeland revival as the greatest Pentecostal outpouring since Azusa Street. From his stage in a gigantic tent in Florida, Bentley preached to thousands, bringing many of them to the stage for prayer. Many claimed to be healed of deafness, blindness, heart problems, depression and dozens of other conditions in the Lakeland services, which ran for more than 100 consecutive nights. Bentley announced confidently that dozens of people had been raised from the dead during the revival……
[...] Michael Spencer reports a message from God TV which seems to be dependent on the above – and also noting that they are no longer broadcasting from Lakeland. [...]
It seems to me that the church is really falling away from sound doctrine! I know people who stayed with non-believers and prayed untilll they got saved. One of them took 18 years (thats faith), and obedience to scripture.
The bible says one reason for divorce, one, and only then because of the hardness of heart.
It all goes back to the fact that many are growing cold, and many are being seduced. Growing apart, not a biblical reason. sorry can find it in my bible!!!!
Do these prayer requests bother anyone else? I mean, I konw prayer is very “spiritual” and all, but it seems at this stage it’s more of an excercise in pretending to be in line with GOd’s will so that everyone will approve and no one will look too closely at hardball issues for fear that we will be “judgmental” or something. What causes divorce? character malformation– formation in the image of something other than Christ(like fame or successful ministries). So it seems that the antidote(like every other sin problem we experience) is (trans)formation, process-wise, of the character into the image of Christ, which happens through believing the gospel and being compelled by it to love as Jesus loved.
But if the best answer this crowd can come up with at this late hour is “fervent prayers” (no doubt in the same magic-bullet mold that the rest of the healings are formed in), it simply reveals a total lack of understanding of the process of real-life, real-people, lifelong sanctification through believing and sacrifice that God has instituted. The problem with prayer requests of this kind is that God simply doesn’t wave a wand and make people holy, as the requests would indicate might happen. (“The more prayers go up, the better chance there is of Todd’s marriage being healed, so you should be praying for him, by golly, not criticizing!”) Divorce is set into motion, by the will of the couple, from day one of the marriage. Yet last minute prayers are supposed to convince GOd that they don’t want what they’ve been telling him that they want, day in day out, for years? God tells his people to confess that they are sinners and repent. He tells them to do it continually, throughout their whole Christian life, always with their eyes on Christ. Todd Bentley is a sinner. But he hasn’t believed that up to now, because he thinks(and this is the cancerous belief on that entire school of charismaticism) that “fire” and “anointing” are what you need, not repentance and transformation. So he is unable to repent, and thus his character is still the sort of character that loves poorly. It’s not assassination, it’s a simple, oft-noticed fact throughout the Body of Christ.
The sad thing is not that a divorce is impending. The sad thing is that for years now he, and those around him, believed that you don’t have to be the kind of person that loves sacrificially, you just need to prayer really loud, spiritual sounding prayers, or what have you. That malformation of character can be overlooked in the name of ministerial success; that the love of Christ is subordinate to external spirituality(and I’m speaking not because I know Todd’s personal history, but because I know how this school thinks). What’s really sad is that this empty-headed, prideful approach to self-evaluation, and total ignorance of the Way, still exists.
Sure, I’ll pray for Todd Bentley, probably not for instantaneous marital healing though. I tell you, it’s confirmed more and more for me that PEOPLE GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.
Does the Christ have all the answers/solutions for all the human beings? If true, what stops Todd and Shonnah keep seeking the solution from inside the Christ? In their faith, Jesus Christ could not help them?
What a sobering word.
Challenging false doctrine is one thing and exposing error is one thing; kicking a man while he is down is another.
Now Todd has the opportunity to demonstrate to the world that he is a man of values and priority and that he is willing to step into hiddeness in order to Glorify Jesus through reconciliation.
[...] Jesus Shaped Spirituality Rate this: 3.5 [...]
Well said. Out of all I’ve read on the subject of Todd Bentley, this is very well put. What a great witness it would be for him to turn around, admit his wrongs, and use his charisma for Jesus…and not for himself. God will bring us to the point of despair just to make us focus on Him. Been there, done that. I pray Todd and his wife will do the same.
I read on the Fresh Fire Webpage that the outpouring of the spirit, for such a long time, may have contributed to the breakdown in Tod’s marriage. Really – the manifest presence of God can do this? I think not. Where in scripture did any follower, through the manifest presence of God, become stressed. We need to look deep into things and not accept things just because others do. The fruit of the tree of good and evil still looks tempting today – but it still leads to death.
Lucy Anne, in response to you. Look closer at Jesus. He got tired on a number of occasions. Look through the prophets and how many times they got discoureged. This is a very real possability. Unless you have been through a ministry for a long time you would have no idea. Think of a minister that you most respect and write him or her and ask them if they have ever been stressed in there ministry. They will answer yes. Some of the best ministers and missionaries I know have all been tired, stressed, burned out.