what’t happening in Lakeland, Florida?
In America when an evangelist preaches a series of meetings, they call them revival meetings. They are more emotional, intense affairs that seek a response of repentance or rededication. When the Lakeland meetings began in April as a single week of healing evangelistic meetings, they did not expect that the meetings will continue till today, because the power and presence of God were more evident than usual, and miraculous signs and healings were taking place. But is this revival? Controversy has risen in part because of his talk of unusual activity attributed to an angel named Emma. In addition, the evangelist, Todd Bentley does not look Billy Graham-like, clean and proper and acceptable. In fact, he sports tattoos all over his body and hands, and looks like a bouncer. But even if he does not talk or look controversial, is this revival? With Web 2.0 environment, news of the revival have travelled wide and far. In fact you can watch the meetings live every day. And there are testimonies that it can impact others through the internet access. Wonderful! But does its worldwide reach make it revival? What makes a revival a revival? Must all revivals look alike? Must they look like the Jonathan Edwards revival in New England or the Welsh revival or the Hebrides revival? For that matter is the Toronto Blessing a revival? What about the one in Brownsville?
What’s your take?
3 comments June 22nd, 2008
