By Chad Taylor ~ Aug 26, 2008
MY DISCLAIMER: To all the so called apostles and prophets releasing their letter's and essays on the claims of moral failure of Todd Bentley in a abortive attempt to save face you may want to stop reading now. This is not written for you. Even if you do read this most likely you will never heed it because you have already taken the posture of judge and jury. If you did read any further I may become your enemy too lining your linear notes for upcoming sermons and treatises for "morality" and "unity".
Is it so easy to forget that in the trenches and fox holes of rabid ridicule and persecution that the greatest testimonies are made? Like Paul who suffered extreme judgment from his peers he emerged from the pit and prison of past failure and present persecution with this testimony, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge..." (2 Tim 4:16-17).
The house of cards that we currently call "apostolic and prophetic" is quickly imploding as the unsaved world watches in utter amazement. The Jesus of the Bible who flung Himself in the line of fire as stones of judgment were about to be hurled; who later stated boldly to that day's "revival alliances" and networks of ambitious and ostentatious, "Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you..." You may want to stop reading now.
Heaven is not lined with "networks" and "prophetic clubs" that prophesy and prophesy and never come to any knowledge of the truth. Heaven is filled with trophies of grace that are marred and scarred with the sweat of great achievement and in the end, even in failure can claim as Samuel did in the Bible to do more in a few days, weeks or months than those faint hearted facile figures that stand on the sidelines of history never willing to engage and only criticize.
To the doom and gloom prophets who are shouting from the housetops (and YouTube), "I told you so! I was right!" You are left more wanting than them all. Rather than don sackcloth and ashes and discover what is truly apostolic and prophetic you have chosen the shallow guileful path that has no blood, sweat and tears. In the deep ruts of your insecurities and lack of true identity you hurl stones of rhetoric around the world wounding rather than warning.
Like Job's friends you stand just outside the circle peering in never able or willing to sit down in the dirt with them. Your cowardice and inability to truly love will be your undermining. Oh if we truly had an apostolic voice in the land that cried with Paul! "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren..." (Rom 9:3). Paul the Apostle knew what it meant to stand in the gap. We however have mastered the art of rebuke, arrogance and emulation.
If anything I pray this can be a small diversion from the religious witch hunting that is rampant in the Church today and is targeting my friend and brother Todd Bentley. If we have the liberty to do this to our own flesh and blood then what becomes of the poor pitiful world around us in our dire inability to love unconditionally? The bedraggled, decrepit, dilapidated are already dead in their tracks with their alternative appearances, repulsion of religion and complete utter disdain for our current Christianity. Church, it's about to pay up as the Great Judge stands at the door of our current crisis and collects His due,
"So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matt 18:31-35).
I am still Todd Bentley's friend because the Bible says I should be, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Prov 17:17). Unlike thousands if not millions of Christians that naively follow the ebb and tide of public opinion that can change as suddenly as the weather; God has instructed us to be radically different. Love is not a double barrel shotgun of accusation but rather a mighty shadow that covers a multitude of sin apparent or illusionary.
I am Todd's Bentley's friend because it is unpopular to be so now! Jesus loved the disdained and was drawn to the controversial. Even in their apparent sin or demise He stooped in the ground and wrote untold secrets as the religious elite and self proclaimed apostles ranted and raved "according to the law". What we have now is a mad dash to distance ourselves from the back lash. Jesus never ran, He took the blunt of religious rip tides and plunged into them. He sat in the sinner's house and allowed the prostitute to wash His feet. That was His world one void of any reputation, ours is a well oiled and organized conference scene with polished music and prophetic crescendos as the masses soak. Jesus preferred the lepers and illegitimate as He spent countless sleepless nights in their presence; we are drawn to meetings and church buildings as the orbit of planet earth careens toward a climatic end.
When it was popular to be Jesus' friend they heaped upon Him accolades and endorsements and clamored to be in His company. They called Him "King" and cried His praises in the streets. If their had been the internet and modern technology in the First Century it would have been streamed around the world as every camera captured the epic moments unfolding daily. With even more intensity they would rapidly report on His apparent failure and the headlines would read something like this, "JESUS CHRIST IS NOT WHO HE CLAIMED TO BE!" or, "PROMISES TO RAISE HIMSELF FROM THE DEAD IS OBVIOUS FRAUD..." or even, "FALSE REVIVAL HITS JERUSALEM AS THOUSANDS FILL THE STREETS!" The book of Acts would have gone down in flames under our current regime.
I am still Todd Bentley's friend because he is God's vessel and like our predecessors David, Jonah, Moses, Peter they will rise to the moment again and make history even in the backdrop of their shortcomings. Friend, if you need something else to forward, blog, gossip and talk about - simply send this letter and then let's strive to hit the high mark of God's love and prove to the agnostic and atheist that we are still able to forgive, cover and love just like Jesus did so long ago.
If we spent the energy and time it takes to read the endless articles, long letters from our leaders of "Why, Who and What" we could save our cities and streets from utter depravity and sin. Prophet, quit your rants go find a valley of dry bones and prophesy to them. Apostle, cease and desist from your damage control and go "where Christ has not been preached" and be who you claim to be. We still have a world to win for Jesus. (Rom. 15:20).
TODD BENTLEY I AM STILL YOUR FRIEND!
Chad Taylor - Aug. 26th, 2008
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat…" - THEODORE ROOSEVELT, (Paris Sorbonne 1910)