When it comes to ministry if things are not working at home then they are not working at all. God's servants must learn to show integrity and wholeness in their family and sexual lives if they want us to take them seriously in the pulpit. Todd Bentley is learning that to his own awful cost at this time (see letter from the Board August 15th at http://www.freshfire.ca/).
What should our response to this tragedy be?
- Pray for the thousands who respectd Todd and who will be dreadfully disilliusioned
- Pray for the leaders of the churches who supported the Lakeland outpouring
- Pray for those who were healed during these events
- Pray for Shonnah Bentley and their children
- Pray for Todd to come to a sincere and godly repentance worked out in submission, humility, honesty and accountability.
And what of the Lakeland revival? Was it of God? Should we now write it off with all those 'revival police' who are gloating over Todd's fall?
I think not. Many were saved and healed through the Word and the worship. Before Todd fell I was among those saying 'don't focus on Todd Bentley, this is bigger than him'. I still say this now. God honours His Word. Healing gifts and other charismatic gifts are not an endorsement of character. Samson in the Old Testament and Corinth in the New teach us that. Thank God that this matter has come into the light so that it can be put right.
'But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us' (nor from TB).
