A suspicious spirit : Heresy hunters : A critical discussion : Todd Bentley : Rick Joyner : Gossip : Slander

It’s either gossip or slander.

Brilliant.  That’s some wisdom I gleaned from one of the many recent comments on my blog and my Facebook note regarding the discussion of Rick Joyner’s handling of Todd Bentley’s restoration.

The internet has unwittingly granted many permission to defy biblical principles and standards of discipline by blasting men and women of God behind their backs.

Have we forgotten Matthew 18 protocol?  Todd Bentley’s sins have been brought before him.  He has publically repented, and is in the direct and constant care of extremely reputable, humble and wise men of God. 

Look at a part of the passage in Matthew 18:

Matthew 18:17 (NIV) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

If he refuses to listen, tell it to the church.  What are we doing?  Todd HAS listened, and we’re telling it to the world!  If you look further up in Matthew 18, we see a stern warning- if a member of our body causes us to sin, we must cut it off!  May I propose that there are blogging slanderers and gossips who would be better eternally served if they had no fingers to type with?

Matthew 18:8 (NIV) If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

Rick Joyner is following scriptural protocol beautifully.  Since we’re in Matthew 18, let’s look at another portion that Rick understands better than most:

Matthew 18:12-14 (NIV) ¹² "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴ In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Rick Joyner served Jim Bakker when the majority of the church was mocking him.  Rick Joyner is again acting with the love of an apostolic father by serving Todd Bentley.

If Todd Bentley fails under Rick’s care, it’s none of our business!  How dare we entertain an evil desire to ‘out’ Todd, expose him, rebuke him and cast him out!  Matthew 18 does not give us permission to do this!  Many are in extreme and dangerous violation of God’s standards!  How many times have you failed and repented each week? 

Should everybody with an internet connection know about it?

Some of you may presume that I am embracing a loose lifestyle.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  God’s judgment, which is wrapped in passionate love, is arriving now quite heavily.  It’s only going to increase.  I don’t embrace the false grace doctrine that’s floating around out there.  But I do embrace scripture.  I do embrace the deep love that God has for people, and I do trust God’s wisdom in handling issues of sin in the camp. 

There is a doubting and suspicious spirit that is rampant in the church, and it must be dealt with immediately. 

I have a question.  Why do so many find it necessary or appropriate to share negative or dissenting opinions about other believers?  What’s the purpose of that?  What benefit is there? 

I know a strong and offensive prophetic spirit is about to hit the church and the world, so I’m not attempting to communicate that conflict should be avoided.  But, this prophetic spirit will hit at principalities, powers and rulers.  It will hit people who are clearly violating agreed absolutes of scripture, and are repeatedly unrepentant.  It won’t take out the knees of failed people who have a hungry heart for restoration.

The heresy hunter spirit must be taken out.  It’s a false-Berean attitude.  It’s playing with the unpardonable sin. 

I’m about to get on a plane, so I need to close, but let me make my points clear:

• Rick Joyner has a mighty heart and is putting a lot on the line for a repentant sheep
• Matthew 18 protocol cannot be ignored
• Why do we feel it necessary to gossip and share our opinions with the world?
• God’s judgment is going to increase, and holiness must again take center stage
• Discipline in the church will actually be embraced again
• The unpardonable sin must be understood as many are at great eternal risk
• God is love