[TBC: Todd Bentley, the evangelist at the “Lakeland [Florida] Outpouring” stepped down after sin in his life was revealed. On August 15, 2008, the Board of Directors of Fresh Fire Ministries issued the following press release: “Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.”
Lack of accountability has been a common feature of of these purported revivals. The situation has not improved. The following comments from Elijah List prophet Steve Shultz appeared in their March 10, 2009 email newsletter: “God chooses to use imperfect people…even while He fully knows the mistakes we might soon choose to make. This does not make our mistakes okay, and it does not mean God planned our mistakes either….Let us learn. A good place to start is taking a good, hard look in the mirror. In 1990, during a time I was extremely judgmental of all who didn't see every doctrine exactly as I saw it, I was given a profound dream. In it, an old-fashioned revivalist, Charles Finney walked up to me and said, ‘Don't even judge Jim Jones,’ and he held a mirror to my face....”
[TBC: One of Todd Bentley’s “mistakes,” was being unfaithful to his wife. During his “restoration,” Bentley divorced his wife and married the woman with whom he had an affair. How do we love “a fallen soldier-in-arms?” According to Proverbs:27:9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel., “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Contrary to Scripture, the Elijah List writer tells us revivalist Charles Finney instructs, “don’t even judge Jim Jones.”
Not judge Jim Jones? As has been documented, “Jim Jones started out claiming that he was ‘The Great Prophet Of God.’ After time, even that exalted title was not lofty enough, so he told his congregation one day that God had revealed to him that he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Lenin.” Not judge? For the sake of the sheep we must report that some follow “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians:11:4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.), of whom Paul faithfully warned the Church.”]
