Is this teaching biblical?
Todd Bentley claims that when 'not much was happening' at a service, God told him to perform a professional wrestling move — a leg-drop — on the pastor lying on the floor. He recounts this as a humorous and faith-filled anecdote. In Scripture, revival comes through repentance, prayer, and the preaching of the Word — never through physical assault. The prophets, apostles, and Jesus Himself never leg-dropped anyone to bring about spiritual renewal.
What did Todd Bentley say?
"I said, 'God, I want revival,' and He said these words to me: 'Leg-drop the pastor!'"
Speaker: Todd Bentley
Source: Sermon recounting, documented by CRI and The Paul Edwards Program
What does Scripture actually teach?
2 Chronicles 7:14
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
— NKJV
God's prescription for revival: humility, prayer, seeking God's face, and repentance. Not leg-drops. Not wrestling moves. Not violence against church leaders. Bentley's methods bear no resemblance to the biblical pattern for spiritual renewal.
1 Corinthians 14:33
"For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."
— NKJV
Performing wrestling moves on pastors during services produces confusion and spectacle, not peace and edification. This is the opposite of what the Spirit of God produces in the church.
1 Timothy 5:1
"Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father."
— NKJV
Paul instructs Timothy to treat church leaders with respect and gentleness. Leg-dropping a pastor is not exhorting him 'as a father.' Bentley's cavalier attitude toward violence against fellow believers reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of Christian love and community.
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