This article I believe is very crucial, as it will bring out some spiritual principles that apply not just for this situation but in general might bring light to a lot of unanswered questions for those in ministry. In writing this I want to first bring proper perspective and then a lay a foundation from which to build on.
In regards to what happened in Lakeland my role here is not to attempt to disprove what people said (and say) in regards to the positive things from there. Neither it is to judge the process that is (has been) taken after that to set things right. There are many different roles leaders have assumed and it is between them and God how they fulfill that role.
In attempting to bring out the negative aspects of Lakeland and Todd it is merely in the context of bringing in proper spiritual perception in the hope that some of the damage done to the body can be healed and could be avoided in the future.
LAYING A FOUNDATION
1 Timothy 4:16 Give attention to yourself (your life) and to the doctrine; continue in them, for doing this; you will both deliver yourself and those hearing you.
Timothy was the overseer of Ephesus at this time. Paul in his letters to him gives many a pastoral advice and this is one of them. From these verses we understand that the way Timothy conducted himself or lived his life and what he taught would have a major influence on his flock. Therefore Paul is admonishing him to pay attention to that.
There is an important spiritual principle we can derive from this, which is leaders have a responsibility and a standard to live up to and if they don’t it will affect the flock under their care.
There is an important spiritual principle we can derive from this, which is leaders have a responsibility and a standard to live up to and if they don’t it will affect the flock under their care.
Being more specific to a situation when David numbered the Israelites it was his own fault however because of his sin the people also came under judgment .The example of David shows that just as leaders have been given authority to open good things in the spirit they can at times open the wrong doors by their mistakes. When this happens there is a lot of damage that can come along with it for the sheep. Combining the two passages we can say the way a leader lives, what he preaches and the decisions he takes can have major impact on the people under him.
Now we have talked about everything in a pastoral context however the same principle also applies to those whom we allow to minister in our midst. When we invite somebody to come and minister in our midst, we are giving him or her whatever spiritual authority we have over the sheep. So if they are out of whack in any of the above-mentioned areas then it will have a bearing impact on the sheep. In hearing this one may wonder how then can the sheep be protected as the task at hand seems impossible, if it is to discern every time. It is in this context faith, God’s mercy and truths ones established comes in. All of those can serve to protect. However if we entertain somebody in our midst that we know to violate all or any of the requirements mentioned above then no matter what faith we claim to have we are exposing our congregation to harm and there will be consequences. That could explain why after a minister came and left there was unnatural attacks or marital problems or anger or depression or doctrinal confusion and so on in the leadership and congregation. (This same principle applies to also receiving from ministries over the Internet or via satellite TV)
Now we have talked about everything in a pastoral context however the same principle also applies to those whom we allow to minister in our midst. When we invite somebody to come and minister in our midst, we are giving him or her whatever spiritual authority we have over the sheep. So if they are out of whack in any of the above-mentioned areas then it will have a bearing impact on the sheep. In hearing this one may wonder how then can the sheep be protected as the task at hand seems impossible, if it is to discern every time. It is in this context faith, God’s mercy and truths ones established comes in. All of those can serve to protect. However if we entertain somebody in our midst that we know to violate all or any of the requirements mentioned above then no matter what faith we claim to have we are exposing our congregation to harm and there will be consequences. That could explain why after a minister came and left there was unnatural attacks or marital problems or anger or depression or doctrinal confusion and so on in the leadership and congregation. (This same principle applies to also receiving from ministries over the Internet or via satellite TV)
If we see some practical examples for the scriptures we’ve discussed it will help us understand better.
The way a minister leads his life is important as if he has unrepentant sins in him, it will also be evident in his flock over a period of time. I was in Russia and attending a certain church. Oneday after the service I felt that the Lord wanted me to stop going there. I was perplexed but obeyed. Soon it came out to the light that the pastor there was involved in adultery. Quite a few of the congregation members also fell into the same sin and had already been in sin as a result. Others were struggling in that area. I realized later that the Lord was protecting me, as I was weak in that area myself that time.
There is a general saying “Like the shepherd is so is the sheep”. We need to understand that we release our spirits along with ministry that we do. So if a leader is involved in immorality there is great chance of it being transferred to the sheep. In another light this explains why many members in a church look like, sound like or talk like their pastor.
The same applies to travelling ministers. I was heading a certain organization in Russia and had invited this minister to come and share. I had ignored and become blind to the many warning signs because of my past friendship with this minister. After he came and left all hell broke loose and it took a lot of cleaning up to make amends much of which we weren’t able to deal with.
The same applies to when ministers error in doctrine (not talking about minor differences). Also being unequally yoked with ministries that are in error or impure comes under this category (meaning what is affecting them will affect us).
Now that we have addressed how we open doors for the enemy to come in, we will look into certain aspects on how to close these doors.
Whenever a leader sinned in the New Testament they were to be rebuked publicly in the context of misleading people with them. That is why Paul rebuked Peter in front of everybody. When exhorting timothy on bringing correction to elders (leaders) he was asked to rebuke them openly (I timothy 5:20). This was in regards to the natural when people were mislead by the leader’s wrong actions or doctrine. When the leaders are rebuked openly it helps the people following them to come to realization of the error and learn from those mistakes.
There is a spiritual aspect to this also. When a person sins or is unrepentant there is a door that could open in the spiritual realm for the enemy to have access to his life and torment him. It is the same in the case of a leader but the fact that he is leading a group makes the whole group vulnerable to the attack and not just him. Only proper repentance will totally close that door shut.
Adding some more aspects to repentance, the place of error should also become the place of correction. Not only that, to the extent sin or fallacy was promoted; to the same extent repentance must be promoted. Also the sins of leaders must be made public with repentance (wisdom and understanding applied to each situation) if healing is to achieved for everybody under their influence. In many cases usually the leader sins and repents in private but since it wasn’t made public many were mislead in the natural. Also the spiritual door is still open for the enemy to attack the sheep even though the leader might have received healing and forgiveness. However if the sins haven’t caused any potential harm to the sheep (my understanding) then there is no reason for public repentance.
Looking at it practically if a leader has been involved in continual sin (of any kind) then it has to be publicly exposed for the sake of the sheep. If a travelling minister has serious error in doctrine or has a wrong spirit in him or has an immoral lifestyle. The same should be confronted from the pulpit or setting he had been allowed to minister. Only this could totally close the door that has been opened in the spirit for the enemy to have access. If we have promoted wrong doctrine on the Internet and repent sometime after, we should also promote our repentance and truth the same way. If we don’t we are in danger of misleading people by our past errors We might have to give account to God for that even though we might have corrected ourselves.
IN REGARDS TO LAKELAND
I will just highlight some of the things I believe the Lord wants me to and not look into every detail. Also the context to everything is not Todd but the larger body of Christ.
Sorry to say but Todd has failed on every scriptural count named above. In life, doctrine and decisions. This is no small matter and he was exposed worldwide. Not only that many ministries didn’t fill in their pastoral duties by addressing their flock on these issues (before and if not after) which would have protected them. This is not a petty mistake or a minute error in doctrine that we are talking about but clear violations of scriptural principles and rules. When such glaring errors are not addressed then the shepherds haven’t fulfilled their duties’ in protecting the sheep and in doing so they have put their flock in a lot of hazard. If we violate a clear scriptural principle as such (in protecting one’s flock when error is obvious) there will be consequences and we will also be held accountable by the Lord for it. Therefore a lot of Todd’s struggles are becoming the struggles of people who were exposed to his ministry.
The struggles are simply what was characteristic to Todd.
The struggles are simply what was characteristic to Todd.
- Struggle in marriage and relationships
- Immorality and lawlessness’
- Lying spirits at work.
- Error in doctrine.
- Depression and fits of anger
- Confusion and unbearable pressure.
Now not everyone who has these problems need to trace their root to what happened in Lakeland. However if it started from that point or soon after it, it would be worth taking it before the Lord. Also not every one of the characteristics mentioned above need to be found to come to a conclusion that Lakeland was the cause. Only some could be manifest or all but in varying degrees (based on a lot of factors). Again we need to seek the Lord on it.
For the spiritual doors to be closed those involved should be the ones repenting. However there is a case that if the parties responsible are unwilling and the context is in the body of Christ receiving healing through that then the Lord allows others who have similar authority to repent on their behalf to shut those doors.
Now from my understanding efforts are on to deal with this from different angles. However given the different dimensions this situation has assumed, it makes it difficult to look into each one. We’ll look at some briefly.
1) Repentance from Todd. This would release healing to those who sat under his ministry closing the doors of authority opened in the spirit to the enemy.
Now from my understanding efforts are on to deal with this from different angles. However given the different dimensions this situation has assumed, it makes it difficult to look into each one. We’ll look at some briefly.
1) Repentance from Todd. This would release healing to those who sat under his ministry closing the doors of authority opened in the spirit to the enemy.
2) Repentance from those who authorized him or laid hands and blessed him. (Violation of the scripture in Timothy were it says Do not hastily lay hands on anyone…) which would set the precedent for proper biblical leadership in the Charismatic community.
3) Repentance for the false prophesies over Todd that could release healing and continuing of restoration to the present day prophetic movement.
4)Repentance for the mistakes in Lakeland in context, which is very crucial for the cleansing of the charismatic movement .
5)Repentance from the pastoral clergy for not taking the necessary steps to protect the flock or even common people for openly embracing Lakeland ignoring the glaring errors. If this is not done the sheep (or anybody) that have been subject to its influence will continue to suffer.
Points and 1 and 5 are crucial to see order restored in congregations who are struggling with the issues mentioned above in relation to Lakeland. Even if point 1 is not fulfilled if we can come before the Lord in humility for our mistakes and openly admit them fulfilling point 5 we can find grace.
Brethren let us in humility shut the doors that have been opened to the enemy. Let us truly become “More than conquerors in Christ Jesus”.
