Todd Bentley: Healer or heel?

You may remember that we reported on tattooed biker and evangelist Todd Bentley's extra-marital affair conducted at the height of the so-called 'Lakeland Outpouring' last summer. Broadcast globally on God TV, it should come as no surprise that it is now coming to light that the healing services were nothing of the sort.

In an article called 'Heal or heal?', World Magazine examines Bentley's claims of miraculous healings. Bentley's Fresh Fire Ministries provided the magazine with a list of 13 'verified' healings. When checked out, two of the people on the list had subsequently died of their illnesses, and the rest of the healings did not live up to serious scrutiny.

This backs up the results of a Western Standard investigation in 2001. "All that Fresh Fire Ministries was able to send me were a couple of vague notes" says reporter Rick Hiebert. "One was from a doctor that noted that his patient 'felt better', but nothing indicating that there was anything that would be visible to a third party."

Despite the fact that the Florida 'Outpouring' was an obvious charade, God TV, Bentley's 'exclusive broadcast partner', has defended its role in the deception, declaring "We are presently planning to broadcast other offshoots of Lakeland in both the United Kingdom and America."

For many, the Florida Outpouring banner sums it all up. 'Sow seed into revival' screams the headline. It's the same old cry — gives us your money!

When will Christians stop being so gullible?

Link: Todd Bentley marries woman he had extramarital affair with
Link: God TV — It's Missions Week... again!
Link: Heal or heel?
Link: I guess that if you die and go to heaven, that's a "healing" of sorts...