Lakeland and Toronto

A few weeks after the sad news of Todd Bentley marital problems, I have been wanting to write some reflections on Lakeland, and compare some of the differences between "The Lakeland Outpouring" and "The Toronto Blessing".

There has been much written about Lakeland. In the UK there has been a lot of stuff said, much of it either uncritically positive or critically negative.  There have been a few articles that I have read (and many I am sure I haven’t) that offer something a little more reflective and nuanced.  Two reviews, from people that I respect are  Terry Virgo’s review and Part 2 (NFI) and Billy Kennedy’s thoughts (New Community, Southampton).  Another highly respected church leader, Paul Reid from CFC in Belfast, has weighed in recently with a more negative slant in a couple of posts here and here.  One of the UK bloggers who has made the most sense is Peter Kirk, of Gentle Wisdom.  He has been pretty positive, but thoughtfully so, and his posts are really well researched.  In addition, Joel Edwards the then General Director of the Evangelical Alliance has some helpful principles to evaluate any move of God.

Many of the big names in the US charismatic scene have all made statements: Peter & Doris Wagner (as quoted on Gentle Wisdom), Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, John Arnott, & Che Ahn.  I have linked before to Lee Grady’s (editor of Charisma) response.

When looking back at a positive event, it is easy to forget some of the negative aspects.  However, as I recall Toronto I found it a predominantly positive experience.  I know there were some problems (which I hope to come to and the end of the series), but through that "move of the Spirit" I had some profound encounters with God.  Personal emotional healing, refreshing and a profound sense of calling with continues to today.  I didn’t rush off to Toronto itself, but went there twice in 2001 & 2003  (the first visit in particular, came a particularly difficult time in my life, and was a life saver) but in the Summer & Autumn of 1994 I was enthusiastically embracing the "river" that was flowing here in Edinburgh.

The Lakeland outpouring, on the other hand, I found much harder to evaluate.  I didn’t have a personal experience of Lakeland, except what I saw on GodTV.  It also seemed to divide Christian opinion even more than Toronto.  It appeared that lots of people rushed to proclaim this was a significant move of God (or not) and a call to others to come out in favour or against it.  I believe in a God who hates suffering, and loves to heal (while I acknowledge that He often (mostly?) doesn’t insulate or deliver us from suffering), but found myself unconvinced by much of what I saw.  I didn’t think it was evil or bad, I just wasn’t convinced about all the hype surrounding it.

So what was the difference between the two?

Wham, Bam or Rising Tide

Bentley’s trademark cry of "Bam" was the phrase of Lakeland…

…and for the rest, you will have to wait for the next post…!