[B] On the medical front, I would not place all my bets on traditionally trained doctors for a problem such as this. Alternative medicine is a good bet, provided one steers clear of new-age formulations, which are spiritually problematic and medically untested. On the other hand, there is something to be said for putting things in the body that should be there and taking things out of the body that should not be there.

Apologies for inserting such a geeky discussion into the middle of this thread. But at least we are no longer in Italy.

Jesus cured a deaf person and told him not to tell anyone (Mark 7:36)

Jesus raised a girl from the dead and told her parents not to tell anyone (Luke 8:56)

There’s a pattern here.

What Todd Bentley is doing is not healing, it’s Priestcraft: “preaching false doctrines…for the sake of riches and honor.” (Alma 1:16 (Book of Mormon))

Healings by the power of God do occur. I have personal experience of one, which I do not share publicly.

ps why is everything in this thread after 43 being italicized?

However in this writing Mr. Dembski appears to characterize the integrity and intent of any number of his fellow believers working at the event – not just my friend Todd – in a manner that suggested he was simply not believing the best about them. I was just appealing for some grace, that’s all.

Also, it would seem a given that Mr. Dembski did some further research on Bentley and found some interesting unbiblical ideas emanating from this “prophet.”

Such as his unbiblical idea that he visited with a female angel – angels don’t have genders to my knowledge, but all angels mentioned in scripture have male names.

I also viewed several YouTube videos of Bentley “healing” people where he kicked them in the ribs and caused pain, and where he talks of one session where he kicked an old woman in the forehead, stating to her that this is the way she was going to be healed. With tactics like that, perhaps it is fortunate for Mr. Dembski that he did not make it to the stage.

It is indeed painful to experience a betrayal of spiritual trust.

the lesson for the children on hypocracy, greed and deception is a useful one. It need not touch their faith, it is simply important to be aware if the need for wisdom and discernment.

I would not give up on either faith healing, nor alternative medicine.

Autism is not a genetic defect so far as I know. I do think excessive number of vaccinations is a strong suspect, and if it were me I would keep looking for a natural solution, detox, but perhaps you already have.

“Or any of many explanations other than the ones you appear to have assumed.”

Perhaps, as a sheer logical possibility, but not likely.

To be blunt, anyone who is taking $ for performing miracles, not to mention seeking fame from the endeavour, is not on God’s errand. Both of those aspects are diametrically opposed to the example of the Son’s ministry.

You make judgements that appear to read minds – How do you know it was all about power, money, and prestige?

Sometimes at these meetings the leader feels led to focus on certain classes of infirmities – maybe this was the case when you visited and maybe not, but how do you know?

Maybe they planned to stay late to pray for others such as your son but were advised late in the evening that they did not have the authorization.

Or any of many explanations other than the ones you appear to have assumed.

Most of what you observed could have been construed in a more gracious light.

I am of course grieved that your son and everyone else’s son was not healed, and as a father I can empathize. And I encourage you to choose to continue to push the Lord on this thing.

But to be honest and objective means to allow that what you extrapolated from what you observed could not have been much harsher in its characterization of the intent of the people involved.

Thanks. I was reading the comments and hoping there was someone here who had actually read and remembered all of what it was C.S. Lewis was trying to say. Important distinction there between “miracles of the old creation” and “miracles of the new creation”.