The Broadcast

I guess like me many of you have been watching the events at Lakeland florida unfold over the past few months.  I have met many who have experienced what has been labeled as the ‘healing revival’.  The power of God has clearly been operating in amazing ways.  Yes the doctrine looked a bit weird, and the methods a bit ‘OTT’, and the people involved ‘not like us’, but God has undoubtedly blessed the ministry of a rather unlikely guy (often his way!).

So what of the recent news that Todd’s marriage has fallen apart. See http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=081308~Life+After+Lakeland%3A+Sorting+Out+the+Confusion.

The Lord’s blessings and abundance have been so evident on the ministry during this season of intense activity and we rejoice in seeing and being able to participate in what we believe is only the beginning of a worldwide awakening. It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been. Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, which approaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create an atmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issues in their relationship. We wish to stress however, that the Outpouring is not “to blame” for the current chain of events and that in effect we have no interest in blaming anyone, but rather we deeply covet your prayers for Todd and Shonnah and for Fresh Fire Ministries during this time.

Statement from Fresh Fire Ministries

I guess across conservative evangelicaldom in many camps the knives are being sharpened,  the blogs are being filled and the tutting has got louder.  But what should be our response to this?  Here are my thoughts:

• Pray for him and those involved in his ministry 
• Pray for those who have been touched by God through his ministry
• Remember to watch our lives as well as our doctrine – Its so easy to watch your doctrine at the expense of your life.  Books are easy to read, doctrines are easy to remember, lectures are easy to listen to.  But unless doctrine and theology ‘hit the road’ they remain abstract.  The head and heart connection is so important.
• Learn - Me and my wife live our lives in this order; God first, family second, church third.  My first responsibility before the church is my wife and family.  If I cant look after my bride then I should not expect Jesus to ask me to look after his.  As church leaders we are always aware of the dangers and perils of marital affairs. Its sobering but I fear that many leaders are having affairs, not with another woman, but with another bride, Christ’s bride, the church.  I want to learn from this, my priorities are set in stone and will not be moved.
• Dont let this tarnish the brush - God moves in amazing ways.  When he does so he chooses to move in His way using His choice of person, however unlikely that choice may be!  We judge these things biblically with sound Godly wisdom and discernment.  Just because it isn’t the way that we would do it doesn’t mean its wrong.  My daily prayer is ‘God let your Kingdom come, on Earth as it is in Heaven’, and if my theology gets offended …… well hey if God had wanted to do it my way he would have done so.