Todd Bentley & His Anointed Kidneys
I’ve been listening to Todd Bentley in Lakeland, FL recently via Bentley’s podcasts. Two days ago, I listened to the Lakeland message from April 11, 2008. Aside from the rank Word of Faith nonsense (something I may post on soon), I was struck with… Holy Laughter?… by the following:
Bob Jones told me one time, he said, “The anointing works in the kidneys – the fat, the kidneys, the adrenaline – it works through the kidneys.” He said, “Kidneys are connected to the anointing. If you wanna see someone persevere (preserve?) an anointing, pray for their kidneys.” People are praying from my kidneys, and I get full (?) – it’s instant. There’s something about eating the fat of the kidneys in the Bible. The anointing is in the kidney – it’s in the fat.
- Todd Bentely, Lakeland Revival (April 11, 2008)
If you look closely into this kidney’s renal medulla, you can actually see the anointing!
I know ostensibly reasonable and intelligent brothers and sisters in Christ who take this clown (and his circus) seriously. If any of you are reading this, please help me out. What, exactly, prevents you from laughing this fraud and heretic right off the stage? I know I’m coming at this hard and without much subtlety, but my question is earnestly posed: How do you justify lending credence to an out-and-out heretic? What is happening in Lakeland through Bentley’s “ministry” that is appealing to you?
I understand the hunger for revival (though, I think we could all use a primer on what a genuine, Holy Spirit revival actually looks like), and though I don’t share a zeal for “signs and wonders”, I can wrap my mind around that as well. But why is it that when I first encountered Bentley 3-4 years ago, my heresy sensors and B.S. radar were blown off the scales, and now he is being countenanced by a frighteningly large proportion of charismatic/pentecostal Christianity?
I truly want to understand the rational mind that swallows this junk, but I presently just don’t get it.
~ They keep talking about this “Awakening” can we believe it?
As the calls been heard to go out an meet The Bridegroom.
And The wiseVirgins are now saying to The Foolish: Go buy your oil from those who sell!
Cause the 0il we got isn’t enough for us and you too! By By Foolish Virgins. ~
~ They keep calling this an “Awakening”.
Is this of the call, been heard to go out and meet The Bridegroom? – Matt.25
And now The Wise Birgins have to tell The Foolish Virgins to go buy from those who sell.
Cause our 0il is not enough for them and us too?
So why fret over saying By, By Foolish Virgins
I though God always wanted the intrails of fat to be Burned on the Alter before Him.
The anointing of His Holy Spirit comes from animal fat?
I thought it was more so of Olive Oil. ~
Here’s a website that might help you out. They seem to have all the answers:
http://www.elijahlist.com/
On a serious note, I am with you on this one bud. I struggle as well, because I have family and friends who are being sucked right into this stuff. I think your points are very well stated. I was listening to a Podcast the other day and the question was raised if we should be challenging this…and the answer was a simple “YES”. WE ARE CALLED TO CHALLENGE EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE.
Laughing in the Holy Spirit, being “drunk” on the Holy Spirit…Barking like dogs in the Holy Spirit…Cavities turned to gold by the Holy Spirit…What part of this seems like genuine biblical worship of a Holy and Righteous God?
If we’re willing to question whether ‘Hard Core Christian Music’ is showing God the Glory and Reverence He deserves, then why wouldn’t we question this side show as well?
It doesn’t seem to add up. And the emotional “high” that people are receiving from this build-your-own revival is clouding their eyes. It is truly a shame. (Mat. 24:24)
Keep doing your research bud. I want to get you back on our show to talk about this. Soon!!!
For His Glory,
Jason
Read this site comment #13
http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/how-can-anything-good-be-spiritually-imparted-from-todd-bentley-lakeland/#comment-8057
I read things like your post and then this comment and I wonder myself where are peopele’s common-sense?
Please see “A Call for Discernment” by going to http://www.justinpeters.org. Justin is an evangelist and in addition to expository preaching, also holds seminars on the “Word of Faith” movement. He has cerebral palsy and concurs with the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
To God be the glory!
Caron Strong
Los Angeles, CA
Jason,
I’d love to!
Caron,
I’m still downloading Mr. Peters demo video, but it looks like good stuff. Thanks!
God Bless
I haven’t watched much, but the 20 or so minutes of what I have watched makes me sad. I believe there are many sincere people participating, and I also believe God can work in spite of the frailty of a deceived man, but it still makes me sad to see that kind of a “revival” meeting.
Interesting but I do have a question. Where to the these prophets go when they are sick? The answer may surprise you because it seems they go see a medical doctor for some close supervision. I’m just wondering why Bob Jones doesn’t go to Lakeland to get some???????????
http://www.bobjones.org/
Here’s Todd Friel’s (Way of the Master Radio) take on everything…with some very interesting audio clips of Todd Benley and the violent way that [god] is healing people through him.
Audio Clip Here(Starts about 18:30 into the Podast)
@ Caron,
Thank you again for pointing me to Mr. Peters site. I just finished the 35 min demo video. Really, really good stuff. I teared up toward the end when he spoke of his cerebral palsy as a gift from God.
@ Bryan,
I concur. I sometimes allow my frustration and anger (usually expressed in humor) at this garbage to cover over my genuine sadness. This stuff (as Mr. Peters eloquently and dispassionately points out) destroys faith. It is truly a tragedy.
God Bless
We are following the Todd Bentley story at the Preaching Today blog. You can check it out at this link
http://www.preachtoday.blogspot.com
Check this out: http://reallyrealecumania.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post.html
Todd tells Emma to shut up and says he will not invite her to his revivals anymore – that she cannot tell him what to do…
Caron,
It appears that bit of dialogue between Bentley and Emma was posted as a spoof. I didn’t realize it at first, either. Unfortunately, I could believe just about anything coming out of the Lakeland Circus.
God Bless
reallyrealecumania.blogspot.com
Just this morning (6/22) I was pondering a question before the Lord. Why are so many following and promoting someone who is so obviously (at least to this poor saint) teaching things that should enable him to be easily discerned as a false minister? How can this many people who profess the name of Christ follow this man? Don’t they find his extra-biblical revelations enough to give them pause? Have they ever heard him once admonish anyone to test the spirits that appear as angels? Does he even know what it means to test the spirits? And, lastly — does anyone do any spiritual homework to find out what someone believes about Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Can all of these people actually see Jesus acting the way Todd Bentley acts in His name? Do they see Jesus kicking people in the face, screaming “BAM BAM BAM” and saying “blah blah blah blah” over people he prays for? Do they see Jesus covered with tatoos, some of which are even satanic? Can they see my Jesus, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, tattooing His body, piercing His lip and ears and wearing all the rings? I was just so flabbergasted that so many seem to have NO PROBLEM with this “evangelist.” As I was pondering this, I was reminded of the Apostle Peter’s words: “Judgment begins at the house of God.” Immediately I understood. As bizarre as this seems to me, as obvious as I feel it should be to anyone who has been a serious student of the Word of God — the fact is “This is the spirit of antichrist at work.” God is allowing this in-your-face, ought-to-be-obvious delusion to first try His church. The strength of the antichrist spirit is being revealed to me as never before. His power over people is a result of the lying signs and wonders he performs to validate his false doctrines. If so many in the church just swallow this hook, line and sinker, then what will it be like for the nonbelieving world when antichrist is revealed? I, for one, want to obey all God is revealing to me so that I won’t be around when that day comes. I don’t want to be found in the number who refused to receive the love of the truth whenever God presented it to me. I want to be a doer of all I’m convicted of, by His merciful Spirit. I want to be hid with the Lord Jesus, dwelling in the clouds during the time of God’s great wrath being poured out. I understand why God will say “Enough!” I’m saying it already and it is ONLY just beginning. God have mercy upon His elect and faithfully deliver the godly from all temptation. In Jesus’ Name
Hmmm… It’s possible, Annie, but remember that these kinds of charlatans have been fleecing the flock from the beginning. Bentley even talks about many of his progenitors from the past century like Aimee Semple McPherson and Smith Wigglesworth. There really is nothing new under the sun.
And while there certainly are a frighteningly large number of charismatics and pentecostals being deluded by this “revival”, the vast majority of Christians have no idea (thank God) what is going on in Lakeland right now. This is another problem I have with this charismatic/revivalist movement: their proponents are always bragging about how “the face of Christianity is being changed” and how the whole Church is being blessed by the latest, craziest, outpouring; yet, only a very tiny fraction of Christians – all within a few charismatic/pentecostal denominations – have any knowledge of it. They seem to ignore or just not care about the rest of us (the vast majority of Christians).
God Bless
Um… Annie or Jim… Can one of u plz. send me some honest info on this guy? I mean, I saw other comments about him on this page, and they were all full of hatred- NON Christian- and it all reminded me of a man of God I knew who was fiercely “persecuted” because he did what God wanted him to do. But I really wanna know more about this Todd Bentley.
Thanks.
Sarine,
I’m not sure what exactly has been said here that was “full of hatred- NON Christian”, but I would begin a discerning investigation at Bentley’s own website.
http://www.freshfire.ca/
That’s where I first encountered the man, and immediately recognized him as a heretic. He explicitly teaches the Word of Faith heresy. (See Justin Peters website
http://www.justinpeters.org/
for more on why this heresy is so dangerous.) His violent and mindless antics bring nothing but shame to the name of Christ.
Regarding those who “do what God wants them to do”; God certainly wants His ministers to preach sound doctrine, no? To treat His flock with care? I can’t see how Bentley’s cancer patient-kicking, heresy-laden, tirades do either.
You could try googling “Todd Bentley” with “Todd Friel”, or “James White” or “Hank Hanegraaff” – these men have all done a good job of succinctly critiquing the Lakeland Revival.
God Bless & Good Luck
Hey Jim,
thanks for your quick reply. I visited the 2 sites you mentioned, and my question is:
Is the “word of Faith” teaching about God wanting us to be happy and successful and healthy? Is this the dangerous heresy? Because I think I misunderstood what was written in the Justin Peters site.
thanks a lot
God Bless
Sarine,
It’s a quite a bit deeper than that. Try watching the video demo on Peters’ site. It’s about 30 minutes long and, I think, does a very good job of explaining the serious problems with this theology.
http://www.justinpeters.org/demo.htm
It is otherwise known as the “Prosperity Gospel”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTc_FoELt8s&feature=related
God Bless
Hey Jim,
Thanks again for the links, but right now I’m in a place that does not allow me to watch such videos.
Now I don’t know what Todd Bentley teaches, but I do believe that God wants us to be happy, healthy and successful. I regret the fact that I didn’t read the BIBLE as often as I should’ve because then, I could support what I just wrote.
I mean, surely there’s gotta be something else that Bentley is teaching that’s not right, not this bit of truth, right?
do u believe in it? and if not, then what do u believe in?
I really like to know. Because I didn’t quite get what was written in Peters’ site: “But this is not biblical Christianity, as Justin Peters so adequately demonstrates in his exceptional presentation.” what is he for, and what is he against?
I hope it turns out that I’d misunderstood the whole thing.
Thanks for your time Jim,
God Bless
Sarine,
First, there is a LOT of information available online regarding Bentley and the Lakeland “Revival”. With all due respect (I mean that), you need to do some of your own work figuring this out. I’m not really sure what you want me to tell you. Do you believe God tells His “prophets” to kick sick people in the face? What, exactly, do you see happening in Lakeland that leads you to believe the Holy Spirit is involved (in any kind of positive sense)?
Why is it that virtually all Christian voices aware of this circus, outside the fringe charismatic/pentecostal groups cheerleading for it, are highly critical of it? Are they all judgmental pharisees? All possessed of a critical spirit?
Second, are you sure God always wants His people to be “happy, healthy and successful”? What about the prophet Jeremiah? Or Job? Or Christ? Was the Cross happy? Healthy? Successful (at least in human terms at the moment it was happening)? I think God wants us to glorify Him, and He uses happiness, sadness, health, sickness, success and failure to accomplish this.
If you can’t access video, try reading the links below.
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2007/1993_Prosperity_Preaching_Deceitful_and_Deadly/
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/681-todd-bentley-fresh-fire-ministries
God Bless
um, Jim,
I’m really sorry. I feel like I made u angry. I can’t do much on the internet because of connection & time limits (as u must’ve realized) or else I wouldn’t have looked for people to “do the job” for me. And I really appreciate you trying to help. I did visit the last 2 links, and read some suspicious things.
I really am not taking sides. I just accidentally got into this in my excitement to find other believers “out there in the world”.
Some of my church members watch Bentley, and I haven’t heard them saying anything bad, so when I saw the things written in this blog, I was surprised, and wanted to know more.
Now the thing you wrote about Christ, its a different case. It certainly was not happy, healthy…
But He did it so that we would be happy in Him, healthy in Him (by His wound we are healed), and “not needy” (instead of successful) in Him. He’s our Father, and any dad would want the best for his kids. I believe that we must be happy not only in heaven, but on earth too. And happy, for me, is not “rich”. And I’m against anyone who calls people to Christ by telling them that they’re going to be rich.
Anyway, I think I got pretty far from the original theme of the blog. Thanks again. I’m happy to have shared a few words with a bro. in Christ (I mean it).
God Bless.
what garbage.
the kidneys?
if it wasn’t so ridiculous, I’d just weep.
Sarine,
If you have a bible I would encourage you to read the Epistles. Interesting thing happened when I was in a small group. The leader would have us read a book, all 15 of us. For intance, we were to all read Ephesians. If we all were able to read the whole book before our next meeting we would go to the next book. Suffice it to say we didn’t move ahead very quickly.
OK sorry for the tangent. In reading these Epistles and much of what Jesus said you will find that the word suffering and trials and temptations are used alot regarding our life in this world. As I continued to read I noticed that much of what man learns about God, His Love for us, and His desire that we walk in victory seems to be birthed out of the mess we walk through and the trials, temptations, and sufferings we will go through. The question is will you trust in Him to see you through these times and learn the lessons He has for us.
So when you say that God wants us to be happy, healthy and not needy, I agree to a point, but it almsot sounds like you are in a”prosperity teaching” that is truely not doctrinally correct.
As far as Todd Bentley is concerned, I agree with Jim, google Todd Bentley, Lakeland, false teacher, etc and begin to read what is being said about this revival. I am a person who has walked this road and believe in the supernatural gifts of God but this revival does not exemplifies our Lords characture or even the gentleman that the Holy Spirit is.
Blessings
I CANNOT AGREE MORE WITH YOU, NATHAN!
Todd Bentley…your ministry is NOT from God, the Creator of the Universe!!!
You are busy as the devil’s agent spreading all kinds of wicked lies about anointing(and other aspects of being a Christian as well). I don’t hate you, no, no, no, but I do feel sorry for you for the strange but unBiblical nonsense you are sharing with innocent people who simply want to obey and live close to God.
People, if I can share something of value, that will truly build your relationship with Lord Jesus, visit these sites and stay away from Todd Bentley(God is NOT with him, you can see it, kidneys and all). Here are the sites: http://www.amazingfacts.org http://www.hopetv.org http://www.itiswritten.org http://www.3abn.org
Whoever visits, browse these sites will be truly blessed and uplifted and NOT smeared with this GARBAGE that Todd Bentley is feeding truth-seakers. May God have mercy on your soul you fool!!!
I’m sorry for my words but I am VERY, VERY ANGRY to see such unbelievable, inconceivable things to come out of the mind of someone most regard as having a true relationship with Lord Jesus. People, God warns us against such people in His word and we are NOT to believe everything they teach but we are to test it and see if they hold up. Read the books Acts, Romans and Corinthians. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isiah 8:20
Here’s a little explanation of the 10 virgins parable and what to be found on the websites mentioned above:
The parable of the 10 virgins is simply symbolic of the state of many people before Lord Jesus comes to fetch His children. 5 were wise and 5 were foolish. The oil represents the Holy Spirit and the lamps our lives and experience as a child of God. Notice they all had oil(the Holy Spirit) but not all had enough to last. That simply means that many did not allow the Holy Spirit to develop their characters in preparation to meet the Bridegroom(Lord Jesus Christ), so you can imagine what happened to the wise. There’s some more to make you inquisitive: Has anyone taught about the Santuary Services?(this kidney fat issue is part of that teaching), Did you know that the books of Daniel and Revelation needs to be studied together in order to unlock many prophecies? Have you ever heard of the 3 Angels Message?(go to the book of Revelations) What about the dream of king Nebucadnezza?(go to the book of Daniel) What about, who is the ‘man of sin’? – these are just some of the AMAZING studies you will find in the websites mentioned above.
Be blessed and let me remind you, DON’T believe these false prophets and all their strange teachings. Test what they teach with God’s word and if they fail the test, DON’T follow them. These Prosperity Messages are also a lying evil circling the globe. This world is NOT our home, that is why Lord Jesus is coming back to fetch us to live with Him in the “new heaven and the new earth” 2nd Peter 3:13 & Rev 21:1
I have to stop myself now but I hope you will take this message very, very serious.
God bless you today.
Sincerely
ED
Ed,
I share your frustration regarding Bentley, but I’d challenge your reading of Matthew 25:1-13 (Parable of Ten Virgins). The foolish virgins are clearly unbelievers. The Bridegroom says to the foolish virgins in v.12, “Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Will Christ say to any of His children, “I do not know you.”?
Read the very end of ch.24 which immediately precedes this parable. Matthew 24:50,51 says what the Master (God) will do to the servant who believes He is delayed: “…the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
And read Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of Talents, which immediately follows the Parable of Virgins. What does the Master (God) do to the unwise (unprepared) servant? V.30, “And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Ed, do you believe these foolish servants are Christians? Will God cast any of His children into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth? Of course not. These parables all run together in the same theme: be prepared. Those who are not prepared, unbelievers, will be cast into hell.
I make this point, because many of the charismatic groups you and I would contend against interpret the Parable of the Virgins as you do, and then use it to set up a two-tier Christianity. Mike Bickle (IHOP), for example, interprets this parable this way and essentially says those Christians in tune with the Bridal Paradigm are those with oil, and those living out the ho-hum Bridal Paradigm-less Christianity are without. It’s akin to Rick Joyner’s “Blues & Grays” (see Joyner’s “Final Quest” – or don’t; it’s terrible).
God Bless
Thanks for that clarification about the 10 virgins, Jim B. I have been wondering about the interpretation of that parable. It can be used pretty powerfully by satan as a means of fear of losing one’s salvation. Certainly the IHOP crowd has done great damage with it.
Hi Jim B,
I respect your reply.
Sorry that I’m only getting back to the blog only this time but I’ve been very, very busy.
I just want to reply to the points you raised. Yes, I do believe that all of the 10 Virgins were believers. And I think we need to define what you mean by believers or what is a believer in this context. Just being a believer(as a Christian) is not good enough! The devil is a believer and so are his demonic angels. What about satanists? They are all believers too, but it does not mean that they will be taken to heaven with our Lord and Saviour. Believing needs to change you, transform you, transform your character into the likeness of Jesus Christ and that is ONLY possible through the permission, we as believers, grant, God, the Holy Spirit. You must understand that there are many lessons we can draw from this parable, just like many other passages of scripture BUT only one CORRECT interpritation. There are books in heaven: Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27 / Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. Malachi 3:16 / He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be save. Matthew 24:13 / He that overcometh,…I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. Revelation 3:5
So to answer your question again, yes, these foolish virgins were Christians, in fact many who will be lost to the hell fires will be Christians,…believers! But being a believer does NOT save you. Your character has to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, we are NOT once saved, always saved! Salvation is a life-long process and we have to take up our cross daily. Here we have the story of the close of probation, when midnight came and probation was forever closed. It is the scene of an oriental wedding. We see Jesus out on a little hillside, with just the little valley between Him and the city of Jerusalem. Off to one side they see a lighted dwelling where the bride is waiting for the bridegroom. Outside there are people waiting for the bridegroom to come, for he will come from his home to take the bride from her home back with him, and there the ceremony will be performed. The guests wait to join the procession. As Jesus looks over at that scene, He says to His disciples, “See those people waiting for that wedding? That is like My coming will be.” And He tells them a story of a wedding. There were ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come. Five were wise and five were foolish. When the bridegroom and his procession would come along, they were ready to join it and go back to the groom’s house where they would take part in the wedding ceremony. Five were foolish. What was it that made them foolish? “They that were foolish took no oil with them.” They were all virgins, signifying that they were all church members, their names were on the church books, they had all accepted Christ(their names were written in the Lambs Book of Life), they were preparing to be a part of the wedding procession and to join in the ceremony. They all looked alike, they were dressed alike, you couldn’t tell them apart by looking at them, five of them didn’t look any wiser than the others. They all had lights, and they all had some oil, but you couldn’t see how much oil they had. So today you can’t separate Christians in the church, but listen, Jim B, each one of them knew how much oil she had with her. Five of them knew that they didn’t have any extra oil with them. There was no fault that you could find with their looks, but when the time to buy oil was there, they did not take advantage of it, and five had no extra oil with them. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Jesus said five of the virgins had no extra oil in their lamps. They had the lamp, the Word of God, but they didn’t have the oil that would make the lamp burn to show them the way. Now, what is the oil? By comparing scripture with scripture you will find that in the Bible the Holy Spirit is represented by the oil. And so these virgins, representing a certain class of Christians who are waiting for the Lord to come, will know the Bible, but they will not have the spiritual power that will make that Bible live and that will prepare them to meet the bridegroom when He comes. In other words, we’re living right now in the time described by Jesus in this parable. There are two classes of people in the church and in the world today. Part of them believe the prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus and the end of the world. They have studied, and know even the verses. They can quote the texts to prove that His coming is very, very near at hand, because the signs have been fulfilled. But some of those very ones who believe it and can quote the Scriptures, are not ready because they have not opened their hearts and lives to let the Holy Spirit come in and fit them spiritually for translation and for the coming of Jesus.
On the other hand, there are those who are ready and they have the oil in their lamps. They have the power of God with them, they have the Spirit as well as the letter, and so they are ready and waiting for the coming of Jesus.
It is not that our God is going to destroy His own children, no! You must remember that sin is not going to be permitted a second time, this is it! Our characters have to be that of Christ’s and the only way to achieve that is through the help of the Holy Spirit – I have to emphasise that. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 / “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having a spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27 / “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:10
My friend, more clearer than that, I cannot put it. “Wherefore…bretheren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10 / “Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:11 / “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10 And there’s that verse that says many are called but few are chosen – and what that means is that many are called but few choose to respond, in the original translation – and so we all have freedom of choice. That’s why Jesus invites everybody in The Great Invitation: whosoever will, let him come. Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden. And not all will choose. Judas chose to turn his back on Christ. Jesus knew what Judas would do, but He didn’t make him do it – do you see what I’m saying? Judas, was a believer, but he will be lost one day, when Lord Jesus, returns. Why would the Lord say, ‘depart from me…I never knew you’? There’s a difference with knowing Christ, PERSONALLY(I always tell my kids, your ONLY ticket to heaven is a VERY, VERY close FRIENDSHIP with Lord Jesus, He has to be your BEST friend and as a result of that relationship, you will become like Him) and knowing alot ABOUT Him or having a knowledge OF Him. It is to this class of people that the Lord will say, “…I never knew you.”
I hope I answered your question with enough clarity, Jim B.
But we can go on and on about this topic, scripture NEVER contradicts itself, no matter WHERE you go, Old or New Testament, the principle doctrine is always complimented with other scriptures.
God bless you Jim B and Mary B.
Ed,
I think we may be playing with words a bit here. When I speak of “Christians” and “believers” I am clearly referring to God’s elect, the truly regenerate. Certainly, Ed, we can agree that none of God’s elect – none of those who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, who repent of sin and trust in Christ – are lost to hell, right? That’s all I’m saying.
Therefore, the foolish virgins CANNOT be God’s elect, as Bickle and others say they are. You seem to be saying the foolish virgins are hypocrites – professing Christians who have not been regenerated and have never genuinely repented and trusted in Christ (not really Christians at all). Is that correct? I don’t necessarily have a problem with that.
Hm… I don’t want to read your comments the wrong way, but this smells a bit legalistic/perfectionistic. Do you believe God’s elect can/will/should achieve sinless perfection this side of heaven? Will not God’s elect enter God’s heaven solely on the merits of Christ’s perfect life and death? I guess I’m a little confused at this comment.
Matthew 22:14 comes at the end of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, and it has NOTHING to do with “free will”. If you read the parable, that “translation” wouldn’t even make sense: A man is found in the feast (he CHOSE to be there, no?) without a wedding garment (Christ’s righteousness reckoned to the elect via the atonement/cross) and the king binds and casts him into outer darkness (hell). The king then says, “Many are called, but few… choose to respond?” How so? This man chose to be at the feast, didn’t he?
God Bless & Merry Christmas!
After reading this blog makes me want to start my own