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| 'Bam' ends with a Thud: Lakeland 'Revival' Over, Bentley Steps Down |
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Wednesday: August 27, 2008 |
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Shalom in Christ Jesus,
This report on Todd Bentley
and Lakeland is nothing to be joyful about but is truly a sad situation and one
that any discerning Christian could see coming.
The reason these terrible
events continue to transpire within the Church is that the Church as a whole
fails to heed the written word of God and the warnings of the true prophets of
God who right from the start proved that this was not a move of God but just
another deception. Yet, just as Israel and Judah did not heed her prophets and
overtaken by armies of evil as a judgment from God, so is most of the so-called
church today while at the same time attacking and dismissing the true prophets
as being from Satan.
When the first few alerts went
out concerning Todd Bentley as well as other recent editions on those such as
Rick Warren, we received our usual rash of angry emails. I am sure this
happened with all the other ministries and pastors out there that chose to
confront this deception head on. However, it seems with each passing deception
the sheep become more belligerent and harder of hearing as they are being given
over for their refusal to listen to God's word.
Below are a number of
reports regarding the collapse of the so-called "revival" in Lakeland, Florida
that has now come to an end with Todd Bentley stepping down from ministry.
Please realize that this is not in anyway looking to make light of or rejoice
in the sin that has befallen his wife, himself and others closely involved but
to show the real fruit of this ministry and as you will see this is not the
first time these things have occurred.
It does seem that due to
this sad but not surprising turn of events some are having their eyes finally
opened to the truth. One woman who resigned from her church over this matter
wrote that it was not so much what happened with Bentley but that she had come
to realize the complete lack of discernment or quite worse, the ignoring of it
that the leaders in her church and those surrounding Todd Bentley have had from
the start. If they all can hear from God as good as they claim to be able to
hear, why did not God clue them in on this before it turned into another fiasco
to be splashed across the headlines of the Evangelical Christian hating press?
Let us hope and pray that
this indeed does wake up the few who really want to know the truth and were
just deceived babes as the deceptions keep coming and are only going to grow
worse. We are lucky this guy did not kill anyone with his brand of healing
because I don't doubt for one second that this is coming and will bring real
persecution to America and the West shutting down our meeting places and
Churches.
BE/\LERT!
Scott
Brisk
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Matthew 24:10-12
"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.
Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule on their own authority;
And My people love it so!
But what will you do at the end of it?
Proverbs 14:15
The naive believes everything,
But the sensible man considers his steps.
Matthew 10:16
"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
Daniel 12:3
"Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
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Evangelist Bentley stepping down
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ONE NEWS NOW [American Family News Network] - By Allie Martin - August 19, 2008
[Ed Note: In the picture (left), it is
interesting to note how Todd Bentley took on the facial characteristics of the
Japanese demon Emma that he claimed to commune with and had tattooed on his
body.]
Todd Bentley will step down as head of Fresh Fire Ministries, after the ministry revealed he had an "unhealthy relationship" with a female staffer. That announcement comes one week after Bentley's ministry announced he and his wife were separating.
The announcement from the board of directors acknowledged that Bentley had an "unhealthy relationship" on an emotional level with the female staff member. Bentley is best known for leading a series of public meetings in Florida since April that have attracted around 300,000 people to churches and a baseball stadium.
The Canadian evangelist will also cease all public meetings, including a 38-city stadium tour of U.S. cities.
In a recent article in Charisma magazine on the meetings, editor Lee Grady said many of those who defended Bentley displayed a "lack of discernment," in part because of a "raw zeal for God."
Grady also pointed out that Bentley had serious credibility issues from the beginning of the meetings, claiming to have talked to an angel in his hotel room, and bragging about tackling a man and knocking his tooth out during prayer.
"Many of us would rather watch a noisy demonstration of miracles, signs, and wonders than have a quiet Bible study," the Christian journalist wrote. "Our adolescent craving for the wild and crazy makes us do stupid things. It's way past time for us to grow up."
Grady also criticized GodTV for telling people that any criticism of Bentley was "demonic." GodTV carried the Lakeland meetings live every night.
Original Report Here
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| More on Bentley: "Excessive Drinking" |
THE LEDGER, Lakeland, Florida and Polk County [NYTimes Group/Sulzberger] - Blogs > Scriptorium: A Religion Panorama - By Cary McMullen - August 21, 2008
John Arnott, founder and pastor of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship and one of three pastors who have undertaken Todd Bentley's rehabilitation, mentioned in a letter on his Web site Sunday that in addition to the previously reported "emotional" attachment to a female staffer, Bentley was drinking excessively. You can read the full letter here, but here's the operative section:
"Everyone is asking, 'What happened?' 'Why didn't anyone see this coming?' We are making the answers to those questions a matter of prayer, and are as shocked and saddened by what has just happened as you are. Furthermore, it has now come out that there has been some inappropriate behavior, both with excessive drinking and also with a female member of his staff. Please don't jump to conclusions or assume the worst, but this behavior is wrong before the Lord."
This confirms what I had heard off the record from a source, who said he had received reports from people close to Bentley, of Bentley being seen in local bars. I hadn't reported this because it was secondhand, and I had no confirmation, but Arnott is in a position to know. Bentley has admitted he had a drug and alcohol problem as a teenager, before his conversion to Christianity.
Why is this an issue? After all, drinking (even to excess) is not illegal, nor in the eyes of society generally would it rise to the level of emotional abandonment of a spouse. But for Pentecostals, traditionally, drinking alcohol has been considered sinful and strictly forbidden. I was told by the Rev. Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church, where the Florida Outpouring revival began, that although his church and denomination (Assemblies of God) have an abstinence rule forbidding consumption of alcohol, Bentley's Fresh Fire Ministries does not have such a rule, which surprised me. In any event, it is obviously a matter of concern to Bentley's supporters.
Original Report Here |
| Evangelist Had "Unhealthy Relationship" |
THE LEDGER, Lakeland, Florida and Polk County [NYTimes Group/Sulzberger] - By Cary McMullen, Ledger Religion Editor - August 18, 2008
LAKELAND -- Evangelist Todd Bentley, who led a months-long faith-healing revival that attracted thousands and worldwide attention, had "an unhealthy relationship" with a female staff member during the revival, it was announced Friday by the board of his organization, Fresh Fire Ministries of Abbotsford, British Columbia.
The announcement, a statement posted on the Web site of Fresh Fire (www.freshfire.ca), said the board had discovered Bentley "has entered into an unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff." Bentley resigned from the organization's board and agreed "to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life," the statement said. Apparently Bentley remains on the staff of Fresh Fire Ministries.
"On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors, we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness," the statement said.
It was announced last week that Bentley had separated from his wife, Shonnah Bentley, and would not return to conclude his tenure with the Florida Outpouring revival this week as he had originally intended.
Todd and Shonnah Bentley have three children and are Canadian citizens. Under Canadian law, separation is a preliminary step in divorce proceedings, lasting nine months. According to statements from Fresh Fire, the couple is undergoing counseling in an attempt to reconcile.
The Pentecostal revival began April 2 at Ignited Church in Lakeland and services have been held daily since then. Bentley, 32, was invited to lead the revival by the Rev. Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited, but Bentley proved to be a controversial figure. His unorthodox appearance, with tattoos and facial piercings, and his manner of conducting healings, in ways that sometimes resembled professional wrestling, drew criticism from some local and national Pentecostal leaders. But crowds flocked to the revival, many from outside Florida and the United States, either seeking healing from physical ailments or to witness what they said were manifestations of the power of God.
Strader said last week when the separation was announced he had been told by Bentley's organization there was "no third party involved." On Monday, Strader said Bentley had deliberately kept him "out of the loop."
"I was told Tuesday night they suspected something. I got the news Saturday morning. Todd told me he kept me out of the loop for my protection," he said.
Strader said Bentley's relationship with the staffer was the second time he has jeopardized his marriage.
"Three years ago, he did the exact same thing. He grew out of his relationship to his wife and transferred his affection to another. That's the biggest frustration with us. The bottom line is that he was traveling too much and not taking care of his wife and family like he should," he said.
Strader said he did not feel betrayed and that the latest disclosures do not invalidate the revival.
"One of the things we don't understand is how God uses people of flawed character. People ask me, why choose someone who's dysfunctional? Because God does it," he said.
Lynne Breidenbach, a Lakeland woman who had acted as Bentley's spokesperson, echoed Strader's remark.
"This is a personal failing on Todd's part, and he can recover from it. It's not an excuse to live a sloppy life, but there should be some encouragement here. God knew ahead of time Todd's frailty but chose to use him anyway," she said. "Unfortunately, some Christians are going to be disappointed with God. It's a good lesson for Christians to say, maybe you had unrealistic expectations."
Strader stressed that the revival is still continuing at Ignited Church, although with smaller crowds.
"Miracles are still happening. God's power is still present in the building," he said.
[ Cary McMullen can be reached at cary.mcmullen@theledger.com or 863-802-7509. His blog, Scriptorium: A Religion Panorama, can be read at religion.theledger.com. ]
Original Report Here
* Emphasis Added |
| Evangelist Bentley, Wife File for Separation |
THE LEDGER, Lakeland, Florida and Polk County [NYTimes Group/Sulzberger] - By Cary McMullen, Ledger Religion Editor - August 12, 2008
LAKELAND -- Evangelist Todd Bentley, who led a Pentecostal revival in Lakeland from a modest beginning to near-historic proportions, has filed for separation from his wife, a former spokesperson said Monday, and will not return to the ongoing revival.
Lynne Breidenbach, a local woman who had been a media liaison for Bentley during the months-long Florida Outpouring Revival, told The Ledger that Bentley announced to his staff Monday afternoon that he and his wife, Shonnah, had separated. The Bentleys have two daughters and a son, and are Canadian citizens. Under Canadian law, separation is a preliminary step in divorce proceedings, lasting nine months. Breidenbach, who resigned as revival spokesperson Monday, called the news of the separation "very sad." . . .
Shonnah Bentley has made few appearances on stage during the revival, which is now in its 133rd consecutive day.
Bentley, 32, announced earlier this month he would establish a U.S. base of operations in Lakeland. Fresh Fire Ministries recently purchased a lot in Oak Landing, a development in Mulberry.
Pentecostals and evangelicals historically have frowned on divorce, citing scriptural prohibitions. Ministers who were divorced usually had to give up their careers, but there have been some notable exceptions in recent years and attitudes appear to be changing.
J. Lee Grady, editor of Charisma, a magazine for Pentecostals based in Orlando, said Tuesday the news of Bentley's marital troubles would likely further polarize those following the revival.
"A large segment of the movement has been skeptical from day one. They're going to see this as a natural progression. Others who have been following Todd are going to be spiritually shipwrecked. We've most definitely seen through this revival a lot of people are not grounded in Scripture, so for them, it won't be an issue," he said.
Strader invited Bentley to Lakeland to lead the revival. The twice-daily services were streamed live over the Internet and also televised by God TV, a small Christian network, and attendance grew quickly. Young people were drawn by Bentley's unorthodox appearance - with tattoos, piercings and a goatee - which resembles a biker, rather than a buttoned-down televangelist.
Many traveled to Lakeland from outside Florida and the United States, and the revival changed location three times in search of larger venues. At its peak, the revival drew at least 10,000 people to services at Joker Marchant Stadium in May. From late June to Aug. 2, the revival took place under two large tents on the grounds of Sun n' Fun Fly-in that could accommodate up to 10,000 people, but it has now returned to Ignited Church.
Bentley and the Florida Outpouring have been controversial, even among other Pentecostals. Bentley has been criticized for making extravagant claims of miraculous healing and even claimed dozens of people in various locations have been raised from the dead as a result of prayers offered at the Lakeland revival.
Bentley's flamboyant style seemed borrowed at times from professional wrestling, which Bentley has said he watches. He often exclaims "Bam" as he touches or shoves people to "impart" healing, and in a video circulating on the Internet, he is seen driving his knee into the abdomen of a man who said he had colon cancer, causing the man to fall to his knees.
Read Full Report
Other Ledger Articles:
Revival Evangelist to Fold His Lakeland Tent
Read Full Article
Evangelist Todd Bentley Had Inappropriate Relationship, His Organization Says
Read Full Article
Florida Outpouring Revival Concerns Pentecostal Leaders
Read Full Article
A Working Man's Revival'
Read Full Article
Florida Outpouring: Internet Draws Thousands to Lakeland Revival
Read Full Article
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| The Ledger's Blogs on Bentley |
Separation May End Bentley's Lakeland Appearances
THE LEDGER, Lakeland, Florida and Polk County [NYTimes Group/Sulzberger] - Blogs > Scriptorium: A Religion Panorama - By Cary McMullen - August 11, 2008
Todd Bentley, the evangelist who has led the Florida Outpouring revival here in Lakeland since April 2, has filed for separation from his wife and might not return to the revival, according to his former local spokesperson, Lynne Breidenbach. She said Bentley made the announcement to his staff this afternoon. Bentley and his wife, Shonnah, have two daughters and a son and are Canadian citizens. Under Canadian law, separation is a first step in divorce proceedings and takes nine months. Bentley and his wife have been in marriage counseling for several months, Breidenbach said. She called the situation "very sad" but insisted it "doesn't invalidate what Todd did" at the revival.
Breidenbach, who said her contract with Bentley's Fresh Fire ended today, said it is not clear whether Bentley will make further appearances at the revival. About two weeks ago, Bentley announced he would leave the revival on Aug. 23 in order to resume his traveling evangelistic work. The Fresh Fire Ministries Web site indicates that a September appearance by Bentley in England has been postponed. Stay tuned for further information.
Original Report Here
More on Bentley
THE LEDGER, Lakeland, Florida and Polk County [NYTimes Group/Sulzberger] - Blogs > Scriptorium: A Religion Panorama - By Cary McMullen - August 12, 2008
It has been confirmed that Todd Bentley will not return to the Florida Outpouring revival, except for a brief appearance on stage Wednesday night, the Rev. Stephen Strader of Ignited Church told me today. Bentley will pray for the interns who have been working to help run the revival, then he will return to Canada to seek reconciliation with his wife, Strader said. Shonnah Bentley did not arrive in Lakeland until the revival had been underway for more than 30 days, and Strader said it was "probably a mistake" not to bring her down sooner. She went home to Abbotsford, British Columbia, about three weeks ago, Strader said. It is not clear who filed for separation, but Strader said he has been assured there was no infidelity involved.
Original Report Here
Revelation: Bentley's "Unhealthy Relationship"
THE LEDGER, Lakeland, Florida and Polk County [NYTimes Group/Sulzberger] - Blogs > Scriptorium: A Religion Panorama - By Cary McMullen - August 18, 2008
The disclosure late Friday by the Fresh Fire Ministries board of directors that evangelist Todd Bentley had developed "an unealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female staff member" confirmed suspicions by some in Bentley's inner circle over the past few weeks, I was told by the Rev. Stephen Strader, pastor of Ignited Church. Bentley has resigned from the Fresh Fire board and agreed to stop his public ministry for awhile, according to the statement, although apparently he remains on the staff of Fresh Fire. Bentley is "floating around" the country, "trying to get his head together" and will return to Canada soon, Strader said.
If comments in reaction to my previous blog posts are any indication, this will not change anyone's mind about Bentley or the validity of Florida Outpouring revival. His supporters are basically quoting Jesus' admonition, "Judge not, lest you be judged," while his detractors are saying that this simply shows Bentley was a false spiritual leader, if not outright demonic. - - - -
Read Full Report
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| Statement: From the Board of Directors of Fresh Fire Ministries |
August 15, 2008
We wish to thank all of our friends and partners for the overwhelming flood of support and compassion we have received as a ministry on behalf of Todd and Shonnah Bentley. The many phone calls and emails of concern from people who genuinely love the Bentleys and Fresh Fire Ministries have been a great encouragement to all of us here during these past few days. In particular, the rallying of support and prayer for Todd and Shonnah by prominent leaders within the Body of Christ has been a beautiful indicator of the maturity and grace the Lord is bringing to his Bride.
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. In light of this new information and in consultation with his leaders and advisors, Todd Bentley has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life.
On behalf of the Fresh Fire leadership and the Board of Directors we wish to apologize to our friends and partners and to the larger body of Christ and to ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry for the pain many of you must feel and so regret that in the midst of great revival, the enemy has found a way into our camp. To those who have stood by us, we wish to thank you for what in many cases has been years of support. Thank you for your financial giving towards the vision of this ministry, and thank you especially for your prayers. For those of our partners, friends and supporters who may be struggling with the recent disclosures and finding continued support of this ministry in conflict with either conscience or conviction, we release and bless you with all our hearts and trust that God will redeem in your hearts the good that He has accomplished in your lives through this ministry. It is our sincerest hope and prayer that the Lord bless you and bring you into your fullest destiny in Him.
When this ministry was initially birthed in May of 1998, Todd had but one simple desire in his heart - to see the world come to know Jesus. Now, only 10 years later, Fresh Fire Ministries has grown to become a Resource Center that is literally reaching out to all the corners of the Earth. There have been dozens of associate ministries, scores of interns and hundreds of graduates from the Supernatural Training Center. Over 60 nations have received a combined total of more than five million dollars in humanitarian aid and we have seen well over one million conversions for Jesus Christ.
And so, the question can well be asked... where do we go from here? It is true that we are deeply saddened by these recent events, but it hasn't shaken our faith in either God or His goodness towards us and with the help of wise and compassionate leaders within the body, we will do everything within our power to see our brother and sister healed and restored.
As a ministry, we can not forsake the vision and heartbeat upon which Todd Bentley founded Fresh Fire Ministries which is simply this:
Matthew 10:7-8
And as you go, Preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
While Todd and Shonnah each go through the necessary steps towards restoration and wholeness, we are compelled, with the resources with which God has entrusted us, to continue to spread God's love and power all over the world.
There are many noble activities and endeavors in which Fresh Fire Ministries is involved, initiated by Todd, and to which we are still committed. We have the Supernatural Training Centre, our school of ministry, already in it's fourth full year and with more than 50 students already enrolled we're believing for an amazing year of biblical instruction, practical application and encounters with the presence of God. Many mature and gifted speakers and associates, graduated interns and teachers filled brim-full with the DNA and fire of this ministry are ready to pour revelation and passion into the hungry hearts of this coming year's student body.
We will continue to host conferences in our region with speakers and worship leaders from around the nation whose message and mandates resonate with the vision and heart of Fresh Fire Ministries. In addition, we are committed to supporting the growing "OutPourings" across North America and around the world with our Associates, with encouragement and prayer support. In Todd's own words, "What God is doing is bigger than one man", and we now have a golden opportunity as the Body of Christ to pick up the baton and to run with perseverance for His glory.
Our missions department is progressing, as previously mentioned, with our major African crusade. With close to 100 team members in attendance, excitement is beginning to build and team members have responded that they are still believing God for the most amazing missions trip ever! Our Uganda Jesus Village in Kampala is forging ahead with the recent acquisition of 35 acres of land 30 minutes drive from our present location. Two of the 15 homes planned for the property are nearing completion, and the expanded village, when finished, will house almost 150 orphans rescued from war torn northern Uganda.
So whether in our Children's Home in Africa, in our Supernatural Training Centre in British Columbia, in the revival meetings and outpourings spreading around the globe, or in taking teams to minister compassion and practical assistance to the poor in the far corners of the Earth, we have been and still are committed to bringing love, hope and a demonstration of the saving, healing, delivering power of the Gospel to a world in need.
Thank you all once again for your prayers and support. We bless each and every one of you in whatever decision you must make. Please know that our heart in all of this is to see the name of the Lord vindicated, and we take great encouragement from Psalm 23 and the Lord's promise that He will "lead us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Together we look to the mercy and wisdom of our loving Father and we remain as ever, your brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Fresh Fire Board of Directors
Original Report Here |
| Special Prayer Request from the Fresh Fire Ministries Board of Directors |
August 12, 2008
Greetings Partners and Friends,
.... The Lord's blessings and abundance have been so evident on the ministry during this season of intense activity and we rejoice in seeing and being able to participate in what we believe is only the beginning of a worldwide awakening. It is with considerable sadness then, that we must temper the jubilation we know you all feel with the sobering news that Todd and Shonnah Bentley are presently experiencing significant friction in their relationship and are currently separated. We want to affirm that there has been no sexual immorality on the part of either Todd or Shonnah, nor has there ever been. Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, which approaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create an atmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issues in their relationship. We wish to stress however, that the Outpouring is not "to blame" for the current chain of events and that in effect we have no interest in blaming anyone, but rather we deeply covet your prayers for Todd and Shonnah and for Fresh Fire Ministries during this time.
We know that many of you will have questions, for most of which we presently have no answers. We cannot see far down the path ahead of us, but we have quiet confidence in the One who sees the end from the beginning and promises to provide grace and strength for whatever lies ahead. We are hopeful that the outcome will include restoration, but we can make neither promise nor guarantee. We intend to take each day as it comes and look intently for the new mercies promised us each morning. We will watch and pray and ask each of you to do the same, knowing that you will pray as you are led by the Holy Spirit.
In the meantime, we encourage you to continue to participate in current Outpourings, whether the Florida Outpouring or one in your area and region, ...or to become one if there are none nearby. As a ministry, we continue to encourage and facilitate these growing Global Outpourings, providing Fresh Fire Associate ministries, resources, and input wherever needed. - - - -
Read Full Report |
| Angels, Deception and a Cry for Biblical Truth |
Weird teachings about angels have become the norm in some charismatic circles today. It's time to demand sanity on the subject.
FIRE IN MY BONES - By J Lee Grady - August 20, 2008
Ed Note: Although not a great fan of Lee Grady as I believe he sometimes fudges the issues regarding the difference between true Charisma and 'Charismania' as well as working for a publication the promotes such nonsense and profits off the blood of the Lamb, he has been basically on target regarding Todd Bentley and the demonic outpouring in Lakeland as well as many other false teachings and teachers.
At a growing Brazilian church in Boston, a pastor told his congregation he was having regular conversations with an angel. Weeks later he set a chair on the stage for the heavenly visitor, whom he said was attending Sunday services even though no one could see him. The pastor eventually wrote a book containing messages he had supposedly received from the angel. The man's teachings became so bizarre that he was eventually removed from his denomination for promoting heresy.
That scenario may seem extreme, but it is one example of widespread emphasis on angels and angelic encounters in the charismatic movement today. In the case of the Brazilian church, the pastor went off the theological deep end and his church became a cult. It remains to be seen what will happen in other sectors of our movement as leaders promote teachings about angels that range from the mildly weird to downright wacky:
- Evangelist Todd Bentley, leader of the Lakeland Revival, stirred up interest in angels when he wrote about Emma, a female angel he said wears a long white dress, floats above the floor and resembles Kathryn Kuhlman.
- A young evangelist who was preaching in Canada last spring held up a jar with a feather in it and told the congregation it belonged to an angel who visits him. He said the angel was coming to the service to release riches and healing to those who wanted prayer.
- Leaders of the prophetic movement often speak of angels that bring healing, wealth or special anointings. Some have described angels as tall as skyscrapers while others say they have seen tiny angels the size of insects. One prophet spoke of angels who are sleeping inside the walls of churches. Another segment of believers claim that the glowing circles of light that often show up on photographs are angels in the form of "orbs."
With such exotic teachings on the rise, we desperately need some biblical guidelines. If you believe everything you hear these days, angels can be huge, tiny, spherical, male, female, feathered or non-feathered. What's next? Yipping dog angels? Mermaid angels with fins? Court jester angels with bells on their hats? - - - -
Read Full Report
Other Reports from Lee Grady:
Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion
Read Full Article
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| (The Report that Marked the Beginning of the End?) Thousands Flock to Revival in Search of Miracles |
Controversial Canadian Minister Says He Can Cure the Sick and Weary
ABC NEWS, America [Disney] > NIGHTLINE > FAITH MATTERS - By Jeffrey Kofman, Karson Yiu and Nicholas Brennan - July 9, 2008
UPDATE: After this story aired on "Nightline," Fresh Fire Ministries released a statement announcing that preacher Todd Bentley would be taking time off "to refresh and to rest" after having spent four months in Lakeland, Fla., leading revival meetings. Their Lakeland broadcasts on GOD TV were put on hold. Bentley returned on July 18 and has resumed broadcasting from Lakeland.
LAKELAND, Fla -- A middle-aged woman suffering from ovarian cancer shakes back and forth, speaking in tongues.
A young child with spina bifida and splints on his legs tears them off and bolts across the stage. He cries as he declares that his legs have strength like never before.
"The boy's been healed," says the preacher as thousands cheer him on.
Meanwhile, Bill Wise sits quietly with one arm raised to the sky, the other tightly clutching his 2-year-old daughter, who was born with her bladder and colon outside of her body.
He prays for a miracle.
Todd Bentley, a tattooed Canadian, stands with a microphone in one hand and the other stretched out to this electrified crowd of nearly 10,000.
"Bam!" He yells. "Bam, bam, bam!"
Several people onstage with him collapse to the ground.
Bentley has led a rapidly growing throng of people from all over the world in a religious revival that has transformed the small city of Lakeland, Fla., into the center of an international phenomenon.
Wise flew from Seattle with his daughter, Caelyn, in hopes that Bentley would be able to help his child where modern medicine has failed.
Like so many here, Wise believes Bentley has a special connection with God.
"He is very close with the Lord," Wise said. "He has actively and passionately pursued God. My daughter needs a miracle."
Tens of thousands of others like Wise are making a pilgrimage to this small city in central Florida in hopes of finding a miracle.
Spreading the Word
Thanks to the Internet and satellite television, word of the revival spread quickly around the world to people like Jim Carter, who came to Lakeland from Anaheim, Calif., with his wife and daughter.
"We've been watching on the Internet since it started, basically," he said. "We just wanted to come down and first-hand experience."
Carter added, "We just want more of God, more of his presence and to see God change our country and bring America back to God."
From the looks of it, Carter's daughter, Tanya, is a typical American teenager. But she is deaf.
"She was onstage last night around 11 o'clock," Carter said. "Todd prayed for her, and she said she actually felt fire and heat in her right ear."
"The crowd just keeps growing," said Bentley. "We're drawing anywhere from five to ten thousand people a night, and up to 70 percent of the crowd is brand new every night," he said. "And they're coming from all over the world, more than 130 nations, from every background."
A Dark Past
With his arms, legs and chest covered in tattoos and his lip pierced with a stud, Bentley is not the image of an evangelist most people have in mind.
Born in British Columbia, Canada, Bentley said he led a rough life before finding God.
He says his mom raised him on welfare, parading a succession of boyfriends through the house. When he saw his dad, even as boy, Bentley said it was to get drunk together and do drugs.
"You know it's a cycle of destructive abuse. Alcoholism, drugs, drinking at 11, I got involved in all kinds of criminal activity and ended up in prison before I was 15," he said.
At 15, Bentley was incarcerated for sexual abuse, a crime he committed when he was 13 against a younger boy.
Bentley, however, doesn't shy away from talking about his past and takes responsibility for his crimes.
"I'm very open about my past. I've written a book and it's in my autobiography," he said. "I served time in prison for my crime."
"I'd break into vehicles, I'd steal, as I got older, I'd take your pot, I'd take your drugs. I got involved with people who were affiliated with gangs and bikers."
At 18, Bentley said he found God, something he neither expected nor anticipated.
"God found me in my drug dealer's trailer and spoke to me in an audible voice," he said. "I was instantly delivered from drug and alcohol addiction, I never had one craving, not one withdrawal symptom, I was transformed from that man to the man that I am today."
"I see myself, you know, as a sinner saved by grace the same way the tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners were saved in the Bible," Bentley said.
It's not clear if the tens of thousands who are coming to Lakeland know all about Bentley's past, but they do know that he makes a virtue of repenting and embracing the Lord.
A Town Reacts
Amidst the frenetic passion of the revival not everyone is embracing the movement with open arms.
Ellen Simms owns a small store on Main Street, and though she has seen an increase in business over the past few weeks, the whole movement makes her uncomfortable.
"Miracles may happen, but this is such theater that it bothers me," she said while sitting behind the counter of her store in downtown Lakeland. "I'm not buying it."
Others are even more skeptical.
"They're just using this as a gimmick to make money," said June Cochran, who has been in a wheelchair all her life due to cerebral palsy.
Cochran said that people from the revival have lobbied her to attend the revival so that she can be "cured." She's a deeply religious person but she is offended by the tone of Bentley's revival.
"At first I didn't know how to respond, but they're not hearing what they're saying. They're saying that there is something wrong with us and that if we do not have our self-esteem already built up, it tears us down even more. Like we're not even worthy to be here."
Rev. Jeff White, a pastor at a local Missionary church in Lakeland, heard so much talk about Todd Bentley and the revival tent that he wanted to see it for himself.
He struggled with what he saw.
"I've had to fight skepticism and cynicism because I truly believe that God heals. I really believe his powers are real and it is today," White said. "I can't say that my spirit enters in and joins in with some of the things we've seen here tonight."
Bentley said he expects skepticism and embraces it.
"I would encourage the skeptic, come to a meeting, sit in a meeting for two days, see what happens to you," he said. "I'll pray for a skeptic. I'm not afraid of skeptics, I expect skeptics."
The Healing Touch?
When asked to present evidence of the healings, Bentley promised to give "Nightline" the names and medical records of three followers who would talk openly about his miracles. He never delivered. Instead, his staff gave "Nightline" a binder filled with what he says are inspiring miracles, but with scant hard evidence. It offered incomplete contact information, a few pages of incomplete medical records, and the doctors' names were crossed out.
When pressed further, Bentley provided the name of a woman in California who had a large tumor in her uterus that shrank after she saw Bentley.
Her husband, however, told "Nightline" that it could be a coincidence because she was still undergoing medical treatment. He said she was too tired to talk to us at the time but added that she was regaining her strength day by day.
The husband did provide some of his wife's medical records from a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, where she went for cancer treatment after being turned away by American hospitals. They, however, insisted on obscuring the clinic's name and the names of the doctors.
Not a single claim of Bentley's healing powers could be independently verified.
Bentley, however, remains positive.
"I believe God is real and he's showing himself to his people," he said. "Yes, I believe the prayer of faith will save the sick."
Bentley's revival is filled with wheelchairs and crutches, with people of faith and people desperate for salvation through faith.
One of them is Bill Wise. He patiently tended his desperately ill baby daughter throughout the long night's revival. He listened for a call from Bentley offering a cure for his child's condition. But it never came.
Yet Wise defiantly refuses to lose faith.
"Even if we don't see any change, in the immediate run here, sometimes prayer is cumulative," Wise said.
This piece has been updated with a clarification that was necessary because of an editing error.
Original Report Here
See Nightline Video Here
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Commentary: The Delusional World of Mark Stibbe
& St Andrews Chorleywood
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MORIEL MINISTRIES -
By
James Jacob Prasch - August 17, 2008
Welcome
to St. Andrew's Chorleywood, The UK Platform For The Promotion Of Sexually
Perverted Deceivers From Paul Cain To Todd Bentley.
After
Its Latest Fad The Question Must Be Asked:
Is St. Andrews Merely A Spiritually And Doctrinally Deranged Church Or A
Lunatic Asylum With A Cross On The Roof?
It
was the predecessor of Mark Stibbe, Anglican vicar at St. Andrew's Chorleywood,
David Pytches, who promoted the 'Kansas City Prophets', (now proven by
scripture and history to be false prophets), with his wild book 'Some Said It
Thundered' in which he lauded Bob Jones and Paul Cain.
The
fanciful false prophetic predictions of a great British revival for October of
that year made in the Name of The Lord by Jones, Cain and their pastor Mike
Bickel and the late John Wimber made in August of 1990 came to nothing. More
mosques have been built in Britain than churches in the last 18 years since
their promised 'latter day rain' and as with the failed Alpha courses the UK
has only witnessed steadily increasing moral and spiritual decline including a
Church of England headed by a member of a Druid sect and favoring same sex
marriages and the lesbian and homosexual ordination urged by Desmond Tutu.
Pytches,
Sandy Miller, Nicky Gumbel, Terry Virgo, Gerald Coates, and RT Kendall all
quickly jumped on the 'Kansas City' bandwagon, but the assured revival never
materialized; the diametric opposite transpired instead. Lakeland meetings were
also mimicked in Dudley, England and predictably endorsed by Gerald Coates who
tried to copy the failed Pensacola revival in London.
Lakeland
is the most recent sequel but Kansas City was the prequel. Indeed, the gross
distortion of The Book of Joel by the Kansas City false prophets, by means of
abandoning biblical exegesis and embracing pure Gnosticism in the mystical
subjectivist interpretation of Joel, saw the Babylonian invaders whom God will
destroy retro-identified as 'The Triumphant Church'. The participants at the
Docklands fiasco saw the locusts of Joel's apocalyptic vision identified as the
demon cohorts of hell in Revelation chapter 9, re-identified as the 'Kingdom
Now'/ Manifest sons participants in the conference. The mishandling and
distortion of scripture was religious madness that set the stage for the next
failed revival from Toronto, Canada led by John & Carol Arnott. This was
likewise followed by the demise of its American clone at Brownsville Assemblies
of God that ended in a massive church split and public financial scandal, but
likewise no revival despite an avalanche of big talk and hollow promises.
Indeed,
as one who himself believes in the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit when
practiced scripturally, the consecutive failure of these counterfeit moves of
Gods to deliver what they falsely promised was predictable, and in fact
inevitable. Abject theology leads to abject spirituality. Doctrinal bankruptcy
equates to spiritual bankruptcy.
Meanwhile,
the Kansas City False Prophets hyped and promulgated by St. Andrew's
Chorleywood to no end have publicly fallen from grace. Bob Jones was debunked
as a sexual predator with vulnerable women while Paul Cain was publicly
disclosed to be a drunken pervert with a life long history of alcoholism and
homosexuality.
Well
David Pytches - Thunder indeed!
Elim's
Ian Bilby, and his worship leader, the cheerleaders of the Toronto deception in
New Zealand were likewise found in publicly exposed serial adultery with as
many as 20 women.
No
revival ever materialized from Kansas City, which was the first link of the
twisted chain of carnal and demonically inspired folly that has so discredited,
damaged, and divided the church courtesy of St. Andrews Chorleywood who
championed these false prophets with David Pytches and his ludicrous book.
Neither
did any revival emerge from Toronto or Pensacola. Those freak shows are long
over as is their attempted UK imitations in Sunderland and Marsham Street,
London. Despite this, just as the Elim denomination continues to try to
resuscitate the Toronto failure in its magazine, under the leadership of Mark
Stibbe, St. Andrews Chorleywood continues promote John & Carol Arnott at
their "School of International Ministry". They seem to teach everything from
"dream interpretation" to biblical groundless nonsense that is essentially New
Age practice absurdly put into Christian jargon.
Now
Mark Stibbe has promoted the 'Third Wave' sequel of Toronto and Pensacola in
Lakeland, Florida. Lakeland pastor Stephen Strader admits it is the
continuation of the Toronto and Pensacola phenomena.
According
to various news reports, The Florida District Attorney believed Pastor Stephen
Strader to be as guilty as his brother Daniel, but obtained a RICO conviction
on his brother Daniel, now in prison until 2036 after defrauding elderly
Christians out of $3 million dollars.
Strader was convicted as a professional racketeer under RICO laws. RICO anti
racketeering legislation is used in the prosecution and sentencing of professional
gangsters engaged in various forms of organized criminal activity. These are
the Strader brothers.
Strader
brought in a criminally convicted Canadian homosexual pedophile named Todd
Bentley to conduct his counterfeit revival. Bentley was imprisoned for the
homosexual molestation of a seven year old before being commissioned to lead
the Lakeland pandemonium. Bentley has meanwhile filed for a separation from his
wife, which by Canadian law is the first step to divorce. Meanwhile, it is
revealed that Bentley has a history of adultery excluding him from ministry
that has been covered up and has once again become involved in a yet another
improper extra marital relationship. Yet it is this same Bentley that Wendy
Alec of the so called 'God Channel' has defended labeling those critical of him
and his carnal antics as being of the devil, and it is this same Lakeland hoax
that Mark Stibbe and St. Andrews Chorleywood promulgated aggressively.
Bentley
was exposed on national TV in the USA on the ABC Nightline broadcast for being
unable to medically document a single claimed healing. Some of those pronounced
healed at Lakeland have however since been medically documented as deceased and
a statement by Arnold Palmer hospital likewise contradicts claims of a resurrection
from the dead as bogus.
That
the 'Fruit of The Holy Spirit' according to Galatians is 'ekreitei' "Self
Control" not the lack of, never mattered to proponents of Toronto or Pensacola.
That such Fruit is also 'gentleness' does not matter either as Bentley kicks
old ladies in the stomach and baptizes people in the name of 'Bam'. Christ's
own clear and unambiguous warning to avoid those like Bentley who claim His
physical return before the 'parousia' and revelatory visitations from a healing
angel named 'Emma' (there are no manifestations of angelic beings as women or
as agents of healing in God's Word) could hardly matter to someone like Mark
Stibbe.
It
is well know by police and social services that pedophiles frequently profess a
religious conversion in prison as a parole stunt and then seeks work in scout
groups, schools, youth camps and churches in
order to get near children. Although Bentley fits this profile, we do
not have any evidence of any recent homosexual pedophilia by this self-disfigured
heretical freak, however current verified information certainly exists in the
public media about his taking his wife to court for a separation and his more
recent history of adultery.
However,
even if he did undergo an authentic regeneration and become a Christian, many
ask why he would then say The Lord led him to cover his body with an array of
disfiguring tattoos that give him the appearance of a rather freakish goon?
Even if his sexual perversion was prior to becoming a Christian as he claims, that
is not true of his openly confessed mentor, sexual predator Bob Jones, whom
Bentley lauds and endorses. Jones preyed upon women sexually in lewd acts as a
'prophet'. Why would anyone serving Jesus endorse the ministry of a sexually
immoral preacher who misused Christian ministry to perpetrate his perversions
and who according to The New Testament has no biblical right to be in ministry
as he is not above reproach?
These
are the deranged antics of Lakeland we are speaking of and these are the kinds
of people we are talking about; an assortment of perverts, swindlers, drunks,
homosexuals, demonstrable false prophets, and even a tattooed criminally
convicted pedophile child molester turned adulterer filing separation
procedures against his wife. This is the wacky world of Mark Stibbe.
Perhaps
Mark Stibbe will defy 1 Corinthians 6 and attempt to take brother to court and
attempt to sue me for these comments. His problem is the documented facts are
in the public domain. I doubt he would ever face me in front of a video camera
in a public debate; but the offer is open.
It
is more likely Mark Stibbe will go the way of Stephen Sizer, John Stott, Nicky
Gumbel, David Pytches, Sandy Miller and the other supposedly 'Born Again'
Anglicans and continue to compromise and turn a blind eye to the homosexual and
lesbian ordination and same sex marriage in his beloved Anglican communion and
remain in that backslidden institution within whose ranks St. Andrews remains a
haven for the ridiculous, the demonically deceived, the spiritually
counterfeit, the biblically ignorant, the carnal, and the blatantly absurd.
Fortunately,
Anglicanism's Evangelical forefathers Ridley, Latimer, Hooper, Tyndale, and
Cranmer were made of better stuff and would be out the door of the modern
Church of England even faster than they were out the door of The Church of Rome
in the 16th century.
The
combination of heresy and carnality that has so characterized Lakeland and its
predecessor counterfeit revivals is a sure symptom of sexual immorality as we
have witnessed with Elim's Ian Bilby, with Jim & Tammy Bakker, with Ted
Haggard, with Bentley's proclaimed heroes Bob Jones & Paul Cain who were
launched into meteoric prominence from St. Andrews Chorleywood by David
Pytches, and now Todd Bentley himself, who was once again pushed on naive and
undiscerning Christians by St. Andrews Chorleywood courtesy of Mark Stibbe.
It
is also noteworthy, how much of this sexual immorality has been of a perverse,
un-natural, pedophile, or homosexual nature. Bentley is not the only convicted
pedophile; the leader of Toronto on the Isle of Man was an Elim pastor sent to
prison for sexual acts with an underage girl in the children's Sunday School,
and Ted Haggard & Paul Cain join Bentley with a history of homosexuality.
Bentley was not the first pervert, and we can probably rely upon the god
channel, Elim, and above all Mark Stibbe & St. Andrews Chorleywood to be
sure he will not be the last.
This
sick charismania of Mark Stibbe has no relation to any biblical practice of
charismata or charismatic gifts, but on the contrary such Christ-less chaos is
the sick and twisted lunacy my fellow charismatics & Pentecostals are commanded to avoid in 1 Corinthians 14.
Meanwhile,
in the true spirit of Ezekiel chapter 13 Mark Stibbe has gotten the white wash
out and tried to erase the shameful and undeniable history of what St. Andrews
has once again been responsible for promoting as being from God just as with
Paul Cain & Bob Jones. Revisionism and white wash however will not work; an
actionable repentance alone will.
But
this is unlikely to happen. When an empire has been built on a lie, the lie
upon which the empire is predicated must continue to be propagated, even though
everyone in their right mind knows it is all a lie. It is rather likely
therefore that Mark Stibbe will attempt to continue to shepherd The Lord's
sheep in the way of doctrinal error and deception, following counterfeit after
counterfeit, fad after fad, and religious con upon religious con; Mark Stibbe
will most likely do what Mark Stibbe does best: Feed The Lord's sheep for whose welfare he will one day give
account to the wolves (Ezekiel 34:5, 1 Peter 5:2-4). Jesus said that only a
shepherd (pastor) protects sheep from wolves, hirelings do not (John
10:12-13).
Well
done indeed Mark Stibbe - as Jesus would say: "your father must be proud
of you" (John 8:44)!
The
God channel is perhaps better called 'The God-less Channel', and Mark Stibbe's
so called church, St. Andrews Chorleywood, firmly remains what it has always
been since David Pytches - a hideous refuge for those who have long ago ceased
to be truly led of The Holy Spirit on the basis of scripture but who have
rather chosen to dispose of their bibles, their discernment, and their brains.
Original Report Here
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And The Prophets Prophesied Falsely And The People Loved It So
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LET US REASON - By Mike Oppenheimer
We are watching prophetic history unfold for the church and it is not turning out the way most would think. With each new wave of revival the promoters claimed God is pouring out his Spirit on all flesh, but all that happened is the deception deepened.
You have to love the truth and walk in it, to walk with Jesus, only then can you discern error. That means you must know his word CORRECTLY and be willing to search it daily. Did not Jesus say to worship God we must do so in Spirit. No, He said we are to worship in Spirit and in TRUTH. This is the missing element in Lakeland and every Toronto style revival. In one of his supernatural stories Todd Bentley said when he was abducted through a pillar of fire he landed on a table in heaven surrounded by angels and he heard God say "I desire truth on the inward parts." Precisely! Where was it?
You cannot worship, you cannot teach "in the Spirit" without truth. Love tells the truth, not hides it, in fact love rejoices at the truth (1 Cor.13).
If salvation comes from the word of God, and our spiritual growth is dependent on it (Mt.13) would not Satan oppose it every way he can, substituting something that appears spiritual with power but has no real affect?
Each one of these waves of revival we have seen since the early 90's has diminished the church from upholding truth and in its place exalted experience. From the beginning this "revival" was the most blatant in departing sound doctrine by hyping up supernatural experiences- even the bold face lie that we can go to heaven anytime we want.
They put no light on his teachings and kept the people in the dark. They did not examine Bentley's teachings by Scripture to see his accuracy of his supernatural experiences. Bentley boldly claimed any miracle that happened in the Old and New Testament could also happen to us. This is not only an unbiblical claim but is completely illogical. Is God going to raise up another Moses and meet him at a burning bush and send him to deliver a nation by signs and wonders? Will saints appear on earth as they did with Jesus? No these were all unique one time events. When someone claims that every miracle that happened before can happen again it tells me one thing- they are unable to rightly divide the word of truth and are not showing themselves approved for ministry.
As far as I'm concerned Bentley unequivocally proved he was a false teacher by endorsing William Branham as the greatest healing evangelist and acknowledging Paul Cain who is a latter rain false prophet. Bentley willfully pointed to Branham and searched for any similarity of himself to him he could. Citing an angel told Bentley "I was with William Branham."Yet Branham was deceived for 30 years, not just at the end of his life, as some people say. The angel that had been in contact with him since he was a small child supposedly appeared during a 1933 baptismal service in the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana, and he said to Branham: "As John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Christ, you will forerun His Second Coming" (In the Days of the Voice of the 7th Angel (Edmonton: End Time Message Tabernacle), p. 53.) This led to Branham thinking he was Elijah. Branham denied the Trinity and the Son of God being eternal (and God), and yet Bentley along with men of renown give him kudos for his ministry. This shows how little these men care about the word of God, nor how God and his nature are represented. As long as we have those who care little for doctrine and even less for people to know truth the church will continue to have these kinds of meetings and call them revival.
The state of the church today is no different than when Jeremiah, lamented, "A wonderful [appalling] and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so" (Jer. 5:30-31). The prophets today rejoice at their power and influence--Jeremiah wept. . . .
While all this was taking place the world continued to turn, spinning downward as the sin factor increased. Natural disasters took place, news reports of our culture imploding morally and spiritually, the economy stuttering and effecting all, even on a global scale. Politicians continued to lie while the crises in the Middle East grew. Russia exerted her force and invaded Georgia and threatened Poland. But south in the USA, Lakeland continued to entertain the church goers who seek supernaturalism, those who had their curiosity peak got their one way ticket to deception. If one pauses to think, there is little difference from what just took place and what has been taking place all along in these "latter rain" revivals. Some of the players have changed but not the game. - - - -
Read Full Report
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Tattoo link to personality disorder in criminals
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SCOTLAND SUNDAY HERALD (Glasgow)[Newsquest Media Group/Gannett] - By Jasper Hamill - July 27, 2008
CERTAIN CRIMINALS with tattoos are more likely to suffer from anti-social personality disorder (ASPD), new research from the US has revealed.
A study of forensic psychiatric patients in Michigan - half of whom were deemed unfit to stand trial and half of whom were found not guilty through insanity - revealed that 73% of the survey group that were tattooed also exhibited strong signs of ASPD.
Sufferers of the disorder are characterised by a lack of empathy and shallowness and are prone to pathological lying, cheating, stealing, physical aggression and drug abuse.
The research also revealed that the inmates who had tattoos were more likely to have suffered sexual abuse, abused substances or attempted suicide.
Dr William Cardasis, of the Michigan Centre For Forensic Psychiatry, conducted the research. He said: "Our findings suggest that forensic psychiatric inpatients with tattoos are significantly more likely to suffer from ASPD than those without tattoos, and patients with ASPD were also significantly more likely to have higher numbers of tattoos, a larger percentage of their body covered with tattoos, and tended to have tattoos in more visible locations."
He added: "I hope this provides clues for clinicians to look for ASPD in forensic psychiatric patients with tattoos, and also to look for signs of suicide attempt, substance abuse, and sexual abuse."
Glasgow academics have also been conducting their own research into tattoos. Kevin Durkin, a psychologist at Strathclyde University, has been leading projects that found tattooed students have poorer study skills than the non-tattooed, that children are scared of people with tattoos and a heavily tattooed person is more likely to have substance abuse problems than a person with none.
He said: "I'm not saying tattoos cause a problem, but they may be associated with it.
"Some can indicate a confrontational mode of behaviour. I met one guy who tried to tattoo f*** off' across his forehead; he used a mirror to write it, so he got the words back to front.
"I must add that we must be careful not to stereotype everyone with tattoos: most people that have them aren't simply going to erupt into violence."
But tattoo aficionados have reacted angrily to the research.
Kenny Mitchell, owner of Land Ahoy Tattoos in Glasgow, studied at art school before starting his business. He said: "You could also say that all these people in this survey have a short back and sides haircut. Does that make them anti-social? I'm sure you could find a lot more that these people have in common than a tattoo.
"This research highlights the image people like me are trying to get away from. It's an old-fashioned way of thinking, that only criminals, bikers and sailors have tattoos. Just look at Beckham or film stars - this is the most popular tattoos have ever been. By the time our generation is old, every single nursing home in the country will be filled with tattooed people."
Stewart Ross, a Glasgow-born psychologist who now teaches in Birmingham, has his entire back tattooed. He said: "This research is cack. You're basically lumping everyone who has a tattoo and happens to be in a forensic psychiatric unit into one kind of club.
"Without taking into account what the tattoos are, this is worthless research. We still don't know whether these people were tattooed before they went forensic.
"Having a tattoo doesn't make you a criminal," he insisted.
Original Report Here
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