Todd Bentley, altar calls at the Lakeland Outpouring - real evangelism, real salvation?
Brian Johnson wrote commentating on the altar calls given at Todd Bentley’s much-hyped Lakeland Outpouring. He said in this article: http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/is-it-safe-to-assume-that-every-healing-miracle-and-revival-is-from-god/ -
“I recently recorded almost 3 hours of Lakeland broadcast on the God TV channel. The most frequently used words by Todd Bentley during that time were:
BAM!
FIRE
ANOINTING
IMPARTATION
MIRACLES
HEALINGDuring the 3 hour period he never opened a Bible, preached or mentioned any scripures whatsoever. The words HOLINESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, REPENTANCE, OBEDIENCE were never mentioned at any time during the broadcast At no time was any caution given about the importance of BIBLICAL DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS, with a view to avoidance of deception.
Towards the latter part of the evening he mentioned SALVATION and invited non-Christians up to the platform “to receive Jesus”. He said: “you need to be born again. I’m going to pray for you to be saved. If you want Jesus, ask “come into my heart and forgive me my sins”. I’m not going to preach for 45 minutes for you to be saved. I’m going to pray for you to receive Jesus. He then prayed for, and laid hands on, each person who had come forward. All fell to the floor.
He never gave any of these unbelievers a chance to pray themselves. He never explained who Jesus was, or what he had done on the cross. He never explained what sin was, nor God’s view of sin. Repentance and its meaning was never mentioned. The whole section devoted to the lost lasted no more than 5 or 6 minutes, then he reverted to talking about “the anointing”, “impartation” and “miracles of healing”.
CONCLUSION: At no point was the true, Biblical Gospel ever preached (See What Is The Gospel? for an explanation of the true Biblical Gospel).”
There are true and false conversions, and both are done in the name of Jesus. In my experience in evangelism and missionary work, a premature altar call without real repentence, real saving faith or the true gospel being spoken, can do far more damage than it does good. For this reason, if I see a person is not ready, I will never lead them through the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ at that time - though many other evangelists would do for whatever reason. Though there is an urgency in what I say, and the sinner must be made aware that he does not have forever to choose life, the sinner still needs to respond in truth and truly repent or it is no true conversion or salvation. They cannot just do it to please me or ’see what happens’ or do it to get blasted or healed - for then they are converted to the manifestations or the minister and not to God.
Why are false premature conversions potentially so harmful? Because the people will think they are born again when they may not be and so may not take the REAL appropiate action in the future to save their souls! ‘Asking Jesus into your heart’ is NOT the gospel! Being slain in the Spirit or jerking around (in more ways than one) does not mean you are saved from death and hell. BUT weak or false preaching and counterfeit manifestations can give false hope and false peace to thousands of lost and damned souls that think themself spiritual. A revival that spreads fire based on experiences and not truth or repentence is no revival from God. False conversions are no better than no conversions, and some would say many times worse! There is more about the lost gospel here: http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/prince-charming-and-the-forgotten-gospel/
[As an extra point here - I have watched Lakeland meetings several times now and watched Todd Bentley ministering (I cannot say preaching the word as he does not! I watched a meeting for three hours and in all that time he never opened the Bible or preached on one text or scripture. It was all talk about anointing and revival - a lot of hyping and boasting - about the anointing and the revival and himself and his deeds. I have never once heard him speak on the word, let alone the gospel!) I know that many of the people that go up and testify that they are healed are not healed and are evidently not healed. They go up on stage to testify to partial healing so they can get prayed for personally by Todd and get an extra bam. (I have seen the same at other minister's meetings too, it is not just Todd, it is epidemic through a sector of the church.) The people are happy to give a false testimony to this end - to get touched by Todd. The same with others that go forward for salvation altar calls, they are desparate enough to lie so they get touched by Todd. I am not saying they ALL do this, but many people clearly do. In many cultures, Christians run forward at altar calls to be counted in, even when they are already saved, and in some rallies there are even plants that rush up to get the crowd moving, not to mention all the hundreds of volunteer counsellers (already Christians) that go forward such as at Billy Graham crusades. If you watched the crusade as an outsider you might think hundreds were saved but nobody actually was as they were all workers, plants, or the already converted that went forward!
It is perfectly understandable for someone - a normally decent honest law abiding person - to do and say anything it takes at a healing rally to try and please the minister and get their personal attention and be on the platform. If I was sick enough, and desparate enough, and did not fear God enough, and had not already seen through Bentley's charade, I'd probably do it too. Also add on here the positive confession crowd speaking out their healing in faith, or the word faith crowd speaking their healing into being, so even when they are not actually healed they will swear they are in faith and not think themself lying.]
Anyway, with all this in mind, I came across this excellent post on Alan Higgins’ site which I can well recommend as there are a lot of good posts on there. http://realchristianity.wordpress.com/2008/03/10/how-to-botch-an-altar-call/
A few keys for those who don’t want people saved in their altar calls
- Present an unbalanced message. Only let them see the heart-warming part of God’s character. Preach God’s love but leave out His holiness and justice. That way they’ll think He’ll let them into heaven no matter what.
- Don’t mention repentance until they’re repeating a “sinner’s prayer.” Just get them to say, “I repent of all my sins” while they’re echoing you. They won’t know what they’re saying and they won’t count the cost.
- Above all else, be dignified. Don’t get heart to heart with the people. They would get something out of what you said.
- Skim over the gospel and push the prayer. Pretend the lost naturally understand what Christ has done for them.
- Preach Jesus as a life enhancer not a life rescuer. Tell them how Jesus can improve their life but don’t show them Jesus as the only One who can save them from Hell. People will think if they reject Him they’re only losing out on a spiritual high.
- Try to please the people instead of convert them. Tell them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.
- Compromise the message to speed up the process. The Christians who have heard it a hundred times before will be pleased with that. The quicker they get out the quicker they can get to the restaurant.
- Give them the impression that God is so good He won’t send anyone to hell. Don’t present the whole counsel of God or they might realize He is so good that He’ll see to it that justice is served and that all unrepentant sinners will be punished in the fire that is not quenched.
- Speak to sinners as though they were saints. They’ll think they’re God’s children instead of the enemies of God they’ve made themselves into because of their sin. You’ll give them false assurance and mislead them.
- Don’t mention sin or man’s guilt. Resist the urge to explain what Christ came to deliver us from. Don’t show them their need for the Savior. Otherwise it may all make sense.
- Don’t look to the Bible for the substance of your altar call. Only mimic other preachers with large congregations.
- Tell the lost not to feel bad about their sins. That way you will work against the Holy Spirit who’s convicting them
- Whatever you do, never mention Judgment Day. Your audience might take spiritual matters seriously.
- Tell them Jesus is the only way to heaven but don’t explain why. They may think it’s nothing more than fear tactics and leave offended instead of enlightened.
- Confuse the call. This is a great way to botch up an altar call. Don’t let people know you’re asking them to commit their life to Christ. Be vague and general in what you’re saying. Neglect to mention following Christ in your evangelistic altar calls and say things like, “If you don’t feel you’re as close to God as possible raise your hand,” “If you feel lonely come to the front for prayer,” “If you want more of God this is your time,” and, “If you have struggles and need the answer come down.” Just get them to raise a hand. That way no one will be able to count the cost and you’ll even get saints to respond to salvation altar calls, making the results look more successful.
- Only give them half the story. Tell them Jesus died to forgive everyone but overlook the fact that they must personally receive Him to partake of that forgiveness.
- Present the truth as though it isn’t. Be so funny when you share Christ that you belittle the seriousness of the matter.
- Preach forgiveness without repentance. That way no one will know how to be forgiven.
- Be unbiblical. Present repentance and faith as an offer instead of how God does as a command (Acts 17:30).
- Let them think next Sunday is the day of salvation. Don’t make them feel it’s urgent to respond today.
- Never warn of hell. Dangle heaven in front of their nose but rarely mention hell, certainly not as much as Jesus did.
- Only do altar calls inside the church. Never take the gospel where sinners congregate. The lost might get saved.
- Use churchy terms. Use words like, “saved,” “repent,” and “born again,” without any explanation. That way your hearers won’t comprehend what you’re saying. If they can’t understand it, it’s probable they won’t be changed by it.
- Give false assurance of salvation to unsaved Christians. Assure church folk that they are saved even if they bear no fruit. So that you don’t offend the unsaved pew warmers never quote 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” You could lose some financial supporters and have to depend on God.
- Never mention the wrath of God. If you mention it, people might be awakened to flee to Jesus who “saves us from the wrath to come.” ( 1 Thess. 1:10)
- Study how the apostles preached and witnessed and do the opposite. Don’t explain Jesus’ suffering death on the cross. Otherwise they may think of running to Him for forgiveness. Don’t speak of His burial or resurrection or they might realize He is God. Refrain from commenting about the hundreds of eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. That way they can go on thinking He’s a fairy tale. Overlook talk of the messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled or they might realize that the Bible is true. If they see it’s the truth they may see that following Christ is the logical decision. And whatever you do, avoid what the apostles did when it came time to call people to obey the gospel. Don’t tell them to trust Christ and live for Him. That is too accurate. If they know how to get saved your altar call will be a success.
- Put more emphasis on the “sinner’s prayer” then on repentance and faith. Satan will smile over your departure from Biblical instruction. We are never taught to use a ‘sinner’s prayer’ throughout the entire Bible. If you decide to use it and put more emphasis on the technique than on what we’re commanded to preach: faith and repentance you’ll certainly botch things up. A ‘sinner’s prayer’ doesn’t equal salvation, only faith in Christ and repentance toward God do.
- Let Christians think you’re the only one who can do it right. Always leave the impression that they should only invite friends to church and never actually witness themselves. It will keep you in business and the lost unsaved.
- Don’t let the lost know they are. Disregard subjects like Judgment Day, God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness and justice. That way the lost can continue to think they’re “good enough” to get into heaven.
- Rely upon psychological techniques to manipulate people into responding to the altar call. Don’t rely upon the Holy Spirit or they may actually get saved.
- Make sure you’re the main attraction. Remember the goal in botching up an altar call is for people to leave and say, “What a wonderful preacher,” instead of, “What a wonderful Savior.” Draw all possible attention to how great a speaker and person you are. Otherwise people might see Christ in your preaching and get saved.
- Don’t focus upon Jesus. Finally, the best way to botch up an altar call is not to preach the gospel. Just get people to lift up a hand and pray a prayer with you. Resist the urge to speak of the only One who could save them.
Sometimes the best way to get a point across is to put it in a different light. You now know a few ways to botch up an altar call. Please do not employ them. Do the opposite. You may already do some of them. Don’t let pride keep you from changing and doing things in a Biblical fashion. The bottom line is how true we are to Christ and His word. Effectively reaching the lost is our purpose. Let nothing hold you back from that agenda. May God bless you as you seek to win people to Christ in Bible clubs, churches, conferences, on the street witnessing encounters, at your school, and at your workplace.”
Hi, great site. Really glad I stumbled across it. Posts are bringing together into a clearer overview the many things that have been concerning me.
Re: the Gospel. Whilst I wholly agree with the issues of false packaging, there is much further ground to be reclaimed on what Gospel message the Apostles proclaimed and the specific response they required.
It is not just repentance and faith as the link to the Gospel basics site declares. The message must involve a full participation in the DEATH,BURIAL and RESSURECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. The response is REPENT (to God who we have sinned against) BELIEVE (in the person and finished work of Jesus), BE BAPTISED (the first act of obedience resulting from true repentance and faith) and RECEIVE (The Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal life- most evangelism wrongly fuses ‘believe in Jesus’ and ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ into the unbiblical RECEIVE JESUS - into your heart, life etc.)
This apostolic pattern brings a new convert into the revelation of God and His Messiah and how we unite with Him in the Spirit. These stages can take time depending on the person.
Ignoring the commands to be baptised (a crucial act of washing away sins and deliverance from past strongholds) and receiving the Holy Spirit, does not communicate the relevance of the burial and resurrection. Without these we are birthing ‘half saved’ disciples and it is not surprising most churches are so weak and ineffective. Often as you say repentance is omitted as well. The evangelical slogan ‘just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved’ is not the full story as this scripture needs interpreting alongside all the other instructions as recorded for us in the book of Acts.
The Gospel is ‘Repentance unto life’ Acts 11:18 and is a great summary of apostolic ‘theology’ as outlined above. I have rarely, if ever, heard the true Gospel proclaimed in 24 years in Pentacostal/Charismatic/Evangelical circles.
Let’s get back to the foundations otherwise we’ll only get more of this pathetic ‘Lakeland’ stuff. You never know we may even get some real signs and wonders attesting the Gospel of God!!
Keep attuned to the Spirit,
Vic
when the Lord Jesus saved me it wasn’t through repentance then salvation. It was a process. First of all, He showed me the truth of His Word; that He is the son of God and the Truth and that the Bible (and the Word of God are real). Once He had established this founding Truth, he brought me to a place of real repentence from my heart. The scriptures were my guide during this time, but He is the author and finisher of my faith. He alone knows the right approach and path for each of us as individuals.
Ann, I thank God He is giving you revelation.
As I said above these stages can take time depending on the person. God is amazingly graceful and patient and draws us into a realisation of truth which we can respond to in repentance and faith. We all come a different route and cannot often pinpoint dates in this process. However if we then obey the commands to be baptised and receive/be baptised in the Holy Spirit we certainly can date these experiences. That is why Jesus taught us the crucial stages of new birth were ‘out of water and of Spirit’ John 3. Of course repentance and faith are foundational here and alone can make them genuine.
I do hope that as you are seeking to follow scripture as your guide you have taken this approach as these are the non negotiables of entering and then beginning to function as a true disciple of Jesus in the Kingdom of God. God does not give multiple approaches to being born again. However, church teachings, gospel proclamations and practices do and thus the widespread confusion and incompletion of initiation into the Body of Christ.
Why not radically re read the Book of Acts. The Apostles practice on location is our pattern, not individual varied experiences which are usually more due to lack of proper teaching and guidance by those seeking to bring people to Christ. Even in the general confusion many eventually ‘muddle’ through by Gods’ grace.
Our priority however is to clearly preach the scriptural Gospel and lead people through what is necessary for full salvation so they get birthed into the Kingdom cleanly and powerfully.
May God indeed finish his work in you.
First of all it will be interesting to see if this comment will be publiched. Second, i will apologize for my spelling, i’m swedish.
Why whont people accept that God will come in ways that not is the way that people whant or think he will come or work? People allways think they know how God will work, and have it all figured out, but they dont. I’ve been watching the healing revivel a lot, and i’ve heard the scripts being quoted a lot. And what do you know what happends and are being said “off the air”?
Have you, in person, visited the revival? Or are you affraied of what God may expose in your life?
The bible say, Try all, but ceep the good.
I think, and my expreience says that a lot moore happends beside the stage whith the help of other people when they get back on there feet after God’s spirit has hit them.
It’s a lot to be said aboute this, but i challange you to ask God, in spirit, if this is his work, and if so, hit you with his power…. and maybe humility, so if this is God, you can say, - i’m sorry.
Regards and God bless/
Fred from Sweden.
I think this article is very ridiclous and farfecth. Do you know why you have not been able to make any great impact in your so called full gospel evangelism. beacause you think people are saved by what you get to tell them and not the grace of God. Look the message of salvation is showing people the light of the world who is Jesus and that is all we can do. How a person really get saved is God and not strategies. You can pray for someone, you can help someone grow by this strategies but never ever say that because it is not done the way you know then its a wrong way. Show me one chapter or mission that you can extract all this your strategies in Jesus or the disciples ministry. Sometimes we are too known and that is a puffed up spirit and it is not God. Please
THe foolisness of GOD IS TO CONFOUND THE WISE !! THEY PROBALY SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT JESUS WHEN HE WAS HERE..and healed the sick and raised the DEAD..AND IF ONLY ONE PERSON IS SAVED FROM TODDS REVIVAL OR ONE PERSON IS HEALED OR ONE PERSON IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND GOD GETS THE GLORY !! YOU AS A CHRISTIAN SHOULD REJOYCE..INSTEAD OF BEING A DOUBTING THOMAS..IF TODD BENTLY IS A FALSE PROFET !!HE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD..YOU ARE NOT THE JUDGE..I SE THINGS aT THIS REVIVAL THATS MAKES ME WONDER !!BUT THE FOOLISNESS OF GOD IS TO CONFOUND THE WISE!!!pRAY FOR ME AND ILL PRAY FOR YOU..GOD BLESS YOU..
“Asking Jesus into your heart’ is NOT the gospel!”
I appreciate your viewpoints and you make good points, but this is your opinion only. The criminal who was crucified next to Jesus merely said these words, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom!” To which Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
That IS the Gospel. It wasn’t complicated, a set of evaluations from A-Z, a set of man-made dos and don’ts. Salvation belongs to the Lord. He knows the heart of the one who is calling out to Him. Yes, there needs to be repentance, but who are we to say what does and does not happen in people’s hearts while watching an altar call of ten, hundreds, thousands?
I am going to merely state a fact: There is much going on behind the scenes and off-camera at Lakeland. Those who go up for altar calls are spoken to by staff and information is gathered, they are counseled, the ministry doesn’t stop in the 5 minutes on camera. The same is true for people testifying of healings. How do I know this? Because one night I flew to the Lakeland Airport in my private plane and parked it on the runway behind the platform. This was a night that it was in the open field. I walked in from behind the platform as that was the only way to get to the seating. I lingered and observed.
I am not affiliated with FreshFire or Todd Bentley or Ignited. I do not live in Lakeland. I did not even know who Todd was before this began.
This is nothing more than a re-hash of the movement started at the Toronto Airport Fellowship in the mid 1990’s. The same ‘Prophets’ are selling the same message and the only difference is Mr Bentley. When I first heard about it I felt sick as I have sen fisrt hand the damage this ‘message’ does to people, however Toronto faded away and so will this. It is a passing fad for people who crave an emotional experience and need to feel something in order to be validated within themselves.
It isn’t something to fret about, let them get on with it, the fruit it will bear will soon fade and wither and then in a few years the next big thing will come along. History has a habit of repeating itself.
You know, when the spirit fell at Pentecost, everyone thought they were nuts too. If something happens that seems like foolishness to the world, and organized Christian religion (pharisees) - maybe you shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that it’s not from him. Actually, all of these forums that are popping up are doing nothing but convince me that this IS a move of God…because if it wasn’t then there wouldn’t be any controversy.
Donna - this is nothing to do with thinking Todd ‘nuts’ - it is about calling him a blatant liar and thief and deciever - proven on all counts. Why do you ignore the evidence and also the word of God which counsels you to have nothing to do with such EVIL men after having tested them (which you also refuse to do)?
Donna, on the day of pentacost… it was the MOCKERS and the SCOFFERS who ACCUSED the men of God of being drunk.
Even then, Satan wanted to put a stop to the gospel. How?
By speaking through the wicked and saying “these men are drunk.” That is why Peter said, “These men are not drunk as you suppose.” It was NOT because they all were prancing around, acting like fools ‘drunk in the spirt.’ It was the devil trying to stop the gosple from going out by accusing these men of being drunk so the hearers would not listen.
Peter was defending the righteous while Satan was doing his best to smear their reputation.
Example>>> Person A is out somewhere and maybe having a drink or two. Person A begins to say something of importance to Person B. Person B does not want to hear it, knowing it is the truth and accuses person A, “You are just drunk.” Person C steps up and says, “No, he is not drunk.”
Now today, the same spirit… the spirit of mocking… has somehow reversed itself through ALL the false teachings… starting with Rodney-Howard Browne! And it is ok to mock and play the fool in ‘holy’ drunkeness! It is an abomination to a holy God!
Those of us who are testing things and who are FINALLY after years of PASSIVELY sitting by and putting up with the nonsense all in the name of ‘peace’, are standing up and saying, “We have had enough!” We know we will be accused of all kinds of things. Being pharisees, of being religious, of being Jezabeles, of being rebellious. But we do not care anymore. We will not be intimidated by any of those who insist on teaching this garbage or and following it.
If you truly have a desire to follow Jesus, then do what He says. Pick up your cross and follow Him. Test ALL things.
You say, “Actually, all of these forums that are popping up are doing nothing but convince me that this IS a move of God…because if it wasn’t then there wouldn’t be any controversy.” I tell you what is happening. The controversy is a battle between lies and truth. The harlot who is made up of false teachers and christians who have made idols of men and teachings is continuing to lay with her lover, listening to the smooth things he is whispering into her ears, because she just loves having her ears tickled with ‘peace and prosperity, no need to suffer. Have your best life now, and has God really said…’ But the true Bride of Christ is rising up out of her slumber and saying, “ENOUGH! I will have no other lovers!” No matter the cost!
Donna
If i owed you £20 and paid you wutrh a £20 note, you would accept it
However, If i owed you £20 and you had been warned that there were a load of counterfeit £20 notes around, you would surely check it.
The Bible warns us of counterfeit prophets/movements/Gods so please check them out-
Don’t weigh it by how much people criticise it or how the person looks, check them, and who they are connected to against the Bible
Please do this
If you seek further clarification Donna ?
Please feel free to click on this link.
->
http://watch.pair.com/rain.html
AMEN! redeemedhippie.
Way of the Master has a great book that I think most people need to read called “Herman Who?” Here’s a summary of what its about.
“Ask most Christians what they know about hermeneutics and they will probably ask, “Herman Who?” Spend 75 minutes with us and you will receive a condensed 16-week master’s level education on how to read the Bible right. You will never read the Bible the same way again . . . and you will never have the wool pulled over your eyes by a false teacher.
Paul told Timothy (and us) to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” By studying this course, you will be equipped to rightly divide the Word of Truth and read the Bible right”.
The problem with Donna is that she really doesn’t know how to read the bible. I run into this alot. A friend of mine was making an error out of Matt 24 friday night when she kept saying that in the end times the elect will be deceived, I corrected her and told her “if it was possible, the elect would be deceived”. But she kept insisting that she was correct. I took her to that verse and had her read the entire chapter in order to gain proper perspective. I call it 20/20 vision. 20 verses before and after. Soo many people take verses out of context and then try to apply the word of God through what I call spiritual beer goggles. Pray that the eyes of their understanding would be opened. And that they would gain a right perspective of who Jesus is.