False Preachers: Todd Bentley, Stephen and Karl Strader, Joe Perez!
Posted by Job on April 11, 2008
contributed by Walter Kambulow
- Talking about idiots or fools who are false preachers, Canadian Revivalist Todd Bentley is holding this week special revival meetings see http://www.freshfire.ca/ at Pastor Stephen Strader’s Ignited church http://www.ignitedchurch.com which was bought with money that Pastor Karl Strader with the help of Joe Perez stole from Carpenter’s Home Church which he stole from First Assembly of God of Lakeland Florida see “Not Innocent”
http://crooksag.tripod.com/crooks.pdf
http://crooksag.tripod.com - Todd Bentley is bragging about all the miracles, signs and wonders that are occurring during the meeting and is ignoring what Jesus said about signs and wonders:
- Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 7:22 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
- Todd Bentley should check what lying Pastor Karl Strader stated on his website http://www.karlstrader.com/main/mainstory.aspx about his lying thieving son Dan Strader and compare it with what the Ledger reported
- In 1993 we experienced a glorious move of God with Rodney-Howard Browne. It was a revival that reached around the world in influence. It looked like we were going to regain some of our losses. Then, in 1995, our church took another gigantic hurricane-like hit. My son, Daniel, went to prison for 45 years. More than 200 newspaper articles blitzed the area plus TV coverage. He had come on economic hard times, and his investment business was said to have violated securities laws involving about 65 people and three million dollars. Because his father was a prominent pastor in this comparatively small town of 70,000 people, the media and the devil had a hay-day.
- But the reality as reported by the Ledger and posted on http://cnt10d.tripod.com/strader.htm
- Daniel Strader To Stay In Prison
Son of religious leader is serving a 45-year sentence for stealing $3 million from investors.
Published Friday, June 16, 2006
By Jason Geary
The Ledger - BARTOW — A bid for clemency by Daniel Strader, a former insurance agent and son of a prominent Lakeland religious leader who is in prison for stealing more than $3 million from investors, has been denied.
- Strader, 48, has been searching for mercy since his 1995 conviction on 238 criminal charges.
- He is serving a 45-year prison sentence with a scheduled release date in 2033.
- In December, Karl Strader, the founder of the Carpenter’s Home Church in Lakeland and father of Daniel Strader, and other supporters made their plea to aides to the state Clemency Board. They suggested Daniel Strader should be released from prison to begin repaying his victims.
- But the State Attorney’s Office in Bartow received a letter Tuesday from the Office of Executive Clemency in Tallahassee with news that Strader’s request to waive the clemency rules to allow his case to proceed had been denied.
- Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet members, who serve as the Clemency Board, denied Strader’s request on Feb. 6.
- “It has been the position of this office all along that his case wasn’t appropriate for clemency,” said Chip Thullbery, administrative assistant state attorney. “We believe the board made the correct decision.”
- Calls to the Governor’s Office did not glean any further detail about why the board came up with its decision.
- “There is not an in-depth explanation for decisions written in the files for the clemency hearings,” said Russell Schweiss, a spokesman with the Governor’s Office.
- “The individual cases are decided by the board based upon the recommendations of the clemency office in addition to testimony and also records that are provided to the governor and Cabinet members.”
- Strader may not apply for another waiver for at least three years from the date the waiver was denied, according to the rules of executive clemency.
- Jason Geary can be reached at 863-533-9079.
- It’s to be noted while Rodney Howard Browne in 1993 was holding his revival meetings at Carpenter’s Home Church Pastor Jack Collins reported that Karl and Joe were skimming money from the offerings collected for Rodney - see http://cnt10d.tripod.com/rodney.htm and http://cnt10d.tripod.com/strader.htm
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April 18, 2008 at 4:18 pm
You do not have your facts right about Karl Strader. I was a member at Carpenter’s Home Church for 10 years and attended their on-site school of ministry (Master’s Commission). I grew to know and love Pastor Karl. He is a humble man. The CHC Board of Directors determined his salary, which was actually a modest amount for a church of 2,000 (at the time). CHC published their financial records to church members and freely disclosed information on salaries, fringe, expenses and income. I can’t speak about Stephen Strader or his church since I have never attended. However, Dan Strader’s situation was completely separate from the church. He ran his own business that did not have any financial ties to the church, other than some members who personally invested their own money. The church did not invest or partner with Dan Strader’s business. I do think Dan Strader had poor business practices and seemed to take advantage of his father’s role in the community. Unfortunately, that did not work out to his favor or to the investors who trusted him. You can say what you’d like about Dan Strader, but he is not his father. Karl Strader is a genuinely decent man who has experienced some tough times in his life. I was deeply involved at CHC and saw how things ran behind the scenes. Had I not moved up north for a career change, I would be attending Auburndale Life Church (where Karl Strader ministers now). I would encourage you to gather your facts from credible sources and not just online websites or hearsay.
April 18, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I do not believe that Todd Bentley is a false prophet. The lord works as the same spirit through different ministries. Some are annointed and some are not. I believe that he is annointed to do the lords work as the lord desires. He could not do any miracle healings if he was not annointed by god.
April 19, 2008 at 9:35 pm
CHC published their financial records to church members and freely disclosed information on salaries, fringe, expenses and income
If what you say is true tell me how much Pastor Karl Strader was earning in the last ten years?
The bible also tells us:
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. Matthew 11:1-11
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12
How many lame people have been healed in Todd’s, Rodney or Strader’s meetings?
Very few if any??????
Why?
All these liars and thieves talk very very much but they are not doing the works that Jesus did never mind greater works?
Why?
April 23, 2008 at 3:24 am
Before we make any decisions about what Mr. Bentley, or anyone else, let’s first look at what the Word has to say.
Yes it’s true that <>, 1Corinthians 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
The thing is that, miracles are not necessarily a sign of the anointing.
Revelation 13:11-14 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; . . .
Revelation 16:13-14 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, . . .
Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, . . .
And it is true what Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
But let us not forget what our Lord told us in Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:21-23 goes on to say: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The fruit that one bears will ultimately tell us what’s really in their heart. Until that becomes evident, we should heed Acts 5:38-39[NIV] Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
April 30, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Frank, that is more fairness in discernment, than most I have heard on the net about Todd- let me point out a few facts.
We Christians need to quit letting angels, rainbows, supernatural experiences (and on the natural- internet, media, films, science, education, music and art)- and other Biblical items/ nouns be stolen by ‘Christians who are scared of being deceived’– seriously, - If you run away from every authentic Biblical experience/item/ Scripture you are going to have to tear up half your Bible! This is how the devil is pilfering the church today- its why when you go to Bible College there is maybe 3-4 degrees- Senior pastor, associate, youth pastor and worship leader. How is God going to just fill the world, do you just think it is through critical blogs where you discuss doctrines?
if Daniel followed alot of Christians, he would have ran out the palace saying ‘goverment is unholy, unholy, run away!!’ Then he would have written a blog about how unbiblical it was for Joseph in Egypt to serve as Pharoah’s prime minister, while being married to an Egyptian. People on the net are ‘good at disqualifying their own brother’- just like Joseph’s brothers.
I think you should give it a shot- actually view the revival for a week and maybe consider going. I was there, and found it to be totally opposite to what you wrote- the interesting thing is…. you could be using Scripture to fight Scripture- for example in Acts 2, you would probably use the same Matt 7:15 against Acts 2, judging by your tone. If you want to be totally fair and sincere, tune in for a week or two- but take care. Don’t take shots at leaders/people who actually have more ‘revival’ (the true Life of Christ) than yourself, more souls saved, more orphans helped and more widows helped in Africa. As an African missionary, I think you need to be fair, instead of just critical- for example anyone can have a blog that criticizes leaders… but few people actually go out and serve others. Anyone can tear a house down, but few carpenters can actually build a good house. This doesnt mean we should not use discernment- but please, lets not shoot our own brothers/ soldiers in Christ! Honestly, the way some people talk on the internet (supposed ‘Christians’
they would never want to be ‘talked about’ like that– or their family, friends or churches.
April 30, 2008 at 6:07 pm
John S:
I will take the comment that you aimed at Frank.
I was miraculously healed of asthma, faith healing, and a pornography addiction in a single day, and in addition went through a spiritual deliverance process where I had more demons cast out of me than I can count. I also have a commitment to sound doctrine and practice based on clear honest direct reading of the Bible. I am living proof that the two are not mutually exclusive.
True, but what does that have to do with me, a fundamentalist Christian who refuses to condemn gambling, drinking alcohol, slavery (and I am black by the way!) or even polygamy (apart from the fact that it is, you know, illegal in most countries including mine) because I cannot find a scripture that explicitly states them to be wrong? Tell any of these erstwhile persecuted Daniels and Josephs to contact me, and I will tell everyone that I can on their behalf that the Bible does not forbid Christians from government service or from marrying any believer that they choose. But if a believer rejects a clear honest direct reading of the Bible, it is not me that is disqualifying that person, it is the Bible, and moreover it is my job to inform that person.
If I am not an actual Christian, that is between me and God. It has nothing to do with the fact that the people that I criticize are disobeying the Bible. Just because I go to the lake of fire for eternity doesn’t mean that the people that read this site have to. Since what I am saying comes straight from the Bible, I am irrelevant for I am not the issue. Recall the passage where Paul stated that people used the occasion of his imprisonment to preach the gospel in his stead as an act of mocking him in his confinement. What did Paul say? Nevertheless the gospel is preached!
I specifically avoid doing that and take great pains to do so. The issues that I raise against “supposed Christians” are repeated, brazen, willful violations of literal readings of scripture. There are a ton of gray areas out there, and I don’t get involved in any of them because quite frankly I don’t have to: there are so many people out there doing what the Bible says plain as day are wrong, and I still get a bunch of their defenders on here coming up with reasons why the Bible shouldn’t apply to them in that particular instance.
With this quote you reveal how thin your actual applied Bible knowledge is. The Bible makes it clear that there no “spiritual superstars”, so it is not about who has done this or that, or who does it more or better. We are one body with many members with duties given not by merit or works but sovereignly by the Holy Spirit, so because of that we are not to envy the works of others, compare ourselves to others, or think more or less of another believer based on relative works. We are only supposed to mind whether we are obedient according to sound doctrine and exhibiting maturity as evidenced not by great works but by fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Further, according to your quote, Paul had no right to rebuke Peter for his transgression regarding his ill treatment of Gentile Christians at table fellowship, right? For certainly Peter would have had to have been greater than Paul. Peter was an apostle with Jesus Christ during His entire ministry, Peter was present at Pentecost, Peter gave the first Christian sermon at which thousands were converted, Peter was the one Christ told “feed my sheep”, etc.
Further still, Muslims can hold revivals. Hindus win converts. Mormons help orphans and widows. So can Buddhists, Scientologists, New Agers, Jews, etc. A lot of them can even work miracles. Do not act like they can’t: the Bible speaks of magicians and whatever doing supernatural works. For instance, the Egyptian magicians were able to turn their rods into snakes and water into blood, the witch of Endor was literally able to call up the spirit of Samuel, etc. And the anti - Christ will be able to work many great miracles, remember? So instead of being impressed by what heathens can also do, why not evaluate Christians by the one thing that no one from another religion can do? Do you know what that is, John S? No one from any other religion can OBEY THE BIBLE. Do you know why that is, John S? You need the Holy Spirit to obey the Bible. You need the Holy Spirit to write God’s law on your heart, to guide you, to convict you of all unrighteousness, to grieve you and vex you to the point where if you have picked up a sinful habit you will drop it, and strengthen you to keep you from developing it again.
That is what the Bible says, and that is a major reason why I have no problem with calling these false preachers what they are. If they are legitimately born again, they will come back to God and fully admit that they were wrong just like the Bible said they were. Note that I did not say just like I said they were because I am not anyone’s judge, I have no heaven to put anyone in or lake of fire either. I said they will admit they were wrong just like the BIBLE said they were. If they are not born again, well then how can I POSSIBLY harm ANYONE by warning them against a false preacher? Just like I cannot harm anyone from warning them against a born again and called preacher that has strayed into doctrinal error or personal sin. Was Nathan wrong to confront David about his adultery and murder? Was Samuel wrong to confront Saul about his many sins? And keep in mind: David and Samuel were actually anointed king by God. False preachers were not.
Can anyone really? When was the last time you heard about a bunch of 18 months old tearing down a house? You can only be effective at going after false preachers and doctrines if you have spent time studying the Word of God. And any house built by a false preacher NEEDS TO BE TORN DOWN. You are fully aware of the pruning metaphor in the Bible, the corrupt dead branches are removed so the good ones can grow. So, I am warning God’s people against false preachers and doctrines so they can go follow legitimate ones. Another website did the same for me a couple years ago, and I am just passing on the good work. And it is not shooting our own brother soldiers in Christ either. Again, most of these people are not born again. They are snakes, pigs in the parlor, ravening wolves that need to be driven off. And the ones that are legitimate preachers, it is reproof. The Bible says that the born again person will accept reproof, for God loves whoever He corrects just as a father corrects His son. We are our brother’s keeper, John S. If we see someone going by the wayside, it is our job to correct him, to bear him up. Some people really do lack knowledge concerning doctrines, others are prideful, others still literally have demons clinging to them that alter their hearing and seeing. You know what? I speak from experience FOR I WAS ALL THREE NOT LONG AGO AT ALL! So you have to tell them the truth as directly as you can. With love? Of course. But withholding the truth or giving truth in some weak, compromising manner is not love. Confronting people with ugly truth that they do not want to accept in a manner where on judgment day they will not be able to claim before God that they were not warned is love. I call loving my brother not wanting him to provoke a holy righteous God with his abominations. What do you call love?
And I for one am glad that people are talking like this on the Internet. The internet is full of lies, violence, avarice, lasciviousness, all sorts of wickedness. We need as many people telling the truth on the Internet as we can get, and I pray that they are not silenced, intimidated, or compromised by people rising up to defend a bunch of heretics and liars with their false doctrines. There is a war out there John S, and you are either on the Lord’s side or Satan’s.
May 1, 2008 at 12:22 am
[...] Bentley and the Florida Outpouring Part 2 I’m reading things about Todd Bentley that disturb me. I’m seeing things on Youtube that make me shake my head and I’m [...]
May 1, 2008 at 2:18 am
The insecure gossip & deface a creation of God.I stand in amazement to think that the enemy could heal the sick or would.There is no truth in what he(satan) does or says.I hear insecurity of man about the things God is doing.God remove blinders & open eyes of religious man.God shut up the mouths of doubt & gossip.By the BLOOD OF JESUS for the Name of JESUS for his glory & glory of Gods kingdom.Let this move of God make believers of scoffers.Take their speech and bring forth silence.Show YOUR GLORY FATHER GOD heal the family & friends of all around them so they too will believe you love so much you want the blind to see, the crippled to walk, the sick whole, the wounded whole for the testimony,”By His stripes we are HEALED…”
May 1, 2008 at 8:16 am
Deborah:
The faithless and the hard hearted defend sin. The arrogant and proud create one set of rules for some Christians and other rules for others. The rebellious pretend as if God’s Bible does not apply to them while calling themselves Christians. It is not gossip if it is true. And it is not doubt because I am not challenging God but MEN who claim to serve God with their lips but reject Him with their actions. You love your false preachers more than you love the Bible, and you had better believe that God will judge you for that.
May 1, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I think what is difficult for some people is to distinguish between personal behavior of a minister, doctrine, and works.
sometimes the works are fine, but the rest is off base.
example: Rev Wright, Obama’s pastor. He does good works for the poor, but the man has a lot of behavior and social issues that reflect an un-christian manner.
May 1, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Marianne:
Actually, it is because people have an incomplete view of “works.” Jesus Christ Himself spoke of this in the gospels when He stated that on judgment day “have we not done great works in Your Name, healing and casting out devils?” Christ replied that “Sure, you did those things, but what about the poor, oppressed, and those in prison?” With that and some other parables, partial obedience is not good enough. Having the correct doctrine but failing to produce tangible, outward results in terms of the fruits of the spirit and winning converts is not good enough. Like the parable of the wicked servant that buried his talent in the sand. He knew the nature of his master: that he was a hard man! But that was not good enough. He was supposed to multiply his talent with his abilities. He did not and was cast into outer darkness. That is the equivalent of a person who sincerely believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and has been baptized but never actually DOES anything.
So the converse is true. You can heal the sick, feed, the poor, cast out demons, preach powerful sermons, run revivals, build and grow churches, etc. but if you have wrong doctrine and are not living a Christian life, then it is all in vain. Look, I am not going to deny that the people that accept Jesus Christ after hearing Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, Paula White, etc. preach are legitimately saved. Even Paul said of people who used his confinement as an opportunity to preach the gospel to mock him: “Nevertheless the gospel is preached, so in that I rejoice.” You read my “Needing That Anointing Christianity” testimony, I myself was introduced to and ultimately believed the gospel by the preaching of false preachers, and also was healed of asthma, kidney disease, and pornography addiction while following these folks. You know what? I am glad that it happened that way, because it prevents me from claiming that a sovereign God cannot use any person or any means to accomplish His Will, including Balaam’s donkey.
But the fact that God empowered a Balaam’s donkey to speak does not mean that Balaam’s donkey was called into ministry as a pastor, teacher, prophet, apostle, or evangelist. In a like manner, the limited subset of works that these false preachers exhibit does not validate their call or their ministry. It is also curious that it is only the things that impress people and look great in the sight of man that people use to validate ministers. How many gifts and fruits of the spirit are there? Lots. Yet we only use healings, tongues, prophecies, interpretation, preaching, casting out devils, running huge revivals, etc. to justify these people. How many people say “well, he is very strong in the gift of helps, so let us ignor