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The Toronto Blessing is a term coined by the British press to talk about the revival and resulting phenomena that began in January 1994 at Toronto Airport Vineyard Christian Fellowship, now known as Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF), a neocharismatic evangelical Christian church located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Participants in the conferences and meetings sponsored by TACF have reported healings, incidents of personal transformation and a greater awareness of God's love. It has also been referred to as "The Father's Blessing", "The Anointing", "The Awakening", "The River", "The Fire".

Blessing

TACF pastors John and Carol Arnott were inspired by a revival in Argentina to start a revival in Canada. They invited Randy Clark of St. Louis, Missouri, to minister at TACF in January 1994. Randy Clark has been influenced by the ministry of Rodney Howard-Browne, a South African preacher, founder of the Rodney Howard-Browne Evangelistic Association in Louisville, Kentucky, and the earliest known proponent of the “holy laughter” revival phenomenon, and introduced some of his techniques into TACF practice.

The revival thust started has come to be known as the Toronto Blessing. It has proved immensely popular; some estimates are as high as 300,000 visitors.^{[citation needed]} Some visitors have carried the influence of the revival back to their home congregations. Areas that have become known for Toronto Blessing revivals worldwide include Pensacola, Florida, in the United States and Bath in England.

In particular one TACF teaching, the Golden Sword Prophecy,^[1] has been spreading amongst Charismatic churches.

The peak of Toronto Blessing prominence in the Christian community occurred in the mid to late 1990s. Since that time it has faded from public view, although the proponents of Discernment Ministries would suggest that these kinds of events are simply part of a wider theological cycle that has existed continually throughout modern era Pentecostalism / Charismatism. ^[2]

Debates

The Toronto Blessing has been the subject of controversy.

In his book, ''Counterfeit Revival'', Hank Hanegraaf makes the case that the "Toronto Blessing" has done more damage than good. He expresses his view that Toronto was a matter of people being worked into altered states of consciousness where they obscure reality and enshrine abdsurdity.

To continue from the previous author's comments: The history of the Christian Church has been of one of mixed blessing. The protestant movement brought what many consider were needful reforms, but with tragic history also. Those who were convinced of needing a new physical baptism, the Anabaptists, were killed off by order of John Calvin. Later the Anabaptists would become identified as a branch within protestantism. In the same fashion, movements which bring needed reforms to the church today are often mixed blessings.

The need for a sense of release which comes with the Holy Laughter movement has also included some manifestations that are not good. The Bible is the guidebook adopted almost universally by the Church as God's word to us for all the activities of the church. It has been reported that some of the manifestations of the movement appear demonic. The Bible would encourage the church to discern the spirits; however the TACF seems to have discouraged those with the gift of discernment from exercising that gift to discern the passing on of demonic spirits. This is an area which needs attention.

Would the reader please accept the previous editorial comment until a suitable re-write of this article takes place. It was felt that these comments were needed, but no links have been made to other published work. The comments are made by one who accepts the gifts of the Spirit as being normative to Christian life. Let it be noted that the author has rarely found the gifts of the Spirit to be perfectly functioning in any church group.

Mentions in Popular Culture

The "Toronto Blessing" was referenced in the 2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Careless."

References

^ Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - "Golden Sword Prophecy"
^ Buttner, Charleen (2001-07-19). "Latter Rain". University of Virginia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

Toronto Blessing
[http://www.bible.ca/tongues-audio-video-documentation.htm#tacf videos of the Toronto Blessing

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[1] Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - "Golden Sword Prophecy"

[2] Buttner, Charleen (2001-07-19). "Latter Rain". University of Virginia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

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@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 The Toronto Blessing has been the subject of controversy.
-In his book, ''Counterfeit Revival'', [[Hank Hanegraaf]] makes the case that the "Toronto Blessing" has done more damage than good.  He expresses his view that Toronto was a matter of people being worked into altered states of consciousness where they obscure reality and enshrine abdsurdity.
+In his book, [[''Counterfeit Revival'']], [[Hank Hanegraaf]] makes the case that the "Toronto Blessing" has done more damage than good.  He expresses his view that Toronto was a matter of people being worked into altered states of consciousness where they obscure reality and enshrine abdsurdity.
 To continue from the previous author's comments: The history of the Christian Church has been of one of mixed blessing. The [[protestant]] movement brought what many consider were needful reforms, but with tragic history also. Those who were convinced of needing a new physical [[baptism]], the Anabaptists, were killed off by order of John Calvin. Later the Anabaptists would become identified as a branch within protestantism. In the same fashion, movements which bring needed reforms to the church today are often mixed blessings.