Delusional & Disconnected
I had some additional thoughts from a comment left by Jen of Walk Two a few days ago that I’d like to share today. Jen and I were speaking about spiritual deception ie; false prophets, and immediately the recent fall of Todd Bentley (Lakeland Florida Outpouring Revival fiasco) came to mind.
If one is not aware of Todd Bentley, the short of it is that he’s a charismatic "prophet" associated with Fresh Fires Ministry. Bentley led what’s been described as a franticly paced revival in Lakeland Florida over the past 2-3 months. Bentley has had a questionable past, and seems to have become a quick and rising star on the scene of evangelism (?). As for the revival itself, some of the questionable things to come form this "revival" include reports of healings accompanied with violence, heavenly visitations ("Third Heaven") and encounters with angels; specifically one named "Emma".
Apprising Ministries, Apostasy Watch and Marsha West have already done a well enough job commenting on this story so I won’t go into detail adding my 2 cents worth to what’s already been written about the bizarre happenings of the revival. What I do want to add however is some spiritual food for thought in retrospect.
The first thought comes from 2nd Thessalonians, and pertains to all spiritual deception not just the Florida Outpouring Revival:
2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Honestly, I don’t know whether to take those verses as pertaining strictly to the false prophet being delusional in their own self crafted schemes or the people flocking to the deception? This next verse however is in my opinion definitely addressing those that practice and preach false doctrines, and counterfeit works. It’s something that many folks obviously missed before hopping on the Florida Outpouring Revival bandwagon:
Colossians 2:18-19
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.Also see: 2nd Timothy 4:2-4
And Jesus said: "So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time." (Mark 13:21-23)
Grace and peace be with you.