Benny Hinn and other evangelists

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How many people fell and were drawn astray by Arius’ words about Jesus? Or Pelagius’ teaching that grace is not necessary for salvation? While I agree that culpability for errant teaching falls on the teacher, it hurts the spread of the gospel when people are taught the wrong message about Christ.
Catholic Dude:
I think its funny that he can call his events “crusades”, but at the same time they hate Catholics and bash them because of the crusades.

However I do agree with SW on the fact that he could at least utter the words of Jesus to people who have no idea whatsoever. Especially in todays age where a nonChristain looks to tv for his direction, and all the hype stirred up that makes him tune his ear on what Ben is saying. And if millions are at the very least hearing one thing that Jesus spoke I cant go against that. He might be off doctrinally, but in terms of rounding up the numbers he uses his air time to reach millions. One thing that is the hardest thing for me to do is get someone’s interest in Christ, the hype and welcoming attitude Ben put up is a step in the right direction.
Also I think that a lot of the healings are staged, but at the same theres that story of those “other guys” casting out demons in Christs name.

I agree with SW on this one.
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When I was younger I was brought to a church that had a preacher with a $1000 suit and snake skin boots that would rattle on forever about the whole name it and claim it thing. One night he healed a woman I never saw before. She never walked her entire life, after he touched her she ran across the church. I went back a few times after that and never saw that woman again. As a youngster I realized there was something wrong about someone being healed and never returning to the church. I soon came to the conclusion that the whole thing was a fraud. It was a long time before I took any form of organized religion seriously.

IMO it harmed my faith at that time. How many people had experiences like mine and just never returned to a church at all?
 
Michael C:
When I was younger I was brought to a church that had a preacher with a $1000 suit and snake skin boots that would rattle on forever about the whole name it and claim it thing. One night he healed a woman I never saw before. She never walked her entire life, after he touched her she ran across the church. I went back a few times after that and never saw that woman again. As a youngster I realized there was something wrong about someone being healed and never returning to the church. I soon came to the conclusion that the whole thing was a fraud. It was a long time before I took any form of organized religion seriously.

IMO it harmed my faith at that time. How many people had experiences like mine and just never returned to a church at all?
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Amen
 
Not to start a fight, but 9 of the 10 lepers did not return to Jesus after he sent them off only one said to himself “I have to back and thank that guy!”

One thing is that Ben is not really going too far in terms of hard doctrine. Once the fish bites some will stray, some will sit on the fence, but a few will open the Bible and see for themself that this Ben guy is not evil, but just wrong about what the Bible teaches and do their best to find something better. Now the CC might not be number one on their list, but finding a Prot church is better than nothing. Once a person knows there is such a person a Jesus if he really cares he will get hooked. I will repeat, Ben is not giving out a hard line deep message, it is a common denominator message that anyone and especially the ones who dont know there is more to life than stuff. They will at the very least at the end of the day have one thing to look for on Sunday besides nfl and beer. And like I said if they get hooked then thats one more Christian.

When I was a kid I saw stuff like this on tv, I believed in some of it, but as I got older I saw the truth. I never had my faith shaken because they lied. At the end of the day Ben would rather have a mansion and a porshe instead of being a god or prophet. He isnt the ideal evangelist, but in this world people need someone who speaks their language. Also it not like he’s out rounding up JW or Mormon converts.

In terms of scam artists God will punish them for their deeds according to their intentions.
I dont speak for God, but if he runs the data sheets at the end of the day and 100 people heard of Jesus versus 6 people who had their faith ruined there might be some leeway for the man.
 
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SPOKENWORD:
Hi Lisa ,How many times have people claimed to be healed and in a short time they are back to the way they were.Does that mean that God didnt heal them? Maybe the enemy came in and stole that healing? Doesnt God heal through His vessels? Mirracles happen to strenghten our faith but we are under no obligation to believe them.That is why we focus on Christ and not man. :confused: God Bless :confused:
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Number one the enemy is not going to steal a healing from a person that was from God.The devil is only able to do what God allows.Yes, God does work through,vessels and yes God does miracles.Unfortunately,some people have a weak faith and the put so much in these showtime preachers that when somethings happens they lose what little faith they have.We are constantly converting and growing in faith(hopefully),Not everyone is at the same level and for them this could be a disaster.God Bless and come home:crying:
 
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Lisa4Catholics:
Number one the enemy is not going to steal a healing from a person that was from God.The devil is only able to do what God allows.Yes, God does work through,vessels and yes God does miracles.Unfortunately,some people have a weak faith and the put so much in these showtime preachers that when somethings happens they lose what little faith they have.We are constantly converting and growing in faith(hopefully),Not everyone is at the same level and for them this could be a disaster.God Bless and come home:crying:
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Hi Lisa,Happens quite often.A person recieves a healing and months later that person is in the same condition or worse.Satan is a liar,and a thief,and comes to steal and destroy.If our roots [faith] is shallow,we will be defeated. Example,God delivers one from smoking cigarettes and that person stops. Three months later that person is back smoking. What happened? God Bless
 
Catholic Dude:
Not to start a fight, but 9 of the 10 lepers did not return to Jesus after he sent them off only one said to himself “I have to back and thank that guy!”

One thing is that Ben is not really going too far in terms of hard doctrine. Once the fish bites some will stray, some will sit on the fence, but a few will open the Bible and see for themself that this Ben guy is not evil, but just wrong about what the Bible teaches and do their best to find something better. Now the CC might not be number one on their list, but finding a Prot church is better than nothing. Once a person knows there is such a person a Jesus if he really cares he will get hooked. I will repeat, Ben is not giving out a hard line deep message, it is a common denominator message that anyone and especially the ones who dont know there is more to life than stuff. They will at the very least at the end of the day have one thing to look for on Sunday besides nfl and beer. And like I said if they get hooked then thats one more Christian.

When I was a kid I saw stuff like this on tv, I believed in some of it, but as I got older I saw the truth. I never had my faith shaken because they lied. At the end of the day Ben would rather have a mansion and a porshe instead of being a god or prophet. He isnt the ideal evangelist, but in this world people need someone who speaks their language. Also it not like he’s out rounding up JW or Mormon converts.

In terms of scam artists God will punish them for their deeds according to their intentions.
I dont speak for God, but if he runs the data sheets at the end of the day and 100 people heard of Jesus versus 6 people who had their faith ruined there might be some leeway for the man.
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So I should be grateful for the guy that rips me off because he teaches me to be more careful?..I’m not buying it. Honesty is an important part of what Jesus taught.

Should I airbrush Jesus on the hood of my car so when I run people over they are exposed to Jesus?
 
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SPOKENWORD:
Hi Lisa,Happens quite often.A person recieves a healing and months later that person is in the same condition or worse.Satan is a liar,and a thief,and comes to steal and destroy.If our roots [faith] is shallow,we will be defeated. Example,God delivers one from smoking cigarettes and that person stops. Three months later that person is back smoking. What happened? God Bless
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Whitch doctors pull off temporary healings too!What is the source?Is it God? Is it the devil?The devil is an ape he mocks what God does.God Bless
 
First off, Benny Hinn is not bringing people to Christ, he is bringing their money to himself. He gets rich off the desperation of people and their need to turn to someone when they are in dire straits physically, spiritually and economically. He feeds off them and lives an opulent lifestyle. If he were truly moved to bring people to Christ, to heal the sick, and to feed them spiritually, he would do as Jesus told the rich fool; sell everything he has and give it to the poor and follow Him.

Blessed Mother Theresa, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Padre Pio are examples of true healers, grace-filled vessels that God used to bring miracles to people and people to Christ. They lived lives of poverty and sacrifice and endured personal suffering, offering it for the good of Christ’s Church. These are only a few of the many saints God has blessed us with and the miracles they channeled have been rigorously examined and found to be true and lasting. They received nothing on this earth for them, for their treasure is in heaven.

Benny Hinn and people like him are vultures. They seduce the sheep with promises to end suffering and to enrich their followers. The Jews believed that any illness or hardship that befalls you is due to sin and separation from God. That is OT belief. The Gospel does not promise that there will be no suffering in this life. Jesus did not die to end suffering in this life. Belief in Jesus is belief that when our earthly life is over, we will spend eternity in heaven, where there will be no sickness, no sorrown, no hatred, no envy,
nothing but pure unadulterated glory and worship of the Trinity.

I believe that Benny is storing up treasures on earth at what may be the expense of his treasure in heaven. The people he “brings to Christ” may be totally turned away when the promised cure or riches do not materialize. Then what has he done? If we are looking to Jesus to make our life on earth better, then we have lost sight of His message. My desire is to be with Christ in eternity.

Let us also think about the purpose of miracles. Jesus used them to illustrate who He was and not all miracles involve healing. There was a girl in our town dying of leukemia and in need of a bone marrow donor. There was a huge drive which brought hundreds of people to be tested. The little girl eventually died but her life brought out the best in people. They were able to put themselves aside for someone else and because of their tests, maybe someone else found their donor and their cure. The love and giving of so many people was a miracle in a city were there is so much selfishness and greed.

So, I believe that Benny Hinn is a charlaton but he couldn’t do what he does without the people who follow him wanting what he says he has to offer. They are being led astray by their own free will. Pray for him and them.
 
Michael C:
So I should be grateful for the guy that rips me off because he teaches me to be more careful?..I’m not buying it. Honesty is an important part of what Jesus taught.

Should I airbrush Jesus on the hood of my car so when I run people over they are exposed to Jesus?
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Im not getting what you are saying. airbrushing and praying over a large crowd are two different things. If he is ripping people off God will punish him for it. This doesnt diminish the blessing that a ignorant person would give if they thought they were helping someone by donating. Good will work itself out in this.

Here is his last letter, I dont follow him, I just went there now and saw this:
bennyhinn.org/resources/pbhletter.cfm

When your done reading I noticed some things:
1)He presents a bare bones view of Christianity, nothing that will cause someone to go JW, Mormon, etc. just to hear that there is one true God.
2)In this case he is talking to Indians, what percentage of the huge crowd were Christian? I would say most of them are Hindu or Muslim, how many have even an idea of who Jesus was? I dont know where he got the 7M figure crown number from, but there were a lot. Just hearing about Jesus will bring up an interest.
3)That guy who did flips is a perfect example of hype and staged healings, but its better to show them this than to light a candle in a pagan temple. Ben is not a healer, but if people see him calling to God for healing and they just try it I dont think God will turn a deaf ear. I believe that out of all those people some who have never prayed to God, and asked for a healing in His Name would be healed. This is independent of what Ben is doing at the time.
4)Also what was this opposition stuff? Disruption of the service? Attacks? Is he just saying this for effect? Maybe. But if its true he is making inroads to places that are hostile to Christians. Just think of all those people who are told that Christians are the devil. If they see them they will come to realize that they are not bad guys.
5)Ben is a phony evangelist. But that doesnt mean that God cant make good out of this. Ben will get old and die and nobody will remember him. His treasures on earth will rot away and be sold off. People like Mother Teresa of Calcutta will always be remembered, Ben will be forgotten.
 
I attended several of Benny Hinn’s services when he was just starting out, back in the late 1970’s. He visited an Assembly of God church in Western New York once per month over a period of time.

The Benny Hinn I’ve seen on TV today is the same in some respects, and not the same in others. First off, the church was relatively small. He was very effective at stirring up the crowd, and the experience you were left with was an uplifting one, just due to the music and prayer. There were “healings” represented back then, but I can’t say they were verifyable. He did seem to have an ability to pick out people with very specific problems, including one my brother had - there was no way that Benny had any advanced knowledge of his condition. My brother did not get “healed” at that service as a result of being selected by Benny for his affliction, however.

The local pastor had to ask for the donation at the end, because Benny did not have that part “down” back then. He seemed sincere. Today, I notice that there is SIGNIFICANT emphasis on $ and the prosperity gospel. He is also very adept at asking…

One thing I found interesting: He indicated at one service that in his childhood, he was trained by Catholic nuns, and he learned much of his Christian faith from their example. It’s too bad that he didn’t complete his journey.

By the way, I am a cradle Catholic, I never left the church, but two of my eight siblings did leave, partially because of this sort of experience. They have not returned, but I pray for that to happen one day.
 
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