I am exploring the differences between the Lakeland Outpouring and The Toronto Blessing. I am hoping that we can learn some lessons, hold on to some of the good things, and to avoid in the future some of mistakes that have caused such a mess in the recent weeks. My first post will give more context. So here we go:
Wham, Bam or Rising Tide
Todd Bentley’s trademark cry of "Bam" was the phrase of Lakeland. But it also probably symbolises Lakeland for me. Loud, quickly here, in our lives, on our screens, in our faces. Then suddenly gone, dropped by the TV schedulers, quicker than you can say ‘thank you ma’am’! From what I have heard, in both Lakeland, and the UK hot-spot of Dudley, people were prayed for, many fell over, were allowed to stay on the floor for a few seconds, and then were hauled to their feet, so someone else could have their floor space.
Toronto on the other hand, actively encouraged people to stay on the floor. For the leaders of that movement, it was what the Holy Spirit did while you lying on the floor, soaking in His presence, that was more important. In some meetings, they even started with people lying down, bringing cushions to make themselves comfortable, to spend a couple of hours "soaking". There were phrases such as "marinating" in the Spirit, an expectation that we could receive more, as we lingered. Although, I think there was sometimes too much made of the manifestations, there was an emphasis on the internal, a renovation and healing of the heart.
All of this could simply be stylistic differences, but I would suggest there is something more fundamental at work here. Toronto was a renewal, reviving the church, back to a love and intimacy with God. There was impartation and physical healing, but these were always secondary. Ezekiel 47, the rising river of God, was a key passage. The need for individuals to keep coming back to that river, to be refreshed and healed, enabled Toronto to have a longevity, that Lakeland hasn’t had.
And there is the rub. I am in this for the long haul. I am not interested in burning bright for a while, and then burning out. I want to run the whole race, not a 100m dash. There are moments, of course, where we powerfully encounter God. But they are in the context of a lifetime journey of walking with God. Character & renovation of the heart don’t come in a few seconds on the floor, but as we live our lives with God; as we work and live with people who are different to us; as we learn to love and be loved. Wham, Bam might be exciting, but it is hardly ever sustained.
Next time:
Media
Toronto, in the early 90’s, was pre-internet, and in the UK at least, pre-Christian TV…
Tags: Dudley, lakeland, Todd Bentley, Toronto
One of the biggest things I notice about these revivals is that up until a couple of years ago, I had never heard of them ( I was not a christian) and generally most of the world right now has no idea that lakeland happened. What is the point of revival, is it just for christians??? Has there been a revival if christians are the only ones that know it has happened?
John - thanks for stopping by.
Yes i agree … i don’t think revival is a good term at all, from that perspective. In the case of Toronto, i think it was much for the church, to reinvigorate and inspire. That is a good thing but it must move us out towards mission, which i am not sure it did.
Where i am going with this series, is that we must be engaged with our communities, our towns and cities, being good news, and in that context we want the Holy Spirit to move through us…
Thanks for this insightful discussion (and for the link). This agrees with my experience, in both cases at a distance, of Lakeland and Toronto. When I was hauled to my feet in Dudley there was certainly a real need for the space, as hundreds were waiting for a touch in an overcrowded hall at midnight.
Just a couple of points here.
I don’t think you should write of Toronto in the past. The extreme manifestations and the controversy may be in the past, but the “emphasis on the internal, a renovation and healing of the heart” continues. Its longevity continues to this day.
I think you have misrepresented the role of God TV at Lakeland. Yes, it was “dropped by the TV schedulers”, but only when Todd Bentley moved on because he really needed a break (this was before his moral failings came to light) and the meetings moved back into a church building. You can argue that the whole thing was built up by God TV and brought down by them, and perhaps that they tried to keep it going when it should have been allowed to come to an end in July, but not that they abandoned it while it was still going.
Peter - thanks for the comment and stopping by here.
I appreciate the push back … I think you are right that Toronto should be described in the present tense and not past. I was last there in 2003, and from what I read it continues today.
I am probably guilty of over egging the GodTV role, to make a point, and I am sure you are right that GodTV didn’t drop the lakeland coverage over Todd’s moral failings. However, i would still hold that GodTV bear a fair amount of responsibility here. How would Lakeland been different if it hadn’t been screened on TV? How differently would it grown, or things been addressed before it crashed as it so tragically has? How much of what actually happened was hyped up by the TV coverage?
Rupert, indeed I don’t consider God TV guiltless in this matter, although we can’t really be sure because there are a lot of facts we can only speculate on.
Agreed.
Hey Rupert, thanks for blogging on this. I agree with you, if the Holy Spirit doesn’t move the church towards mission, what is the point? Sure, for individuals there may be times of healing and retreat in the Spirit, but surely for the Church the empowerment and presence of the Spirit must push it out in Mission. When I read Acts thats what I see.
I agree Alastair … i have questioned the assumption that is found in much charismatic theology, that if we pray and have some great meetings with the Holy Spirit moving, then thousands will come flocking…
That seems to be much of the assumption behind these kinds of revivals…
Of course, as we engage with our communities, we need the Holy Spirit to move, but i wonder if that looks very different?