PENTECOSTAL PASTOR OF FLORIDA OUTPOURING ADMITS MEETINGS NOT ORDERLY (Friday Church News Notes, May 30, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Meetings that began on April 2 at the Ignite Church in Lakeland, Florida, are continuing daily (in larger venues), with as many as 10,000 in attendance. The frenzy, which has been called “The Florida Healing Outpouring,” is led by evangelist Todd Bentley. Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignite Church, recently admitted to the local newspaper that the services are not orderly, describing them as “chaotic” and “disorganized” (“A Working Man’s Revival,” The Ledger, May 18, 2008). This is an admission that the “revival” is not scriptural. When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to correct their misuse of spiritual gifts, he said: “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). He left no doubt about the way that God works. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:33). The “Florida Outpouring” is filled with confusion, disorder, and a distinct lack of peace. People laugh hysterically and shake like they are possessed and babble incoherently. The evangelist hits people on the head and yells “Bam!” and they fall down. He gets “drunk in the spirit” and falls down while his associate is so “intoxicated” that he utters a profanity on stage (http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=5075). The Pentecostal-Charismatic movement has been lurching from one strange unscriptural thing to another for more than 100 years. Beware! (The 317-page book The Pentecostal-Charismatic Movements: The History and Error is available from Way of Life Literature.)

PENTECOSTAL EVANGELIST SAYS “DON’T TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT” (Friday Church News Notes, May 30, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Pentecostal evangelist Todd Bentley, who is heading up the current “outpouring” in Lakeland, Florida, says of the “spiritual drunkenness” and other phenomena, “Don’t try to figure it out with your head” (“Florida Outpouring of Drunkenness,” http://christianresearchnetwork.com/?p=5075). This has been one of the theme songs of the Pentecostal movement from its inception, but the Bible warns of deceiving spirits and instructs God’s people to carefully prove all things. The Bereans were called “noble” because they tested everything by Scripture (Acts 17:11). This practice is exalted by the Spirit of God as noble Christianity, and any type of Christianity that draws back from testing everything carefully by Scripture is ignoble and wrong. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

PENTECOSTAL EVANGELIST SEES FLOATING ANGEL NAMED EMMA (Friday Church News Notes, May 30, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Pentecostal evangelist Todd Bentley, who is heading up the current “outpouring” in Lakeland, Florida, claims to have seen many angels. Not surprisingly, some of them were “financial angels” who spread prosperity to Word-Faith Pentecostals. One of these is named Emma. “I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma. As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the Lord said, ‘Here's Emma.’ I’m not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn Kuhlman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful and young--about 22 years old--but she was old at the same time. She seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life. She glided into the room, emitting brilliant light and colors. Emma carried these bags and began pulling gold out of them. Then, as she walked up and down the aisles of the church, she began putting gold dust on people. ‘God, what is happening?’ I asked. The Lord answered: ‘She is releasing the gold, which is both the revelation and the financial breakthrough that I am bringing into this church.’ ... Within three weeks of that visitation, the church had given me the biggest offering I had ever received to that point in my ministry. Thousands of dollars!” (Bentley, “Angelic Hosts,” http://www.etpv.org/2003/angho.html). Since the Bible exhorts us to “prove all things,” we must compare this angelic visitation with Scripture. There we see no female angels, no angels that sprinkle gold dust, and none that float two inches off the floor.

PENTECOSTAL EVANGELIST SAYS PAUL DOESN’T HAVE A MANSION IN HEAVEN (Friday Church News Notes, May 30, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Pentecostal evangelist Todd Bentley, who is heading up the current “outpouring” in Lakeland, Florida, claims that he has seen Jesus face to face and visited heaven. There he supposedly received revelations directly from the apostle Paul. “After that, Paul took me to his house. I was still in paradise [the third heaven]. His house wasn’t a mansion. It was actually a small cabin. There was an open field and a forest there” (Bentley, “A Face to Face Encounter,” http://lakelandrevival.blogspot.com/2008/05/cleaning-out-barn.html). Bentley says that the river of life is not water but is oil and honey and that there are seven realms or atmospheres in heaven, one of which is reserved for angels. Bentley joins a long line of Pentecostals who have allegedly visited God’s paradise. Percy Collett saw a “Holy Ghost elevator” and “barkless” dogs. Roberts Liardon saw a medicine cabinet with bottles labeled “overdose of the Holy Ghost.” Jesse Duplantis saw weak Christians that must smell the leaves of the tree of life to gain strength. I reject all of these claims, for the simple reason that in every case the individual adds to the things recorded in the Bible in direct conflict with God’s command: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK” (Rev. 22:18). Many of the things recorded in the book of Revelation pertain to heaven. Consider Revelation 4-5; 7:9-17; 8:1-6; 10:1; 11:15-19; 12:1-3; 12:7-12; 14:1-17; 15:1-8; 16:1, 5-7; 17:1-2; 19:1-16; 20:1; 21:1-27; 22:1-5. Is it not adding to “these things” to say there are Holy Ghost elevators and barkless dogs and medicine cabinets? The Bible is more certain than the most glorious mystical experience. It is possible to be deceived into thinking one has been to heaven or seen Jesus when this has not actually happened, but the Bible is sure. Peter reminded his readers that he had witnessed Christ’s majesty and heard the very voice of Almighty God (2 Peter 1:16-18). But rather than urging his readers to seek such experiences Peter magnified the Bible above all such things, calling it “a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19-21). We need to lay aside the carnal lust for mystical experiences and miraculous signs and walk by faith and not by sight, for this is biblical Christianity. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Rom. 8:24-25).

DAUGHTER OF FAMOUS FEMINIST REJECTS ITS ME FIRST PHILOSOPHY (Friday Church News Notes, May 30, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from “How My Mother’s Fanatical Views Tore Us Apart,” Daily Mail, London, May 23, 2008: “Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, touched the lives of a generation of women. A champion of women’s rights, she has always argued that motherhood is a form of servitude. But one woman didn’t buy in to Alice's beliefs--her daughter, Rebecca, 38. Here the writer describes what it was like to grow up as the daughter of a cultural icon, and why she feels so blessed to be the sort of woman 64-year-old Alice despises--a mother. ... ‘I very nearly missed out on becoming a mother--thanks to being brought up by a rabid feminist who thought motherhood was about the worst thing that could happen to a woman. ... In fact, having a child has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Far from enslaving me, three-and-a-half-year-old Tenzin has opened my world. My only regret is that I discovered the joys of motherhood so late. ... As the child of divorced parents, I know only too well the painful consequences of being brought up in those circumstances. Feminism has much to answer for denigrating men and encouraging women to seek independence whatever the cost to their families. ... Yes, feminism has undoubtedly given women opportunities. It’s helped open the doors for us at schools, universities and in the workplace. But what about the problems it’s caused for my contemporaries? What about the children? The ease with which people can get divorced these days doesn’t take into account the toll on children. That’s all part of the unfinished business of feminism. ... Feminism has betrayed an entire generation of women into childlessness. It is devastating. But far from taking responsibility for any of this, the leaders of the women’s movement close ranks against anyone who dares to question them--as I have learned to my cost. I don’t want to hurt my mother, but I cannot stay silent. I believe feminism is an experiment, and all experiments need to be assessed on their results. Then, when you see huge mistakes have been paid, you need to make alterations.’”

THE PRACTICE OF LOVE IN CHILD TRAINING (Friday Church News Notes, May 30, 2008, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is excerpted from Training Your Children to Turn out Right, an excellent book by David Sorenson (Northstar Ministries, 1820 W. Morgan St., Duluth, MN 55811, 218-726-0209, http://www.northstarministries.com, dhs.northstar@charter.net) -- “Another concept endemic to godliness is the matter of love. ... The New Testament fairly overflows with references to God’s people being people of love. Curiously, the Bible has little to say about parents loving their children. I believe the reason for this is that God has created within us a natural instinct to love our children. ... Nevertheless, it is important that our homes be an aquarium of love. In all your teaching, discipling, and admonishing of your children, always season it liberally with love. See that your children have no doubt whatsoever that you love them. Tell them you love them. Show physical affection in an appropriate fashion such as hugs and discreet kisses. Always be there when they need you. Never be too busy for their school functions or programs. Love them even more than you love yourself. Not only is it right to love your children, it will enable you to most effectively teach and train them. When they unquestionably know you love them, they know that you have their best interests at heart” (Training Your Children to Turn Out Right, 1995, p. 136).