capture-0057 http://www.thevoicemagazine.com/blog/breaking-news/bentley-breaks-silence-in-wake-of-scandal/

Todd Bentley, the Canadian evangelist who led the Lakeland Revival and found widespread exposure through God TV, is breaking his silence in the wake of scandal. Well, sort of.

Bentley is speaking out through Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar Ministries and author of several prophetic books. But he isn’t saying much yet.

Joyner said he has almost daily contact with Bentley, who asked him to post the following statement:

“Todd Bentley asked me to convey his appreciation for all the prayers, expressions of love, and concern while he tries to navigate through this present situation. He is grieved by the trouble and confusion this has caused, especially to his friends, coworkers, and all who have trusted him.

“He wants to make a clear statement about it, acknowledging his responsibility in this and the mistakes he made, but he feels that he should first meet with Pastor Bill Johnson, who is out of the country and will not be available for a couple more weeks. He asks that you would continue to pray for him, and he thanks those who are willing to be patient. He wants to do this right and not hastily or superficially.”

Joyner accepted personal responsibility for counseling Todd to wait until he has talked with Johnson before trying to make the “full disclosure” of his mistakes. As Joyner sees it, this needs to be done right and in a way that does not unnecessarily hurt even more people.

“In just a couple of weeks, things should have calmed down enough for a statement to be made. Impatience is not a fruit of the Spirit, and I have personally never seen anything done under the kind of duress and pressure that some are trying to exert at this time that ended up not being a mistake,” Joyner said.

Joyner went on to say that the only thing he has received from the Lord about this matter directly is that “those who rush to judgment will be exposed.” Joyner believes that this entire matter, including the Lakeland Outpouring, is a test.

“To me, the miracles, healings, salvations, and profoundly changed lives that resulted in people, some that I personally know, make all that is happening now still worth it, many times over,” Joyner says.

Joyner’s opinion of the Lakeland Outpouring has not changed. In fact, he predicts it will mark a demarcation point for the Church that will have a positive impact on our future. Joyner expressed gratitude to all the people who helped to make the Lakeland Outpouring possible.

“If we handle what is now before us rightly, it can have an even greater impact than the Outpouring did to encourage and strengthen the church for the great tasks before us,” Joyner says.

In a bold statement, Joyner predicted that many who are making statements concerning Bentley’s fall will regret them. But Joyner is suggesting grace be shown to any who have made premature statements, just like he is suggesting grace be given to Bentley.

“There are leaders who are applauding some of these statements, but almost every Christian that has talked to me about them, as well as most of the leaders I have talked to, thought that they were hastily made statements meant to cover their bases which cost these leaders a lot of credibility. I have only read a few, and that was not necessarily my perspective, though it is very obvious with some,” Joyner says.

Joyner did not name names, but could be pointing to Dutch Sheets, who offered a letter of apology and repentance for some of the questionable goings on in Lakeland under Bentley’s leadership. Joyner then suggested the church not write off those who spoke against Bentley, but rather allow people to retract their statements.

“We are told in Galatians 6:7 that we will all reap what we sow, which means that if we want to receive grace, we should give it, and if we want to receive mercy, we should give it,” Joyner says. “There may be some of this in my own writing that I am not able to see because I too am hurt by this situation. Therefore, I am also asking for grace and mercy if this is the case.”

Joyner’s main concern is that some of the worst doctrines and actions taken in church history were the result of people responding out of their wounds rather than by following the Lord. A lot of people are understandably hurting right now, he says. Even so, he adds, those who resist taking action or making statements out of their pain, or under pressure, will be glad they did.

“Again, impatience is not a fruit of the Spirit, and it will never lead us to where the Lord wants to take us. Those who rush to judgment, or are hasty to take action, are not treated kindly in Scripture, and are likely to pay a high and unnecessary price for it,” Joyner warns.

Joyner’s recommended that Bentley allow a panel of those who are considered true elders in the Body of Christ, who could be impartial, to judge this situation, and Joyner says Bentley readily agreed.

“He did not make any demands or suggestions about who should be on the panel. He only said that he felt he should not cross the line and say anything negative about his wife, and that he intends to continue to love her and his children, and take care of them,” Joyner says.

Joyner then pointed to a Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:5. In it, the Apostle Paul said it was to their shame that there were no judges among them, yet they were even called to judge angels.

“The lack of elders, who are also called as judges, is probably still the main cause for much of the shame that continues in the Body of Christ,” Joyner says. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of the Lord’s throne as we are told in Psalm 89:14, and if we are going to walk in His authority there must be a place for due process that is a standard of justice. God obviously cares very deeply about people being treated fairly and that His standards of righteousness are upheld. His seat of authority demands this for a foundation.”

Joyner closed his letter by saying there is one thing we can be sure of—the Judge is on His throne and all of this is going to work out for good for His people. Joyner says he is more encouraged every day at what is unfolding and at the great opportunity this situation is for us.

“The Holy Spirit moved upon the chaos in the beginning and look at the beautiful creation He brought forth! He knows how to do this and seems to love the opportunity that chaos gives Him to show what He can do,” Joyner says. “This, too, will work out for good to everyone who loves Him and is called according to His purpose. We have this as a sure promise from the One who cannot lie.”

Bentley gained worldwide fame for what will go down in Christian history as the Lakeland Outpouring. The revival, however, was as controversial as Bentley and his ministry partners.

Some called Bentley’s doctrine, which includes visitations from an angel named Emma, gold dust and other strange signs and wonders, pure heresy. Others embraced Bentley as an instrument of God to bring revival to the nations.

After news broke in early August that Bentley filed for separation from his wife in the Canadian legal system. Shortly after, Bentley admitted to an “unhealthy relationship with a female staff member” and “excessive drinking.”

share & bookmark:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • e-mail
  • Pownce
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis

Link Summary

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

This entry was posted on Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 10:43 pm.
Categories: Revival and Prayer.

Viewing 7 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    To be honest, I said some things when I first heard about Todd and his wife separating that were not in a spirit of grace, but out of a place of hurt. I would love grace to cover my hastily made accusations. I want to extend grace to Todd as well.

    For the most part, I'm with Rick Joyner on this. I think a great good will come out of the Lakeland Outpouring, even more so now that Todd has needed to step down to take care of family. I think the way that we handle this will have a dramatic impact on the appearance of the church and our impact in the world.

    I just pray that unity presides above all.
    • ^
    • v
    Save us, oh God. In Your wrath, remember mercy. Have the people no discernment in that they follow these men as Joyner and Bentley and an host of other self appointed leaders?
    As a brother once said (who has crossed over the Jordan already before us) "....the lost leading the lost into a lost eternity"
    But we are bound to give thanks to God for His promise that His sheep will hear His voice and the voice of a stranger we will not follow!
    • ^
    • v
    What does Rick Joyner think of Peter Wagner's recent comments about Todd Bentley?

    “First of all, Todd has been removed from public ministry until further notice. He has resigned from the ministry he founded, Fresh Fire, so he is no longer a part of that board. It has become clear that he indulged in periodic drunkenness. He has no intention at the moment of reconciling with Shonna, nor does she with him. Their marriage has been torn for years by his emotional attachment with at least one other female whose physical contact went beyond hugging and kissing and holding hands. Enough said-maybe more details will be revealed later-but it was clearly immoral. All of this was skillfully concealed by lying and by swearing close associates who had observed his behavior to secrecy.”

    Read his full statement dated August 25, 2008 at . http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/update...
    • ^
    • v
    Thank you Mr. Joyner. I find it refrshing that a mature man of God seeks to extend muchj grace to a fallne brother, rather than berate him as some other "mature" Christian leaders have. Peter Wagner goes as far at to not want to refer to the Lakeland Outpouring as the Lakeland Outporing anymore.
    Usually when a fallen solider is seriously wounded, his comrades risk their own lives as they go onto the battle field to rescue their brother and carry them to safety. Shouldn't we do the same? Todd Bentley is not a "losrer", ut a brother in need of his Christian family to surround him with love, grace and prayer in hopes that he will listen to wise councel, and completely repent. Harsh, mean, judegmental words and curses spoken against him, may only incure further pain, suffering and damage.

    I pray for a spirit of love and wisdom, grace and compassion to fall on all who are involved in counceling Todd.
    • ^
    • v
    Thank you Rick Joyner for your words of wisdom. Many leaders who went there do not want anything to do with Todd Bentley because it will bring reproach to their ministries. So they idolize their ministries, rather than helping and restoring a wounded soldier. I believe God will work a miracle through this mess. Let Revival carry, Fresh Fire is bigger than Todd Bentley it is the work of God!!!
    • ^
    • v
    RICK JOINER IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW MATURE CHRISTAINS I HAVE A SAYING TO 90% OF THE CHURCH WORLD. WE HAVE "VEIWED "YOU LONG ENOUGH CLOSE THE CASKET AND BE BURIED YOU HAVE BEEN DEAD SO LONG YOU STINK I HAVE BEEN IN THE CHURCH 61 YEARS AND HAVE SEEN IT ALL . IT DOESNT MATTER THO WHAT I HAVE SEEN IT IS WHAT IS IN THE BIBLE. IT IS FULL OF FALLEN PEOPLE THAT ROSE UP AND I BELIEVE TODD WILL MATURE GREATLY FROM THIS AND GET BACK IN BATTLE. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY SATAN WAS SO ANGRY THAT HE SLIPPED IN AND CAUSED DAVID TO NUMBER THE PEOPLE WHEN GOD TOLD HIM NOT TO? BECAUSE HE HAD JUST ANNILATED THE LAST OF THE EVIL GIANTS. SATAN HAD TO GO ON PROSAC. TODD WAS INFURATING SATAN. AND YES HE HAD PROBLEMS HE TOLD US ALL THE TIME WHERE WAS EVERYONE? BY THE WAY PICK UP A STONE AND PUT IT IN YOUR BILLFOLD.
    • ^
    • v
    I recently stumbled across Todd Bentley's preaching and listened to him all day long for several days to soak myself in what I believed was great wonder from heaven. THEN I stumbled across the info about his 'fall'. You know, I really sat and cried. I lost, for a moment, my confidence. How could I be so stupid as to listen all day to someone preach who had cheated on his wife I told myself. Where is my discernment. Don't I even know the voice of God. I cried and cried out to God for an answer as to why my discernment was so off base. Then I began to discern my own motives for thinking. I realized I was judging Benley, from my own painful marriage(s). I was heaping him into the pile with all other men. And as the Lord began to minister life to my weary soul, I realized Bentley is a man, flesh and blood, like all of us. I thought about all I had learned listening to his podcasts the last few days and knew it was from the Spirit of God and not the flesh of Bentley. Then I was greatly encouraged, seeing Bentley like David, and like the apostles who teach us not to fight among ourselves, yet they did. We are earthen vessels through which flows the Holy Spirit. That is why the vessel needs to go through the firing process, so it can become solid, not leaching it's impurities into the liquid it contains. Yet, in all our fleshly leaching, it is not enough it can destroy the truth of God's word and workings. I returned to listen to Bentley, knowing he is a man, but knowing also the truth of God is from everlasting to everlasting and had balaam listened to the donkey in the beginning, he would not have suffered a busted leg. I will hear the word of God, no matter who speaks it to me, for it is not mans voice I listen for, but Gods. I learned a lot about myself from this, little judgemental christian that I am. I pray to be burnt from all this fleshy 'godliness'.
 

Trackbacks

(Trackback URL)

close Reblog this comment
Powered by Disqus · Learn more
blog comments powered by Disqus