By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission
I wonder if Todd Bentley is a fan of Jeopardy, the famous TV game show. I’m sure you know the one–where Alex Trebek provides an answer (“This preacher’s revival in Lakeland ended ignobly.”) and you provide the right question (“Who is…”)
What brings this to mind is a video released a few weeks ago by Bentley’s old friend, the charismatic evangelist Patricia King, another transplanted British Columbian. Patricia King has her own possible problems with being orthodox, and has had to pull an item off her website and apologize when people feared she was bring Biblically unsound. But in this one particular instance, I think she may be wise.
And I think she making an effort to rebuke her old friend here. She doesn’t name the evangelist who she is worried about in this video, but in talking about the importance of “covenants”, she uses an example. I think she is talking about Bentley. We have the “answer” in her description and may use it to guess who she is talking about.
The video has been saved in two parts on YouTube. In part one, she begins her talk on the importance of remaining committed in marriage, toughing it out through thick and thin.
Starting at 4:34 of the first part of the video…
…King begins to cite an example of what she believes can happen when the marriage coventant is broken:
“…before long, you just want to give up and go with someone else, and that actually happened with someone I know, in fact, the Lord had told this man to marry this man, He told him in a vision, and from what I understand, it was almost like an audible voice that he was told to marry a certain woman…”
[I'll interrupt King for a moement to remember Todd Bentley's autobiography, Journey Into the Miraculous, You may recall that he claims in his autobiography that he received a special message from the Lord that he was to marry Shonnah Andres...which he did. He wrote:
“…the Lord had actually shown me an open vision of Shonnah. It was my first open-eyed vision. I was in my living room and my fireplace opened up, kind of like a TV screen, and I saw us embracing in a wheat field that was ready for harvest. We were both weeping and I was wearing a tux and she was wearing a wedding dress. As the vision unfolded, her friend Roswetta (who was now my friend) was talking with me in the living room about Shonnah. I described the open vision to her as it happened. The presence of the Lord fell and we both wept. Roswetta said, ‘I can’t see it but I can feel goose bumps.’ During this vision, I also received an anointing of creativity, poetry and writing. In fact, I even received a three-page prophetic poem that I read at our wedding. I still write prophetic poems for my wife to this day.â€
I'll go back to where I paused King's remarks...]
Patricia King continues:
…it was almost like an audible voice that he was told to marry a certain woman. And they were happily married and they had children…..They had gotten married by making vows and a covenant with each other before God and before man, in response to this word of the Lord that this man had had. And over the years this marriage got a little more uncomfortable. The wife wasn’t on board with the husband and instead of taking time to look after things at home, he looked after his own calling instead, and pursued that calling and got the praises of men and other women and started looking at other women, and started, you know, crossing boundaries on a number of occasions and started being unfaithful witin his marriage. His wife still loved him and he decided ‘I want to get a divorce’ and his wife said ‘No, I don’t want one’. He separated from his wife and became involved with another woman and ended up divorcing his wife and marrying this other woman that he had had an affair with. [She becomes indignant] And then [now] he’s trying to get into front line ministry with an endorsement on that ministry saying everything’s fine. I can be divorced and remarried and have this work and it’s not a problem.”
I’ll pause here. What leads me to think that this is about Bentley is that while there are probably many men who are divorced and returning to ministry, but her talk about “front line ministry” and an “endorsement”, combined with the indignation in her voice leads me to think that she has Todd Bentley on her mind, as that is the most public example of something like this. As an old friend, she would be able to comment on Bentley’s marriage without qualifying with words like “I have heard” or “it has been reported that”.
Also, that “prophetic word” in Bentley’s book about his marrying Shonnah is being brought back to haunt him. Especially in charismatic circles, this would be telling. If his word about marrying Shonnah is wrong, can you have faith that Bentley is hearing correctly about your terminal cancer?
I’ll go back to right where I left off. King continues:
“When I was praying into it, the spirit of God in me was so grieved over this situation that I cried out for four months, every single day…”
In the fall of 2008, about 4 months after the end of Lakeland, Patricia King released a video series to YouTube and her Internet site about “When Leaders Fail”, in which she discussed her friendship with Todd Bentley, and his fall, at some length. A couple days after the end of the series was put on the ‘net, she pulled it without an explanation.
She continues: “…the Lord said [to me], ‘A standard is being lowered…instead of a standard being raised, a standard is being lowered.’”
King explains that she feels led to say that Malachi Chapter 2 applies directly to whoever she is talking about–which is a passage in which the Lord expreesed his displeasure with the Israelites about their not keeping their promises, including their marriage vows.
King talks about the damage caused by this man’s divorce:
“…there’s breakdown everywhere. And yet this man wants to be out there preaching to the masses and the multitudes and there’s others in the body [of Christ] saying, ‘Well, that’s fine, it’s not a problem.’ You know what? It may not be a problem for you, but it is a problem for God. It is a problem for God and He says so right here [she points to her Bible].”
In the second part of this video, King talks about various “curses” that God can cause to happen to individuals and societies when promises aren’t kept.
I don’t want to comment on King and whether she is orthodox or her stance on divorce is the best. But I do want to point out that a split seems to be happening in this wing of the charismatic movement about Todd Bentley. First, John Paul Jackson expressed his misgivings about Bentley’s divorce and remarriage and now Patricia King has made this statment. As Todd Bentley returns to public prominence, I expect that we may see more public figures in the church feeling a need to pick sides.
“If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all,” is often the default stance in a case like this for many Christian leaders. It is nice, and somewhat lauable. But I fear that it is becoming less tenable when it comes to Mr. Bentley.
Patricia King is just being careful and tactful in not mentioning Todd Bentley’s name.
1st Todd Bentley is a Canadian
Now, let’s take a look about some Canadian History and Laws
In 1968 Canada changed its’ laws enabling to make it easier for married persons to get a divorce and remarry
From a culture of high Church attendance in the 1950s to about 1/3 less in the 1960s using the United Church of Canada’s statistics going from around 1 million in the 50s to around 2/3rds of a million in the 60s gives some example as to the direction Canada was going.
During this the request for a change in marriage laws in 1968
Canadian Law is freedom of religion
American Law is separation of church and state
One of the strictest churches that I’d know about towards marriage is the Roman Catholic Church
In around 1985, at the Life in The Spirit Seminar in the Catholic Church I ran into a fair amount of Roman Catholics who’ve just had a divorce
Now, the Roman Catholic Church annuls the first marriage
In Todd Bentley’s case and situation in the Lakeland Outpouring in Florida where his ministry seemed to get quite large is stressful.
In any administrative leadership position can be taxing
If a person has a marriage as well is something else to deal with
It’s not just Todd Bentley
Charles Stanley announced on one of his shows how he’s tried but his marriage is beyond repair resulting in filing for divorce
mainly
Todd Bentley was raised mainly by his mother
I think Charles Stanley was raised mainly by his mother too
I have never read about a good amount of solid formal education with Todd Bentley
Dr Charles Stanley has a good amount of solid formal education
Now Patricia King starts talking about Covenants and Curses
But the article Todd Bentley’s wording about ‘Lord telling me in a vision’ and describing more about it I wonder about
I’ve never heard Dr Charles Stanley talk about Covenants, Curses or talk about ‘the Lord telling me in a vision’ in the same way both Patricia King and Todd Bentley do
I’ve never read anything about a good amount of formal education with Patricia King either
The way the both of them talk I wonder of they ever tell the truth!
These people seem to get on the nerves of a certain amount of the public
Now they are getting on each other’s nerves
What is most sad for me to see amongst all of this is when there are children involved
I wonder if Patricia King and Todd Bentley are telling the truth?
Maybe the next thing might be with Patricia King becoming upset with Faytene Kryskow?
I appreciate that she ministered this message. It was a good word for a lot of people.
Paul had to rebuke Peter for hypocrisy too. And it was done in front of others, out of love of course.
Not bad at all.
Hi Rick
I think that you might be bordering a little on the obsessive side with all that your write about Todd Bentley. I no fan of Bentley, his particularly brand of revivalism, Morning Star, or the New Apostolic Reformation. I have a whole website dedicated to debunking some of the theological claims of the NAR.
I fear that you are commoditizing your critique. With the constant stream of articles that often sound like each other you are dulling the edge of what could be effective and fair criticism.
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Leighton Tebay & Rick Hiebert
I think it is good that Rick Hiebert has taken the time to research the way he does
He certainly did a good amount of research on ‘The Cry’ at Lumbermens’ Arch, etc
I know of a person who was involved with Fresh Fire Ministry who told me some of the things he’s observed and experienced while there was interesting.
Now, he no longer thinks about but would like to forget about it
But it is good to read and know about history because history can repeat itself
I think it is good to be aware of the tell tale sings of the New Apostolic Revolution because from my experience they don’t like to show their true colours and can become quite alarmed when anybody can see their true colours.
I wonder where the roots of the NAR is?
I’ve read about the Gnostic movement in the New Testament and the NAR might be an offshoot of it?
But to read history because history can repeat itself is a good warning to heed
Todd sems to have brought ‘death with him’. Argument, discourse, jealousy, incited greed and left us all in some way ‘in death’. Jesus brought LIFE.
Is he annointed,
HE SEEMS TO THINK SO
I was just flipping through the christian channels on our TV, when Morningstar was on GOD TV. There was a woman, who’s name is Kimberly Daniels, preaching. I’ve seen her on other channels, and was courious as to why she was there. As I listened to her, she said something contrary to what I’ve witnessed before at Morningstar.
She talked about tatooing ones body would allow an opening for demons. That body piercing is not something for a christian. She went on about how she would pray over someone w/tatoos, and ask the person to take the items out of the pierced areas. Prior to ministering like this, she was telling the congregation, that the body is God’s house.
My first thought was, where is Rick Joyner? I just knew he would show up. Within minutes of her on that subject, he was behind her on the platform. Could just be in my head, but I think it made him a little nervous. Quite interesting.
I happened apon this page by typing in Todd Bentley’s name, out of curiousity on how he’s doing these days. So much of what you read is opinion, and pride through “righteousness” so I was hoping to find his own personal site but was lead here.
We all have so many opinions on Todd, he became a very public man because of his Ministry and it some way we feel as though we know him, in some ways we feel a right or obligation to voice our own thinking on his situation……whatever it may be I do believe it’s ok to take a stand, to voice what is in your heart…….but few times to we do this purely out of love. Few times can we set aside self agenda, pride, and arrogance when we speak of someone in the “spotlight”. In such a strategic way division of God’s body is formed, so strategic we are blinded by it……..feeding ourselves with manipulated word and belief coated by the mask of “God” that we can’t see what we are really doing to His body, His children.
Sure we can stand for God, it’s in us, it’s who we are as His children, but can we truly say we have questioned our own hearts to the depths, seeking nothing but His love to ooze from our words. His law is truth, His law is just, His law is pure and righteous……….but we must hang it all on His love above all things………..His love unifies, His love brings for righteousness, His love breathes His truth.
God bless each of you, and God bless Todd Bentley.
We are all faced with temptation, trials, and hardships………I pray through them we find His perfect love for each other, for ourselves, and for Him!
What would the world look like if that was our only desire……….His love!
Jenny, since I don’t believe in your book or god, I’ll continue to choose to hate Bentley simply for who he is and what he does. Sorry, no love lost here…
Patricia King’s comment on standards is so true. As Christians we have Christ’s life within us. We are His temple created for good works to glorify Him. We are responsible for our actions. His laws are written in our hearts and with the guidence of the characters of God, the trinity: Father, Son And Holy Spirit and the written word of God, the Bible, our standards should be of the highest form. He died a criminal’s death to set the “prisioners” (of sin) free. He offered everyone freedom from the old testament law. We are holy to Him, a sinless spirit full of life. We are forgiven. We are His treasure. Allow the Word of God to form who you are, not the world’s words.
Rather easy for Pat Cocking to say these things as she is not accountable, nor is she under any authority…..bizarre!
I am a preacher in Canada an evangilist and I was very disheartened by this in fact there was a time I didn’t even want to preach any longer after watching all these people falling around me. I just thought God I don’t know who I am around any more…at any rate I think this should put the fear of God back into us and I think that we need to realize we need to take heed to our own lives and marriages and pay attention to whether we are going to be willing to compromise in the first place. My husband and I have a happy thankful marriage because we don’t believe that divorce is even optional. We are not willing to think that thought. We don’t have cable tv it is not before our eyes. We still fast and we still pray and we stay in the word and we take up our cross daily and lay our lives down. The charismatic church needs to repent and be restored to holy living!
There are too many false prophets out there today and those who are God-filled christians will know them by their fruits. I don’t believe there is much fruit on this tree either. Shameful that she needs this platform to expose those in her own ministry.
Pat and Todd are friends…..its just a silly game that they are playing!
I think a lot, if not all, of the NARs, New Apostolic Reformation, are friends.
I think that most, if not all, play quite a lot of -silly games-.
So, in situations like these, it’s good to be discreet and inconspicous when observing them.
They seem to think that their way is the only way
As if they’re the -true church or something like that
But with their aggressiveness and hatred of others not like them seem like they have a -my way or the highway- mentality is pretty bad
Spot on!
i believe as saints of God, we are suppose to be one another’s keeper. If our brother fall on the way, it is not our place to expose them in mediums like this one. we are not messagers of doom. if the church is talking like this then what will the heathen do.
i believe the heart of God bleeds when such things are happening in His body.
if my hands has a wound, i guess the legs will not expose the hand to the flies to come feed on the wound.
this is not the right place for such rebukes Pat.
i believe as saints of God, we are suppose to be one another’s keeper. If our brother fall on the way, it is not our place to expose them in mediums like this one. we are not messagers of doom. if the church is talking like this then what will the heathen do.
i believe the heart of God bleeds when such things are happening in His body.
if my hands has a wound, i guess the legs will not expose the hand to the flies to come feed on the wound.
this is not the right place for such rebukes Pat.
Funny how they pick and choose which scriptures are “relevant”.
Hint: they ALL are. And please, don’t play that ceremonial law false hermeutic/isigesis here!
Ie: no women preachers for one?????
But that’s so “old fashioned” and not PC.
Just Biblical!
What do you think of christians who expose, criticize, and judge a fellow christian who have fallen in his faith walk? Do people with high formal education deserve more of God than those with less or no formal education at all? Can’t we learn something from the Lord’s parable in Luke 10:30-37?
….We can learn DISCERNMENT
I don’t know much about Faytene Kryskow, although I watched some of her videos today. She seems like a warm and inviting person. TheCry is listed on the Ottawa Valley Prayerathon PDF, which is linked to from the events page at fgbmfi.ca
In reading about the Cry, and in listening to Faytene’s messages, she seems so much like a fresh faced college student, so I am wondering why an earlier post linked her in hers?
Christians that are of One Mind – the mind of Christ – are lining up to be used of God and in fact are even now being used: only those who love “truth” will love the message of God that Patricia brought on marriage. Finally a banner of truth being raised high – Praise Yeshua!