By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Something odd involving the local newspaper, the Croydon Advertiser, whose reporting eventually led to Todd Bentley being banned by the UK government from entering Britain.
I ask Google, using their Google Alerts function to send me e-mails about news coverage about Todd Bentley. Today, Google Alerts sent me this link:
News 1 new result for “Todd Bentley”
Face-kicking ‘faith healer’ will not be banned from UK, says minister
This is Croydon
Canadian pastor Todd Bentley, who believes he can “heal” people by kicking them in the face, is to hold a three-day event at Croydon Conference Centre, in Surrey Street, at the end of the month. ?. Todd Bentley, an evangelical pastor from Canada …
But if you click on the link the story has disappeared from the website where the paper’s stories run. A search of the site cannot find the story. This is as I write–perhaps we’ll see a revision–but it is strange.
Several things could have happened.
1. The paper ran this story confidently quoting someone predicting that Bentley would not be banned a few days back in their print edition, only to be overtaken by events–the ban. In this case, the paper should have prominently run an editor’s note explaining this, but keeping the story for the historical record.
2. This story ran only recently with the paper not realizing that Bentley has been banned. Very doubtful, as I’m sure local MP Malcolm Wicks, who was probably tipped off by the paper that Bentley was coming to the UK, would keep the paper fully informed.
3. The story ran a day or so ago in the paper edition of the paper. “Minister” could, of course, refer to a cabinet minister, such as the Home Secretary, agreeing to work against the Bentley ban. I don’t think so, as that would have been trumpeted in the lede.
What is much more likely is that a local minister–perhaps the organizer for the Bentley visit–is working on getting the ban reversed, or plans to do so. They told the paper and the story ran. Their Bentley supporting source panicked and called the newspaper and said something like “My God, I meant this to be off the record, you have to pull the story from the website! I need to be able to work quietly on this without being flamed by those who fear Bentley.”
Unless the reporter totally got the position of the “Bentley supporting minister” wrong and the paper is in a frenzy trying to limit the damage by “memory holing” everything.
Anyways, this is passing strange and I felt a need to make a note of it. Let’s be kind to the Croydon paper as I know from personal experience that reporters are not perfekt.
Word misspelled on purpose.
Rick, yes we no.
I think that giving Mr. Bentley so much air time ‘plays’ right into his hand
It should be fairly obvious to all independent thinkers what kind of a person he is and what his probable motives are.
He could never hope to buy this kind of free publicity. It is no doubt beyond his wildest expectations.
Let us also keep in mind those who own and run the media,and what their intentions might be…
Let the clown show go on and discredit Christ & Christendom-make them look like a bunch of lunatics & nutboxes for the world to see
Is there an obvious question I missed. Is it not crazy to believe in a paper god in your head and rape others to cover up its tract? god is your own stomach, or did I get the wrong?
The media does not discredit Christiandom…they do not have to. Just look around at the many posers who use Christianity for their own personal gain and power. The media simply reports on them.
Christians should know all about persecution and discrimination-many of them have been been practicing it for centuries.
….The media does not discredit Christiandom…The media simply reports on them.
HUH….
We are talking about Todd Bentley…and the media gong show going on are we not,
It does not matter one iotta,if it is Jim and Tammy,Swaggart,Hinn…bla bla bla,IT all leaves a horrible,laughable, impression on Christendom to the average Joe
Yes the media does report on all this nonsense…and Yes Christendom is laughed at
But then again we can take a Pauline stance on all of this….No Worries
http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/home
Sometimes actions to speak louder than words.
Correction
Sometimes actions do speak louder than words.
I say both jesus and St Paul can be gay!
The media responds to their respective audience. For many North American media outlets, news is akin to entertainment.
And you have to admit that the antics of the likes of Falwell, Swaggert, Hinn, Hagee, and some of the other con artists are entertaining. Even more entertaining is the absolute faith that their followers seem to place on the current and past fraudters.
If are not sure, try tuning into to some of their paid television shows…but turn off the sound. These are the theatrics that are taught in drama school. The so called miracles come from the school of ‘slight of hand’.
Some of these people and organizations get the ‘reputation’ and the PR that they deserve.
They all love positive PR but scream like stuck pigs when the PR is not to their liking.
People need to know. I have to wonder, based on this blog, how many people made the decision not to attend PBI, not to recommend that loved ones attend, or decided to withhold financial support. Not necessarily because of the present, but because of the organizations absolute failure to come to terms with the near past and far past.
The media did not bring this on, people and organizations bring this on by their actions. And clearly the public wants to know.
Guess the facts are, 0ver 90% of the media is controlled by pagans.
It,s not surprising how their ant-christian attitudes go on and on and on and on….
It feeds and fosters hate
This is nothing new,in that this has been going on for over 2000 years
I guess some people need to feel that their faith is persecuted in order for it to feel more real. It is more than just a little disingenuous.
I think that many Christians need to take a very long, hard look in the mirror prior to accusing anyone of being anti Christian.
A tragedy…is that history tends to repeat itself
As a Christian,one is commanded, to DISCERN & TEST all things
One does not need to look very hard,or very long to see the spirit of the anti-christ,or an anti-christian spirit at work in the media..or elsewere
Lets us not bury our heads in the sand as the church did in Europe,ww11….and elsewere around the globe
Lets take a moment to consider, AGENDA 21 -an elementary example
How horrible it would be, to be ignorant of the day & age that we live in…
and one does not need a mirror to do that!
Yes, like those good Southern Baptists who predomininated in the politics in the south.
The same people who made a mixed marriages illegal in 17 plus states right up until the 60′s. Or like many of the Baptist churches of the south…STILL segregated.
Are the people who report on these travesties anti Christian?
To return to the topic of the post (sigh) the Croydon paper has now run a story about the ban.
So, maybe it was an embrassing mistake, as was one of my guesses, that they didn’t want anyone to rub their faces in. A little naughty–they should have gone the editor’s note route–but understandable.
He went down for the three count in Croydon. No more wrestling moves on the platform in Croydon for this kicking preacher. Time to be a good sport and move on. If he can’t retain his title, he may have to get a job.
From the little southern women, in the good ole USA!
When is this dude going to show his jesus tatoo on his body?
Rather Dark,wouldn,t you say!…Aheem
http://defendingcontending.com/2008/06/12/taking-a-closer-look-at-todd-bentley-literally/
Bottom line is that Mr. Bentley is a great showman and an entrepreneur at heart.
All this UK publicity will lead to a ‘soft’ landing when he returns. There will be a small group of so called Christians who not only believe in him but will support him financially.
He cannot loose with this amount of publicity and public discussion. It is in his business plan.
If there is a god out there and someone takes that precious name in vain, would god not come and immediately strike down his false prophet? What is all powerful, knowing and ever present false god going to do with his false prophet? NOTHING.
This type of action against Todd Bentley in Croydon, I don’t think was foreseeable. The booking issues had to put a damper on his scheduled events. I wonder who signs or does his bookings. This was a costly risk to take if they did have some indication it may not work out. Whoever watches the purse, I’m sure will be meeting behind the closed door or doors, at the table.
Do not be anxious my friend!
There is more than enough grace to go around,However,”every dog has it,s day!”
You can take that to the bank!
Psalm 97:2
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Psalm 97:1-3
And….I don’t believe a word of it.
I am a much bigger believer in the ‘here and now’. Don’t care much what happens to crooks, murderers, perverts, pedophiles, etc. or what have you after they die.
I prefer to have them caught and punished in the here and now (and the nearer the better) so that we limit their misdeeds on other innocent folk.
Alas, the police forces have their hands full and are really too short staffed and perhaps not as well trained as they need to be to go after every white collar criminal/fraud artist.
Justice has many faces…