When reached for comment today regarding the results of the Dr. Michael Brown Scooby-Doo investigation into him, Todd Bentley was quoted as saying, "I would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling NAR kids!" Seriously, after a few grueling months Brown has finished his work regarding the Bentley fiasco. For the uninitiated, Todd Bentley was an evangelical darling back in 2008 as he was packing 15,000 people a night into tent meetings at Lakeland Florida. His meetings were bizarre with a capital huh? Bentley would impart healing by physically assaulting the people seeking healing. This included punching a man in the stomach suffering from stage four pancreatic cancer and kicking a little old lady in the face with his steel tipped biker boot. I kid you not. Regardless of the insanity, the people showed and that is what gets the attention of the purpose driven industrial complex because people equal money. So they dispatched the top NAR false teachers and prophets to drive down to Lakeland and anoint Bentley a prophet. This includes the founder of the NAR, C. Peter Wagner as well as Bill Johnson.
After pouring oil over Bentley's head the NAR went home and then God revealed that Bentley was a fraud, having an affair on his wife with their nanny. He stepped down in disgrace but that disgrace would not stick as the NAR still wanted his potential revenue generation. They assigned Johnson and Rick Joyner to oversee his "restoration" which appeared to be merely divorcing his wife and marrying his nanny. After he was restored, Bentley settled in Texas and started his silliness again. Last year it was uncovered that he had engaged in a series of inappropriate and sexual relationships with interns, including sexting with them and sharing the sexual exploits of his wife. Try and keep in mind that this is someone claiming to be a pastor. Despite the credible allegations, Dr. Michael Brown was asked by some unknown NAR power to convene a panel that would investigate whether Bentley should be allowed to continue in ministry. You have got to be kidding me. Below is the statement from Brown regarding the results of this investigation, so let us reason once more beloved and see what the Gatekeeper of the NAR has determined regarding the preacher who likes to kick little old ladies in the face.
"As followers of Jesus, we delight in God's mercy and grace and believe in the power of restoration and forgiveness. At the same time, we recognize that God's Word holds leaders in the Church to high standards, since they serve as representatives of Christ himself. The question before us is this: Does Todd Bentley, founder of Fresh Fire Ministries, live up to those standards? Is he qualified to be a recognized leader in the Church?" -- Dr. Michael Brown
Really. Is that the question Michael? I am going to go out on a limb here and say that is not really the question. The question is why was he ever considered a leader in the church? Why would any sane Christian ever think that a man who punches and kicks people to allegedly heal them and then blame that on the Holy Spirit should ever be considered part of the church at all, let alone in leadership? You see, what Dr. Brown and his band of meddling kids never realized is that sane thinking Christians with an ounce of discernment cast Todd Bentley aside in 2008. He never should have been allowed to lure and trap new interns into his sexual dalliances. The blame for that falls to Bill Johnson and Rick Joyner; and now Dr. Michael Brown. For daring to loan a shred of credibility to this disgusting man who has only tarnished the name of Jesus for his own ends. Notice however that the opening of the final statement reveals they were trying to pursue restoration and forgiveness. They were never impartial. This was never about the victims of Todd Bentley but how we could excuse him again so he can keep generating the money for the system.
