The Gamaliel Approach to Todd Bentley & the Lakeland Outpouring

‘The Gamaliel Approach’ has been quoted a lot about the Lakeland Outpouring, to justify not speaking out about or criticising or ‘judging’ this movement and the doctrine and spirits behind it. The approach has frequently been posted into comments on this site, and on other forum boards, claiming to be the voice of ‘wisdom’ and ‘reason’. Even Jack Hayford, who should know a lot better, recently quoted Gamaliel’s words as a basis for his  approach to spiritual discernment. Although I wrote how the Gamaliel Approach is not scriptural in an article about Jack Hayford’s statement on Lakeland here, I am reposting the Gamaliel Approach as an individual post as it is brought up so often by so many people. It needs to be vigorously refuted because it just ain’t scriptural!

The Gamaliel Position - a scriptural position or not?   eg: currently understood re Lakeland as – Leave Todd Bentley and his ministry and movement alone, do not assess it or criticise it or take action about it, and if it is not of God it will die out by itself in time and fail.

Let’s look at what scripture says within context about who Gamaliel was, what Gamaliel actually said, and what he actually meant when he said the now oft-quoted words. Let’s also look at what Gamaliel did after speaking these words.

“When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them (the apostles) to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. ” (Acts 5:33-39)

Firstly,   and most importantly, we see that Gamaliel was not a Christian, he was a zealous Jew opposed to Christianity on the persecutor’s side. Though he may well have trained Saul/Paul, remember Saul/Paul zealously killed Christians before he converted and later on looked back and considered himself an evil man and an enemy of God! Gamaliel may have taught Saul/Paul the law BUT it was Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that showed Paul the truth and opened his eyes to it, not Gamaliel. The law brought death, and the Spirit brought life. Gamaliel was not  inspired by the Holy Spirit and a friend of God, but Paul later was. So to quote and promote Gamaliels’s words, is to quote a zealous religiously blind persecutor and enemy of God, not  an enlightened friend to the truth.

There is no evidence that what Gamaliel said was either scripturally sound or inspired by the Holy Spirit. Though his words are recorded in scripture, this does not mean them to be either right, wise or godly. God used what Gamaliel said to rescue the apostles from death, certainly, but it does not mean that his speech is therefore applicable and useful in any other contexts – especially when assessing Lakeland.

What Gamaliel said is not even true in a wider contect, for if we examine religious or political movements through history, we find many not of God have prospered   from the world’s perspective, as has evil in general prospered. Look at the Roman Catholic church! Look at the Mormon Church! Look at the Moonies! Look at Scientology! The list goes on and on and on by human perspective. Indeed, even Gamaliel’s movement that was opposed to God lived on and persecuted and killed many of the saints!  So Gamaliel’s words, as well as coming from an enemy of God and not being scriptural, are not logical or true in the context Lakeland supporters apply them.

Then go to the next verse, verse 40. ‘His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.’

Gamaliel had the apostles flogged and ordered the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus. This is the verse Jack Hayford and others conveniently ignore, for if Gamaliel was moved by the Spirit of God and was wise and prophetic, then we have to say the following action was right to! But it was clearly not right or godly – it was the actions of a religious persecutor who did not know the truth, and sought rather to suppress and silence it. So Gamaliel’s words come from an enemy of God who persecutes and silences the truth and the followers of the truth, and the words are not scriptural, not prophetic, not logical and not true.

It is also clear to me that Gamaliel did not think the apostles to be of God, or that he could be fighting against God by opposing them - nor did he even harbour any doubts as to the possibility this was so – because of the other people and failed rebellions and uprisings he compared them to, and also what happened subsequently with him having them flogged and silenced. He was using a form of logic to make a point, he was not really saying ‘IF  these men are of God’, as for him there was no IF.  So again, Gamaliel had made up his mind about the apostles and their way - he was not in any doubt as to it. If he was in any doubt and was ‘waiting and seeing’ their fruit, he would not have dared to publically flog or silence them.  So Gamaliel’s words come from an enemy of God and persecutor, his words are not scriptural, not logical, not prophetic and not true, they come from someone who had already made up his mind as to the spiritual identity and the truth of the men he ‘judged’, and his words are currently used out of context as they’re not applicable for a situation where there is the possibility of any doubt on this matter!

To use Gamaliel’s expression then so completely out of context is theologically illiterate and unjustifiable as well as illogical. It cannot righly be applied to Lakeland by any stretch of the imagination.

Next,  we need to realise that Gamaliel when talking about leaving the apostles ‘alone’, was speaking in the context of not having them killed.   He was not talking about not speaking up about these men or judging or weighing up their theology as he had already done that. Because he had ‘judged them’, he took action by ordering them to be quiet about Jesus and punished them! So if we truly take Gamaliel’s approach, we order Todd Bentley to be silent and publically flog him for heresy! But I do not think Jack Hayford or any Todd Bentley supporters mean that – but they should   if they use Gamaliel as an example to uphold and a role model. So Gamaliel’s words come from an enemy of God and persecutor, his words are not scriptural, not logical, not prophetic and not true, they are not applicable for a situation where there is any doubt, and if we follow them to the letter we should actually take action, speak up and silence and punish the false prophets and teachers (albeit not kill them). Gamaliel took action (albeit he discerned and judged wrongly), he did NOT sit on the fence to wait and see!

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the church should not take a laissez-faire  leave alone approach to false doctrine or false apostles or false prophets. It says that the church should vigorously work to keep from false doctrine and false spirits and false apostles infecting it by testing and weighing and judging as previously discussed. It should be on guard and its watchmen and shepherds must do their job and ensure stuff does not creep in unawares. When bad stuff is found within, it must be dealt with and ‘judged’ ruthlessly. When false servants are found, or unrepentent sincere heretics, we are ordered not to associate with such men or allow them to get to the flock.

The Gamaliel ‘wait and see’ ’sit on the fence’ approach is sadly not biblical, and it is partly thanks to shepherds and followers that quote this that the church is in such an apostate state as it is today. By the time the church at large wakes up, if ever, to Todd Bentley and his schemes and resounds the warnings, well it will be too late for many as the damage will be done. The biblical attitude to discernment is not of Gamaliel – either in its true or distorted form.

All Todd Bentley and Lakeland articles here

Jack Hayford statement on the Lakeland Revival, Todd Bentley

The following statement is from the FourSquare website dated May 20th, 2008. The bold emphasis is mine.

“The following is provided by the Foursquare president, Pastor Jack Hayford, as a response to the many inquiries that have been received regarding the “Lakeland Revival.” This response is being sent with the confirmation of the board of directon.

It is understandable that the reports of what may be a breakthrough of divine grace are raising questions regarding the veracity of the reports. Some ask what official stance the Foursquare movement will take toward this phenomenon.

First, by any standard of biblical wisdom, it is far too early to assert anything on any terms. Understandably, the reports of miracle blessing would cause rejoicing in anyone who believes that God does, indeed, work miracles in our time. But equally understandable are the questions raised by experienced pastoral leaders who have dealt with “revival” situations that have proven deceptive and that have ultimately deterred sincere souls from an understanding of God’s Word and relationship with His Son.

Second, it has not been the practice of The Foursquare Church to draw conclusions hastily in such situations. Our own history as a movement is marked by miracle visitations, both in the United States and in many nations around the world where our ministry extends. We have seen pure, wise, and trustworthy leaders scorned by cynics—at times, even scorned by church leaders who oppose miracles in our time on any terms. That is one reason our general response is to be “slow to speak,” as the Bible instructs (James 1:19). It is for that same reason that we tend to position ourselves as Gamaliel did (Acts 5:34-41)—the rabbi whose influence is reported by the Apostle Paul as having shaped his own thinking in significant regards (Acts 22:3).

As president of our fellowship, and in conjunction with the elders serving on our board and the executives serving in our offices, I recommend that we all give ourselves to prayer for God’s grace upon us as a fellowship of churches. We want to be available to His Spirit, instructed by His Word, open to His will, and humbly slow to pass judgment on things that are outside our purview. We are not called to answer for any other ministry or its report; our responsibility is to seek to serve our flock, teach our people God’s Word and wisdom, and keep ourselves open to to the precious workings of His Spirit.

For the time being, our desire is to live in hope, believe for God’s best in our day, and counsel our leaders and our people to be filled with the Spirit of God. We ask the Spirit to give us humility in discernment and to guard our souls from being either gullible, doubt-prone, or resistant to whatever God may seek to do that proves Christ-exalting, Word-verifying, and enduring beyond sensation or mere excitement. With time, whatever is taking place in Lakeland and through activities issuing from its happenings will either verify or discredit the source of the manifestations.

We are in an hour of history, both nationally and internationally, that calls us to prayer and fasting. Let us give ourselves to seeking God, and let us give place to His visitation in ways that please His heart, seek His glory, and honor His Son, our Savior, Healer, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, and Soon Coming King.”

***

Problems with the above statement:

1. Jack Hayford says: ‘…by any standard of biblical wisdom, it is far too early to assert anything on any terms…. With time whatever is taking place in Lakeland and through activities issuing from its happenings will either verify or discredit the source of the manifestations.’

This is absolutely not true and absolutely not biblical.

Firstly,  and perhaps most obviously, even if Hayford’s claim were true that we test by time alone, more than enough time has elapsed to judge this movement and the source of its manifestations. This ‘revival’ is not  new, the spiritual manifestations are not new, the teaching not new, the prophecies associated with it from Paul Cain and Bob Jones etc are not new, and Todd Bentley and the associates and leaders in this revival are not new on the scene either. The manifestations, teaching and the prophecies and the leaders associated with Lakeland can be dated back to at least 1994 in recent church history to the Toronto Blessing – that is fourteen  years. Todd has ministered for at least nine  years. That is more than enough time to assess this movement, man and ministry.

Todd Bentley claims William Branham’s mantle and William Branham’s ministering angels are helping him, and William Branham’s prophecies, teachings, healings, spiritual fruit, and the spiritual source of Branham’s (and Bentley’s inherited) angels, can easily be assessed and found to be false from the test of time as well as the test of doctrine – about forty  years have passed since William Branham’s death. Todd Bentley also claims he saw Sadhu Sundar Singh in a vision, and that not only was a universalist like Singh called a ‘true Saint’ and ‘one who lived in the Spirit’, but Bentley prophesied that God was going to release a great seer anointing of revelation like Singh had. Singh claimed to chat with Swedenborg, another occultic heretic and false prophet, in heaven and denied in the reality of hell, eternal punishment and the need for Christ and the cross. Do we really want such antichrist anointing and revelation like this? Singh has been dead about seventy  years.

How much time does Jack Hayford need, exactly, to weigh and judge a prophet and his ministry? How much time does he need to test the spirit behind Toronto and Brownsville, which is the same spirit as at Lakeland?

Todd Bentley’s mentors – eg Bob Jones - are not new either and have spouted false prophecies and odd teachings since at least the 1970s, in between being lewd and asking ladies to strip naked before them for a ‘word from the Lord’. Todd Bentley’s teachings are not that new and have circled around the Latter Rain and gnostic prophetic camp through Patricia King et al and at Toronto for some years.

The same kind of things have been going on for years through Todd Bentley’s ministry, albeit have steadily got worse and more blatant and more heritical, and so there is around nine years of his ministry one can assess, as well as the fruit of other ‘healing revivals’ Todd has claimed to have been associated with and prophesied. Todd Bentley’s prophetic words and teachings are online (or were until they were recently edited for ‘offending material’  at Fresh Fire’s website).

Stephen Strader of Ignited church and his revival and financial history can also be assessed.

Secondly,   the Bible does not tell us to test a prophet or teacher or impartation or spirit by ‘the test of time’ alone  – although  one  test of a prophet’s words is to see whether they come to pass or not. This test can be applied to Todd Bentley’s past prophecies, and those of Bob Jones and the ‘Kansas City Prophets’ and dominionists who are behind the revival, and prophecies that came out of Toronto and Brownsville that share the same spirit. This test alone finds these men false prophets operating by deceitful or imaginative spirits. They do not speak by the Spirit of God.

However, there is not JUST the test of time. If someone is clearly not biblical, we do not have to wait and see what fruit is produced before saying they are not biblical…. for bad fruit in bad doctrine is already  evident! Supposing someone comes along and prophesies that they see Christ and Buddha holding hands and saying, ‘Let’s all get along and unify, it’s is all the same god we worship really!’  then we do not have to wait and be cautious before firmly saying this vision and this prophet is not of God! And likewise with Todd Bentley. There are many, many dodgy things Todd  Bentley has taught and prophesied by which we can likewise say:  ‘this vision and this prophet and this teaching is clearly not of God!’

We can also weigh the practices and the fruit in a man’s life. Todd Bentley mocks God and the saints and is irreverant and like a modern day Simon the Sorcerer uses spiritually abusive tactics to get money like here . He lies, practices deciets and charlatanism (see for example:  this and here too: Bad Cold Reading  ) – and lies and deceits and coverups are also associated with his associates like the Paul Cain saga   I have watched Bentley several times blatantly lie, and allow others to blatantly lie on stage (all proveable and caught on camera). The Bible gives us a criteria by which we can judge this behaviour NOW. It is clearly not of God, and does not belong to his true servants but of the devil!

There are perhaps cases where we hear a prophecy and are not sure if it is of God or not. In that case, we still do not have to ‘wait and see’, as the Bible clearly tells us we can test and ‘judge’ a prophet by their words and actions and spiritual source NOW by using discernment, wisdom and the distinguishing of spiritis and testing of spirits. It tells us to test the spirits NOW, not later. It tells us to judge the prophecy publically as soon as it is spoken, NOW, by biblical testing and then immediate biblical judgment – be it affirmation or criticism in response.

“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. ( I Cor 14:29)  (NASB)

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. (KJV)

And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern. (ASV)

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. (NIV)

The Greek for ‘judge’ here is ‘diakrino’ which means to discern, distinguish, judge and doubt. Judgment of false prophecies and false prophets is NOT God’s job as everyone likes parroting, it is the church’s job!

Strong’s Greek concordence says of the word  ‘diakrino’: From dia and krino to separate thoroughly, i.e. (literally and reflexively) to withdraw from, or (by implication) oppose; figuratively, to discriminate (by implication, decide), or (reflexively) hesitate — contend, make (to) differ(-ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, waver.

The word Krino – Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish — avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think. 

It was the tradition of the synagogue to dispute and dialogue and so with this instruction of Paul’s. Paul says not only show we discern, but we should PUBLICALLY discern, and by this PUBLICALLY approve God-given prophecy or conversely PUBLICALLY oppose and criticise false prophecy and teaching. We are to judge prophecy. Those Christians who yell ‘judge not’ about those who warn about false prophets and false words are not being scriptural. The public discernment – at the time the word was spoken (not after it expressing concerns behind closed doors to the pastor) – was for the sake of the whole body, especially its weaker or younger members as a little leaven, a little false teaching, spreads rapidly through the whole batch.

I was reading in a magazine today about someone who had a really tiny mole on their face. A tiny little spot. Nothing, barely noticeable. Surely not harmful, surely not a big deal, surely not necessary to deal with – no problem! Yet it was cancerous and poisoned a lot of the body from within, and had to be cut out ruthlessly along with the surrounding lympth nodes. The girl looked really butchered after the operation, all for the sake of this little spot. But she knew it had to be done to save her life. This tiny little spot was cancerous and spread little cancer does – and so with false teaching. Even a little spot can KILL. It is poison. False prophecy must be dealt with ruthlessly publically so the body does not die.

It is right therefore to ‘doubt’ any prophetic word (and teaching), and scrutinise it. Anyone who does not question, challenge or allow himself to doubt sets himself up to be decieved. It is clear therefore that we can and should, for our own spritual health, and the sake of the church, PUBLICALLY criticise false teachers and prophets – once they have been tested that is and found to be false. Elsewhere the apostle John talks about testing the spirits, and spiritual manifestations and experiences can also be tested as well as prophetic words.”

(From http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/is-it-right-to-question-or-to-doubt-a-prophet-like-todd-bentleys-words/) 

‘Waiting and seeing’ in this context, is not only wishy washy and not commital and sitting on the fence, and not properly guarding the flock, but is Satan’s doctrine, not God’s and allows leaven to infect the church. Not only is Jack Hayford putting forward a false and dangerous doctrinal approach to ‘testing’, but he is refusing to personally test and weigh the spirits and the teachings and prophecies of another for himself.

2. Jack Hayford says we should ‘position ourselves as Gamaliel did’

This has been quoted a lot about this ‘revival’, and most often out of context, to justify not speaking out or criticising this movement and the spirits behind it.

“When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them (the apostles) to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. ” Acts 5:33-39

Firstly,   and most importantly, Gamaliel was not a Christian, he was a Jew opposed to Christianity on the persecutor’s side. Though he may well have trained Saul/Paul, remember Saul/Paul killed Christians before he converted and later on looked back and considered himself an evil man and an enemy of God! Gamaliel may have taught Paul the law BUT it was Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that showed Paul the truth and opened his eyes, not Gamaliel. The law brought death, and the Spirit brought life. Gamaliel was not  inspired by the Holy Spirit and a friend of God, but Paul later was.

There is no evidence that what Gamaliel said was either scripturally sound or inspired by the Holy Spirit. God used it to rescue the apostles, certainly, but it does not mean that his speech is therefore applicable and useful in any other contexts – especially in assessing Lakeland.

What Gamaliel said is not even true in a wider contect, for if we examine religious or political movements through history, we find many not of God have prospered   from the world’s perspective, as has evil in general prospered. Look at the Roman Catholic church! Look at the Mormon Church! Look at the Moonies! Look at Scientology! The list goes on and on and on by human perspective. Indeed, did not even Gamaliel’s movement that was opposed to God ‘go on’ and persecute and flog and kill many of the saints? 

Then go to the next verse, verse 40. ‘His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.’

Gamaliel and co had the apostles flogged and ordered the apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus. This is the verse Jack Hayford and others conveniently ignore, for if Gamaliel was moved by the Spirit of God and was wise and prophetic, then we have to say the following action was right to! But it was clearly not right or godly – it was the actions of a religious persecutor who did not know the truth, and sought rather to suppress and silence it.

It is also clear to me that Gamaliel did not think the apostles to be of God – or even harbour any doubts as to the possibility this was so – because of the other people and failed rebellions and uprisings he compared them to and also what happened subsequently with him having them flogged and silenced. He was using a form of logic to make a point, he was not really saying ‘IF  these men are of God’.

To use Gamaliel’s expression then so completely out of context is theologically illiterate and unjustifiable as well as illogical. It cannot righly be applied to Lakeland by any stretch of the imagination.

Next,  we need to realise that Gamaliel when talking about leaving the apostles ‘alone’, was speaking in the context of not having them killed. He was not talking about speaking up about these men or judging or weighing up their theology. He took action by ordering them to be quiet about Jesus! So if we truly take Gamaliel’s approach, we order Todd Bentley to be silent and publically flog him for heresy! But I do not think Jack Hayford or any Bentley supporters mean that – but they should if they use Gamaliel as an example to upheld.

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the church should not take a laissez-faire  leave alone approach to false doctrine or false apostles or false prophets. It says that the church should vigorously work to keep from false doctrine and false spirits and false apostles infecting it by testing and weighing and judging as previously discussed. It should be on guard and its watchmen and shepherds must do their job and ensure stuff does not creep in unawares. When bad stuff is found within, it must be dealt with and ‘judged’ ruthlessly. When false servants are found, or unrepentent sincere heretics, we are ordered not to associate with such men or allow them to get to the flock.

Jack Hayford’s ‘wait and see’ approach is sadly not biblical, and it is partly thanks to shepherds like him, that the church is in such an apostate state as it is today.

By the time Hayford wakes up, if ever, to Todd Bentley and his schemes and resounds the warnings, well it will be too late for many – not just in his own immediate flock but those in the wider church who listen to him. He is responsible for guarding the sheep and at the moment he is failing in his duty terribly. He is sitting twiddling his thumbs while wolves savagely attack the lambs – particularly at their thoats to keep them silent. Jack Hayford asks for ‘the Spirit to give us humility in discernment….‘  – but what’s the point in having discernment, Jack, if you refuse to use it and speak out? 

All Todd Bentley and Lakeland articles here