Of Miracles & Ministers

People flock to Lakeland, Florida, by the thousands these days. They aren't seeking the sunshine, nor the orange groves. They're seeking a miracle of God -- one provided by the hand of pastor Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries, a charismatic outreach located in the central Florida city.

Bentley is not from Florida, though his followers could care less. Many fly in from around the world to receive a miracle from God through healing, touting Bentley as a man who "is very close with the Lord." Bentley himself is no saint, having come to the ministry after spending a number of years behind prison and far from Christ. But the people don't care about his past. They need a miracle and Bentley supposedly delivers them.

Revival services draw thousands. Bentley's ministry staff grows by the week. As does his popularity. But he doesn't claim to provide miracles, only to give his followers the faith they need to be healed. He says this because in today's modern age, most miracles are easy to disprove. And phoneys are easy to uncover.

So they hide. Just like Bentley.

You see, Bentley claims the authority of Jesus in his miracles yet he does not follow the pattern of Jesus when he lays hands on the sick and screams at demons in his microphone. He ignores the methods of Jesus and the teachings of Jesus. Yet he claims Christ's authority over sickness and pain. Bentley backtracks and covers for his "miracles" when pressed to prove them. On an ABC News Nightline report tonight, Bentley was asked for the names of people he had healed so that they could be contacted. After some stalling, Bentley said his staff would provide ABC with a packet of persons. They failed to come through in a timely manner. ABC did finally get some information directly from the staff but important details were blacked out, such as addresses, doctor names, and other verifiable facts. And a disclaimer was issued by Bentley that basically said all miracles are not guaranteed to be full and final.

Partial miracles? Just like Jesus? Hidden miracles? Just like Jesus?

I'm amazed at what passes for "faith healing" these days. Todd Bentley, and the even more famous Benny Hinn, can wave their arms and shout into any microphone while sending people to the floor in emotional overload but no one gets fully healed on the spot. When Jesus healed folks, He did it in full. And Bentley can black out verifiable facts all he wants but Jesus did every miracle in plain sight. The participants went walking around as two-legged billboards for the reality of Christ's authority over sickness and pain. The Pharisees even wanted to kill Lazarus because he was walking proof that Jesus raises the dead! Peter and John healed a man in the Temple in Acts 3. Paul healed many along his way.

I do believe there is healing in this world and I do believe miracles happen every hour. I've heard that most happen on the front-line mission field, like in India, Africa, and SE Asia. They come through the hands and hearts of those who have committed their lives to sharing the Gospel in the authority of Jesus Christ. They live in poverty (not Bentley's 100 grand) and combat dark spirits and cold hearts in distant places. The power of Christ protects them and the Spirit of God goes before them.

But Bentley? Partial healing at best, if even that. It takes one walking in the pattern of Jesus to exercise the authority of Jesus.