There is a church on the north side of Columbus called Northside Community Church. They are a charismatic/apostolic church associated with Christian International. On the 3rd Friday night of each month, they have something called “School of the Holy Spirit”. Basically, it is a night of worship, teaching, and receiving prophetic ministry. I’ve been there numerous Friday evenings and their ministry has blessed me beyond words.
But, something has been different over the past 3 months. Ever since the Lakeland Revival started in May…
The leaders of Northside Community Church have been on the Todd Bentley bandwagon and have traveled to Lakeland, and one other place where Todd Bentley has ministered, and I think they’re planning on visiting another Todd Bentley appearance in the near future. In short, the Lakeland Revival is part of a greater movement called “The Saints Movement”. This movement was prophesied by Bishop Bill Hamon several years ago and just recently he announced we are in a time of fulfillment. So what is the “Saints Movement”?
The Saints Movement is a time when the saints—that is, believers in Jesus Christ—recognize and act on the understanding that Christ has empowered and commissioned each of them to be the Church 24/7, manifesting the Kingdom of God wherever they live and work.
In other words, Bill Hamon has announced we are in a time of healing, miracles, deliverance, signs, wonders, and other manifestations of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. These manifestations would not be limited to an elite few, nor limited to the Charismatic groups, but rather it will spread to all Christians (the saints at large).
This prophecy excites me because it’s Biblical. Jesus commissioned us to go and make disciples and he said that signs and wonders would accompany those who believe (Mark 16:15-18). These signs and wonders are manifestations of the Kingdom of God. I am all for Jesus and his Kingdom!
Now, with that said, I am not happy with how certain Charismatic circles are handling this prophecy from Bill Hamon. For decades, charismatics have been chomping at the bit for an increase in signs and wonders… and it’s like this prophecy has stirred their emotional pot too much. Let me give you an example.
I’ve been making some observations about the way Northside Community Church has been doing their School of the Holy Spirit over the past year. Right around May 2008, the start of the Lakeland Revival, the leaders of Northside Community Church have been getting REALLY hungry for God. That’s a good thing! They’ve been bringing their passion and expectancy to their church and that is a very good thing! But, from my perspective, they are increasingly forcing things to happen. In June 2008, they really didn’t force anything. In July 2008, I got a sense they were forcing things a little. In August 2008, it’s blatantly obvious that they’re forcing the move of God.
Each of these three months, Northside Community Church has made space during their monthly meetings to impart the Spirit and “give it away” (that is a huge thing right now with this present revival). Impartation is basically the laying of hands and the transference of an anointing. Their impartation in June 2008 was relatively low key and there weren’t many outward manifestations of the Spirit. Their impartation in July 2008 got a little bit more emotional and some people were falling on the ground after an impartation. Their impartation in August 2008 was way more emotional and it felt forced. Let me explain…
On August 15th I invited my wife to join me to School of the Holy Spirit at Northside Community Church (not to be confused with our August 1st visit to Marion Christian Center). After the time of singing songs, NCC had an extra-extra-extra long time of speaking/singing in tongues. It probably lasted about 7 minutes (an increase from the usual 2 minutes). During that time, they kept telling us to “Stir up the Holy Spirit! Stir up the Holy Spirit!” After that, they had their impartation time. They invited people to come up and probably 75% of the people in the room came forward for an impartation. While they laid hands on people, my wife noticed that almost everyone who came up for an impartation were swaying and falling backward. She took interest in this and began to watch more closely.
As she began to observe, she noticed something that concerned her. She nudged my arm and said, “Do you see what they’re doing?”
I said, “Yeah, they’re imparting the Spirit and some people are getting emotional.”
[Someone falls over]
She said, “He just pushed her!”
I said, “You’re right, I did see his hand push her a little, maybe a few inches.”
[Someone else falls over]
She said, “He just pushed over another one!”
I said, “You’re right, that did look like a small push.”
[Someone else falls over]
She said, “What the heck! Why is he pushing people???”
I said, “I don’t know, they’ve never done this before.”
She said, “And why does he keep laughing really weird? It’s kind of scary.”
I said, “I don’t know. I think he’s full of the joy from the Lord.”
[Someone keeps teetering, but doesn’t quite fall over]
She said, “Why does he keep pushing her? She doesn’t want to fall over!”
I said, “You’re right, he doesn’t know when to stop.”
She said, “I don't trust him anymore.”
She continues, “...and If he pushes me, I’m pushing him back!”
I burst out laughing! That was the funniest most random thing I’ve heard my wife say in a long time. Watch out all you Charismatics! If you push my wife, she WILL push you back!
On a serious note, what they were doing up there with pushing is wrong. Even though it’s a harmless nudge, and no one is getting hurt, it’s still not an authentic move of God. God doesn’t need your help making people fall under the power of his Spirit!
If you’re pushing people to give the impression that a sign or wonder has taken place, stop it! Just because someone falls, doesn’t mean that God’s power was at work. And if someone doesn’t fall, that doesn’t mean God wasn’t at work.
Stop the Charismatic shenanigans!
I briefly mentioned Todd Bentley in my previous article as I talked about Charismatic Shenanigans. In my last post, promised to write more about Todd Bentley and what I think about him. As I was getting my thoughts together, I came across a press release issued by Fresh Fire Ministries, Todd’s ministry. In this press release dated August 15th, his ministry admits that Todd Bentley entered into an unhealthy relationship with a female member of his staff.
