@Jules
If an officer has gone renegade, there is a given biblical order to deal with it. It doesn’t include an a priori assumption that he’s no longer fit for combat. A strong, clear rebuke, followed by a response of submission and contrition is what is called for. Who exactly, do you suppose is ever in a position to ensure that an officer is no longer “a danger to others.” If Peter and Paul had eggs go bad in their baskets, what would make any of us feel we were in a position to be more discerning than they were able to be? We have one mediator, which is Christ, why should we put someone between the officer and Christ?

@Jules
If an officer has gone renegade, there is a given biblical order to deal with it. It doesn’t include an a priori assumption that he’s no longer fit for combat. A strong, clear rebuke, followed by a response of submission and contrition is what is called for. Who exactly, do you suppose is ever in a position to ensure that an officer is no longer “a danger to others.” If Peter and Paul had eggs go bad in their baskets, what would make any of us feel we were in a position to be more discerning than they were able to be? We have one mediator, which is Christ, why should we put someone between the officer and Christ?

Yes that’s very true. But if you have an officer who’s gone renegade and is causing damage and got shot in the skirmish, the first thing you do is take his gun away, no? You’ve got to protect the other soldiers as well as taking him off the battlefield, with the intention that he gets medical attention and is not given a gun again until his superiors are sure he’s no longer a danger to others. Because a soldier like that is a liability to himself and to others.

I agree very much with the idea of accountability; if that’s in place then things needn’t degenerate to the point where a renegade soldier goes wild.

I’m reminded of the Corinthian situation which I’m studying at the moment. As I ponder the Lakeland saga my views are being modified on an almost daily basis – not in my assessment of the original event (I believe God blew it up for doctrinal and practical dangers as much as because of Bentley’s sin), but in how to deal with the aftermath. Paul has some very hard words about unrepentant sinners and advocates putting one outside the church, but the others he seems to call to repentance for their folly while still in the church.

Is it right that Bentley is no longer ministering? Yes – he needs to focus on his relationship with God, and start to sort things out with his family. But I don’t recall anywhere in scripture where a sinning leader is put outside the camp for a specific period of time. A big topic that I’m still pondering. I think Bentley’s attachment to the other woman isn’t the greatest of the issues he has to work through, and for that he has my prayer support.

But I think the bigger picture is a challenge to all the charismatic leaders in how they’ve conducted themselves and allowed the whole situation to develop instead of failing to protect the church from error. Wagner’s lot have set themselves up as an apostolic network but I don’t so far see much evidence that they’re contending for the truth.

Yes that’s very true. But if you have an officer who’s gone renegade and is causing damage and got shot in the skirmish, the first thing you do is take his gun away, no? You’ve got to protect the other soldiers as well as taking him off the battlefield, with the intention that he gets medical attention and is not given a gun again until his superiors are sure he’s no longer a danger to others. Because a soldier like that is a liability to himself and to others.

I agree very much with the idea of accountability; if that’s in place then things needn’t degenerate to the point where a renegade soldier goes wild.

I’m reminded of the Corinthian situation which I’m studying at the moment. As I ponder the Lakeland saga my views are being modified on an almost daily basis – not in my assessment of the original event (I believe God blew it up for doctrinal and practical dangers as much as because of Bentley’s sin), but in how to deal with the aftermath. Paul has some very hard words about unrepentant sinners and advocates putting one outside the church, but the others he seems to call to repentance for their folly while still in the church.

Is it right that Bentley is no longer ministering? Yes – he needs to focus on his relationship with God, and start to sort things out with his family. But I don’t recall anywhere in scripture where a sinning leader is put outside the camp for a specific period of time. A big topic that I’m still pondering. I think Bentley’s attachment to the other woman isn’t the greatest of the issues he has to work through, and for that he has my prayer support.

But I think the bigger picture is a challenge to all the charismatic leaders in how they’ve conducted themselves and allowed the whole situation to develop instead of failing to protect the church from error. Wagner’s lot have set themselves up as an apostolic network but I don’t so far see much evidence that they’re contending for the truth.