Todd Bentley falls again and Dr. Michael Brown is there to pick him up...

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Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. -- Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/in-the-line-of-fire/77746-when-it-comes-to-dealing-with-scandals-the-church-must-do-better-than-the-national-enquirer

Sometimes the key verse just comes to me, as it did today. God will not be mocked. If we sow to the flesh, we reap corruption. If we sow to the spirit, we reap eternal life. Sowing to a false spirit? A spirit of utter carnality? Yeah well, God will not be mocked beloved and I can think of no more appropriate verse for the Todd Bentley fiasco than this. On April 2, 2008, a church in Lakeland Florida asked Todd Bentley to speak for a week as a traveling evangelist. He was soon packing 15,000 a night into tent meetings. By May 29, his ministry claimed that 140,000 people from over 40 countries had visited and 1.2 watched on the Internet as the Lakeland Revival blew up the Charismatic world. Bentley was a tattooed preacher from Canada and the truth is, we should have seen this coming. Unsealed court records from Canada revealed no less than 4 drug overdoses by age 18. At age 15 he was convicted of sexually assaulting a much younger boy when he was 13. Still, Bentley claimed to be a changed person by the power of the Gospel at the age of 18 and we love a good forgiveness and restoration story in the church.

So, there we were years later in Lakeland watching Bentley punch a man with stage four pancreatic cancer in the stomach. Why you may ask? Because he claimed the holy Spirit told him that was how he wanted to impart healing to the man. This was Bentley's schtick. He bragged once about kicking a little old lady in the jaw with his steel toed boot in order to "release the spirit" in the venue. He would scream "bam!" Whenever he laid hands on you. He also claimed to have a personal angel named Emma. Now if this all sounds bizarre and unchristian to you, congratulations, because it was then and it is now. You must remember though we are dealing with the church that accepted holy laughter, barking like a dog from Toronto and spasmodic demon control from Pensacola so Lakeland may have been disappointing but not all that surprising. You see there were still those 15,000 people per night. Todd Bentley was a moneymaker and the purpose driven industrial complex of the NAR was not about to question him. Instead, they went to Lakeland to anoint Todd Bentley a prophet, on what many refer to today as the Charismatic Day of Infamy. On June 23, 2008, just two months after he first appeared at Lakeland, the NAR came to town to anoint Bentley. Included that day on stage were C. Peter Wagner, who founded the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). With him was Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner, Che Ahn, and the Arnotts of the aforementioned Toronto debacle. Wagner claimed "apostolic authority" that day to decree that Todd Bentley would increase in power, authority, favor and influence. Bill Johnson prayed over him. Then the gaggle of false prophets anointed him by pouring oil over him and left town.

Within two months, Todd Bentley fell from grace as it was exposed that he was having an affair with his secretary, had falsified his healings and routinely showed up drunk. God will not be mocked. He waited just long enough to not only expose Bentley but the entire NAR, including Bill Johnson, who doubled down by overseeing the "restoration" of Todd Bentley along with Rick Joyner. This restoration process including divorcing his wife and marrying the secretary. A little over a year later, in 2010, the NAR declared Bentley restored to ministry and released him back into the sheepfold to make them money. Considering his claims of deliverance from his youth and his behavior in Florida, Bentley should never have been allowed back into ministry. That is not even touching on his completely whackadoodle doctrine. Timothy is warned by Paul to watch only two things - his life and his doctrine. The life that Todd Bentley has lived in ministry disqualifies him. The doctrine of violence to impart healing and angelic nonsense equally disqualifies him yet here we are in 2019 talking about a third wave of scandal to hit the NAR anointed Bentley. It turns out that a revivalist from Lion of Light ministries is now accusing Bentley of sexual perversion (after the "restoration") with both male and female interns. Stephen Powell tried to resolve this internally but Rick Joyner blew him off. Here is the statement from Powell:

"I love and honor [Joyner and Bentley] and that's why what I'm about to say next is so painful and hard. Todd has an appetite for a variety of sexual sins including both homosexual and heterosexual activity. Down through the years Todd has made sexual advances toward (and in some cases engaged in sexual sin with) a number of different men and women outside his marriage, many of them interns and/or students under his leadership care in the church." -- Stephen Powell

The accusations include paying a male intern $1000 for oral sex, sending sexual pictures of his wife to interns, asking interns for videos of them masturbating, and being caught drunk on several occasions. Sound familiar? Is this consistent with his previous behavior? Absolutely! He divorced his first wife after having an affair with his secretary. Todd Bentley, under pressure from his NAR handlers, was forced to respond:

"Recently, accusations have been circulating about me and my wife, Jessa. These are by a former associate. The majority of these accusations are absolutely not true. Not all, but the majority. However, there are some that are true, some that even are partial truths. Much are exaggerated and are based on personal speculation. In 2013, ... I wasn't involved in any whatsoever adulterous-type affair. There has been no sex outside of my marriage connected to this incident. Over the last six years of text messages now, since 2013, these messages have come up. I had them with associates, interns. They were sexually suggestive. Some of these texts in nature were just outright inappropriate to have these conversations, even about Jessa, things that were in our marriage bed. ... These sins were despicable." -- Todd Bentley

Uh-huh. Sexually suggestive emails for a six-year period of time. Sexual conversations about your wife with your interns. Is there anyone left, even Charismatics, who buy this? Even Joyner is pretending he has had nothing to do with Bentley since 2012 but Powell correctly points out that Rick Joyner serves on Todd Bentley's board! Oops. Despite being cold busted like that, Joyner actually tripled down by accusing Powell of operating in a spirit of witchcraft! This despite the claim from Joyner now that God showed him in 2008 that Lakeland was not going to be Bentley's last public sin and embarrassment. Joyner then never explains why he would help restore someone to Christian leadership that God told him would fall again! He lamely leverages Proverbs that says the righteous fall seven times, but they rise again. Dear Lord, is he serious? What in the world about this story would lead you to think there is a sliver of righteousness in Todd Bentley? Was it the homosexual assault he perpetrated at the age of 13? Was it the kicking little old ladies in the face? Was it leaving his first wife for his secretary? Or was it sending sexual pictures of his current wife to his interns, who he then had sex with. The truth is that Rick Joyner is a horrible false teacher and shill for the NAR and if there were people who still thought he had credibility I pray this finally drives them away from him. Which brings us to the above posted link to Michael Brown opining on the Bentley saga. Will Dr. Michael Brown finally speak against a fellow Charismatic? Let us reason together once more and find out"

"The internet is burning up with news of yet another scandal in the church, this time with serious accusations against charismatic evangelist Todd Bentley. What is God saying to His people through this current crisis? Regarding Todd's situation, I have no specific comment, since: 1) I have not supported him being in ministry since his divorce and remarriage in 2008, and I am on public record to that effect. 2) I have no connection of any kind to Todd and his ministry. (I also disagreed publicly with the way other leaders handled things in Lakeland, where Todd became prominent.) But, after prayer and reflection, I do believe there are important things to share that are applicable beyond this current, alleged scandal." -- Dr. Michael Brown

What is God saying to His people through this? Stop following absurd charlatans who kick people in the face to impart healing. Stop chasing the false charismata. Start representing God Dr. Brown and stop representing those that are doing the bidding of Satan. While I am glad that you stopped supporting him after his divorce, that does not quite let you off the hook. First of all, the fact that you have not supported him should not prevent you from weighing in on the story objectively. You should be able to rebuke what is clearly wrong and chew gum at the same time. More importantly, your statement reveals that you did support him prior to the revelation of infidelity. That means you were ok with the assault of the sheep in order to heal them. This is why you have no credibility left Dr. Brown. Bill Johnson not only prayed over Bentley at his commissioning ceremony but oversaw his bogus restoration yet Johnson is someone you voraciously defend should anyone dare question him. Nevertheless, Brown feels he has four points he wants to make.

"First, this is not the time to throw stones at charismatics, as some non-charismatic critics have been quick to do. To be sure, we charismatics have done a very poor job of self-policing, and, to be sure, we have had more than our share of sexual scandals. (Note that I write "we" and "our" as a charismatic myself. I will gladly point the finger within my own circles.. At the same time, there have been similar scandals in the Southern Baptist Convention, in non-charismatic, reformed circles, and, of course, in Catholic circles and beyond. In light of this, we should examine ourselves carefully, in the fear of the Lord. Are we living righteously before God? Are you? Am I? Are we conducting ourselves in purity?" -- Dr. Michael Brown

In 2006 Ted Haggard fell from grace and that is putting it mildly. He was the head of the National Association of Evangelicals and used his pulpit in Colorado to rail against homosexuality to his 15,000 + congregation each week. Then he was busted in a decades long homosexual affair with a male prostitute who he was also doing crystal meth with. That Sunday my pastor started his sermon by saying we ought not to be throwing stones and passing judgment. He was wrong then and Michael Brown is wrong here. The bible makes it clear that we are to judge those within the walls of our church. It is those on the outside we are not supposed to judge as the church usually operates backwards in these regards. Here we see the microcosm of the problem Dr. Brown has that has left him as a gatekeeper for false teachers. He gladly points his finger in the general direction of false teaching but refuses to name the name. So, he wrote an entire book on the error of hyper grace but considers Joseph Prince to be a dear brother who just has some holes in his theology (actual quote). Now, I do not like the usage of "throwing the first stone", which Brown uses here to muddy the waters. You can not condemn someone and still suggest that they are disqualified from ministry.

"Second, when we fail to address sin in private, it will explode publicly. This is doubly tragic, since it not only brings reproach to the name of the Lord, but it also drives away people who, before, were open to hear the gospel. They are anything but open now, wondering which leader is a sexual predator and who is covering something up. Again, I have no comment on the most recent accusations against Todd, since I do not know what is false and what is true. But I do know this (and it applies especially to those of us in leadership): God gives us many opportunities to repent in private before allowing us to be exposed publicly. If we keep sweeping sin under the rug, it will come back to haunt us and to bite us. That's why it's always best to repent quickly, completely and without excuse, casting ourselves on the mercy of God. He is more than able to forgive and even restore." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Are you serious? The word "restore" does not have to mean ministry! God can restore our walk with Him and that should be our focus. Not getting the cash cow back on the market as soon as possible. Haggard tried pretending he was restored after two months. It is insulting and remember the theme here beloved -- God will not be mocked! One can almost see the internal struggle Brown is going through. He knows Todd Bentley is wrong here. At a bare minimum, Brown knows the admission from Bentley about the sexual texts about his own wife shared with his interns! Brown correctly states and is keenly aware of what is at stake here. There is real palpable damage to the cause of Jesus Christ. Yet Brown hides again behind a thin veil of feigned ignorance. When I challenged him years ago about why he was going to appear on Benny Hinn's show for a week, Brown claimed he had never seen the accusations made against Hinn. When challenged about his defense of the NAR he pretended the NAR did not exist! This attempt to stake out the moral high ground while refusing to actually denounce anyone? That is just what Michael Brown does.

"Third, it is absolutely inexcusable and totally unbiblical for church leaders to put the reputation of an abusive leader before the real needs of the victims of that abuser, along with the needs of those who will be abused should that leader stay in position. This is one of the biggest reasons for outrage in the current situation as well as in similar situations that have been well-documented in recent years. It is not simply that a leader sinned, but that other leaders rallied together to protect the reputation of a fallen leader while completely neglecting the lives of those damaged by that leader. Not only so, but by failing to properly discipline a sinning leader, the door was left open for the pattern of abuse to continue. God's people are usually quick to forgive those who fall and show true contrition and repentance. But they have a much harder time forgiving leaders who played political games at the cost of the spiritual well-being of others." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Dr. Brown -- this is what you do! All the time! In this one article you have already said multiple times you will not say anything about the accusations. This situation is impeccably documented. We have videos from Lakeland. We have the divorce and remarriage. We have Bill Johnson and Rick Joyner's involvement. Let me ask you -- do you agree with Joyner that The Proverbs verses about the righteous falling apply to Todd Bentley? Do you agree that the NAR looked like horses asses when they commissioned him a prophet? Do you think it is appropriate behavior of anyone, let alone a minister of the Gospel, to send sexual pictures of his wife to his interns? C'mon Dr. Brown, who is kidding who?

"Fourth, church leaders are expected to live differently. God expects it and the church expects it. That doesn't mean we're perfect, but we are called to be above reproach, to be disciplined, godly and with a good reputation with outsiders (see 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Leaders, who by definition lead, should be able to say to others, "Follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1). We should be able to say, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you" (Phil. 4:9, ESV). And if and when we do fall short, we need to be quick to get things right with God and man. But, to say, "We all sin" or, "None of us has attained perfect maturity" is to make a mockery of the New Testament requirements of leadership and to diminish God's high standards." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Yes! Todd Bentley and his handlers over the years have made a mockery of God! That is entirely the point, yet you refuse to connect the dots back to the person this story is about! The man is banned from several countries including England! Does that sound like he has garnered a good reputation with outsiders? Would you consider this record above reproach? When is enough, enough for you Dr. Brown?

"Fifth, the internet is not the place to settle private scores with leaders or bring accusations about the personal lives of others. When we do so, we open up a Pandora's box where disgruntled believers can say anything about anyone, damaging (or even destroying) the lives of good men and women. (It is equally wrong when we spread unverified accusations against non-believers.) Not only so, but when we use the internet to bring charges and countercharges and accusations and defenses, we make ourselves a laughingstock before the world. This is incredibly ugly and grievous, and it must break the heart of God. -- Dr. Michael Brown

Yeah, no Dr. Brown. What breaks the heart of God is to have people claiming to hear from Him and speak to His angels while divorcing his wife to marry his secretary. What breaks His heart is to see a minister violently assault people and claim God told him to do so. What breaks His heart is you Dr. Brown. Providing cover for this vile man and do not think for a second that we cannot see this is what you are doing. I do not know Mr. Powell but he claims to have tried to resolve this matter personally with Rick Joyner who promptly ignored him and then accused him of witchcraft. So, save your faux piety regarding accusations made in public. Those accusations prompted a response and admission from Bentley. This is not a grudge issue Dr. Brown. Mr. Powell claims that God dealt with him on a new level regarding holiness and thus he felt he had to address the egregious conduct by someone pretending to be a minister. Where is your concern for the sheep? Where is your concern for his first wife? Or his interns? Or the child he assaulted when he was 13? What is ugly and grievous is the behavior of Bentley not those that would dare bring it to light. What makes us the laughingstock of the world is you Dr. Brown for even trying this milquetoast defense of the indefensible. Mercifully, Brown concludes:

We are just like the world when, in fact, we are called to be so different than the world. How far we have fallen from being salt and light! If you have legitimate concerns about a ministry or leader (for example, involving sexual or financial scandals) make every effort to find a solid, mature leader willing to take up the cause. It may take time, but it is far better to take that time than to turn the internet into the world's largest Christian gossip network. What a terrible shame. And if you know there are laws being broken and people actually being abused or assaulted, then by all means, go quickly to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. We cannot play games with people's lives. As a leader in the body, I understand that to whom much is given, much will be required. Because of that, I walk in the fear of the Lord, knowing that one day I will stand before God and give account (Rom. 14:12). All the more reason, then, that we get things right today, while we still have breath. The mercy of God is not to be trivialized." -- Dr. Michael Brown

Telling the truth about a sexual predator in the pulpit is not gossip. Considering the way the complex protects the brand at all costs, I do not begrudge Powell for choosing to go public. You also keep pretending as if he did not try to resolve this privately, which he did. Being salt and light does not mean covering up scandal and keeping it out of the public awareness. It actually means the opposite. That we police our own and maybe if the world saw us ever display true discipline they might think better of the Gospel too. The world sees that the Mark Driscoll's and Tully Tchividjian's have no business being pastors today yet they are. Other pastors and leaders in the church assisted them in this and that story cannot be whitewashed as Brown tries to do here. The whole NAR and purpose driven industrial complex is guilty here, including Dr. Brown. One can overlook inviting Bentley to Lakeland because we do believe God can save anyone. Once he was busted with his secretary, that should have been it. Instead two prominent leaders in Johnson and Joyner pretend to restore him. Joyner now admits that God told him Bentley was going to fall hard again. Yet with no concern for the sheep that would get slaughtered, Johnson and Joyner restore him and now just a few years later we see he has again defiled himself and the office, leaving a wake of victims in his path.

Yet Michael Brown, ever the apologist and gatekeeper thinks it is not time to throw stones and that the accuser is wrong for daring to tell the truth in public. This whole story makes me want to shower twice. Once for the original filth to wash away and a second time for those that continue to soil themselves in their defense of filth. Whether we are talking about the perpetrator or those that cover up his acts, God will not be mocked.

Reverend Anthony Wade -- August 27, 2019

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.