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A Response to Charges against James Sundquist for
“Judging the Bride of Christ”
June 26, 2008 - Open Letter to: Brian Olynick, Stephen R.
Strader, Gary S. Greig, Todd Bentley and Fresh Fire Ministries
Staff,
I am responding to your charges that we are “judging
the Bride of Christ.” If you had bothered to read the testimonies
you would see that we are not judging the Bride of the Christ,
as only Jesus Christ can do that at the Bema Judgment Seat. But
we are commanded to judge the teachings of anyone who claims
to be part of the Bride of Christ. So in one broad stroke you
have already borne false witness against us. I was expecting
that at some point you would retaliate with ad homimum personal
attacks, instead refuting the charges against Todd Bentley and
his collaborators, with Scripture as the Apostle Paul has mandated.
We are required to judge teachings and be good Bereans to test
the Scriptures to see if these things be true. You have done
none of this. But we will! All of my discernment colleagues have
exposed Todd Bentley as a false teacher, not by some emotional
appeal, but by purely comparing his teachings as well as the
roots of his teachings and teachers to Scripture. When did this
commandment become extinct? We are not heretic hunters. In fact,
we don't even have to hunt for them, they are in your face, published,
and in constant media national and international media coverage.
Anyone can flail accusations, but if you are a Christian,
you must prove your charges against us with Scripture, otherwise
it is you who have become guilty of bearing false witness against
a brother, which God has deemed is an abomination. If you continue
to promote and defend Todd Bentley, then you become an accomplice
and share in his iniquity. If you think every Christian shouldn't
judge the teachings of a so-called Christian or Christian teacher,
then you are deceived. If a man calls himself a brother i.e.,
one of "Christ's bride", but brings teachings contrary
to Scripture, then we are commanded to expose him and expel him
from the church. The Apostle Paul commands us to name names.
So we are compelled to name Stephen R. Strader, Todd Bentley,
Gary S. Greig publicly for being false teachers, refusing correction
or warning, and for bearing false witness against those who have
exposed all of you. We are not attacking the bride, because we
are part of the Bride of Christ, rather we are exposing wolves
who are attacking the Bride of Christ. Todd Bentley and company
are not the Bride of Christ...the Bride of Frankenstein would
be a more apt description, spiritually speaking.
If you are a pastor, then you should know that. Your failure
to do so and defend your own sheep from wolves in sheep's clothing
and Satan's servants masquerading as a servant of righteousness,
then you are a false shepherd and derelict in your duty to protect
your flock. In this regard, I am compelled to join my colleagues
and expose both you and Todd Bentley publicly on the various
discernment newsletters and national radio programs we frequent,
informing them that you both refuse correction and have failed
to repent even upon being confronted, and represent a clear and
present danger to the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have read Todd Bentley's defense of the female Angel Emma
posted at: http://sheepyweepy.wordpress.com/2008/06/11/todd-bentley-responds-to-criticism/#comment-730
and quoted from Bentley's site, that the angel would not necessarily
be female, just appear female. Response, so now God is the author
of confusion, so we are not able to discern? What biblical precedent
is there for any angel (male or female) to heal? As to discernment
critics needing to think outside their comfort box, I have read
Jackie Alnor's, Mike Oppenheimer's, Gary Osbourne's and Jacob
Prasch's demolitions of Bentley's stronghold(s). I assure you
that their comfort box is in fact Scripture itself. Is it written
or is it not written? What Christians should worry about is when
they are comfortable outside of the Scripture zone! If we are
Christians and good Bereans, our comfort box will be that the
fruit of the spirit is "self-control", not "out-of-control"...evil
shrieks are the sounds made from evil spirits coming out one
someone possessed, not the sounds made by people after they are
delivered or for that matter coming from saints who don't even
need deliverance or healing!
As to Bentley seeing Jesus physically, this reminds of Paul
Yonggi Cho claiming he saw Jesus appear dressed up as a fireman.
(Jesus wouldn't be a fireman anyway putting fires out, rather
he will be sending the fires of judgment on the earth.) Sound
good that Jesus is paying us visits? Big problem! The Book of
Acts; 3:21 states that Jesus Christ must physically remain in
Heaven until he returns in glory when he will restore all things!
Jesus Christ himself warn us in Matthew 26:23-27 (and Mark 13:21-22)
that if anyone says Jesus Christ is here or there, don't believe
him or even follow after him. Jesus Christ knew people like Bentley
would come along, so he made it crystal clear that he would not
return to the earth until we all see the entire earth engulfed
in the white lightning of his glory with the heavenly hosts following
him. There will be no wondering if he came back yet for his Second
Coming. There will not be a Third, fourth, 50th or thousandth
coming. And no one can summon him. That constitutes conjuring
spirits or sorcery. So if anyone says they saw Jesus before his
final return, then they saw another Jesus. Are we to believe
Jesus Christ over Todd Bentley who said he saw him? Worse, Bentley
is telling his followers that they can now summon down Jesus
and angels. Mike Oppenheimer reveals that according to Bob Jones,
one of Bentley's mentors, Bentley's Lakeland Revival is supposedly
part of the Third Wave following the First Wave of the Toronto
Blessing, followed by the Second Wave of Pensacola. Mike Oppenheimer
also points out that Paul Yonggi Cho falsely prophesied that
the Pensacola Revival will last until Jesus comes, but it has
been a dismal failure, completely collapsing, ship-wrecking the
faith of many. Instead of revering Bob Jones, Todd Bentley should
have exposed both Jones and Cho. Dr. Christian Wei, who is the
director of a school which trains missionaries to take the gospel
into Communist China has written an excellent documentary exposing
Paul Yonggi Cho. The persecuted and martyred Church in China
is already being alerted to false teachings of Paul Yonggi Cho.
Dr. Wei is presently translating both of my books on the false
teachings of Rick Warren into Mandarin and Cantonese languages
to distribute to the underground church in China to warn them.
Dr. Christian Wei Expose on teachings of Paul Yonggi Cho:
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/cho/general.htm
Paul Yonggi Cho quotes compiled by Jim Fox:
http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=557
Mike Oppenheimer's expose on Todd Bentley: http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/let_us_reason_alert_lakeland.htm
Even though Bentley's chief apologist, Gary S. Greig, is an
instructor at Jack Hayford's Foursquare denomination Church on
the Way, who is a Rick Warren promoter, Bentley is not yet the
global clear and present danger to the church at large that Rick
Warren is with his Global Peace Plan.
Gary Greig Biography:
http://www.vanguardministries.org/bio-garygreig.asp
Note from his own biography that Greig hotlinks to both Injoy
Ministries and Equip, which are headed by John Maxwell who is
virtually the E for Equipping in Rick Warren's Global PEACE Plan.
I expose John Maxwell's teachings and his unholy alliance with
Rick Warren in my second book on Rick Warren entitled: Rick Warren's
Global Peace Plan vs. Scriptural Teachings on Peace. The entire
book is also available online at:
http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/James/Global%20PEACE%20Plan.pdf
(Once loaded, search for “John Maxwell”)
Todd Bentley's false teachings (and Gary Greig's defense of
them) aren't even subtle but glaring. Instead of repenting of
defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit with massive and extensive
tatoos all over his body and defying Scripture, Todd Bentley
boastfully glories in them...a stumbling block to the “least
one of these my children” and the poorest witness. Instead
of repenting you (Brian Olynick) retaliate against the messengers,
as though they are the enemy! No wonder the Apostle Paul said
"I am now therefore the enemy because I tell you the truth"!
So I must strongly rebuke all of you and pray that you repent
while there is still a season to repent. So be assured we will
publicly mark you and warn the church.
I had thought I was done with my own report on Todd Bentley
and was ready to publish it and expose on the radio nationally
and internationally when I read about Jack Hayford's commentary
on this revival which is posted on the Foursquare International
website as well as at:
- Jack Hayford & Foursquare International Official Statement
on Todd Bentley:
- http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/
- jack-hayford-statement-on-the-lakeland-revival-todd-bentley/
Therefore, I am now compelled to add the following commentary
on Jack Hayford to this article on this "revival!"
The most glaring question I have for Dr. Jack Hayford's formal
Foursquare Church statement regarding Todd Bentley and the Lakeland
Revival:
"by any standard of biblical wisdom, it is far too early
to assert anything on any terms...We are not called to answer
for any other ministry or its report;" is that if this is
his position and that of his board of directors at Church on
the Way and the Foursquare Church denomination regarding Todd
Bentley and the Lakeland Revival, then why did Gary Greig, one
of his teaching pastors and promoters of C. Peter Wagner at his
own church, the Church on the Way and Masters Seminary, publish
an apologetics defense of Todd Bentley's actions and so-called
revival on the very website and church conducting the revivals?
The pastor of the church, who is one of those presiding over
the Lakeland Revival Stephen R. Strader even directed me to Gary
Greig as the apologist defending Todd Bentley. For Jack Hayford
to say that we are not called to answer for any other ministry
is nothing short of staggering. All Christians are called expose
the deeds of darkness and false teachings, whether in their own
church or a church down the road. To refrain from speaking out
against a wolf in the sheepfold is nothing short of dereliction
of duty of a pastor and shepherd! And if this is true, then why
does Hayford participate in Rick Warren's Purpose Driven hostile
take-overs of other churches and denominations which most certainly
do intervene in those churches affairs of other churches, expelling
those who oppose Rick Warren's Global Peace Plan.
Second problem with Hayford's defense or failure to speak
out against Todd Bentley is his invoking Gamaliel. Gamaliel's
statement in the Book of Acts was not prescriptive, but rather
descriptive. There is no evidence that Paul took or used the
advice that if it is not of God it will go away after his conversion.
In fact, Paul taught the opposite as evidence by his fear of
what would happen to the Church of Ephesus after he died. The
Apostles taught that things would get worse and worse (exactly
what we see in Todd Bentley). If what Gamaliel said is true,
then Roman Catholicism and Islam would have long disappeared,
but both of these religions boast 2+ billion followers. It is
precisely because the apostate church did follow Gamaliel's advice
that in great part produced the fix we are in today. Following
Hayford's kind of unwise counsel is the same kind of advice to
refrain from intervention in both the Toronto Blessing and Pensacola
nightmare's in the Assemblies of God and Vineyard. We still recovering
from this nightmare because these so-called watchmen on the wall
who became spectators and worse participants. Had George Wood
stepped in at the beginning this nightmare might have been averted
in the Assemblies of God. But what does George Wood do in the
case of the latest Rosemary's Baby? He issues a statement on
June 5, 2008 that does nothing to condemn Todd Bentley's teachings.
Had he condemned Thomas Trask, the previous General Superintendent
of the Assemblies of God, a destroyer of the brethren and God-fearing
AG pastors, and promoter of much the very same false teachings
promoted by Bentley, the Assemblies of God denomination might
not be in the state of apostasy that it finds itself. Had Jack
Hayford and George Wood intervened in the case of Rick Warren's
teachings and programs, that plague might have been averted in
the Foursquare Church and Assemblies of God, respectively. But
what does Jack Hayford do? He promotes Rick Warren and Richard
Foster who cite some of the same contemplative prayer mystics
that are the inspiration behind Todd Bentley.
Speaking of Rick Warren, here is a update on him. I just received
a letter from a good brother in South Africa. A Christian broadcast
journalist stated on the radio there that Rick Warren is a false
teacher. She has now received a threatening phone call from an
attorney threatening her with a slander lawsuit. But this is
not surprise because I was threatened with legal action by Richard
Foster's Renovare organization. In the U.S. a major network Christian
radio station censored the longest standing national conservative
Christian radio show if they ever again said anything negative
about Rick Warren...doesn't matter if what they said was true.
The New York City Leadership group which was recently formed
will be launching major events this Fall at Madison Square Garden
promoting Rick Warren and Ken Blanchard (also exposed in my second
book on Rick Warren) and his teachings...EVENT SPONSORS:
Buttafuoco & Associates
Greg Laurie NJ/NY 2008 Crusade So BEWARE: Here is their website
for proof of sponsorship:
http://www.nycleadershp.com
&
http://copgny.org/316776.ihtml
So beware of Jack Hayford, Tom Trask, George Wood and those
I have cited in this document. You don't even need to use the
present documentation of events or fruit in Lakeland Florida
Outpouring to demolish this stronghold, though there is plenty
going on to already rightfully oppose it. In addition to the
fruit of this thorn bush, you can judge him as well as this tree
by the root system which is riddled with false teachers and teachings
that Todd Bentley is still touting to his audiences.
Finally, one of the most troubling statements of Hayford's
official position is this statement:
"With time, whatever is taking place in Lakeland and
through activities issuing from its happenings will either verify
or discredit the source of the manifestations." (More Gamaliel
reasoning)
Comment: Give the wolf time...if given enough time, it can
destroy the whole flock. Give leaven enough time it will leaven
the whole lump. Give the siren calls of the harlot enough time,
she will deceive the multitudes.
Therefore, Jack Hayford is one of the least credible people one
should trust. Here is an expose why you should give no credence
to Jack Hayford in the first place:
- James Sundquist expose on Jack Hayford:
- http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/jack_hayford_expose.htm
Mike Oppeneheimer, Director of Let Us Reason's expose on Todd
Bentley:
http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/let_us_reason_alert_lakeland.htm
Jacob Prash's expose on Gary S. Grieg entitled:
A Review Of Gary S Greig’s Pseudo-Scholarly Apologetic
For The Unbiblical Antics Of Todd Bentley And The Lakeland, Florida
Sequel To The Failed Revivals Of Kansas City, Toronto, And Pensacola,
is now posted internationally on Be Alert and Moriel Ministries
at: http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/review_of_gary_greigs_apologetic.htm
For Todd Bentley to claim he had a conversation with the Apostle
Paul makes him a necromancer, forbidden in Scripture. Todd Bentley
is not conducting true worship or true revival but seances. He
is exploiting the masses with stories he has made up exactly
how Scripture describes people like him in 2 Peter 2:3.
You have made a mockery of Christ and his Bride, and compounded
your sin by attacking those saints who have exposed you for this
circus. What a reproach! So rest assured, we will sound the alarm
on His Holy Hill about you! If anyone had wondered what signs
and wonders would be performed to deceive even the elect if that
were possible, you are now witnessing it!
Final Warning:
2Jo 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jo 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of
his evil deeds
- Sincerely in Christ,
- James Sundquist
- Director
- Rock Salt Publishing
- http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/False-Teachers.html
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