The Details

A week and a half ago, Todd Bentley took his show on the road to Louisville, and Ashlea was invited to go. She agreed on the premise that she would then be able to intelligently discuss his theology...or whatever you want to call it. She called me the next morning to fill me in on the details, but strongly instructed me NOT to blog about it...yet. I responded by saying, "What makes you think I would even want to blog about this?" She quickly retorted, "Come now, Mother. Your daughter goes to a charismatic revival, where the speaker marches around the stage yelling, 'Bam! Bam! Bam!", and you don't want to blog about it? If there was ever blogging material, this is it!" The agreement between Ashlea and me was that I would wait until she blogged about it first, which she has. One problem...she gave an excellent biblical response to her observations, but left out the details. That's where I come in. ;)

Todd Bentley's appearance in Louisville was reported to cost $51,000 up front. He did an afternoon session (which Ashlea attended), and appeared at three locations in the evening. At the afternoon session, the overflow-sized crowd sang a few repetitious songs for almost an hour to evoke an emotional high before Bentley hit the stage. Two separate offerings were taken; the second one came after the implication that one must give financially before God will bestow spiritual gifts. His "healing services" are pretty similar to Benny Hinn's, except much more violent. He has been known to punch, kick, and slap gullible victims, all at the supposed instruction of the Holy Spirit. Ashlea said he claimed to have most of the spiritual gifts, including apostleship, and he claims to have resurrected over twenty people from the dead, in addition to his other "healings." How sad that people flock to his and other similar events; their hope is misguided, and their biblical discernment is so lacking. No matter what our conviction is about the presence of signs and wonders in our present age, one thing should be considered. The Holy Spirit would not use signs and wonders to authenticate a false teacher. The message has to line up with Scripture, and Bentley's, Hinn's, and so many others' messages don't. The gospel is nowhere to be found.