Though some are probably smiling, I found it quite sad yesterday to hear about Todd Bentley getting separated from his wife. Thousands every day speaking word curses over him (that was the main point of all my blog posts on him) – a demonic full frontal assault all on a guy with a lot flaws and a lot of growth and maturity yet ahead of him. Ministry is extremely hard and even harder when you step out and get radical for God and the Kingdom. The devil plays hardball when it comes to ministry families. And, who knows what was going on with Todd, but so many ministry guys serve Jesus and let their wives serve them. We miss warning signals and convince ourselves that things are better than they really are.
I hope you are moved to pray for Todd Bentley and his family. The God who can heal bodies can certainly touch a marriage. The devil likes to claim victory but God may have something even greater up his sleave in terms of redemptive purposes here. It’s still about Jesus.
I really like Lee Grady and know him from when I had my book published with Strang. His commentary on this matter is good even though I take a different view at a number of key points. I resonated with his statement, “it wasn’t supposed to end like this.” But then again, God is big and can bring good out of bad and whether you do or not, God loves Todd Bentley.
I agree with Grady’s assessment that what we saw in Lakeland was “raw zeal for God” but disagree there was a wholesale casting aside of discernment. I’m sad because it’s a step back perhaps for a lot of people and those I was trying to temper in my posts will surely shift now from being scoffers to gloaters. Those who are already connecting dots between Bentley’s controversial teachings and practices and his marriage troubles will have trouble explaining to me why the wives of the more “orthodox” guys (like Pastor Charles Stanley) sometimes leave too. All eyes on Jesus and we’ll grow from this too.
Ways & Means 
9 comments
Aug 15, 2008 at 8:11 am
PC
Steve, I’ve been praying for Todd, his wife and kids. I believe God TV issued a statement that indicated that his overseers had recommended he go on sabbatical with his family and try to work it out. He is a large target for the enemy and people will try to empty out everything that happened in Lakeland as a result. Fortunately, what God began there cannot be stopped. Jesus, let the fire continue to spread – SOZO!
Aug 15, 2008 at 10:10 am
Matt
Steve, awesome, awesome post, you put in to words perfectly what I have been thinking about this situation. Thank you! So many will be tempted to reject Todd and Lakeland as a result of this, but it is not over yet, and the Lord is working for restoration, you can believe that!
I too think Grady is overstating his case, throwing out a lot of babies with bathwater, and I can even see why–many people will feel hurt and disappointed by this.
Anyone who smiles at the breakup of a marriage, I fear for that person when they stand before the Lord. My prayer would be that the whole church would humble itself and pray for Todd and his family and see the miracle working power of Jesus in this area, too.
Aug 15, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Ian
Lee Grady’s post is one of the most bizarre things I have read. Is it just me, or are we really fickle enough to turn angels into demons at the drop of a hat?
If Todd was for real, then why should this be ‘the end’ of his ministry and the works he has started? How arrogant and shortsighted are we to deny the spirit when we come face to face with human sin. Nobody but one is sinless. Why should anyone be shocked that Todd is sinful? It is a pathetic indictment on our lack of faith and our lack of spiritual sensitivity to suddenly see a sign of personal sin as evidence of charlatanism.
Personally I’m not sure Todd is for real. But that is a matter of hard personal discernment that we all need to go through, analysing the evidence, and comparing to works of the spirit (and fraudsters) of the past. I respect that Steve has wrestled that angel and seen the work of God in the Lakeland revival. My wrestling continues.
But melodramatic language and false dichotomies help nobody. They help fraudsters profit and they stifle and quell genuine works of God.
I know its a big passion of yours, Steve, but it seems to me never more true: in this lets have a bit of steadiness in our faith, and not be blown by the winds of religious fashion in a lighting fast Christian media circus.
Grady is right, I think, there will be many of us who will fall for the antichrist (perhaps me included, none of us should be proud or complacent). Just as there were many who had eagerly awaited the messiah shouting for Jesus’ crucifixion. Discernment isn’t easy, and we should exercise the gift with sobriety and humility, knowing our human capabilities in that regard are sorely limited.
Aug 15, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Marcee
I, too, was sad to hear of Todd Bentley’s separation from his wife. I have been praying for them. I was at a conference last Spring, where Todd Bentley was speaking and activating the healing gift. My, so many amazing things happened, and it was the first time I witnessed instant healings right before my eyes. It was quite extraordinary and made me hungry for what God can do. Seeing miracles like that would have made me a believer if I had not been one already. I had never witnessed anyone get healed by the Holy Spirit before. Then when I started to get healings, myself, I was really awed by the power and majesty of God.
I pray alot for people to get saved. On an ocassion last year, when I felt like some people were resisting me, I asked the Lord, “What will it take for this person to get saved?” The Lord said, “They need to see a miracle.” Miracles do change people.
May God bless you, and may God bless Todd Bentley and his family. I pray against spiritual attacks coming against him and his ministry.
Aug 16, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Christine
Lee Grady has spoken wisely. It now comes out that Todd is involved with another woman. Those who tried to point out some red flags just a few weeks ago were called “pharisaical,” or told they had “religious spirits.” It should be clear to all now that Todd was in no position to be leading a revival when there was such compromise in his own life. Even worse, it should have been clear from the beginning that his teachings and practice of seeking angelic encounters and visititations to the third heaven, along with his exaggerated claims from the platform (which he refused to correct), should have sounded alarm bells for the church. Church, wake up! This is not so much a case of the enemy fighting a great move of God, but rather of an undiscerning church–hungering for signs and wonders–pushing an unprepared man front and center and reaping the consequences. But watch whole portions of the charismatic/prophetic movement follow in awe the next person to come along in Todd’s footsteps.
Aug 17, 2008 at 8:24 am
Kathi
>>Those who tried to point out some red flags just a few weeks ago were called “pharisaical,” or told they had “religious spirits.”<<
You know what? I still think that 🙂
Aug 17, 2008 at 11:23 am
Pat
It saddens me to hear the “glee” in some as they get to point out “flaws” in others. I’m so blessed to be a part of the body that is praying for Todd and Shonna. At our weekend service, our pastor said we are going to be people who pray for restoration, not judgement. Mercy triumphs over judgement. We are told to “judge not least we be judged, for the same measure you judge, you will be judged”. When I mess up, and we all do, I want grace not law. Law points out our sin but has no redeeming power. Grace redeems.
Jesus said they will know us by our love. If you love someone, even in their weakness, you are like Him. Oh, Jesus, may we love this brother and may the world see an even greater miracle.
Aug 18, 2008 at 3:55 pm
rhhoid
If, as Christine asserts, Bentley was in “no position to be leading a revival,” what do we do with the documented healings and the dozens who came to know the Lord? If I remember right, we’re supposed to look at the fruit to judge the tree, not the other way around. Everyone is criticizing Bentley, but no one is talking about the healings and conversions!!
If the healing accounts and conversions are true (and I have no reason to doubt them), then I have no problem with Todd being a personal mess. If anything, it speaks of the failure of the Church to wash and cleanse its own!
Aug 18, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Teresa
Maybe the Church sometimes does “fail to wash and cleanse its own”, but being a Christian involves some personal accountability as well. We must be honest and admit and repent of our sins before we can be washed clean in the blood of Christ. Hiding sin means you KNOW what you are doing is wrong, and that you don’t want to change the sinful behavior! But, before we stone Todd Bentley, let’s remember that we ALL fall short. What’s done is done-now it’s between him and his God, our analyzing and talking about it doesn’t change a thing. Let’s PRAY for a fallen brother!