Why You Should RUN Away FAST from Todd Bentley

This is my response to my recent criticisms about Todd Bentley as many have asked me questions and have told me off while defending the “man of God.” You may agree and you may disagree and that's fine. I ask that you don't take what you see or what I say as truth, but be like the Bereans and judge everything in light of what the Word of God says (Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so). I do ask that you read the entire note before posting.

And I know that I'm about to lose a lot of friends over this, but that's okay and that will be your choice to disassociate yourself with me. But my focus is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing God save people from eternal damnation.

Why does Todd Bentley make me sick?

First, I say, I pray for the man.

Secondly, I am grieved for those who will die in their sin. They will be judged by God and sent to hell if they die in their sin. Revelation 21:8 states, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

People don’t go to hell because they don’t accept Jesus into their hearts. They go to hell because they are in debt for their sin and have never repented and trusted Jesus Christ.

Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!”

Todd Bentley does not seem to be concerned about this at all. In fact, in an interview I saw, Bentley said that it is not about Jesus because “people believe in Jesus but they don’t believe in the supernatural.” (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U2rHfRpvyU). Since when do we put the supernatural ahead of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? In fact, this is contrary to what Scripture teaches us.

Anyone can claim things are from God. Anyone can give “praise” to Jesus for something. But my question is, are you sure it’s of God? Just because it a supernatural experience, doesn’t mean it’s of God. I was involved in witchcraft for many years and I know first hand that just because something supernatural is happening, it doesn’t always mean it’s of the Lord.

I am so grieved that people, who are genuinely sick, who genuinely desire the things of God, who are so desperate, are flocking down and tuning into this “revival,” giving every last thing they have to get there, when really they need to be saved. I’m not trying to be insensitive, but I rather see people saved than healed. Which is more important? That I am healed of cancer in this life or that I have eternal salvation?

Thirdly, Todd Bentley says that he was possessed by a demon even though he was a Christian! Sorry, but when the Holy Spirit takes over, it all leaves. It has to. Jesus says in John 12:46, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

1 Thessalonians 5:5
You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

2 Cor 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 2:9-10
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

According to the Word of God, it is impossible to be a child of God and possessed by a demon. Later, Bentley says he was oppressed by a total of 25 demons. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSK9TyduR4&feature=related).
Can Christians be oppressed by demons, I would say yes, but it is Bentley’s testimony that he was POSSESSED by at least one demon as a “Christian.” Again, this is contrary to the Word of God.

Fourth, as I listened to Todd’s testimony about healings, I am sick to my stomach. Does it sound like God to be violent towards His people in order for them to be healed?!?! If I told you God told me to kick you in the face with my biker boot, what would you say?!? Mr. Bentley is talking about drop kicking, punching, beating people’s legs on the ground like baseball bats and PEOPLE FIND THIS FUNNY?!?!? Are you joking me?

Yes, Jesus did some things that we would think were strange in healing people by covering their eyes with mud and spit, etc; HOWEVER, Jesus was NEVER violent toward them in what he did. He didn’t even need to do it. Jesus is God! He could heal people without doing a physical action!!! But Todd says that someone wasn’t healed because he didn’t beat the person’s legs against the floor! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAgLVFx_yh8&feature=related)

Secondly, if God is truly healing people, why aren’t limbs growing back? Why are all the healings something we can’t see immediately? In addition, Todd’s verifications are not verifications at all! In fact, when Geraldo asked to see it on live TV, Todd began to wave some papers around saying, “I have verification!! I have proof,” but yet, he wouldn’t show it on TV!!

It seems ironic that several times Todd gives testimony about healings and resurrections, but he himself says they haven’t been verified yet! I heard him give a testimony about a 23 year old man being resurrected from the dead and this is the paraphrase of the testimony. You can watch and listen for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHDTbhVxJ6c

The family member agrees when Todd says that the 23 year old man was dead and they took him to the hospital and the hospital staff put the DEAD man on life support!!! You don’t put a dead person on life support!! There is no life to support!! Later this testimony becomes all about a prayer cloth!!

Further, there is an (UNVERAFABLE) testimony about a dead man rising in his coffin. First, why would you give a testimony that you haven’t verified. This is irresponsible. The dead man who rose was praising God AND TODD BENTLEY!!!! Bentley was getting the praise!!! The dead man claimed to be in heaven and was worried about never seeing his family on earth again!! DUDE! You’re in heaven with Jesus!!!! Why would you care?!?!?!?!?!?! PLUS, he claimed to feel Todd pulling his spirit out of heaven….

HUH?!?!

Where is this in the Bible?!?!? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMSGG9W5CNU&feature=related)

Todd gives glory to Jesus Christ for these things, but the Word of God tells us that even evil spirits believe and tremble. James 2:19 says “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

And actually, a preacher from Mississippi, by the name of Justin Peters (http://www.justinpeters.org/index.htm) attended the “revival.” He was able to get the contact information of several people who were claiming healings on the platform. When Mr. Peters followed up with them, the people were still sick and in no better condition than when they first went to the revival. In fact, one man who Todd said was healed, died 8 days later.

Fifth, the Word of God tells us to test the spirits to see if they are of the Lord. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

In Acts 17, we learn the way to test the spirits is to take what someone says and compare it to what Scripture says. I’ve yet to see the Biblical support for what is going on in Lakeland and with Todd Bentley.


Sixth, it really is ALL ABOUT TODD! Listen to any interviews with him. It’s all me, me, me attitude. Going back to the interview with Geraldo, Geraldo asks Todd Bentley, sincerely, “Why would God choose you to have this revival flow through?” Todd Bentley began to elevate himself. There seems to be not an ounce of humility in him and in fact, he is completely arrogant about what he does…at least this is how he comes off in the interviews and on platforms.

Finally, what is a revival? First, let’s look at what a revival is NOT.

A revival is not about

- signs and wonders
- increasing church attendance and/or numbers
- giving up little sins and becoming morally good
- our emotions

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Th 2:11-12 KJV)

The one thing these all have in common are they are MAN CENTERED!

Now, what is at the core of all Biblical revival?

1. We realize our separation from God because of our sin. We are unholy and unrighteous in the eyes of God. (See Isaiah 6:1-17, Romans 4: 7-8, and Luke 16).

2. Crying out to God for salvation. God begins the work in the heart, not in healing physical aliments. (Psalm 27: 7-9)

3. Sincere sorrow in our hearts. When we realize how we have broken God’s law and how wretched we are as sinners, we are overcome with grief and sorrow that we have offended our creator. (Romans 3:10-19 and Hebrews 12:17)

4. People REPENT! True revival lasts in the hearts of true believers. A person who is soundly saved will want to remove every God offending thing from their life!! They don’t do this before salvation, but rather it is a result of salvation. (1 Th 1:9-10)

5. Then we return to the Bible alone. We read the Word of God and then obey it! (Psalms 105:8, 1 Cor 2:13, and Psa 1:1-3)

So, this is why I am extremely concerned, grieved and sickened by what is happening in Lakeland by Todd Bentley. Remember, if we cause another to stumble in their walk, we are going to be held accountable for it in the end. I pray that I have not said anything contrary to the Word of God. I continue to pray for Todd Bentley and all that are involved in this “revival” that they would come into the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I have nothing to gain from this. I have no name to be made; I have no money or fame to be made from it. I am genuinely concerned about people and their salvation. I wish for no one, not one, not even Todd Bentley to spend eternity in hell.