By Rick Hiebert. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved
It’s going to be increasingly hard for evangelist Todd Bentley to make a living, judging by some recent press coverage.
He seems to have settled down to a level of work and prominence of the sort that he had before Lakeland with some minor changes.
He’s not based in Canada any more, and ministers here infrequently. Ministering anywhere near his old ministry base, in Abbotsford B.C., near where his kids may still, presumably live, seems to be something he won’t be doing soon.
He’s keeping the habit of not ministering in many big Cities, with the attendant possibility of media coverage. Rather, he works close enough to cities and airports so that a fan, if they are determined enough, can come see him.
He seems to be ministering outside of North America with the same frequency as he did before he became famous to the average Christian. But his history is tagging along behind him like a little puppy as readers of a small English newspaper realized about a week or so ago.
I’m guessing that this comes from the local newspaper in Croydon , England. Croydon is one of the southern suburbs of London, inside the region of London.
Bentley is scheduled to hold a series of meetings there from August 30 to September 1. And I think, judging by what they wrote, the reporter will be waiting for Bentley when they show up.
There are no new quotes from Bentley, but the reporter has done their homework. They refer, high up in the story, to Bentley’s claims to heal people by beating them up and his time in jail as a teen after he molested a child.
The “face-kicking faith healer” reference relates to one night at Lakeland, when Todd Bentley started talking about the odd things that “God” would have him do when praying for people on other occasions. It’s probably his most infamous clip on YouTube, in various forms.
The reporter could have easily quoted this particular video clip where at 0:40, Bentley starts to say this:
“…And I’m thinking why is the power of God not moving? And He [God} said, ‘Because you haven’t kicked that woman in the face’ {Shot of Stephen Strader in the crowd, laughing] And there is this older lady worshipping right in front of the platform and the Holy Spirit spoke to me. The gift of faith comes on me. He {the Holy Spirit] said ‘Kick her in the face with your biker boot. I inched closer and I went Bam! {Makes full hard kicking motion with his right leg] and just as my boot made contact with her nose she fell under the power of God…”
[Radio apologetics Todd Friel, playing this and other clips from the same sermon on his program was not only dismayed, but puzzled too. He said “What are they laughing at, exactly? He’s hurting people…” ]
The writer for the Croydon Advertiser was no doubt also warned by the national Express tabloid newspaper, which has done fine coverage of Todd Bentley. Most recently, last December, their story on his first visit to Britain in years ran with the headline “Beware of the tattoo preacher”
The newspaper had also written critically on Bentley before this so hopefully a bit of a meme has been created in the English press.
Interesting note at the end of the story. The Croydon conference center that Todd has rented for his meetings is owned by a local church, Folly’s End Community Fellowship. Bentley is listing the church as a co-host of the meetings, the story reports, but the pastor of the church is paraphrased as taking pains to note that they merely hired out the facilities to Bentley and nothing more.
The church has “nothing to do with the event”. Thus the church’s name might prove to be prophetic, one could say.
That statement by TB still makes me feel tense and sick! Not only what he said but the laughing, clapping and cheering of the sheeple. I woke up as tho I had been slapped in the face and four years later still grieve at my own involvement and friends still under strong delusion. When speaking to a “christian” friend at the time I was shocked and dismayed when they weren’t fazed ( they actually thought he was wonderful). This lady said Jesus did that when He put clay in the blind mans’ eyes?!!? I have learned that people will make outrageous statements twisting scripture to protect their latest idol of signs and wonders – indeed the delusion is great. Many years ago I also heard Kenneth Copeland claim god told him to punch a man in the stomach and maybe Smith Wigglesworth too. TB’s visa application to Australia was rejected earlier this year and I they never let him in – wont stop people supporting him andhis promoters tho.
OK, what are the facts?
Did Bentley actually kick a woman in the face, or did he just claim to have done so? Let’s get past the sensationalism and deal with facts. Either he kicked the woman or it is a lie. If it’s a lie, Bentley is a liar. However, it is inaccurate to publish Bentley’s claim as if it is true.
Certainly, anyone familiar with all the stories that the healing evangelists of the last century have told (usually told in the first person, by the evangelist without any corroborating evidence) will recognize this as a take 0ff of Wigglesworth’s claims.
And, yes Bentley has admitted to the crime he committed as a teen. However, I doubt it is relevant enough to be the lead in the story regarding Bentley’s current ministry. Again, it is just sensationalism, and adds nothing as to whether Bentley’s current ministry is truly Holy Spirit led. (And, Christians, so quick to jump on this sad history, are the ones who supposedly believe in redemption, forgiveness, and restoration. Sure, a skeptical news reporter can use this info, but smug Christians gloating over this is rather sickening.)
I would hope this reporter attends the meetings and then comes back with a factual account, hopefully documenting any healings or lack thereof.
Nice post Rob …. Bentley could use you on his media staff.
“And, yes Bentley has admitted to the crime he committed as a teen. However, I doubt it is relevant enough to be the lead in the story regarding Bentley’s current ministry. Again, it is just sensationalism, and adds nothing as to whether Bentley’s current ministry is truly Holy Spirit led. (And, Christians, so quick to jump on this sad history, are the ones who supposedly believe in redemption, forgiveness, and restoration. Sure, a skeptical news reporter can use this info, but smug Christians gloating over this is rather sickening.)”
Rob are you serious? The man admitted that he was involved in a sex abuse ring and was caught molesting a 7 year old boy! He has no business being in ministry – none! It has nothing to do with whether I believe in redemption and restoration but everything to do with protecting children. The man is a fool if he doesn’t realize that he is a walking time bomb. Stupid Christians will sacrifice their kids to prove that he is rehabilitated by throwing all caution to the wind. Then when he abuses a kid they will wring their hands and cry “why did this happen to my child”?
Who would follow someone who claimed, on TV broadcast around the world, that their god told them to assault people? He punched a cancer victim in the stomach, he should be locked up in jail!! what delusion allows people to believe this is fom the Hy Spirit??Bentley isnt a christian and never was. He’s a pawn of the NAR demon inspired occult promoting heretics. Just look at the names of those who commissioned him at the Lakeland fiasco. Bentley and the rest of them are false profit$ who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit claiming astral travel to heaven and communicating with the dead, group visions and angelic encounters. Interesting he never appeared on stage the night Wendy Alec of GOD TV had prophecied Jesus was going to set foot on the stage, in person, on 8th of June!! 33 claims of resurrections and NOT one verified even tho he claimed they were. And he’s still at it claiming recently that jesus came into his room, thru the door and sat on his bed, leaving an imprint!! The tradgedy in all this is that the church has been invaded by these new age Mystics and no one can tell the false from the true miracle working power of the Holy Spirit! (and certainly wasn’t in ANY of his meetings) Great is the delusion in this falling away from the truth but many will continue to defend them and refuse to heed warnings even from Jesus himself to their own destruction
As the last poster has pointed out, there is plenty to discredit Bentley. But, unless there is evidence that Bentley actually kicked a woman in the face, it is not a fact; it is just another probable lie. The article referenced above is an example of lazy journalism.
I would think Christians would be thrilled that a former sex offender had been redeemed and made a new man in Christ. But, maybe that is not really possible in Christ?
Of course it is possible in Christ however TB continues to tell lies, is a thief (has never corrected his claim at Lakeland god told him x number of people would give $1000 – challenged by Strader? but said they needed funds and anyway it was a different crowd each night) and is a continuing adulterer! Redeemed – I don’t think so. Paul to the Corinthians – know you not that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom…..but such were some of you. Bentley has no inheritance there and not much hope of ever hearing the true gospel when he calls Patricia king his spiritual mother and Bob Jones his spiritual mentor (partners in lies) and Rick Joiner his restorer. John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees “who has warned you of the wrath to come…bring forth fruits of repentance. When I see any evidence of repentance and good fruit from this liar I will rejoice also.
The video of Todd kicking the woman in the face WAS ONLINE and I SAW it!
There will always be people who want to be entertained, ‘have their ears tickled’ etc and they will follow TB like the Pied Piper- but frankly, any amount of research proves his lack of moral character much less Christian anointing and just isn’t worth the effort.
One thing I will say though is that at Lakeland I heard him say he got his tatoos BEFORE his conversion whereas I had sat not 20 feet from him when he was preaching in Toronto 5 years previously and he had none.
You wanted eye witnesses- I’m one.
Rob, you said “I would think Christians would be thrilled that a former sex offender had been redeemed and made a new man in Christ. But, maybe that is not really possible in Christ?”
Who said anything about redemption? I said the man is not fit to be in ministry. Just because someone gets “born again” doesn’t mean that there are no consequences for the past. Just because someone gets “born again” doesn’t mean that they are qualified for ministry.
“born again.” little more than a he said/she said phrase misused and misunderstood and essentially meaningless to one’s contribution to society. i really wish that for borderlines it existed to give them second chance at early childhood and their parents a second to be “good enough” this time.
Any work on whether Emma the angel be at the Croydon meetings?
How about the Marital Fidelity angel?
“I would think Christians would be thrilled that a former sex offender had been redeemed and made a new man in Christ. But, maybe that is not really possible in Christ?”
Lets say that were to happen Rob … Just exactly (in layman’s terms) HOW would this take place and who would be the knowledgeable and qualified persons who might undertake to measure the success of this miraculous transformation? What emotional/physical/physiological/psychological agents are at work to transform a sex offender into a law abiding citizen, and how has the medical community responded to this assertion from the evangelical community to such brazen and unfounded claims? Where are the hard numbers to point to, that show a serious change occurs in the life of anyone who accepts Christ as savior, then becomes a permanently changed person with no tendencies throughout their entire live to re-offend, and where is your evidence to suggest that Todd Bentley is any different from the array of disappointing statistics available which demonstrate to the rest of the thinking world, that Christians are no better (often worse) in their behavior than anyone else?
Just for ONCE – quit quoting your bible, and show the doubters where the proof lies.
AtheistAtBirth says:”that Christians are no better (often worse) in their behavior than anyone else?”
What an anti-Christ thing to say!
You are spewing hate my priend!
In the Global scheme of things,I would find your PROOF,most amuzing…lmao
The Lord would like to point out the obvious. Christians are no different than the non-believers in the matters of sex. They commit adultery, rape and sodomize little boys, and girls. Their marriages break up just as much as non-believers. The only difference is that they **believe** they are better, much more so than the atheists in matters of morality. But alas, they are delusional and dead wrong. I read somewhere that a preacher would have the blow job before he preaches, and that job comes from a willing believer, not hos wife.
As I said many times over, if there is a god out there, quit playing hide and seek.
And if this god is responsible, strike down the sinners who play his church. Then I am sure a lot of atheists here will immediately come and believe. Strike first, play the Bush doctrine and I will come willingly. This is not an attack on X-tianity. This is THE SIMPLE MATTER OF HONOUR.
Todd Bentley:
Claimed a female angel who threw gold dust around and was named Emma, claimed a prosperity banker angel, claimed angels did operations that placed character in Christians thereby doing away with the need for sanctification because time was short, claimed gold dust and gemstones, claimed God told him to knee a man, claimed you must sow into the glory to get glory, claimed he did not commit adultery with his new wife when right after he left Lakeland he went to Hawaii with her, claimed a hotel fire was from God as a sign of anointing but there was no hotel fire in reality, claimed he went back in time several hundred years ago to see some famous preacher preach in the olden times, claimed God translated him to several places and times in one day, etc. He has not repented for any of the above. Oh, and his old website was complete rubbish, according to the Holy Ghost who told me such literally. The guy is not led by the Spirit or living in the Word. As a former Toronto revival supporter, this movement was once full of humble glory, but today the people are more concerned with bells and whistles of manifestations than love, servanthood, and doing the tiny things that accompany meekness. I generalize, but feel grieved over the whole mess.
It’s so amazing to see how limited , narrow,and wacko how, most peoples’ view of the “church” is!
Scripture shows us very clearly the “7 Spirits,of the Seven Churches”-No brainer
{Do your homework if you do not understand what I am saying}
Most people on this blog are so angry,jaded,bitter,and hostile towards the “North American” church
A pastor did something wrong,a church did something wrong,a ministry did something wrong,a bible school did something wrong….bla bla bla bla
Get over your hurts,wounding,indifferences,injustices…move on
Maybe study and travel,as your world view and understanding of the “church”,is way too narrow and limited!!!
Besides,don’t worry,as these “problems”,with the church have been going on for a few thousand years,and GOD is not sitting up in heaven biting HIS nails,wondering,”what should I do?”
lol
@brano,
“and GOD is not sitting up in heaven biting HIS nails,wondering,”what should I do?””
pretty intimate and casual statement about a being whose track record is not making himself known. reminds me of job’s friends who so readily came to god’s aid and spoke up for him when they thought he needed speaking up for (or job needed speaking down to.)
btw, how many years of original languages study do you have invested in the book? and likewise in the history of the origin of the bible and the church? some remarks sound the quality and depth of a neighborhood bible club.
…just another windbag trying to make a living.
The sad part is that people actually give him money. PT Barnum was right.
Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.
Immanuel Kant
Besides,don’t worry,as these “problems”,with the church have been going on for a few thousand years,and GOD is not sitting up in heaven biting HIS nails,wondering,”what should I do?”
lol
Amateur piffle and droll at best … laughable and inadequate response to serious allegations. Typical of Christians. Why is that atheists and agnostics make more sense?
Brano .. You only have to spend an hour researching the subject to determine the number of sex offenses and crimes committed by “Christians” is astronomical. Divorce rates in the USA are lower for atheists than they are for Christians.
Until Christians can clean up their act, get control of the increasing number of sexual deviants and offenders in the church, reduce their instances of crime and divorce – they really should shut the f** up about being morally superior, and throw Bentley and everyone like him to the curb permanently.
Loudmouths, uneducated, and poorly researched individuals serve only to inflame the number of claims against the church with your pitiful attempts to “justify” your jesus.
When you have something real – something concrete to offer the world – perhaps the Christian church can reverse the cycle of self-destruction.
Aheeeem,
It is very common to hear that Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion. Here is an article on cnn stating this. This case is made by studies (such as one by U.S. Center for World Mission) that show that as a percentage of the whole Islam is growing at a rate of 2.9% and Christianity is growing at a rate of 2.3%. From there it is easy to throw a projection out into the future and show that if the rates of growth remain the same that Islam will surpass Christianity at some point. But this is really not a helpful way to look at things.
In terms of numbers, Christians add more to their numbers every year than Islam. Multiply 2.9% times the total number of Muslims (1.3Billion) and multiply 2.3% times the total number of Christians (2.1 Billion) and you will see that every year Christians add about 11 million more people to our ranks than Islam does.
But what about the rate? Islam is much smaller than Christianity. The smaller you are the less people you need to add every year to grow at a faster rate. If you want to use growth rate as the judge of the fastest growing religion (not adjusted for size) than Islam is nowhere near the fastest growing. Some cult you and I have never heard of is growing at a rate of 100% because Jimmy Joe Cult leader from a suburb of Saginaw just convinced another couple to join him and his wife at their compound in the woods. At that rate, the cult of Jimmy Joe will be the world’s largest religion by far in 100 years!
So what do I expect to happen over the next century? It is very difficult to predict what will happen to birth rates and conversion rates in the future. Islam has higher birth rates in many areas right now but certainly not everywhere. For example, the highest birth rates in the world are in Sub-Saharan Africa where Christianity is much more prevalent than Islam. Further more, Christianity tends to win converts at a much higher rate. So, what is with the lower growth rate in the world today? I would point to Europe. For the last 1000 years Europe was Christendom. That is where the stronghold of the Christian numbers were. But today, many countries in Europe have lost large numbers of adherents. Western Europe is now only 60% self proclaimed Christians. Further more, Europe has incredibly low fertility rates. As a continent, they are well below the replacement rate (2.1) at 1.5 babies per adult female.
And while this situation in Europe may be discouraging, I think this should be a huge encouragement when reflecting on the overall growth of Christianity. Think about it: Christendom collapsed in terms of adherents and birth rate and yet Christianity grew dramatically in the 20th century. It is unlikely that another cultural shakeup like we saw in the 20th century will happen in the 21st. Further more, there are indications that Europe’s slide into secularization may be slowing. From the Wall Street Journal:
After decades of secularization, religion in Europe has slowed its slide toward what had seemed inevitable oblivion. There are even nascent signs of a modest comeback. Most church pews are still empty. But belief in heaven, hell and concepts such as the soul has risen in parts of Europe, especially among the young, according to surveys. Religion, once a dead issue, now figures prominently in public discourse.
And the fertility rates are tied directly to religious fervor. From the European Journal of Population:
By every available measure, American women are more religious than European women. Catholic and Protestant women have notably higher fertility than those not belonging to any denomination in the US and across Europe. In all European regions and in the United States as well as among all denominations the more devout have more children.
So, in places like Europe, you are seeing a slowing of secularization and higher birth rates among the devout Christians. This doesn’t indicate to me that the 20th century slide will continue in the 21st. Further, the rest of the world helped maintain Christian growth in the 20th century and this growth is giving every indication of continuing. The church continues to make unbelievable gains Southeast Asia, Africa and South America.
Amazingly, despite the heavy persecution, Christianity is even making gains in some Islamic nations. Time Magazine reports:
More surprising, though, is the boom in Christianity[in the Islamic nation of Indonesia]…..the number of Asian Christian faithful exploded to 351 million adherents in 2005, up from 101 million in 1970, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, based in Washington, D.C.
All of this indicates to me that Christianity is going to continue to be the largest religion and that far from losing this position, it will expand greatly in the 21st century.
Brano, I think Christianity as a religion is dying. When people acquire a proper education, and start to think critically, they usually no longer believe in supernatural explanations. No such thing as a virgin birth, or rising from the dead or inerrant bible. People drop out of the evangelical churches at a faster rate like 60-80% of all the young people. Do you know what that means? That means Christianity is dead here, in the West. When the rest of the world gets caught up in science and technology, they too, will also forget this bunch of old wives tales. Period. So says the Lord Ben Chung.
The Lord Ben Chung says:
August 1, 2012 at 1:47 pm…..If you were Spock on Star Trek,however current global statistics{re:above post}, and history prove you to be wrong!
You speak out of your anger & bitterness
Give Peace a Chance!
Aheeeem,
From the statistics available we can cleary see that the fastest growing religion in the world in real terms is Christianity. Where Islam gains 23 Million new adherents annually, Christianity gained 30 Million new adherents in that same period. Thus, Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the world.
In terms of the question of gaining the most religions by conversions, again that title goes to Christianity. By converisons from other religions, Christianity tends to be the most effective by a long shot with over 2 Million conversions followed by the 800,000 conversions recorded by Islam in that period.
Another interesting part of the article is the systematic destruction of some fake sources used by Muslims to claim that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.
How can Todd Bentley continue to stand on a platform for God, and possibly understand God’s character? That’s what I wonder. Out of all the different views on Bentley, left behind and moving forward, I can see now there is one that really matters. To appeal to God. The God who knows it all and mankind cannot explain. He will be the final judge, because He sets the standard.
As for his restoration, I’m sure now, that should not have been an issue. Todd chose the path he took back then. So, if he believed it was God’s will then, what was there to restore? Where was the injustice for Todd? Man can’t restore, if God is not in it. I consider the silence of the first wife and children. That’s some of my thoughts.
Brano: I know you are most concerned about the survival of Christianity. One of your main concern is that this will not survive. Hence, it is not out of anger or bitterness or even the name calling (something like a fool says in his heart there is no god). It is of truth and the concern for those who are delusional about the future of Christianity. As it is no longer debated in the scientific community that the earth is flat, or it is 6000 years old, or the validity of Jewish stories of Exodus, or that Jesus raised from the dead. You are entitle to that opinion, but when it comes to verification of truth and history, Christianity makes very poor case. You have to be blind to see this. And those who are in it, are delusional and abused. Try the story of Jack Schaap. He has been the latest predator uncovered.
It takes courage to say that your god is dead, and that it does not exist. It also takes courage to say that we are God. Try that, and think about this. This might help you.
I appreciate your sense of humor!
Thanks for your “opinion”….aheeem
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I believe all of us who stood up to Bentley during Lakeland and had discernment and spoke out did the godly thing. Now Father is shutting doors to confirm what we spoke.
Bentley has never repented of his lies, nor has he fully admitted adultery. He still maintains they were only friends with emotional connection until the divorce was final. But that is not the truth. Neither will admit that. But they did go to Hawaii together right after Lakeland shut down and this was verified by a prominent minister in his revival movement. Now, I know it’s hard to admit sin at times. But Bentley lied, lies, and still to this day has never repented of the nonsense he’s preached in the past. Rick Joyner needs a kick in the gut for allowing this guy back in the pulpit. Can you imagine the apostles allowing Judas back in the group after the betrayal and no real repentance? Same thing here. Bentley had no real repentance for his lies, manipulations, and adultery. These guys like most American charismatic preachers use the pulpit for gain, financially and to their ego. It’s a game.