The Emeril of the Clergy - Faith Healers
In my estimation, Todd Bentley is the Emeril of the clergy.
I was first introduced to Bentley on a Lisa Ling, National Geographic special about faith healers. Bentley and his team at Fresh Fire USA travel the country performing, as he describes them as faith healings and miracles.
I was shocked as I watched the NatGeo special. By no means am I attempting to discount the power of the Holy Spirit at all. What concerned me, as I watched Ling's reporting and then did further research on Bentley, was the manner in which these healings occurred. Bentley punches, kicks, and hits participants during his healing revivals. He believes that at the moment of impact, that is when the Holy Spirit begins to work. Relevant Magazine ran an article about Bentley a few months back at found a YouTube clip where he said, "I inched closer and I went bam! And just as my boot made contact with her nose, she fell under the power of God."
We have seen it in Genesis where God engages us in full-contact (just as Jacobs dislocated hip) but I am skeptical about a kick to the face initating the work of the Holy Spirit. But then again, anything is possible.