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Online! | CHARISMA- "QUESTIONS About LAKELAND" | | [b]HONEST QUESTIONS ABOUT the LAKELAND REVIVAL[/b] [i]by J. Lee Grady [CHARISMA EDITOR][/i]
I support any holy outbreak of revival fervor. But lets be careful to guard ourselves from pride and error.
God is stirring deep spiritual passion in the hearts of the thousands of people who have traveled to Florida during the last month to experience the Lakeland Healing Revival. Since these meetings began in a 700-seat church on April 2, the crowd has moved four times to bigger venues, the fervor has intensified and the news has spread worldwidethanks to God TV and online broadcasting.
Within a few weeks, the bandwagon effect was in full swing. Its safe to say that no outbreak of Pentecostalism in history has gained so much international exposure so quickly as these meetings have.
Im a cheerleader for the charismatic movement, so I rejoiced when I heard the news about revivalist Todd Bentleys extended visit to Ignited Church. It was thrilling to hear the reports of miracles and to watch the crowd grow until a stadium was required to hold everyone.
When I visited a service on April 15, I was blessed by Heather Clarks music and the audiences exuberant worship. And I laughed with everyone else as I watched Bentley shout his trademarked Bam! Bam! Bam! as he prayed for the sick and flailed his tattooed arms over the crowd. Hey, Jesus didnt pray for people according to the Pharisees rulebook, so Im open to unconventional methods.
But I would be dishonest if I told you that I wholeheartedly embraced what I saw in Lakeland. Something disturbed me, but I kept my mouth shut for three weeks while I prayed, got counsel from respected ministry leaders and searched my heart to make sure I was not harboring a religious spirit. The last thing we need today is more mean-spirited heresy hunters blasting other Christians.
I am not a heresy hunter, and I support what is happening in Lakeland because I know God uses imperfect people (like me and you) to reach others for Jesus. At the same time, I believe my questions are honest and my concerns are real.
My motive is not to criticize Bentley or the pastor who is sponsoring these meetings, Stephen Strader. In September 2002 Charisma featured a seven-page article about Bentleys amazing conversion from drug addiction. I believe Bentley is a sincere brother who wants people to encounter Gods presence and power. No doubt this 32-year-old evangelist needs our prayers now more than ever, especially since he has become the focus of international media attention.
But as the noise from Lakeland grows louder and its influence spreads, Im issuing some words of warning that apply to all of us, not just the folks in Lakeland. I hope everyone understands that these cautions are offered in love:
1. Beware of strange fire.The name of Jesus is being lifted up in the Lakeland revival, and three people came to the altar for salvation the night I attended. Larger numbers have come to the front of the auditorium to find Christ every night since then.
Yet I fear another message is also being preached subtly in Lakelanda message that cult-watchers would describe as a spiritual counterfeit. Bentley is one of several charismatic ministers who have emphasized angels in the last several years. He has taught about angels who bring financial breakthroughs or revelations, and he sometimes refers to an angel named Emma who supposedly played a role in initiating a prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980s. Bentley describes Emma as a woman in a flowing white dress who floats a few feet off the floor.
All of us who believe the Bible know that angels are real, and that they work on our behalf to protect us and minister to us. But the apostle Paul, who had encounters with angels himself, issued stern warnings to the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Colossians about angels who preach another gospel or that demand attention. In Colossae, believers were so enamored with angels they had seen in visions that they became inflated without cause by spiritual pride (Col. 2:18, NASB). Paul was adamant that preoccupation with angels can lead to serious deception.
We need to tread carefully here! We have no business teaching Gods people to commune with angels or to seek revelations from them. And if any revival movementno matter how exciting or passionatemixes the gospel of Jesus with this strange fire, the results could be devastating. We need to remember that Mormonism was born out of one mans encounter with a dark angel who claimed to speak for God.
2. Beware of bizarre manifestations.When the Holy Spirits power comes on people they may feel weak or even fall. The Spirits power can also cause people to tremble, shake, laugh or cry. Such manifestations are biblical and we should leave room for them. But where do we draw the line between legitimate experience and fanatical excess?
The apostle Paul had to deal with outrageous charismatic manifestations in the Corinthian church. People were acting like raving lunaticsand turning the church in to a free-for-all of unbridled ecstatic behavior. Paul called for discipline and order, and he reminded early Christians that the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, Paul was saying that no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit should act out of control.
In many recent charismatic revivals, ministers have allowed people to behave like epileptics on stageand they have attributed their attention-getting antics to the Holy Spirit. We may think its all in fun (you know, were just acting crazy for God) but we should be more concerned that such behavior feeds carnality and grieves the Spirit.
When exotic manifestations are encouraged, people can actually get a religious high from jerking, vibrating, screaming or acting intoxicated. (I have even been around people who writhed as if in pain, or made sexual noisesthinking this was a legitimate spiritual experience.) But emotional euphoria doesnt guarantee a heart change. The person who is bucking like an untamed bronco in a church service would benefit more from sitting still and reading the Bible for an hour. When we put bizarre behavior on the platform we imply that it is normative. Thus more strange fire is allowed to spread..
3. Beware of hype and exaggeration.Our hearts are crying out today for a genuine move of God. We want the real deal. Weve read about the Great Awakenings of the past and we long to see our nation overcome by a wave of repentance. The church is in a backslidden state, and our nation has rebelled against God. We are desperate!
In our longing for a holy visitation, however, we must be careful not to call the first faint breeze of the Spirit a full-fledged revival. If we do that, we are setting people up for disappointment when they realize it may not be what we blew it up to be.
Some of the language used during the Lakeland Revival has created an almost sideshow atmosphere. People are invited to Come and get some. Miracles are supposedly popping like popcorn. Organizers tout it as the greatest revival in history.
Such brash statements cheapen what the Holy Spirit is doing and they do a disservice to our brothers and sisters who are experiencing New Testament-style revival in countries such as Iran, China and India. We have a long way to go before we experience their level of revival. Lets stay humble and broken before the Lord.
I am rejoicing over all the reported healings at the Lakeland meetings. Miracles are awesome. Crowds are great. But miracles and crowds alone dont guarantee a revival. Multitudes followed Jesus during His ministry on earth, but many of the people who saw the dead raised or ate food that was supernaturally multiplied later crucified the Son of God.
It was the few disciples who followed Jesus after Calvary who ushered in a true revivalone that was bathed in the fear of God, confirmed by signs and wonders, tempered by persecution and evidenced by thousands of conversions, new churches and the transformation of society. We should expect nothing less. -J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma.
_________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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| 2008/5/15 13:19 | Profile |
| Re: CHARISMA- "QUESTIONS About LAKELAND" | | Wow... when Charisma magazine starts to use discernment and questioning... you [b]know[/b] there's a problem!
Krispy |
| 2008/5/15 13:31 | | sermonindex Moderator
Joined: 2002/12/11 Posts: 39795 Canada
Online! | Re: | | Quote:
Wow... when Charisma magazine starts to use discernment and questioning... you know there's a problem!
Yes. They just featured the Lakeland movement on the front page and now the next issue they are bashing it kindly! _________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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| 2008/5/15 13:35 | Profile |
| Re: | | Quote:
KrispyKrittr wrote: Wow... when Charisma magazine starts to use discernment and questioning... you [b]know[/b] there's a problem!
Krispy
Man Krispy aren't you glad God gave us His Word and the Spirit to understand it.
I haven't read about EMMA. I have read about Michael and Gabriel though. moe |
| 2008/5/15 13:40 | | Fuegodedios Member
Joined: 2007/2/21 Posts: 220 Richmond, VA
| Re: Amazing | | yeah this is a amazing. I have never heard of the charisma magazine saying something like this. I remembered what Jesus said in matthew 24 in the opening lines when he said. Make sure no one deceives you for many will come in my name saying I am the christ. I thank God for this site and brothers and sisters like yourself. May God bless you all _________________ Demetrius
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| 2008/5/15 14:14 | Profile |
| Re: | | Well we've been praying for some discernment for people concerning this. I thank God that we have some encouragement here. Let's keep on praying for our brother that they will be plucked out of this pit!!! |
| 2008/5/15 14:19 | | AbideinHim Member
Joined: 2006/11/26 Posts: 5185 Louisiana
| Re: | | Lee Grady's article in Charisma magazine is the most balanced article that I have read on this website on the subject. He is proving all things and holding fast to that which is good. That is the problem with Andrew Strom and many heresy hunters. They only see what is wrong with people and movements, and they fail to see the good. I would say that the ones that have been saved and healed at these meetings would not agree with many of the criticisms of Todd Bentley.
I agree with Coley that we ought to keep praying for our brother in the areas where he is deceived. None of us are beyond deception, and if we think that we are then we are already deceived.
May the Holy Spirit lead us into all truth and give us discernment, and may we be delivered from a critical faultfinding spirit. _________________ Mike
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| 2008/5/15 15:26 | Profile | hmmhmm Member
Joined: 2006/1/31 Posts: 4994 Sweden
| Re: CHARISMA- "QUESTIONS About LAKELAND" | | Act 13:27 "For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.
So today we have many who dont hear, and to say there is some good in it is like say there is some good in cancer to.
[i].....Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? [/i] 1Co 5:6
Everyone need flee from this counterfeit revival
[i]Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.[/i]
Joh 12:35 _________________ CHRISTIAN
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| 2008/5/15 15:40 | Profile |
| Re: | | Quote:
That is the problem with Andrew Strom and many heresy hunters. They only see what is wrong with people and movements, and they fail to see the good.
Wellll... thats kinda like looking for something eat in a dumpster behind a McDonalds. Sure, you might find a pickles thats ok to eat, but you have to immerse yourself in the garbage to get to it.
You do not understand what scripture is saying when it says to "hold fast to that which is good". God is [b]not[/b] telling us that we should ignore gross heresy, and look for the good in everything.
In fact, scripture [b]commands[/b] us to "mark and avoid" false teachers. Check it out:
[b]Romans 16:17[/b] [i]Now I beseech you, brethren, [b]mark them[/b] which cause divisions and offenses [b]contrary to the doctrine[/b] which ye have learned; and [b]avoid them[/b].[/i]
It doesnt say "read their books and gleen the good stuff...", or another favorite among some, "eat the meat and spit out the bones".
No, scripture NEVER one time makes that suggestion. Scripture is clear to mark and avoid those who are teaching heresy. Scripture is repleat with references of being seperated unto God... and thats not just seperate from what we consider the world to be, but also to seperate ourselves from those who teach heresies.
[b]2 John 1:10-11[/b] [i]If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.[/i]
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I would say that the ones that have been saved and healed at these meetings would not agree with many of the criticisms of Todd Bentley.
I dont know that anyone has truly been healed... where is the medical evidence? So far there are no medically documented healings.
And as for those who have been saved... truly saved... they couldnt possibly be mature enough in the Lord, or knowledgable of scripture to know whether this "event" is of God or not. It's rediculous to assert that they would be.
Quote:
may we be delivered from a critical faultfinding spirit.
Funny... Paul went after the false teachers of his time with much tenacity, and even named their names for all people to read for 2,000 years. I guess in your book Paul had a critical faultfinding spirit? I beg to differ... the Spirit he had was the Holy Spirit, and the words Paul wrote were the Holy Spirits.
Paul set the example for how we are to handle false teachings and teachers... and it wasnt the way you suggest. Your way is spiritually naive and dangerous.
Krispy |
| 2008/5/15 15:49 | |
| Re: | | Quote:
KrispyKrittr wrote:
Wellll... thats kinda like looking for something eat in a dumpster behind a McDonalds. Sure, you might find a pickles thats ok to eat, but you have to immerse yourself in the garbage to get to it. Krispy
Watch it now, if you get off on someone getting into the McDonalds dumpster for a pickle, I may have make a post about McDonalds trying to become a dumpster. I may go off about those PINK arches they have in their COMPANY plans and GO OFF ON them giving money to the homosexual movement, you know how I am about getting off the thread Krispy. 8-) |
| 2008/5/15 16:08 | |
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