Todd Bentley enters into "unhealthy relationship"

[one love]

Real thing? Do we really have the power to see man's heart and make these judgments?

See in a mans heart who said anything like that?
try the spirits? ummm yes.... In the sense of comparing it to the word of God. Are you saying you cant. It is not about a man falling such as swaggart. I like Jimmy swaggart and really like his son, above all tv preachers, that is not it. I dont care he fell he got back up.
But yes if one is so far from the bible I dont trust it.

The other main point of my post was we should pray for him through all this that is what is important.

pastorables could you please respond to this so I have an idea of what you meant.

Thanks

[dolfan]

This is an interesting case study if nothing else. When does "unhealthy relationship" become "sexual immorality" in light of Jesus' admonition that whosever lusts after another woman commits adultery with her in his heart?? I'm not accusing the Fresh Fire people of two-stepping around that, here; they're probably trying to cope with an ugly mess in a pretty way and it just can't be done. I don't envy them. But, they are the ones who stated that there was no "sexual immorality" (their phrase) by either Mr. or Mrs. Bentley that lead up to their separation. I'm just curious on your thoughts.

[Gerald Creasy]

This is an interesting case study if nothing else. When does "unhealthy relationship" become "sexual immorality" in light of Jesus' admonition that whosever lusts after another woman commits adultery with her in his heart?? I'm not accusing the Fresh Fire people of two-stepping around that, here; they're probably trying to cope with an ugly mess in a pretty way and it just can't be done. I don't envy them. But, they are the ones who stated that there was no "sexual immorality" (their phrase) by either Mr. or Mrs. Bentley that lead up to their separation. I'm just curious on your thoughts.

What is he doing developing an unhealthy relationship WHILE he is undergoing counseling with his wife. They are saying now they have been counseling for years.

For an outside party to say "there is no sexual immorality", would they not have to go on the participants word??

Has not Todd Bentley been caught in repeated Lies ABOUT GOD (ie It was a Female angel no It was a Male angel...or...He hit a Chinaman so hard he knocked him on the floor and teeth flew....but no one was ever hurt.
Or even Jesus SPit in the blind mans eye...instead of spitting in the dirt.)

IF THE MAN WILL LIE ABOUT GOD,
you think he'd be honest about SEX!??????

[dolfan]

Me, personally? I can imagine him pointing at the camera saying "I just had an unhealthy emotional relationship with that woman" and just breaking up in laughter because even he can't believe he's saying it.

Lots of money there, I figure lawyers are just off the periphery somewhere, and the lawsuits may soon be a-flyin'. Or, a tell all expose to a tabloid. I don't think he's seriously considered by anyone other than his followers to warrant a tell-all book.

But, if he is allowed to parse the words that way and to make these fine distinctions, and apparently he is being allowed that, my question is when does it cross the line from "unhealthy" to "sinful"? Or, are they the same, and we've either diluted the idea of sin to the idea of what's-good-for-us or we've elevated the idea of healthiness to only that which is not sinful (I doubt the latter, big time)??? I don't know that anyone can answer that question simply because we don't know what really went on with these two folks in this now very public quasi-admission.

[Jennifer Smith]

I'm not excusing anyone, whether it is an "emotional" affair or more; but, there is a big difference. Stopping short of an affair to get help and counseling is admirable and acknowledges one's dependence on God and the accountability and support of the family of God.

A female pastor in a church we attended was developing a close relationship with a board member; they were working too closely together on a project and she was working too many hours overall. (The senior pastor was a slavedriver... Sam and I were interns at the time and newlyweds, and we ended up dropping out of the program.) This female pastor brought it to the attention of the senior pastor, who laughed it off and basically ignored the problem. The problem led to an inappropriate kiss, which caused a scandal; and the pastor and her husband, who was also a pastor on staff, were asked to leave the church. The board member, however, retained his position, (which seemed somewhat unfair to me). But, when the female pastor had sought help, she received none, and I wondered if the whole mess could have been avoided if appropriate safeguards had been put in place to begin with.

This is an interesting case study if nothing else. When does "unhealthy relationship" become "sexual immorality" in light of Jesus' admonition that whosever lusts after another woman commits adultery with her in his heart?? I'm not accusing the Fresh Fire people of two-stepping around that, here; they're probably trying to cope with an ugly mess in a pretty way and it just can't be done. I don't envy them. But, they are the ones who stated that there was no "sexual immorality" (their phrase) by either Mr. or Mrs. Bentley that lead up to their separation. I'm just curious on your thoughts.

Initially when the separation was announced, it sounded as though it was Fresh Fire's understanding that there was no immorality involved.. it sounds to me as though more information had been learned about details of the separation since then.

[Dr. Ron]

Why does sexual imorality carry a bigger stigma that lying?

If he did or did not have a "sexual relationship" with someone else, why is it an issue of more import than that of divorce or having an "unhealthy relationship" with a staff memeber. If an "unhealthy relationship " is criteria for removal, very few pastors should be in their pulpits.....most of us have close relationships with someone ....sometimes of the opposite sex.

Where there is smoke, there is usually fire.

[Paully_44]

We wish to acknowledge, however, that since our last statement from the Fresh Fire Board of Directors, we have discovered new information revealing that Todd Bentley has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff.

I wonder what constitutes an unhealthy emotional relationship?

[pastorables]

If so what about all the people that went and said he is the real thing????

It's okay.

My concern was based upon the above part of your post. You seemed to be questioning Bentley's status with God. I could have misunderstood. My point was that we can't see the heart of individual ministers. Only God can reveal the secret things and when he does so we take the appropriate action. This seems to be what happened with the Bentley situation.

pa

[one love]

If so what about all the people that went and said he is the real thing????

It's okay.

My concern was based upon the above part of your post. You seemed to be questioning Bentley's status with God. I could have misunderstood. My point was that we can't see the heart of individual ministers. Only God can reveal the secret things and when he does so we take the appropriate action. This seems to be what happened with the Bentley situation.

pa

I am simply saying by his own preaching that it was wrong, I dont judge ones heart. The real thing comment is refering to him being some big "healer minister" I could not accept that because of the contradiction of the word.
I do believe someone just maybe misled and be sincere but I am always cautious of those that base there entire ministry on "healing" which usually follows millions and millions of dollars, that is all.
I hope that helps Brother thank you.

[pastorables]

I'm not excusing anyone, whether it is an "emotional" affair or more; but, there is a big difference.

Not trying to debate, but I don't believe there is a difference in God's eyes. I have counseled these situations at varying levels of relationship: emotional, light physical, heavy physical, etc. This is why God always exposed sin as a matter of the heart. As a man thinks so he is, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

I will concede that the key to understanding whether sin has been committed in such cases would depend upon what the term "emotional" relationship consists of.

Blessings,
pa

[Jennifer Smith]

I'm not excusing anyone, whether it is an "emotional" affair or more; but, there is a big difference.

Not trying to debate, but I don't believe there is a difference in God's eyes. I have counseled these situations at varying levels of relationship: emotional, light physical, heavy physical, etc. This is why God always exposed sin as a matter of the heart. As a man thinks so he is, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

I will concede that the key to understanding whether sin has been committed in such cases would depend upon what the term "emotional" relationship consists of.

Blessings,
pa

I agree, and usually by the time it is exposed it has been going on for some time.