Those were my three points. Do not attack me or my faith because I disagree with you, or because I posed arguments against a man whom you have a deep attachment. I should not have been sarcastic in my opening statement, and for that I apologize.

As for my name (and e-mail address), my name IS David and this is my spam e-mail account. I created it a while back (long before my conversion) and I use it on Web sites where I don't feel like giving my real e-mail address. Thanks to your comments, I'll be deleting it after this posting (because you're right!). But I would ask that instead of going after me personally, that you would respond to the comments that I brought up. I think they're valid and I'd like to know if (and why) you don't.

David

2. Your argument that any Bentley nay-sayers should "sit down and talk" with him before they say anything about him is invalid. Actions speak louder than words, and to expect that every person who tells their flock to watch out for Todd Bentley would need to sit down and talk with him is absurd. We can tell where his heart is by what he does. We don't need to have a one on one.

3. Your argument that everybody who talks badly about Bentley needs a lesson in grace and forgiveness is invalid because that conversation is only appropriate with people who have been fully restored. Please see my first comment for more clarification.

I didn't say anything radical, (although my first comment did open up with a bit of sarcasm) nor did I say anything that indicates I worship Satan. I made three points, which I'll reiterate below.

1. You speak much of healing, prophesying, having visions, etc. I believe God can work miracles, and I believe your story about how he healed you! He's an amazing God and can work in whatever way he wishes; if he wishes to make Kathi Sharpe pain-free and able to use her hands again, then he will. Miracles are happening today, on God's time when He deems fit. He can heal and reveal truth and insight to anyone, at anytime, because He is an amazing God. The first point that I made (although I made it rather implicitly) was that your extreme focus on spiritual gifts of healing, etc. could be blinding you from discerning properly.

(This reply is probably going to be separated into three posts, so please post them together)

Kathi, I would try to continue this discussion with you but you did not answer any of my refutations to your logic (except for the one about "the entire church visible" which I more or less stick by, although I can see how you take that as opinion instead of fact). Anyway, I made some pretty clear points that merit a response, and I haven't gotten that. Instead, you called me a Satan worshipper. I'm pretty taken aback at being called a "satan lover". I am not one, nor do I deserve to be characterized as one.

Furthermore, it reveals your unwillingness to look at things objectively. Me (and others like me) are calling Bentley's actions into question (for good reason!), but you wish to protect your leader so much, that any critic is automatically regarded as not only an enemy, but the worst kind of person imagineable: one who denies Christ as Savior and reveres the prince of the power of the air. That boggles my mind, and I think it reveals more about you than you realize.

As far as I know, Bentley has not turned from his ways. We don't need to sit down and have a chat with him to know that. Let me just add that I am an outsider (from Virginia) who has only read about Bentley and Lakeland Revival, and because I am removed from this situation I could have some of my facts wrong. But as far as I know, the adultery, the divorce (and the new marriage) are still in effect.

All of that being said, my speculation is that you probably cannot see it this way because you have an attachment to Bentley. I would encourage you to prayerfully seek God, ask Him to show you whether you should be worshipping with such a pastor, and wait for Him to answer. He will always lead you to Truth because He loves you more than anything.

David

Sounds like ya'll need to worry less about your "prophesying" and your "healing" and your "anointing" and focus on your ability to discern. One shouldn't have to "sit down and talk" with Todd Bentley to see that his actions fall outside the what is expected of a Christ follower (nevermind a shepherd who is leading a flock).

Furthermore, a better understanding of "the grace and mercy of God" would only be necessary if the issue was that a particular church member was holding resentment towards a brother. If Todd Bentley had turned from his ways, shown a different kind of fruit (because you can only tell what kind of tree it is by the kind of fruit that it bears) and genuinely repented from his ways, then I would tell his nay-sayers that they needed a lesson in God's grace, mercy and forgiveness. But, more or less, the entire church visible sees Bentley as a heretic and a liar. So it is not about restoration, or grace, or mercy.