At the height of what many called a revival, WORLD asked Bentley to talk about the healings, like Fogle’s, and asked for a list of people who had been healed at the services. His associates told me Bentley was out of the country and a list could not be produced. But six weeks and more than a dozen requests later, the ministry eventually sent a list of 13 names. Fogle was No. 12 on the list, along with this note: “Healed through the Outpouring and is back to fishing.”
That was on Aug. 8, 2008. There was just one problem. Two weeks earlier, on July 22, Christopher A. Fogle—according to his obituary in the Keokuk (Iowa) Daily Gate City, “left this life . . . after a courageous battle with cancer.”
A review of the list nearly one year later reveals that Fogle is not the only person “healed” who is now dead. When I called Phyllis Mills, of Trinity, N.C., on April 22, to hear the testimony of her healing, a polite family member said, “Phyllis passed away a few days ago. In fact, we’re on our way to her funeral now.”
Warren Cole Smith World Magazine
Question: Had Todd Bentley’s character become a ritual? We all have ritual like behaviors in church and our christian walk. Could Mr. Bentley have become secure in a ritual like behavior? Some rituals repeated often, can drive God’s lessons deep within us. However, beware if you find yourself observing a religious ritual for any reasons like: 1. To gain approval, 2. To make thought unnecessary, 3. To substitute for personal relationships, 4. To make up for bad behavior, 5. To earn God’s favor. Lot’s of reason are out there.
With these questionable healings, where was Mr. Bentley’s focus? Are we to believe the other shepards that supported Mr. Bentley through his claims of people being healed? The guidelines for a christian are not always being preached according to the New Testament. Look at how many times in the Old Testament Israel broke their own laws, because of false prophets leading them. Israel would apply God’s laws to the people, but the prophets would not apply it to themselves. Thus a nation gone into adultery.
Where is the confidence of all involved with Lakeland now? Could there have been an inner moral decay at Lakeland, that has caused a lot of these shepards to scatter? I just wonder.
Thank you Warren Cole Smith. Please keep us christian’s informed, so we can think for ourselves. These days christians really do need to try and allign ourselves with the true word of God.
I believe in miracles, signs , wonders and everything that Jesus Christ said He did and will do. But, He gave us lots of warnings too.
“Beware of sheep in wolves clothing.”
If Mr. Bentley gave false healing reports, he really should tell the body of Christ the whole truth. I think Christian’s are big enough, that we can handle the whole truth. If you’re wrong Mr. Bentley, make it right today.
Well said Susan.
I think Mr. Smith of World Magazine and Rick Hiebert at the Western Standard have done an excellent job in keeping a human face on Bentley followers.
I need to correct something I posted on May 9, 2009. I ment to say “Beware of wolves in sheeps clothing.” I apologize.
Thankyou Bene, for your consideration. I appreciate your site very much. It opens doors for constructive criticism, on issues where we christians should ask more questions.