Not wanting to let this wait until Friday’s Weekly News, this blogger does a good job of discussing Todd’s allowance of good will for the AOG’s leadership. And remember, he has disappeared from God TV almost immediately after ABC ran there News story on Nightline. On Sunday in the Gazette Mail (it has appeared on the Christian Post website as well as in the USA Today paper), an article by Travis Reed of the Associate Press ran, located here, where he says,
When Bentley performs healings, often wearing jeans and a T-shirt, aides bring the sick up both sides of an elaborate stage. The preacher’s assistants tell the audience each person’s condition and how far they came to be cured: from Europe, the West Coast, up to the Northeast and beyond.
Like a psychic, he will proclaim someone in the crowd has a particular kind of tumor, growth or affliction.
“Someone’s getting a new spinal cord tonight!” Bentley yelled in one service.
He goes on to say,
Bentley gives the credit to God, but Christian critics say he rarely opens a Bible or sermonizes about Jesus Christ. They worry he is too little about conversion, too heavy on his own hype and too focused on self-proclaimed miracles.
What this blog has been hit with, are comments calling this very thing into question. Surely, since this man, they say, gives credit to God/Jesus etc…, he must be a man of God. As we know, many people, countless people, have worshiped at the feet of just as many gods throughout the history of the world. People who have regularly called themselves Christians have even invoked the name of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, while in their ministrations. The reality of the situation is that you can give credit to whom you want, after all, how many sport stars, and stars in various entertainment fields, give credit to ‘Jesus’.
Bentley, and his defenders, have often argued that he is healing people, yet Mr. Reed had this to say,
Expecting critics, Bentley’s ministry distributed a list of 15 people it said were cured, and vetted by his ministry, with all but three of their stories “medically verified.”
Yet two phone numbers given out by the ministry were wrong, six people did not return telephone messages and only two of the remainder, when reached by The Associated Press, said they had medical records as proof of their miracle cure. However, one woman would not make her physician available to confirm the findings, and the other’s doctor did not return calls despite the patient’s authorization.
This ‘revival’ has been going on since sometime in April, and only 15 people could be provided? None of those 15 people could provide anything substantial as to qualify as a cure. I am truly glad that Mr. Bentley has taken a rest, and it is my hope, again I say, to have those that were drawn into Lakeland not to loose their hope in God, but to understand that our hope is not in signs and wonders, but in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not that we need to be cleansed from our physical sicknesses, but that we need to be healed from our spiritual death.
And finally, a quote from Todd,
“Miracles and healings are evidence. They are signs of the Kingdom, and if we don’t have signs then all we have is a bunch of theology.”
What exactly do you think Todd is advocating?
July 18th, 2008 7:31 pm
It’s obvious by his comments, what he’s LACKING – good theology!
July 18th, 2008 7:43 pm
You are right about that!
July 18th, 2008 10:17 pm
Seriously, in all my years in the charismatic movement, you would not believe how many times I have heard that comment, “We don’t need more theology, we need Jesus!” It opens the door for whichever “Jesus” happens to be making the rounds at the moment.
July 21st, 2008 3:44 pm
He is coming to L.A. on July 26 according to schedule from God Tv. Do you have any update news about this? Are there any news press groups going to follow up what is inside the Media Package ?
July 21st, 2008 3:50 pm
Timothy, I really don’t know, but lets keep each other posted.
September 20th, 2008 1:23 pm
Well at least we know some people heard the gospel.Well we all have one doctrine,the doctrine of Christ he died and rose again on the third day.He paid for our sins,so that we may not perish for eternal life.If you believe that with your heart you will be saved,nothing can take that faith and love away.
Theologians can say all they want but in reality they are confused themselves.I do believe Jesus can perform miracles and signs because his disciples did it.So yea the only Jesus that is our Lord and savior is the one that died on that cross for our iniquities and for sickness.
September 20th, 2008 9:05 pm
Light, can you show me your ‘doctrine’ in the bible?