We have been following the Todd Bentely fiasco for a while now, and I would contend with Rick Joyner in saying that Todd’s ‘sorrow’ is approaching a year now. Unless of course, he knows something that we do not. Further, it seems to me Todd’s 6 months timeline is a bit off.
He is right about a few things, in that we cannot allow past mistakes to keep us from moving forward; however, let me ask you this: can you show me in the bible where ‘mistake’ is used? What Todd has done, is to blaspheme the name of God, and to destroy something that was supposed to have been blessed by God, namely his marriage. His adultery was not a mistake – you do not simply fall into adultery. It is a sin.
Do we allow sins to hold us back from serving God? (I would contend that Todd was never serving God in the first place.) No, however, there are times where in we disqualify ourselves from certain things. Divorce disqualifies us from remarriage. An illegal remarriage on this side of the cross gives us two wives, dismissing us from the ministry where only one wife is allowed.
Do I think that Todd is on this side of the Cross? Absolutly not.
At about the eighth minute, Todd says that he does not have a doctrine on divorce and remarriage. The Church does, and has had since Christ first delivered it and Paul solidified it (As a matter of fact, read what Tertullian has to say about the matter). Then Rick announces that he is now formulating a doctrine.
There has never been a doctrine allowed to be formulated that was not held by the Apostles. There is no formulation needed – only a simple reading of the Scriptures as given to us by the Apostles.
By the way, Peter had Simon Magus, and I have Todd.
Joel L. Watts holds a Masters of Arts from United Theological Seminary with a focus in literary and rhetorical criticism of the New Testament. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific discoveries of the past century. He is the author of Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark: Introduction and Commentary (Wipf and Stock, 2013) and a co-editor and contributor to From Fear to Faith: Stories of Hitting Spiritual Walls (Energion, 2013).
Website: → Unsettled Christianity
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Todd still needs to repent and that includes repenting of his adulterous remarriage.
God does not recognize Jessa as his lawful wife. Just like John the Baptist did not recognize Herodias as Herod’s lawful wife after a divorce and remarriage.
http://tinyurl.com/dg3vbk
Todd said:
“I don’t have a doctrine on divorce and remarriage.”
Todd, search your Bible, in it you will find God’s doctrine on divorce and remarriage and that is the doctrine you are to follow.
“A husband must not divorce his wife.”
1 Corinthians 7:11
“The Lord was witness to the covenant made at your marriage.”
Malachi 2:14
“A wife is married to her husband as long as he lives.”
1 Corinthians 7:39
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Luke 16:18
“Thou shall not commit adultery.”
Exodus 20:14
“The man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul.”
Proverbs 6:32
“Adulterers…will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9
Rick Joyner said:
“I am formulating a doctrine on divorce and remarriage.”
Rick, are you searching your Bible on this subject?
God has already formulated a doctrine on divorce and remarriage.
God’s doctrine on divorce and remarriage is eternal and it will not change for Todd, Rick or any of us!
http://www.cadz.net/remarriage.html
Todd still needs to repent and that includes repenting of his adulterous remarriage.
God does not recognize Jessa as his lawful wife. Just like John the Baptist did not recognize Herodias as Herod’s lawful wife after a divorce and remarriage.
http://tinyurl.com/dg3vbk
Todd said:
“I don’t have a doctrine on divorce and remarriage.”
Todd, search your Bible, in it you will find God’s doctrine on divorce and remarriage and that is the doctrine you are to follow.
“A husband must not divorce his wife.”
1 Corinthians 7:11
“The Lord was witness to the covenant made at your marriage.”
Malachi 2:14
“A wife is married to her husband as long as he lives.”
1 Corinthians 7:39
“Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Luke 16:18
“Thou shall not commit adultery.”
Exodus 20:14
“The man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul.”
Proverbs 6:32
“Adulterers…will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9
Rick Joyner said:
“I am formulating a doctrine on divorce and remarriage.”
Rick, are you searching your Bible on this subject?
God has already formulated a doctrine on divorce and remarriage.
God’s doctrine on divorce and remarriage is eternal and it will not change for Todd, Rick or any of us!
http://www.cadz.net/remarriage.html
Amen, indeed
Watch the scene below as John the Baptist confronts Herod and Herodias after a divorce and remarriage;
http://tinyurl.com/dg3vbk
John the Baptist called their remarriage unlawful. Herodias was full of rage because of his rebuke and plotted his death.
It was unlawful for Herod to have Herodias while her husband Phillip was still alive, just like it is unlawful for Todd to have Jessa while his wife is still alive. Herodias was divorced by Roman law then remarried to Herod, but God did not recognize this marriage as lawful.
It is God, not man, who joins a husband and wife together.
We call it Holy Matrimony. Why? What makes it Holy? The fact that it is a divine institution, ordained of God and it is God who joins the man and woman as ONE FLESH.
The minister doesn’t tie the knot. The minister or officer authorized by man merely conducts the ceremony. It is Almighty God who ties the knot. It is God who binds them as one flesh for life.
Understand the basic foundation of the marriage institution and everything else becomes clear. Marriage is not a human institution; it is not a political, a civil, a legal or even a church institution… it originated at creation with Adam and Eve. It was instituted by God and not man, its authority is solely that of God, NOT MAN.
Therefore, man made laws, contrary to those of God, have no authority over marriage.
God has never given any authority whatsoever for any body of men, civil, ecclesiastical or otherwise, to legislate on marriage contrary to His marriage laws!
Every state legislature which passes laws authorizing divorce and remarriage is defying Almighty God, and is wholly without authority!
Any human judge who grants a divorce based upon such unauthorized man made laws, stands himself in contempt of a higher court, God’s court!
Anyone who obtains a divorce from a husband or wife from any such unauthorized human court receives a divorce which is invalid, not legal or binding according to the laws of God.
When any person holding such a divorce decree marries and lives with another, the whole procedure is without authority from God and such persons are not in fact married in God’s sight to this second husband or wife but instead living in adultery.
“For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.” Romans 7:2-3
http://tinyurl.com/ddx66o
http://availablelightonline.com/blog/2009/03/15/adultery-divorce-remarriage/#more-2425
Watch the scene below as John the Baptist confronts Herod and Herodias after a divorce and remarriage;
http://tinyurl.com/dg3vbk
John the Baptist called their remarriage unlawful. Herodias was full of rage because of his rebuke and plotted his death.
It was unlawful for Herod to have Herodias while her husband Phillip was still alive, just like it is unlawful for Todd to have Jessa while his wife is still alive. Herodias was divorced by Roman law then remarried to Herod, but God did not recognize this marriage as lawful.
It is God, not man, who joins a husband and wife together.
We call it Holy Matrimony. Why? What makes it Holy? The fact that it is a divine institution, ordained of God and it is God who joins the man and woman as ONE FLESH.
The minister doesn’t tie the knot. The minister or officer authorized by man merely conducts the ceremony. It is Almighty God who ties the knot. It is God who binds them as one flesh for life.
Understand the basic foundation of the marriage institution and everything else becomes clear. Marriage is not a human institution; it is not a political, a civil, a legal or even a church institution… it originated at creation with Adam and Eve. It was instituted by God and not man, its authority is solely that of God, NOT MAN.
Therefore, man made laws, contrary to those of God, have no authority over marriage.
God has never given any authority whatsoever for any body of men, civil, ecclesiastical or otherwise, to legislate on marriage contrary to His marriage laws!
Every state legislature which passes laws authorizing divorce and remarriage is defying Almighty God, and is wholly without authority!
Any human judge who grants a divorce based upon such unauthorized man made laws, stands himself in contempt of a higher court, God’s court!
Anyone who obtains a divorce from a husband or wife from any such unauthorized human court receives a divorce which is invalid, not legal or binding according to the laws of God.
When any person holding such a divorce decree marries and lives with another, the whole procedure is without authority from God and such persons are not in fact married in God’s sight to this second husband or wife but instead living in adultery.
“For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.” Romans 7:2-3
http://tinyurl.com/ddx66o
http://availablelightonline.com/blog/2009/03/15/adultery-divorce-remarriage/#more-2425
here’s some truth from behind the scenes in Abbotsford. Jessa first of all was an intern in the fall 08 cycle. She never applied for it Todd invited her into the internship. Even after a board member severly opposed it. Later Todd invited her and another intern to live in his house during the internship, and after the internship as a live in nanny.
At the same time the Bellingham, Washington church was being established so fresh fire could get a legal foot hold in America. This is evident by the lack and the sheer refusal to work with the local churches. It was just for the papers not the church.
In January 2009 2 members of the board confronted Todd about Jessa, and that it was wrong and they couldn’t stand by him about it. They where “relieved” of their position for doing so. This shouldn’t be surprising as another member of FFM was faceed with the same threat, after he caught Todd with another woman in England (this is what the dark night of the soul was actually about), the FFM member was forced to either work for FFM outside of North America or be fired. Jessa is woman number 4 that Todd has cheated on Shonnah with.
Todd isn’t 100% to blame just 80% the rest of the blame falls on those board members and pastors that refused to confront Todd on his infidelities. One in particular had the mind set that if Todd does it, it’s okay even if it isn’t for others. Others refused to confront because they didn’t want to loose their jobs (like many have over the years)
Even in Lakeland which I personally think was a two edged work of God, it was a blessing to the locals who have prayed for God to move. And the other edge was a judgement on Todd, in total over the top Todd style. During the highet of revival there was excessive drinking, slasher flicks, and other things I wont get into now with Todd and his inner circle (yes men). There was infighting with the leaders on stage, and the interns where just slaves with ministry badges. Or the fact that all the money collected for the orphans and for sudan never made it to them, it was instead used to pay for the buildings/land for the revival.
Even after Lakeland fell apart, and the news finally became public, Todd never returned home to Abbotsford. He remained in America (illegally) in California, then a breif stop in Reno for their quickey divorce rules. Then it was off to Rick Joyner and his marriage with Jessa
These words are not made up, this is a summary of many conversations I have had with former FFM employees, board members and former interns. I just can’t stand by and see Todd get away with this for a fourth time. A man who has turned his back on his wife and children once again. yet will be received by the masses as THE man of God.
here’s some truth from behind the scenes in Abbotsford. Jessa first of all was an intern in the fall 08 cycle. She never applied for it Todd invited her into the internship. Even after a board member severly opposed it. Later Todd invited her and another intern to live in his house during the internship, and after the internship as a live in nanny.
At the same time the Bellingham, Washington church was being established so fresh fire could get a legal foot hold in America. This is evident by the lack and the sheer refusal to work with the local churches. It was just for the papers not the church.
In January 2009 2 members of the board confronted Todd about Jessa, and that it was wrong and they couldn’t stand by him about it. They where “relieved” of their position for doing so. This shouldn’t be surprising as another member of FFM was faceed with the same threat, after he caught Todd with another woman in England (this is what the dark night of the soul was actually about), the FFM member was forced to either work for FFM outside of North America or be fired. Jessa is woman number 4 that Todd has cheated on Shonnah with.
Todd isn’t 100% to blame just 80% the rest of the blame falls on those board members and pastors that refused to confront Todd on his infidelities. One in particular had the mind set that if Todd does it, it’s okay even if it isn’t for others. Others refused to confront because they didn’t want to loose their jobs (like many have over the years)
Even in Lakeland which I personally think was a two edged work of God, it was a blessing to the locals who have prayed for God to move. And the other edge was a judgement on Todd, in total over the top Todd style. During the highet of revival there was excessive drinking, slasher flicks, and other things I wont get into now with Todd and his inner circle (yes men). There was infighting with the leaders on stage, and the interns where just slaves with ministry badges. Or the fact that all the money collected for the orphans and for sudan never made it to them, it was instead used to pay for the buildings/land for the revival.
Even after Lakeland fell apart, and the news finally became public, Todd never returned home to Abbotsford. He remained in America (illegally) in California, then a breif stop in Reno for their quickey divorce rules. Then it was off to Rick Joyner and his marriage with Jessa
These words are not made up, this is a summary of many conversations I have had with former FFM employees, board members and former interns. I just can’t stand by and see Todd get away with this for a fourth time. A man who has turned his back on his wife and children once again. yet will be received by the masses as THE man of God.
i believe no one is perfect, he is ahuman we all fall short of god glory ,todd u already forgiven u god knows ur heart ,man condemn but god dont.no body want to divorce but things do happen.
Oh, no… divorce doesn't 'just happen.' Neither does adultery or child molestation, both of which Todd is guilty of. And who are you to speak for God? Do you know if God has forgiven Todd or that Todd has truly asked for forgiveness? I would say that based on his present statements and actions, he still has no real clue as to the God of the bible. Do you?
lets not condem, let god be the judge. many times when we condem others we find ourselves in d same situation.god word is settled
Show me scripture.
please understand me iam not sayn wat he did was right .lets be real i shore there are times u lust after flesh .wat did d bible say on that
Lusting is different than adultery, divorce, remarrying and then going back into ministry. The bible is clear about that. Further, it is clear about preaching and speaking in the name of God falsely as well, which is something that Todd clearly has no conscious about
Lusting is the same as adultry. Read your bible.
Amen, indeed