What’s happening in Lakeland, Florida –
some reflections from the BBC Ministry Team
Many of you will have heard of an outpouring of the Spirit in Florida:
stories of healing miracles, even people being raised from the dead.
People around the world are tuning in to the evening meetings at the Airport Church, Lakeland, via the God-channel and YouTube. Some are making their
way to Lakeland, seeking to catch the blessing and carry it home with them.
Reactions to what is happening at Lakeland vary from wild enthusiasm to
outright denunciation. Sadly, the debate arising from different viewpoints has sometimes been vociferous and unloving, and is very public -
the internet not only gives us unprecedented access to ministries
around the world, it also enables us to display our disagreements to the world
like never before.
At the centre of the Lakeland phenomenon is Todd Bentley,
a burly, tattooed man with multiple face piercings, who, since April, has been leading revivalist style healing meetings that are now attracting people
from all around the world. Some known to us have made the trip and have returned with a positive report. Rev. Anthony Delaney went with his daughters, one of whom (Hannah) was completely healed of a degenerative back disorder even as she stood in the congregation. All those we have heard from
speak of experiencing the power of God like never before.
Yet, there are concerns around. Leaving aside criticisms of Todd Bentley’s tattoos and his pre-Christian lifestyle – these are hardly valid if we believe
in the transforming power of the gospel – then we might group these as
either theological or stylistic.
Taking theological issues first, Todd preaches a recognisable Gospel message: forgiveness through the cross and a new life in Christ. At the same time,
angels feature strongly in Todd’s experience and theology, heralding,
or even initiating, times of healing and financial breakthrough – there are
‘angels of finance’ and even one called Emma! Todd speaks of how
he has been taken into the heavenly realm, which he vividly describes,
to see things that are about to be released on earth.
Is this biblical? One might immediately think of Saint John, who sees
a door standing open in heaven, and is given the summons, ‘Come up here,
and I will show you what must take place after this…’ (Rev 4:1).
John sees many angels in his visionary experience. Yet, it has to be said that
such experiences are not common-place in the lives of the biblical writers,
and where they do occur, they have to do with the sweep of world history
rather than what is about to happen in a particular meeting or series of meetings. Todd’s frequent journeys into heaven have immediate local outcomes –
such as a sizeable offering or a run of healings – which, for some of us,
suggests a hint of gnosticism, an early aberration of Christianity in which
certain people claimed access to secret or special knowledge, sometimes
involving hierarchies of angelic beings. In his letter to the Colossians,
Paul warns the church about those who ‘worship angels’ and ‘go into
great detail about what they have seen…’ (Col 3: 18). Not that Todd Bentley
has advocated angel-worship, but it may be that their prominence
in his experience and preaching detracts from the fullness
that is in Christ (Col. 2:8-9).
This said, it is still the case that Jesus is at the heart of Todd’s preaching
and ministry towards others. We might conclude that here is an essentially
Christ-centred theology with some dubious or flaky edges that need questioning.
On the matter of style, Todd’s approach to ministry is strident.
The meetings are highly charged, expectations running high.
People are called forward for prayer, often for particular issues –
perhaps dealing with disappointment or doubt, or the healing of some
part of the body. On one You-tube clip, Todd is announcing that God
wants to give new organs to people: “If you need a new heart –
we have those tonight! If you need a new liver…” and so on.
Todd’s way of ministering is quite theatrical and sometimes unusual.
‘Bam!’ he shouts, as he brings his hand down none too lightly
on the heads of those he prays for. He has been known to take a run
at someone and knee him in the stomach, as way of passing on the anointing.
It is, of course, the more sensational and outlandish moments that are
gaining the highest profile. Helpfully, one recent visitor to Lakeland has
observed that more is happening than the evening healing meetings:
there are regular bible studies and a whole discipleship programme being delivered. Todd is part of a team, to whom he is accountable. There is a context
to what we are seeing on the God-channel and You-Tube clips.
A number of visitors to Lakeland, known to us at BBC, have helped us to
appreciate this context, as well as the atmosphere of the meetings,
which is invariably described in positive terms.
Todd, for all his showmanship is described as a gracious and humble-man
who devotes 3-4 hours a day to prayer.
We need to be careful not to get too hung up on matters of style.
These are often about cultural differences. The old cliché, ‘don’t throw
the baby out with the bath water’, comes to mind. If God is working here,
let’s not miss it because we don’t like the way someone prays or conducts a meeting. On the other hand, there is no requirement to adopt every practise associated with this or any other expression of God’s saving activity in the world. There are two kind of elitism to be avoided: one that says,
“We don’t want any of that American hype around here,” the other that says,
“We will only know God’s blessing if we do it things this way (Bam!)”.
We suggest that these two rocks can be avoided by sailing a steady course, rejoicing in what God is doing in Florida and looking for, and responding to, his activity among us here in Bookham and Cobham. And God’s blessing in our
area is not likely to look exactly like God’s blessing in Florida.
So what conclusions?
Firstly, despite some concerns about the Todd’s stories of angels and
visits to heaven, we recognise an essentially Christ-centred ministry here,
seeking to bring glory God.
Secondly, we sense that God is at work at the Lakeland meetings –
though that does not legitimate everything that is said and done by Todd
and his team. We have concerns about the wilder aspects of this ministry.
Thirdly, we do not feel any compulsion to go to Florida to chase the blessing,
nor to set up Lakeland style meetings here – much better to let the Florida happenings inspire our calling out to God to move among us in power here.
Fourthly, we see signs of the Holy Spirit moving among us at Bookham and Cobham– across our congregations we have of late known God’s awesome presence and seen people seeking more of God’s power in their lives.
Let us be hungry for God, open to what he wants to do among us –
inspired by Florida, but not out to replicate it. God’s work among us will
take the shape that fits our situation. It will no doubt surprise us at times,
but it will fit us.
Fifthly, let’s keep focused on the vision God has entrusted to us: his empowerment will always be for mission and the transformation of lives in the places we live and work.