Todd Bentley
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Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada
Todd Bentley (born 10 January 1976) is a Canadian Christian evangelist. He is perhaps best known as the controversial key figure of the Lakeland Revival.[1]
Contents
[edit] Early life
Bentley was raised mainly in Gibsons, British Columbia, a small community on the western coast of Canada.[2] His parents divorced while he was a child, after which Bentley struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and engaged in criminal activities, including as a member of a sexual assault gang resulting in a 1991 conviction for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old British Columbia boy.[3]
Bentley credited his conversion to Jesus Christ for delivering him from that lifestyle and propelling him into ministry at age 18.[4][5]
In 2001 the now-defunct Report Newsmagazine, a secular conservative publication,[6] ran a profile on Bentley. In the article, they reported that his criminal activities as a teenager included more than one instance of sexual molestation. The article was graphic in details, summarizing Bentley's behavior as "heinous".[7] In Canada, the criminal records of juvenile offenders are protected from public disclosure,[8] however Bentley later admitted to Charisma Magazine that the Report Newsmagazine article was, in substance, true.[9] This led to heated debate in the Christian press and websites about whether Report NewsMagazine had acted correctly in publicizing Bentley's crimes — and whether this impeached Bentley's position as an evangelist.[10][11]
[edit] Theology
While Bentley highlights scriptural passages in his sermons, he emphasizes that spiritual or supernatural encounters in an individual's life are gifts from the Holy Spirit.[12][4] He has stated that his priority is to bring people to experience the presence of God and to have the "Holy Spirit to manifest His glory in such a way that people can't deny the presence of a living God and they have a true born-again experience".[4]
"Miracles and healings are evidence," Bentley said. "They are signs of the Kingdom, and if we don't have signs then all we have is a bunch of theology."[13]
[edit] Doctrinal criticism
Bentley has drawn criticism of both the content of his preaching as well as the manner in which he imparts it.[4][14] His flamboyant mannerisms, such as yelling 'Bam!!' during sermons,[15] as well as a unconventional appearance for an evangelist; dozens of tattoos, multiple facial piercings, and a preference for t-shirts over ties.[1][16][17][18] Other major theological debates have arisen from Bentley's references to several trips he has claimed make to Heaven and meetings with Paul the Apostle.[4][14] These controversies were highlighted by the media coverage of the Lakeland revival.[19][20][21]
Another doctrinal dispute surrounds his alleged encounter with an angel he called 'Emma' at an Assemblies of God church in 2001. Bentley stated that the female angel gave him a vision of gold coins and that afterwards he received a breakthrough in terms of financial stability.[15] Among Assembly of God congregants, especially, there was debate about whether such a professed encounter was in line with AOG doctrine as set out in the 16 Fundamental Truths.[22][citation needed] The biblical basis for this has been questioned, but Bentley claims it was God's choice, and not his own, that an angel appeared to him in that manner.[23]
Bentley has "Joel's Army" tattooed across his sternum with military dog tags, which the Southern Poverty Law Center says is part of a growing apocalyptic movement that "Bentley and a handful of other 'hyper-charismatic' preachers advancing the same agenda, Joel's Army is prophesied to become an Armageddon-ready military force of young people with a divine mandate to physically impose Christian 'dominion' on non-believers."[24] The article further explained that there is evidence Bentley is a "general" in the army whose "critics are mostly conservative Christians, either neo-Pentecostals who left the movement in disgust or evangelical Christians who fear that Joel's Army preachers are stealing their flocks, even sending spies to infiltrate their own congregations and sway their young people to heresy. And they say the movement is becoming frightening."[24]
[edit] Ministry
[edit] Evangelism
In 1998, the FreshFire Ministry group[25] asked Bentley to give his testimony at one of their weekly meetings. Soon after, Bentley took over the leadership of the group, which became more of a revival movement. (Revivals, in comparison to other kinds of religious services, are intended to renew the faith of believers and to convert nonbelievers. They are usually marked by passionate and colorful preaching, music, and dramatic exultations of salvation and damnation). Bentley's talent for this kind of Charismatic preaching made him popular as a guest evangelist and speaker. He traveled to India, Africa, and Latin America taking part in religious crusades and revivals.[19][26][27]
[edit] Lakeland Revival
Beginning on April 2, 2008, Bentley was invited by Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church, Lakeland, Florida, to lead a one-week revival.[19] The revival quickly became a religious and media phenomenon, attracting up to 10,000 attendees nightly with Bentley as the primary preacher.[5].
The revival came under fire from some Christian communities for being more akin to Wrestlemania than a worship service, and having an almost sideshow atmosphere.[14][13] In addition to showcasing Bentley's evangelism, the revival featured colorful light shows and power-chord Christian rock music. The Ignited Church also took a multimedia approach to publicizing the event, posting webcasts online.[28] The revival streamed live via Ustream - which received over 1 million hits in the first five weeks of transmissions. After the initial weeks, GOD TV, a religious satellite channel, decided to pre-empt its primetime programming and broadcast the Lakeland meetings nightly.[19]
On 9 July 2008 ABC News' Nightline broadcast an investigative report on Bentley focusing on his faith healing claims, finances, and criminal past.[29] Following the report, Bentley took time off from the revival but returned on 18 July 2008.[29] Five days later, Bentley and Strader announced that Bentley would be leaving the revival permanently and that his last day would be 23 August 2008.[30]
[edit] Faith healing
Bentley's services feature faith healing, a common aspect of the Charismatic movement. Bentley's behavior during the healings has been criticized in both Christian and mainstream press for its violence; at times he has been known to kick, hit, smack or knock over participants.[31][15][13]
While testimonies of people being healed during the services seem to be a major reason that many people are drawn to attend,[15] the validity of the healings has been criticized.[29]Both the lack of medical corroboration of multiple injuries sustained due to Bentley's actions and the healings themselves have been a topic of discussion in the media.[14] In particular, a Nightline interviewer personally asked Bentley for three examples of cures, which Bentley said he would supply but he didn't.[29] The report concluded "not a single miracle could be verified."[29]James Randi, who offers the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) $1 million paranormal challenge, wrote that Bentley "can snap up a million dollars that’s available right here at the JREF – as if he didn’t already know that – as soon as he produces the evidence for any healing."[32]
[edit] Finances
Although the revival charged no attendance fee, donations from one collection were counted at US$51,000.[31] Bentley has said that he continues to live on his salary and donations have gone back to the Ignited Church to defray the operating costs (thought to be US$35,000 a day) and into Fresh Fire.[13] According Canadian Revenue Agency records, Fresh Fire made $2.7 million in 2006 revenue, the most recent year available.[13]
[edit] Personal life
Bentley announced his separation from his wife, Shonnah, in August 2008.[33][34] Bentley has now resigned from the Board of Fresh Fire. A statement released by the remaining Board members says that 'Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff'. Bentley will now 'refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life'. [35]
