by Mike Ratliff
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. (1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)
Sometimes I marvel at how easy it must be to draw professing Christians into serious error since it seems that masses of them are in bondage to some form of “Christianity” that is not biblical. For example, watch this video post from Soli Deo Gloria. I have pondered what the reason is for any genuine Christian to be involved in something like that. I believe this is why we are exhorted throughout the Bible to disciple new believers for it seems that those professing Christians involved in error are either not genuine or they are not very mature spiritually. I fear that there are large numbers of Christians who have a misunderstanding of Christ’s words that refer to saving faith being as that of a child.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4 ESV)
The misunderstanding is that Jesus is saying that we must must not become spiritually mature through the study of the Bible. They believe that if they pursue deeper Bible knowledge then they will lose their child-like faith. What did Jesus really mean here? This is referring to saving faith having the same type of trust of God and our Lord that a child has for the authority and knowledge of his or her parents. This is not a call to neglect spiritual growth through the means of grace God has provided for His Church.
The theological level of understanding in most of the Church is sadly very low. Knowing scripture and having the ability to rightly divide it are necessary, but how many really know their Bibles or know how to study them? The Church’s level of apostasy is growing because of the utter lack of spiritual maturity within it. This is happening because Christian leaders are not properly leading their flocks to grow in Grace. This is disobedience.
The markers of immaturity within a church consist of being focused on things other than what brings true spiritual maturity.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13 ESV)
When I see a “preacher” focus primarily on externals rather than on heart changing repentance and obedience then I know to look deeper. Invariably, we find that these men pursue primarily what would appeal to people’s emotions. For example. Todd Bentley, featured in the video above, equates true spirituality to the esoteric. He claims to converse with angels and to have actually visited heaven. He claims he heals people all the time. There is no way to prove if what he says is true or false. What is his primary focus? Is it to lead those following him to submit to the Lord in their suffering or is it to escape suffering altogether? The focus of his ministry is to get people to submit to him as he claims that his form of Christianity is deeper, and more spiritual than that of the Apostles. This is the equivalent of speaking, thinking, and reasoning like a child, except that we are referring to spirituality.
What did the Apostles preach and teach? Did they even remotely come close to the message of Todd Bentley? Here is Paul’s answer to suffering.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:22-39 ESV)
What should our response to suffering be according to Paul? Isn’t it to submit to the suffering we all have in this world with the full knowledge that God is working in our suffering to prepare us for the fulfillment of our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. My brethren this is our glorification, which is the end of our sanctification.
Here is Peter’s answer to suffering.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (1 Peter 4:12-16 ESV)
Todd Bentley would not recognize any of this from Paul and Peter. To him it would be insane to submit to suffering as commanded in God’s Word. No, instead, we should come to him for healing thereby becoming a partaker of the evil which pervades all he teaches and preaches.
Do you see how vital it is to have a view of this walk that is focused on the Eschaton? If we view this life as just the preparation for eternity, will we be so consumed with the childishness of externals? No, we will seek to obey our Lord as we cooperate in our sanctification thereby becoming more mature spiritually in preparation for our glorification.
SDG
There has now come a time where people are so deceived that they will believe anything a “preacher” says. They have no discernment and many have not known God. This type of thing is just the beginning of a deeper kind of deception, we will see much more sinister manifestations in the coming days.
Let us remain vigilant, however, about our own walk. The evil One lurks to deceive us all and he is quite capable of using many different methods. The end is upon us and like Sampson the church doesn’t even realize her power is gone. Perhaps God will grant us one last revival…
Can you say delusion??!!??!! It is amazing how decieved they are. We thought the same thing when we watched it Mike……….Wow.
As one who has actually been to the Lakeland outpouring, I will have to disagree with you on a number of counts.
Todd Bentley speaks of love often. He also talks about the supernatural side of the Christian faith a great deal. But if you are there, the one he points to most is Jesus.
What are the fruits of this outpouring?
A lot of people are getting healed. Jesus, Paul, Peter and company healed lots of folks. Ask these precious ones if it is real when many of them have been in extreme pain for decades.
Thousands of people are coming to Christ and what many don’t see is the waves of repentance that are taking place – It did with me.
I experienced the reality of Christ, the awe and fear of the Lord and yet at the same time the immeasurable love of Christ like never before. So much that what was taking place on the platform paled in comparison.
God revealed some of my sin to me – areas I hadn’t noticed or wanted to confront – and they were confronted, confessed and repented of.
I don’t know you sir, But I can tell that you know very little about what is happening in this revival. I was there for three days and returned refreshed and renewed. I didn’t experience a “physical” healing. I didn’t go after one.
You are entitled to your opinions. As we continue to pursue sanctification, perhaps it is important to spend a little time looking at our own eyes – instead of the eyes of others. Maybe their specks won’t seem so large then?
Amen Rick!
Yes indeed P & L and I thank you for sending me the link.
John,
Have you actually listened to what Todd has been saying? He is consorting with evil spirits and they can counterfeit what is of God in many cases. Are you 100% positive that the Jesus Todd speaks of is the real Jesus? You will know if what is taught by the “preacher” does not blaspheme. Todd is guilty of doing this very thing.
Healing in the Bible was always and I repeat ALWAYS a sign of legitimacy of who Jesus is and that the Apostles were His “sent ones.’ So is Todd claiming to be equal to them? I have studied this “outpouring” stuff a great deal and I tell you straight up, that you have been deceived.
It goes like this. The “preacher” starts out talking about Jesus then a Spirit will come upon him where he starts uttering things to you in the audience along these lines, “You are my precious ones, you are loved, you are loved. etc.” Then people start screaming, falling down, and rolling around on the floor. That is not the immeasurable love of Christ John. That love was expressed to us in its fullest on the Cross.
Lastly, I suggest you take off your rose colored glasses about Todd and listen to the interviews then prayerfully compare what he says to scripture. Scripture is our only source of truth from God. We cannot accept the words of men such as Todd who proclaim things verbally and say it is God’s word for us and it not be 100% scriptural. If there is one error then that person is liar and a wolf in sheep’s clothing and we must shun that person and warn everyone.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
I agree that on the surface TB sounds like he is not at the core of Gods words — maybe even portraying doctrine falsely. The video, however, was also creatively flared up to make him look even worse. Playing the theme song from Halloween, etc. They also used small snip it of words so we never heard the context of what was being said.
Normally, I would give a second and third chance to people before I write them off.
I actually found Mark Driscoll to really be an outstanding preacher (from the two of three online sermons I heard) and he was not liked on this BLOG by a couple. Quite often the Christian definition of liberal tends to be “ANYTHING I AM NOT!”
JS
We cannot measure the validity of “movements” based upon the results, I know personally people who have been delivered from drugs, felt a great sense of peace, and claim to have found their purpose in life – all because they became a Buddhist! We must test the spirits according to the Word of God or else we are completely at the behest of our subjective perspectives.
Now there are things that are hard to discern and sometimes God does work in areas that are a little unclear, I admit that. But what this man says is so unbiblical and subjective and in fact clearly is at odds with God’s Word that every believer should be able to immediately recognize the unscriptural nature of what is happening.
We cannot ever forget that the evil One does signs and wonders as well, and sometimes God is even gracious to a believer in the midst of something like this, but that still does not autheniticate what is being done or said. We are not attempting to be unkind or self righteous, but we must all reject such so called “revivals” that are so unhinged from God’s Word.
Most, if not all, the major revivals and moves of the Holy Spirit in church history had some physical healings but they were minor and in fact residual. The major signs were deep repentance, prayer meetings city wide, sinners saved, and a massive rejection of the things of this world and a turn toward Christ. As a student of revivals I cannot remember one where angels were even spoken of, much less said to have appeared. An angel will NEVER take the glory from the Lord Jesus, NEVER.
And remember, those were days with no media or communication other than word of mouth. And most times the man that God used left the revival no more wealthy than when he came. What we see today has absolutely no resemblence to a God sent revival that refines His church and creates a sense of awe and even fear in the community.
When I see a “preacher” focus primarily on externals rather than on heart changing repentance and obedience then I know to look deeper. Invariably, we find that these men pursue primarily what would appeal to people’s emotions
There is a form of this happening in my own church. The pastor there is endorsing a study of a book by the Christianized New Ager Richard J. Foster. It is sad to see.
There was a time when I, like John above, was heavily into this falsehood. Men like Rick Joyner, (“Mourning” Star) et al were my “heroes.” As I read the Bible and compared God’s Word to what was being taught I could not call myself a Christian and continue in that type of “ministry.”
Mike, thanks for sounding the trumpet call from the tower. Those foolish enough to not hearken to its call need to be fervently prayed for. Those that do heed its call need to move with much haste.
Jon, I suggest that you listen to the interviews with Todd then compare what he says with Scripture.
Also, I did not base this on just this one video. I am part of a private discussion group which is dedicated to looking at “preachers” or “ministries” such as Todd. I assure you that it is quite troubling to hear from his own lips things that no man of God should say about things that he should not be involved in.
Amen Rick, well said brother.
You are very welcome Scott.
Like I said this was my first I heard of TB and I was not impressed at all. The video was too long for me to hear the whole thing this morning but I also got the idea from the beginning it was creatively flared up a bit. Usually someone’s false teachings don’t require the Halloween theme song or anything else in addition to make them look bad. 8-).
Rick said:
“And remember, those were days with no media or communication other than word of mouth. And most times the man that God used left the revival no more wealthy than when he came. What we see today has absolutely no resemblence to a God sent revival that refines His church and creates a sense of awe and even fear in the community.”
Rick, Very good point. There is no substitute for preaching a true and pure Gospel message and God-inspired, heart-felt repentance.
All,
Here is a program from VCY discussing Todd Bentley.
In Christ
Mike Ratliff
When a crowd of professing believers gather in hopes of receiving or seeing something instead of worshiping and being refined by God’s Spirit and His Word, then it is spiritual selfishness and a form of humanism. Just saying the word “Jesus” doesn’t mean He is being lifted up when men speak of healings and miracles and prosperity and angels more than Christ.
And what possible purpose would God have in implanting gold teeth in people? I guess God must really love the hip hop unsaved crowd! It is all so very sad and seems to be paving the way for people to embrace the Antichrist as Lord. It brings chills to my heart.