Rick Joyner on Todd Bentley Personal Problems & Shonnah Bentley Deserving to Sit At The Right Hand of God

The following is from the much longer article  The History and Future of the Present Revival – Part 8   as posted on Rick Joyner’s Morning Star website here.

“Todd Bentley’s Personal Problems 

by Rick Joyner

I did not hear that Todd was going through a personal crisis until the day before our meeting with him here …

[endtimes note - this is referring to the 08/08/08 meeting at Heritage].   

When I saw him Wednesday night, he immediately wanted to share with me about his personal problems—especially about his recent separation from his wife. Todd did not share this in a way to try and justify himself, but he wanted me to know what was going on with him to give me an out if I did not think he should minister the next day. I greatly appreciated this.

[So not only does this testify that this crowd knew about the separation before they claim they did, but Rick Joyner and Todd Bentley did not care enough about scriptural command to either cancel the much hyped 08/08/08 meeting OR to issue a public statement at the time.]

I still do not know all of the details of his separation, but I did ask him if there had been any immorality on his part, or if he had affections for someone else that was causing this. He assured me that he had never committed adultery, and that there was no “other woman” that caused his separation.

[So by Rick Joyner's testimony, either Todd Bentley lied, or the Fresh Fire Ministries lied (as they have since confessed there was "another woman")- or both. Perhaps it was more like "other males" that caused the separation]

Some of his leaders who I talked to also confirmed that Todd had not been in any immoral relationship, though they were all grieving over Todd’s marital problems.

[So these leaders also lied. Read NAR "apostle" Robert Ricciardelli's statement here on this that affirms that many leaders DID know about Todd's "personal issues" and did not want to do anything (except cover it up). Furthermore, Todd Bentley committed adultery before, and many of the same men and women covered it up then by calling it a "sabbatical for health reasons".]

The problems Todd and his wife have had getting along have been public knowledge for several years.

{Uh huh. Yet Todd has frequently falsely testified that God had healed or restored his marriage, as recently as June 23rd this year – and possibly afterwards. So he deliberately lied to multitudes.]

I don’t know enough of the details to blame anyone, but I know Todd quite well, and being married to him has got to be like being hand-cuffed to a hurricane. Todd is so intense he makes Mike Bickle and Bob Weiner seem laid back.

{ok, so it is because Todd Bentley is so spiritual he is getting divorced?}

I think he is very much like the Apostle Peter. What makes him capable of such extraordinary faith also makes him prone to extraordinary blunders.

{The two men are not at all comparable. Peter did not brazenly lie to multitudes and intentionally commit fraud. He served the real Jesus, did not preach another Jesus and another gospel, and was not money grasping. Nor did he sell the Holy Spirit for money, nor did he punch, kick and otherwise abuse the flock. Nor did he commit adultery and have multiple sexual indiscretions. Nor did he openly mock and blaspheme. Sure, Peter misunderstood sometimes but that is not all the same thing! If Peter ever sinned he was fully accountable and fully repentent! Huge whopping difference!]

Todd is an extreme manifestation of an emerging extreme generation.

{I do not want anything to do with that kind of generation – corrupt, greedy, and defiled and fraudulent!]

His wife may deserve to sit at the right hand of the Lord in the kingdom, and anyone who has worked with him should be up there close somewhere too.

{‘Deserve’? Because she is married to Todd Bentley? And anyone who has worked with Todd should be up there somewhere too by God’s Right Hand because of Todd’s greatness? This sounds more like Mormonism or some other cult that Christianity! Apart from the lack of discernment and blasphemy here - even if Todd really was a genuinely “great” man of God, nobody is saved by Todd, or gets some special status or seat in heaven by working with Todd, however hypothetically good and holy – and no man is good, let alone Todd Bentley!   Wow, did Joyner really say this?]

Like it or not, that is often the nature of those who accomplish some of the greatest spiritual exploits—they also make some of the biggest bloopers.

[This is not a blooper. It is sin and multiple unconfessed and unrepented sin at that! Jesus did not die for bloopers. He died for SIN. 

Notice the negation of sin and personal guilt and accountability yet again, and the excuses for it - basically blaming God!!!!!!!! Surely, anything goes among this ungodly bunch and more than anything this shows the true nature of this hypocritial and dark movement! It would be bad enough if Todd were just Joe Public, but he is not, he is a leader and so even more onus and responsibility is on him for his actions.]

Hearing about these problems did not surprise me at all. Since I have now heard about more details, I’m still not shocked. These are problems, and they need to be fixed, which includes repenting and turning around, but if we want the victories and breakthroughs we all hope and pray for, they usually come through people with the same kind of nature.

{People with the same kind of nature? What sinful? Rick of course is extolling Todd’s divine nature]

Right after Jesus gave Peter one of the greatest commendations in Scripture for the receiving the greatest of all revelations, that Jesus is the Christ, and then gave him the keys to the kingdom, He had to give Peter one of the greatest rebukes in Scripture by calling him Satan! (see Matthew 16:18-23)

However, the Lord did not take the keys back from Peter,

{Does Rick even know what these “keys” are. Joyner is talking more like a Catholic here!]

even after he later denied the Lord, and even later in his life when the youngest apostle, Paul, had to publicly rebuke him (see Galatians 2:11-15). It seems that most of those who are given these keys to unlock the spiritual doors to the kingdom will also be prone to make major blunders.

{Most people? This is where in scripture? I only find the OPPOSITE – eg I John. And again Peter is not a relevant comparison at all to Todd.

Furthermore “most who are given the keys to unlock…” hints at spiritual elitism typical of Rick Joyner’s bunch, as well as blatant scriptural distortion re: the passage quoted – eg Joyner says not ALL Christians are privy to these special “keys” whatever the keys are for this apostolic-prophetic bunch, only the elite anointed among the apostles and prophets are privy to these gnostic keys. Joyner misses it completely!]

This type of person is simply not going to do anything small—they will have great victories, and when they have defeats, they will be great too.

{This type of person? What, a pathological liar?

Lool Rick, apart from the numerous sins already out in the open (and there is much worse still to be revealed), we do not even have any evidence that Todd ever did any real kingdom work to be able to compare Todd with any real man of God. Eg Todd did not ever prophesy correctly, ever, he did not preach an untainted gospel, his teaching was skewed and blasphemous and off, he did not heal the sick or do any miracles – the only evidence we have is of lies, fraud, false prophecy and lying signs and wonders. How then can we compare a charlatan with a true miracle worker? We cannot.]

When I was in Lakeland a few months ago, I was told that Todd had been making a real effort to patch things up and heal their relationship, but in June she had left and refused any contact. Todd has now lost hope that it will be worked out, especially now that she has made it clear that she will not even see him. Todd is obviously frustrated and just wants to resolve this situation that has been so hard for so long.

{Poor old Todd. Apparently it is all nasty naughty Shonnah’s fault and not Todd’s fault at all – and he is so frustrated as he has made every effort and it has been so hard for him! She is not nearly as anointed as Todd so should be blamed. Even though it was Todd who could not keep his zipper up. 

Notice this account is different from other versions we have heard. We also know Shonnah appeared on stage at June 23rd with Todd – her look at Todd spoke volumes that night – so they had contact at the end of June.

Also, if Shonnah is the one to blame and the one who has been so bad here, why is it TODD that has issued the paperwork? Surely if he wanted to make things work, that is the last thing he would have done!

Also if Todd is such a great man of faith, why had he lost hope and faith of his marriage being restored?]

In marriage, I have learned there are those who admit they have been through times when they wondered if their marriage would make it, and then there are liars. Relationships are hard, and the closer they are, the harder they can be. I tell everyone that I give premarital counseling to that the Lord has ordained their marriage in order to kill both of them! That is true. It is also worth it! The greatest gift He gave to man was marriage and family. However, to have a marriage that is good, both will have to die to themselves. If either one does not make the commitment to lay down their life for their mate and their family, then what was meant to be heaven can be hell.

{So I guess this is all pointing to blame Shonnah again.  But you know, even if it were Shonnah’s fault – and the new statements come out in the past few days since this indicate this is not the case – Shonnah Bentley still ‘ministered’ on the apostolic-prophetic circuit, so this bunch are still not off the hook].

Family is the foundation of society, and the weaker the family is, the weaker that society will be. The weaker the families are in the church, the weaker the church will be. That is why the family life must be strong of those whom the church accepts as leaders, and there are clear biblical standards for them.

{Wow is Rick actually getting to the Bible? And actually mentioning something true in its correct context – wow – Red flag day!]

If we start compromising the clear biblical standards for morality, integrity, and relationships, we will fall, and we will fail at all that the Lord has called us to.

{Indeed, wow, wonderful, still in context! The trouble is, is that these clear Biblical standards mentions are not being followed. Not before Todd fell, and not after. The laudible nine months restoration time proffered by C Peter Wagner is an insult to the church.

Rick Joyner, by his own testimony, acknowledges he knew about Todd’s separation yet let him minister on 08/08/08. He only seems to be bothered to express “concern” or do anything about it now the information is out in the open. That is double speak and hypocrisy and I do not know what. And that is just about the marriage issues.

There are all the numerous other issues on top of this re lying and fraud etc.

Quote: ”If we start compromising the clear biblical standards for morality, integrity, and relationships” – START? START? For years these standards have been compromised! This is total hypocrisy, and even more hypocritical in the light of Robert Ricciardellis’ testimony that prominent leaders knew and were not interested in dealing with it.]

Compromising clear biblical standards can never be on the table—for anyone, regardless of how much power they walk in, how great they can preach, or how they can mobilize people. 

{What kind of power though – if any? And what kind of greatness as what was the message – lies and lies? And what kind of gospel was preached – lies and lies. And mobilized to what? Falseness!]

We are also living in a society where about half of the people have now been divorced.

{So that’s Ok then.]

Many more are refusing to get married because of the problems they have witnessed and the pain they suffered when their parents went through a divorce. The children are always the biggest victims of a divorce, and the meltdown in family is one of the great tragedies and great emergencies of our times. It is therefore understandable that some want to make a big deal out of Todd’s marital problems—it is a big deal.

So, should someone who is divorced be disqualified from ministry or from leadership in the church? How can we disqualify someone from ministry or leadership for something that would disqualify God? In Jeremiah 3, we are told that God gave Israel a certificate of divorce. God is divorced.

{No way. Did he just say this? Please – Joyner getting worse and worse. To compare Jeremiah 3 out of context completely with human divorce is disgraceful. I am speechless!]

Nearly half the people in our churches have been divorced.

{I would question this figure. Because 50% of society is allegedly divorced, does not mean 50% within the church are divorced. 

But whether 10% or 50%, there are nonetheless divorcees in the church. The New Testament deals with divorce and gives clear guideline as to when someone can legitimately get a divorce. Even when these guidelines have not been followed, either pre or post conversion, the Bible clearly shows the way of repentence and restoration to all, and crucially and specifically for Christian leaders.

Is someone who is divorced by default disqualified from ministry or leadership? No, not at all. Much depends on the circumstances of the divorce, the time gone by since the break-up, and the attitude and lifestyle NOW, whether the person is in good standing in all areas of their life and has been tried and tested. 

But just because a divorcee CAN be in leadership does not mean they SHOULD be in leadership – as it also depends on their general character, maturity, their gifting and calling. And even if they were genuinely gifted and genuinely called and of good character and one sexual affair was their ONLY moral failure, then they STILL have to go through a lengthy restoration process – it does not mean that they can say sorry and then get right back into the pulpit immediatelty.

And in Todd’s case, it is not just the fact his marriage has failed, it is the sexual sin on top of this, that has not just been done once – and he is not of good character, not mature, not wise, and not genuinely gifted etc. Therefore he must not be given a pulpit – whether in nine months as proposed by Wagner, or nine years.]

A good many Christians now stay away from the church because they have suffered a divorce, and they feel condemned by the church for it. This is an issue that we need to address for the church, not just Todd.

When God got a divorce, was it His fault? Of course not! He was the most perfect Husband there could ever be, but He had a wayward wife that He finally gave up on. That is what happened, and if you do not believe me, go read it yourself.

{Is Joyner trying to equate Todd with being a perfect husband with a wayward wife, Shonnah!?}

There is a limit to what even God will put up with and rightly so. There are things that justify divorce. Even so, I think it is because the Lord Himself went through a divorce that He hates divorce so much.

{!!!!]

Divorce is always a tragedy and usually even more for the children than for the parents.

I am not at all saying this to justify Todd or condemn him.

{Sure you are trying to justify or negate what Todd has done. You did at the beginning too. And then blaming Shonnah character on top for good measure. Nice!}

At present, I still do not know enough about his situation to condemn or justify anyone. Unrighteous judges, who are often those who rush to judgment, are also condemned in Scripture. I am writing this to try to keep some from stumbling by jumping to conclusions. We have a brother, a sister, their children, and a ministry that is really hurting right now. I greatly appreciate Todd’s willingness to keep ministering

{Willingness to keep ministering? DESPITE clear Biblical guidelines. Why on earth would you appreciate this unless you wished to shove things under the carpet?]

and praying for the healing of those who are afflicted and hurting, but he, his family, and his ministry need much healing right now. One thing that would help them and the body of Christ, possibly more than anything else, is to see some real Christian charity expressed in this situation and some righteous judges stand up, which is the duty of true elders in the church.

{Righteous Judges? True Elders? I suppose according to Joyner this would be the spiritual fathers – the same spiritual fathers who knew about this and shoved it under the carpet?]

It would be one of the great tragedies to the body of Christ in our times to lose a ministry like Todd has.

{The tragedy is that Todd was ever allowed to minister in the first place. And that men like Joyner are tolerated within the body of Christ when they are false wolves from another pen that have NO PART IN THE BODY OF CHRIST as they are false brethren, leading to another Jesus, another gospel and another church – by another spirit. The Lord rebuke them!]

He is called to start much more than the Lakeland Outpouring, and just as the Lord went around destroying the works of the enemy by healing the sick, casting out demons, and demonstrating the power of the kingdom, Todd is doing that.

{Where? When? I did not actually see any kingdom manifested. Honestly. All I saw was lies and hype and false lying signs and wonders- and let us not forget that still no medically verified claims have been presented to the media.]

He is taking ground in real power ministry on a level that has not been seen in decades.

{For real?! Does Joyner really think this?!]

To lose Todd, and to lose Fresh Fire Ministries, would be a major defeat for the body of Christ. We would survive, and we would still ultimately prevail, but the cost of this defeat would be great.

{Sing praises to Todd, sing praises…]

So what do we do? First, in all things we must keep in mind that “love never fails” (see I Corinthians 13:8). How would the Lord respond to this? How can we see this through His eyes? We already know because He showed us. In II Corinthians 5:14 Paul wrote, “For the love of Christ controls us.” How would we behave if Christ’s love was controlling us? When mankind fell, He did not criticize, gossip about us, or condemn us—He laid down His life for us. 

{Thought Rick would come out with at some point that everyone that speaks the truth about Todd are “critisizing, gossiping or condemning” and being “unloving”.  Of course Rick ignores all the scriptures about correct church discipline and shunning an unrepentent sinner and false prophet…]

The world will never believe our gospel of redemption and restoration until we learn to redeem and restore. Let’s take a worst case scenario here and say that Todd was guilty of terrible things

{He is guilty, and Joyner knows it and knew it before Todd allegedly told him….]

and is the one at fault in the separation —

{and all the rest of it. LIES. FRAUD. Charltanism. Greed. Blasphemy. Etc.]

what should our response be? We are told in Galatians 6:1:   Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

{Indeed, it says RESTORE. But restoration is dependent on repentence and the other party’s penitant and humble part in the process. If they do not confess their guilt and sin and say sorry – and mean it - then we should not restore them.

Furthermore Todd and Joyner are not true brethren anyway – they are wolves with another antichrist gospel – so the true church should still shun all of their kind – and have nothing to do with them.]

So, if anyone has been “caught in any trespass,” those who are “spiritual” must restore them.

[The lying hypocritical backtracking "spiritual fathers"! Of course!]

Those who are truly spiritual approach every situation with that goal—redemption and restoration. This is more than just forgiving them—it is getting them back to the place they were. The next verse says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

{Back to the place they were? Why on earth would we want that? Todd was dark, dishonest and deceptive in April, and dark, dishonest, and deceptive in December when I first saw him on Godless TV, and even long before that…  what is needed is complete and utter change and turnaround – and although this COULD happen I do not believe it will as I honestly think that Todd is a son of perdition.]

Already there is some gloating over this situation. Some are trying to use it to promote themselves.

{Who would that be either gloating or promoting themselves? This is just a slanderous attack on anyone who dares criticise and speak out! I have already had numerous far from “loving” spamming posts over the past couple of days from the same source albeit in multiple names, female, male and reverends, accusing and slandering me and others of this “crime” when it is obviously untrue. It is obviously the latest Bentlyite tactic and apart from being hypocritical because of the venom, it yet again demonstrates the lack of honesty and integrity in this bunch. 

Furthermore note the blatant hypocrisy, based on the NAR “spiritual fathers” trying to promote themselves through Todd’s fall!]

Every situation like this is a test for everyone.

{A test! No, it is SIN on Todd and the NAR’s part!]

Some will pass and some will fail, and the nature of everyone will be exposed.

[So when it is exposed, what do you do? Speak up and criticise?

And your natures have been exposed.]

Those who truly walk in the Spirit of Christ will be obvious. The Holy Spirit is the Helper, and those who truly walk by the Spirit will be trying to help, because they love Todd, his wife, the church, and most of all, the Lord who already laid down His life for them.

{Ok, so here we go – those who truly walk in the Spirit of Christ – even if they be hypocrits, even if the be liars, even if they be greedy merchandisers of another gospel, even if they falsely prophesy, even if they are wolves – will be on Todd’s side and they will lay their lives down for Todd – a greedy adulterising as yet unrepentent fraud and false brethren. Uh Huh. And this is where in the Bible?

And those that do not “help” Todd because he is unrepentent of his numerous sins, and is a false brethren, so obey biblical commands by shunning such evil men – they are according to Joyner not those who truly walk in the Spirit of Christ. Well, at least Joyner testifies which christ he worships. Not the Biblical one.

Note that yet again he is promoting C Peter Wagner’s NAR “spiritual fathers” as they are now “helping” – (but of course this is hypocrititcal as they shut their eyes to all the issues before, and indeed still do, and whatever is done is for their own elevation anyway, and not for truth and righteousness sake, let alone for God.)]

This is a real opportunity for the church to show some maturity and Christian love. This does not mean compromise,

{Sure it does if following Joyner’s path – for true maturity and Christian love involves Christian discipline as per the Bible’s direct instruction.

Note also the hypocrisy in him mentioning “loving Shonnah”, and not “judging”, but how he spoke about her earlier in the email and his very heavy hinting and blameshifting. This is not all righteous – even if he genuinely did not then know who was at fault.]

but it does mean addressing this situation in an almost opposite way that we have tended to do in the past.

{‘We’ being the apostolic-prophetic movement, and ‘tended to do in the past’ = coverups. This time is different as they allow Bentley to be selectively exposed in order to promote themselves, and to throw up a diversionary smokescreen in order to save Lakeland as people will remember this ‘outpouring’ failing because of Todd’s sexual sin, not for his lies or the fact there was no actual real power evident!]

We will all reap what we sow, and if we want to reap grace, we must learn to sow grace every chance we get. If we want to receive mercy, we need to learn to sow mercy every chance we get. Here’s a good chance!

{And the false prophets reap?]

So what does this mean for the Lakeland Outpouring? I will address that in a bit more depth in the next Bulletin, but for now, it can continue and it can get even stronger. A well has been opened there that does not have to be shut again. However, it does depend on a lot of decisions made by the church there. We should be praying for them and asking how we can help them because they were used to release something very important to the worldwide body of Christ.

{That being lies and the apostolic agenda!]

Todd had already decided to turn the Lakeland meetings over to Stephen Strader and to only take a couple of other meetings over the next few months to rest and sort out his life.”

[Only take a couple of meetings? Either you are in restoration or NOT! Stepping down is stepping down completely. It is NOT for REST reasons either! This is total hypocrisy and double speak on the part of Rick Joyner bearing in mind all he has said earlier about morals and marriage. Exactly what I expected from him, but worse. The deciever and hypocrit!]