Just to carry on our conversation, I am grateful to Emerging churchman and colleague in Christ Jason Clark for his thoughts on what's happening at Lakeland, Florida. He offers 12 points in his 'navigational framework', which I personally found helpful.
I was also forwarded a letter from John Coles, leader of the New Wine Network who has been across and had an opportunity to see it for himself. Here's an extract (if you want the rest of it ping me an email): "Todd has initiated under the grace of God something which is attracting
the world’s attention. Instead of the mocking question ‘Where is your God?’
people are beginning to ask such questions as ‘Can this God heal me too?’ and
‘how can I get to know your God?’ The challenge is for church leaders from
around the world to continue this in a sustainable and culturally adaptable
manner, without losing the fire of God. If we succeed then perhaps at last the
world will no longer be bored by a church that has lost its way, but be
fascinated again by a Jesus who is powerfully at work supernaturally
transforming the hearts, minds, bodies and lives of millions of people
worldwide."
As I have mentioned before, it is best not to get too caught up with the language and the model, but look beyond it to see the many lives currently being transformed and rejoice with others. And, although I remain wary of the strange, almost gnostic theology, coming from Todd Bentley, I believe God is using him. Besides that, who am I to judge? His Kingdom will come whatever.
One of the comments on Jason's blog cited John Wimber's comment on the Toronto Blessing, which is undoubtedly in some of us old'uns' minds at this time:
'When asked: “John is this a work of God, the flesh, or the devil?”
He replied: “yes”'
ASD
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