BAM! (thunk...)
I’ve been getting a few emails about the “revival” in Lakeland, Florida, under the auspices of Todd “Bam Bam” Bentley, wondering what my thoughts were on all of it.
Disclaimer: I’m not a guru on this matter. Yes, I wrote a book about this kind of stuff, but that doesn’t mean I’m qualified to pass judgment fairly, impartially, and omnisciently on all things Bentley.
Having said that, here’s a few thoughts anyway:
Q: Is the Holy Spirit actually at work in these meetings?
A: I don’t doubt it for a second.
But the anointing, presence, or power of the Spirit is never a rubber stamp of approval. Quick examples: Samson (Judges 13–16), King Saul prophesying – naked! – in spite of himself (1 Samuel 12:23–24), or Balaam, hired to curse the Israelites yet prophesying blessing because the Spirit intervened (Numbers 22–24).
As soon as we equate the manifest, powerful presence of the Spirit with approval of theology or methodology, we’re in trouble. Balaam’s donkey could give testimony to this.
Q: But what about all those healings – could they be true?
A: Some are probably real.
And probably a significant amount won’t be. It’s hard to tell, because a lot of healing-claiming types will say they’re healed even when they aren’t. Their belief in the necessity of a “positive confession” means they have no choice but to say they’re healed, even if there’s little or no evidence. (Wendy, my sagacious wife, wonders where the line between “speaking in faith” and “bald-faced lying” might be.)
And – typically but regrettably – some reports of healing will be exaggerated, embellished, or proven later to be complete fabrications. I truly wish, as someone who does believe in the Spirit’s power to heal (and having witnessed some genuine healings myself), that this wasn’t the case, but unfortunately ...
Q: Does Todd Bentley have wacky teachings that are of the incredulous forehead-slapping variety?
A: Do bears fart in the woods?
If you spend even a little time wandering through the bowels of Todd’s website, you can easily find stuff – like partnering with angels of finance, or claiming that St. Paul told Todd during a visit to Paul’s cabin in the third heaven that the book of Hebrews was co-written by Paul and Abraham the Patriarch – that ranges from straining credulity to outright laughable. Don’t take my word for it; try reading some of Todd’s sermon transcripts. Not everything is bogus and “out there,” but there’s an abundance that is.
(Update: Todd's website was later sanitized to remove the most obviously outlandish posts. Fast forward another month: the entire website disappeared into the ether.)
Q: Must I really cast my discernment under the wheels of the revival bus in order to receive what the Spirit is doing in Florida?
A: Only if the Spirit has decided that the Book He inspired is no longer relevant.
I’ve written about the famous Bereans (Acts 17:11) before, but it bears repeating:
- The Bereans were eager and teachable, not judgmental, critical, or nit-picky. They didn’t want to miss what God was doing (as this newcomer named Paul was telling it).
- The Bereans were NOT gullible. They didn’t naively accept anything coming down the pike. They kept the Bible as their source and grid for evaluating what heard, regardless of any oratory skills Paul possessed or how many signs and wonders he may have performed in their midst.
So, I guess I could sum up with: Don’t assume the worst, but don’t let “revival fever” affect your brain. Don’t be paranoid, but don’t be gullible.
You will not quench the Spirit by checking things by the Book that the Spirit co-authored. Or, to quote a more reputable source than yours truly: