Todd Bentley’s Marriage
I had thought about writing something on this, but I think this post says most of what I would say, only better.
Especially considering that there has been no marital infidelity reported, and folks have been upfront in with this, it doesn’t seem to me to provide any new basis to judge Bentley’s ministry. I still object to the same set of things, hold judgment on the same set, and tentatively approve of the same things.
Marital unfaithfulness, as I have said about politicians and ministers before, is a valid consideration in determining someone’s integrity. But a person’s sin, before or after, does not, in my view, invalidate ministry. I’ve known of pastors who have fallen into serious transgressions. It often damages the fruit of the ministry they have done, but it doesn’t invalidate it.
In this case, it should be noted, we’re looking at a couple working through difficulties in their marriage. We have not yet seen–and should not predict–divorce or other negative outcomes. It is unfortunate that, because of the level of publicity involved in his ministry, Todd Bentley and his wife have to deal with this with extraordinary publicity. That makes things harder.
Whatever the outcome, however, we judge the ministry, teachings, and fruit by, well, the ministry, teachings, and fruit, and not by whether the minister is a greater sinner than the rest of us. That latter one is a judgment we have no right to make.
I agree 100%.
It makes me cringe sometimes to see people who criticize a particular person for their approach to ministry and then fail to show compassion when that person experiences difficulty. In this case if they really believe Todd Bentley’s christianity to be inauthentic, they should be more than ready to demonstrate compassion for him when he experiences these kinds of difficulties regardless of their circumstance. Last I checked Schadenfreude isn’t a fruit of authentic Christianity.
Larry – I’m wondering why my system keeps sending your comments to moderation. I can’t see any reason whatsoever why my moderation system would have grabbed that one.
I’m glad that you added the points that you did. I think it is so difficult to live a Christ-like attitude toward transgressions. We need to be deeply concerned with what is wrong, and wrong things that are done. We need to be concerned with those who receive ministry, so that they can be taken care of properly.
But at the same time, no matter who it is, we are supposed to be redemptive in our attitudes and actions. As I blogged a few days ago, we seem to swing between condemnation and excusing, whereas in my view Jesus calls on us to make redemption our central point.
This is not without risk, but I do not believe in a risk free, hardship free, or trouble free Christianity!
my problem was never against Todd personaly.
we are however commanded to test the spirits and i for one could recognise that the spiritual encounters revealed by Todd himself were NOT of the holy spirit.
The angelic beings that appeard to Todd were simply angels of light.
Why many christians couldnt descern this i will never know.
To utmost in the modern
it’s all planks and splinters, what counts is Jesus’ return, because right now He is the one who doesn’t look good..He said ,”yes,I am coming soon “,almost 2000 years ago,He said,”I tell you the truth anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing”‘ and “whoever lives and believes in me will never die”. Have you met a 1000 year old christian?How many in your church can change water to wine,walk on water,multiply the food and control the weather? Can you say a 1900 year no show is what He meant by soon? Jesus does not lie, but his believers and disciples sure make Him out to be one. I say, repent and listen to Jesus,practice his words with the Holy Spirit..even if it means raising up the false prophet and the beast, let’s get Jesus back..and that means no chickening out with the “rapture”.dr.ed,a footstool of Jesus.
Yes, let us prepare ourselves and the church to receive Jesus soonr than later in the manner He left us, that is, disciples with power to be witnesses of Jesus with the Holy Spirit, as we heal the sick, raise the dead, cause the deaf to hear so they can hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches, open the eyes of the blind and close the eyes of those who say they can see, (e.g. Saul of Tarsus who, after that experience, became the zealous Paul who “knew a man who visited the third Heavens”), cleanse the lepers, drive out the demons, and preach the Good News to the poor, for theirs is the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of power. Let us ensure that when Jesus arrives He will find not only faith, but many with faith and many more who are faith-full!
Remember, keep your eyes on Jesus ensuring that you yourself are obeying the Father’s one command to the disciples of Jesus on the Mt of Transfiguration when He told them to ‘Listen to Him!’ and not to Moses or Elijah or even to each other. Do not judge another or you too will be judged with the same measure, for he who is without sin only can cast the first stone… that one alone is Jesus, the Righteous Sinless One. Rather, pray fervently for those who fall in fulfilment of the prophecy to Daniel by the Lord Jesus, “Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and amde spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” For as you would have done unto you, do to each other. And be in continual thanksgiving for God’s grace to each of us for we are merely sinners saved by grace through the sacrifice of the Lamb, God’s precious Son, Jesus Christ. A sinner saved by grace.