Posted at Bene Diction Blogs On June 10, 2014]
One of the tenets of charismatic theological thinking is that the Holy Spirit may work today as He did in the days of the Apostles.
Unless you are at a Todd Bentley meeting, then all bets are off. In Todd Bentley's confrontation with Justin Peters, Bentley says something odd at):25 of this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=854RV7r1Xxo
that I suspect people will miss.
To get rid of Peters, he says "I'm not giving you my anointing because I have nothing to give."
Uh, Todd, aren't Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit and always have something to give, even if it is the size of a "mustard seed".
People may fairly disagree about whether the Holy Spirit works today as He did in apostolic Times, but for Bentley to say that nothing can be done is theologically inaccurate and implies that the Holy Spirit is not present at all times and may act. (However you believe that he does.)
If anyone believes that the Holy Spirit is omnipresent it should be a charismatic like Todd Bentley.
He meant "I'm NOT praying for you!" and should have said as much.
Oh, you may say, Todd was having a bad day. But his ministry has the same problem, as shown by this e-mail featuring Todd' new wife Jessa
http://www.freshfireusa.com/email-template/email-banner/6-09-2014-email-blast.html
The June 9 "e-blast"is sent out by Fresh Fire, so assume it is how Todd Bentley wants to be represented:
TESTIMONY! Sue: On May 31st Hi could u please pray for my sister she has been told she has a fast moving cancer. Shes in intensive care, I'm scared. They dont know the source of the cancer. Its bad, I'm scared and I know God can heal but why doesn't he heal all? Jessa: Answers back during the service before ministry time I'll have Todd pray tonight "live" on the feed when the anointing is on him to pray!!! Sue : Oh thank u! That makes me cry, it means so much!
"I'll have him pray", full stop would be okay. But why does she have to wait for "the anointing" to be on Todd Bentley for something to happen. Five seconds before the anointing, the poor lady is out of luck?
Clearly, Todd Bentley wants an out when his prayers don't work. "I had chili cheese fries before the service, so I didn't have the anointing, just gas, when I prayed for you," he might say.
Slick.
Do you recall when Peter and John were put on the spot in a similar way in the Scriptures?
"Silver and gold have I none..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFZJFXvuv0A
Justin Peters can't expect to leave a Todd Bentley meeting "walking and leaping and praising God" if Bentley is too annoyed to even try, can he?