As a born and bred, mainline denominationally raised Christian, I have often found myself hyper-critical of any and all those super saints who claimed to have the power to heal in their finger tips. I remember making fun of evangelists like Ernest Angley, slapping other kids in the head and telling them to be healed in Jesus’ name. I was making a mockery and I knew it.
As I grew in my faith and struggled with my understanding of what the Bible says about the early church, its people and the miracles that they performed, I really began struggling with what is reality in the church, what does power mean, what is walking in the Spirit. These things are part of what drove me out of the main-line denomination of which I was a part to seek something different. So now I find myself doing Children’s ministry in a semi-charismatic, contemporary congregation that is not affiliated with main-line denominationalism which in and of itself is creating a whole new spectrum of questions and theological inquiries.
I was just getting used to all this strangeness when Lakeland happened. Now I live about five hours way from the epicenter of this event, just far enough away that it wasn’t in my back door, but close enough that people in my church and community were flocking to it. Immediately questions began coming at me that were not sufficiently answered. Questions like:
What exactly is the point in Gold Teeth? Why would God put a gold tooth in someone’s mouth and where is the Biblical evidence or support for such action?
Why would a God of Love want someone to punch, kick, body slam, or otherwise abuse a person who has been hurting physically, spiritually or emotionally?
Is this all real or is it fanfare and entertainment based enthusiasm?
Are these true resurrection stories or simply everyday medical resuscitations?
So I pondered these events and the accounts of healings and conversions that were supposedly taking place throughout the world by the power of television and this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Friends attended and came back enthralled with new zeal for the kingdom of God. But was all this hype due to the actual encounter with the Holy Spirit or simply a great pep talk like my football coach used to give right before we would take the field for a playoff game?
Then the unspeakable happened. Todd Bentley is having an affair, goes on stage inebriated, and falls from grace. A whole lot of people were calling him the devil. Some really believed it, even calling the outpouring at Lakeland a cult, a movement of Satan himself and satanic worship. Come on people. Jesus himself said told the Pharisees that “If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” (Matt. 12:26) The fact of the matter is that a lot of people were greatly touched and empowered in their relationship with God in and through this revival. Had it been a move of Satan, then this would not have been the case. People would not have come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Evangelism would not have occurred in and on the streets of Lakeland Florida, because the Name of Jesus cannot be proclaimed as Lord without the Spirit of God being in the person proclaiming such. (I Cor. 12:3)
So what did occur in Lakeland, Florida over the past several months? I don’t know if I can say for certain. God has always and will continue to seek those who worship him in truth. He also continues to seek and save the lost through the ministry of the saints. My speculation is that God began a great move in Lakeland, Florida and that move has touched and will continue to touch the lives of people around the world. But in the midst of that move the flesh of man was revealed by Satan, which is his best defense against such movements of God. In this case, the weak flesh of Todd Bentley has been revealed as the scriptures say all things will be brought into the light. His indiscretion has unfortunately tainted the work that had begun. Do we now discount all that was done previously in the Name of Jesus Christ? Mind you that I watched those revival services on television and I heard them clap and cheer for Todd Bentley. But I also listened as he opened the scriptures and expounded upon the power of Christ in the lives of those who believe. I watched as countless numbers went forth and gave their lives to Christ for the first time. And believe or not, numerous people were reported healed of infirmities and delivered from oppression through this ministry.
Unfortunately, our society has come to a point where piety and holiness have lost their biblical meanings. In a February 2008 blog, J. Lee Grady made the statement “Spirit-filled believers spend more time chasing “financial breakthroughs” than lost souls. We have rejected sacrifice and compassion and embraced a counterfeit gospel that produces bored, selfish spectators.” While he himself has blasted the Lakeland revival, I believe we may want to consider his words in evaluating the movement itself. I saw in the Lakeland revival people actually putting aside their lives for a season in order to seek the presence of God and search for lost souls. The accounts of people ministering in stores, restaurants, housing projects and apartments in and around Lakeland, the changes in the lives of the people I know that went to Lakeland express to me that for a season we learned that it is possible to put life on hold in the sense of what it has become in our mundane lives and people can live for Jesus. People can move away from their self-centered, self-focused, “financial breakthrough” seeking spectatorship and into life-giving, compassionate and loving ministry to strangers. This is what I have experienced from the Lakeland revival/ outpouring/ healing whatever.
