In 2003, tobacco titan Philip Morris attempted to reduce the harm being done to its less lethal subsidiaries, like Kraft foods, through a “re-branding” exercise: Philip Morris became Altria Group. The change was little more than skin deep, of course: the company remained otherwise identical (though Kraft has since been spun out again), and the tobacco-producing divisions retained the “Philip Morris” moniker.
The same sort of rebranding exercise, evidently, may be practiced in many other sectors of society as well. In March 2009, Benediction Blogs On explored a similar exercise in Vancouver by the Global Harvest Centre and Fresh Fire Ministries, previously home to disgraced Lakeland Revival leader Todd Bentley. The two groups have now become Transform Central and Transform International, respectively.
Bene D believes that this is part of a larger strategy to salvage Bentley’s image as religious leader, advancing on several fronts via the Christian media:
As the Canadians play transformers, Todd Bentley’s parents began to put out feelers into the neo-charismatic community to see how former followers were handling his downfall. Dave Bentley (Todd’s biological father) released information to a web site NAR considers antagonistic…
Then a few weeks later a puff piece featuring Dave Bentley ran in Canadian Christianity the first of February.
Right on cue, Bentley’s stepmother Darcia has released a ‘newsflash’ at Sound of Fire Productions. Darcia and Dave Bentley also run a site called Freedom Fire Ministries.
What is interesting is this is the second time his parents have said he is undergoing restoration at Rick Joyner’s Morningstar Ministries. Only hard core fans seem to be playing along, because the powers that be which hold power aren’t saying anything. After the flurry of distancing last year, I think the decision has been made to starve fans of news to better a comeback and the parents are either going with the program or not quite following the apostle’s script.
Most interesting, however, is Bene D’s use of Quantcast web traffic statistics to suggest that charismatic groups involved in the revival are vastly inflating the numbers of people they claim to be reaching:
What I find even more interesting is how easily lies come and how easy it is to believe them.
During Lakeland the claims of the numbers of people watching the online streaming were hyped, as professional marketing kicked into high gear. The claims as they have been throughout religious history were over the top. Thousands healed, millions watching. The numbers decimate the hype, it’s becoming clear key players took a hit when the shows star ran off.
To be fair, this site mostly measures US traffic with some global, and Quantcast makes no claim this all of this is hard data, (see the symbols for estimated). Still, it’s a far cry from the millions being reached, thousands being healed, and the dead raised, isn’t it?…
….it’s a shame what passes for Christianity in this hour…Lakeland was not Christianity, the false so-called prophetic movement is not Christianity. There are no brightly-coloured, flamboyant, loudly squawking parrots in the Kingdom of God, only the humble little sparrows that nobody notices, except maybe other little sparrows. What was it that John the Baptist said? Bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance…if someone falls into sin and is truly repentant we should expect to see nothing less than brokenness, contriteness. Someone like Moses who no longer felt worthy to serve God…
“An elder must be the husband of but one wife…” How many wives does T.B. have in the eyes of God, remembering that “Moses said…., but I (Jesus) say….” In the eyes of the law he may have one wife, but in the eyes of our Master, who holds forth a higher standard than the law, he has two wives and has therefore disqualified himself from ministry in the church. Ouch, and we thought that being under grace would be easier than adhering to the law….