The evangelist at the center of contentious revival meetings in Lakeland, Fla., has filed for separation from his wife.
Todd Bentley has also taken the decision to step down from the leadership of his organization, Fresh Fire Ministries, which stated on its website that the evangelist had “entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff."
"On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors, we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness," the statement said.
The heavily tattooed evangelist courted controversy in recent months as videos began circulating on the Internet, apparently showing Bentley at raucous revival meetings using violence to heal sick people in the audience and shove people to the ground while shouting "Bam."
Critics have also questioned his claims of miraculous healing and raising people from the dead.
"What is plain is that he is teaching false doctrine and that the claims to his ministry's 'successes' seem pretty spurious," Chad Brand, professor of Christian theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, told Baptist Press.
Stephen Strang, the publisher of Pentecostal magazine Charisma, wrote in a column last week, “Anyone who baptizes people in the name of the Father, the Son 'and BAM' is playing lightly with the Holy Spirit and is bordering on blasphemy."
Bentley and his wife, Shonnah, were in counseling for the last three years before their decision to separate. The Fresh Fire statement said that Bentley would “refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life."
RSS
When we read the Bible we see that God works through imperfect people including me. I do believe that Christian Leaders involved in Ministry should be accountable to a group of elders and to the people they serve. If a leader falls there must be a healthy period of time for repentance and restoration before they can be trusted again in a ministry. Remember even Moses died and wasn't allowed to cross into the promised land with his people due to an anger problem. But we also must remember not to judge others because we judge ourselves at the same time.
to honesty
isn't that what pastors / televangelist & christians would do. you speak as if christians or pastors are perfect. the gospel that the pastors / televangelist / christians preach is 'you failed to do this, you failed to do that' '...you lack faith' bec of sin! now when he sins are exposed you get defensive. christians are hypocrites, they are good to show off, trying to look good for jesus!
Mr. Bentley would benefit from psychiatric care, including a trial of Abilify to assist with the impact of his abusive childhood on his mental stability.
MaryG: Your comment, " I am so glad he's gone." makes me wonder: how much have you prayed for Todd Bentley?
Apparently the parable of the prodigal son is not in your Bible. Nor Galatians 6:1 â
iwillseekthelord12: YOU SAID THE TRUTH!!!
Because there is greed for money and religious entertainment. People flock to theatricsâ
He needs to be delivered from all the demons in him.
HALLMARK is off of my list
You said: 'I don't care how many people he won to Christ, truth is truth, but if he is so messed up in his personal faith, how can he direct others to correct Biblical faith?'.....C'mon now! He HAS won thousands to the Lord all over the world. He has some issues he needs to address in his own personal life for sure. But don't damn him to hell because he made some bloopers. The man's personaolity is, someone said, kind of like a rhinoceros on speed, haha.
That was brilliant, even for me.
I love David Wilkerson, but I have to disagree some with him. It was posted that he said "Whole groups of bodies jerking out of control, falling on the floor, laughing hysterically, staggering around like drunkards, writhing like snakes, howling like wild animals. We have evangelists that stand and blow on people to knock them down, as if the breath of the Holy Ghost is now incarnated him...and says that is the 'hand of the Lord.'"
I agree that we should test the spirit to make sure it's of God. But I have some experiences that would have fallen into one or more of these catagories.
I have had a spirit of laughter fall upon me. Twice. I did not seek it, nor did I have any preconceived idea about it. Both times they coincided with a deliverance that was occuring within me. David in the old testament danced before the Lord. I'm sure he did it in the spirit. People today dance in the spirit. It is their way of expressing the joy of God in their heart. I've never had that. I have laughter. That is how I expressed His joy manifested in my life.
I've been "drunk" in the Spirit. Simply put, it is just a light headedness brought on from something God is doing.
I've been "slain" in the spirit. I've had evangelists put their hands on me, and I felt a power so strong that it knocked me down. I do not deny His power. I even seen a lady who was "slain" in the spirit fall back. There was a wooden pew behind her. Her head passed through the pew. It didn't break the pew, it passed through as though it didn't exist.
I do agree that writhing around and howling might be a little over the top. Much of that is "induced" by the evangelist telling them that this is what will happen, instead of letting God move how He will.
As far as blowing on people...well, Jesus spit in a guys eyes once. I'm sure that would not be considered "appropriate" today.
I have been at meetings where the evangelist said that he was going to put his hands on people and told them what they would experience. Uh uh.
That is putting ideas in people's heads as to how they should respond.
A true man of God will simply do what God told them to do, without trying to persuade the outcome. They won't say "I'm gonna blow on you and the Spirit of God will come over you."
It's my observation that ALL human beings have something to hide!
We are all sinners - even the ones who are quick to point an accusing finger at someone else - and such accusers are only disciples of Satan - the Chief Accuser.
Such accusers are far more clever than the accused in hiding their own sins.
Only the Perfect should 'throw stones'!!!!!
I am a follower of Jesus Christ and have a deep desire to become more and more like Christ - but I find myself like Paul in the Bible "doing things I don't want to do or not doing things I want to do".
When I sincerely confess my sins He is faithful and just to forgive my sins!!
Only Christ in us makes us stand totally righteous before God our Father.
I love Todd Bentley and all those accused - because the work that God has started in them (and in me) HE WILL COMPLETE in due course - even if we seem imperfect for a while!!
http://technorati.com/videos/youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQgAky3XFkhE Todd Bentley's own words about kicking woman in the face. And people laughing. Amazing. Where is the discerning of spirits? "Come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" I Corinthians 1:7
PS--and the people were laughing away at his claims! He didn't say it was a tooth that needed to come out. Again, what a terrible example.
He claimed on Youtube that he also kicked an older woman in the face with his combat boot. Doesn't that grieve the Holy Spirit within you? Can you imagine Jesus doing that? What kind of example does it set for new ministers and evangelists? I am so glad he's gone.