While I haven't particularly followed the so-called "Lakeland Outpouring" last year, recent developments have got me thinking about a number of related issues.
By way of background, in the spring of 2008, Ignited Church in Lakeland, Florida held some revival meetings led by Canadian Todd Bentley. Supernatural healings started taking place, and people started coming from far and wide to experience it. Some people went back home and experienced healings in their home churches. However, Todd Bentley had a history of questionable theology and uncomfortable ministry practices, and when the Lakeland events were broadcast on GodTV, those issues suddenly became visible to many. Some people began raising their concerns.
I found it fascinating how Christian bloggers quickly became polarized around Lakeland, either strongly supporting it as an evident move of God, or strongly opposed to the theological error and awkward practices being played out on stage.
In the summer, it was announced that Todd and his wife were separating and that Todd was no longer leading the Lakeland meetings. The Outpouring quickly fizzled, and many bloggers were more than willing to add their "I told you so" to the chorus of commentators.
In March 2009, more details emerged. Todd had divorced his wife and married the woman with whom he had been having an "inappropriate relationship" when his separation was announced last summer. Further, he is beginning a "restoration process" led by Rick Joyner. He is setting up a new charity in the U.S. (he was asked to step down from the Canadian charity he started 10 years ago) and Rick Joyner has begun putting out weekly update videos on Todd's progress.
Truth is stranger than fiction, and it would've been hard to script something fictional with as many plot twists, scandals, and surprises. While I don't feel like adding my voice to the throngs who are taking sides in this battle, I do want to use it as an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of both the players and some commentators in this sad real-life story. My next few blogs will try to tackle a few of these lessons.
