Anti-Orthodox rhetoric

[Patristic]

I was up late last night and browsing a web page that was discussing the ministry of Benny Hinn. The information said that Benny Hinn was born into the Orthodox Church, but what really bothered me was that in parenthesis next to Orthodox it said false church. I browsed through the website some more to see what else I could gleen from it's pages but it was basically the same propaganda you would find anywhere. I e-mailed the director of the site to see if he could validate any of his claims. Yet, to my dismay he responded and simply resorted to name calling and telling me I didn't care for or understand the Apostle Paul. I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience of this sort?

 

[Peter]

All the time. As I put in another post here, I believe the serenity of this particular forum, Orthodox only, is a testimony to the truthfulness of our faith. The name calling, shouting and so on do not reflect a spirit of peace.

As mtown has said in other threads, we must defend our faith from within, then, when opportunity presents itself, explain our faith without.

It really stirs my passions to see, and hear, such comments as you have described. I want to fight back, as it were. However, we must resist the temptation to argue.

As you described, we can ask for a polite response. If we get none, we must then turn away and leave it God's hands.

I've found that engaging in an argument only fuels the ego of the person you are arguing with. (This from my own feelings when I used to hold such attitudes.)

Peace.

Peter

 

[Patristic]

You are so right Peter. When I read the response I received this morning, my first instinct was to sling insults right back, but I did not do this, thanks to God's restraining grace. I typed another short reply showing how I thought his positions were untenable in light of the evidence of the early Church, and I showed him where he misunderstood my comments. Then I just said that since he wasn't interested in carrying on a civlized discussion that I wouldn't bother him. From what I could gather from his website, he is most likely a hard-core fundamentalist, and usually discussions with those types don't prove too fruitful anyways.

 

[Peter]

Silver and gold have I none. But such as I have I give unto thee. Here are all my blessings.

Peace.

Peter

 

[Maximus]

The Orthodox Church's emphasis on the Narrow Way and taking up one's Cross would interfere too much with Benny Hinn's fleecing of his flock.

Check out TBN sometime if you want to catch his act.

 

[Patristic]

I have watched Benny Hinn's television program a few times and was very disturbed by some of the things I witnessed. I remember that he did a rally in Buffalo, NY over a year ago and some of my friends and family went, but I didn't go because I just didn't feel comfortable attending such a spectacle.

 

[ChristianOrthodox]

one of those inside edition type of shows, showed his palaces and cars and boats and etc. he is a moneymaker. they also followed up on some of the "healings" and found out many of the cancer patients have died....one last thing, they investigated a project he was raising millions for to build some huge rec center for troubled kids a few years ago...anyways they raised the money, but for some strange reason, they did not build the center because they saw the donations were fit in more needed places....Please Lord come soon!

 

[Peter]

And the temptation is there for us all.

 

[Patristic]

Quite sad that someone who professes to be a follower of Christ and who is admired by many people could act in such a manner!

 

[Philip]

Whatever his flaws, let us not think ourselves any better.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.

 

[Patristic]

I couldn't agree more Philip. Benny Hinn's indiscretions are made public for everyone to see, but ours are still kept mostly to ourselves, but they are still there nonetheless.

 

[ten-k]

1Cor.10:9

Neither let us tempt Christ
as some of them also tempted,
and were destroyed of serpents.

 

[Maximus]

I agree that we are all sinners and should boast only in the Cross of Christ.

But that should not prevent us from being able to cry out, "Look! A wolf!" when the souls of the sheep are at stake.

Benny Hinn is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Look out!

 

[Philip]

Agreed, but we should direct our criticism towards his flawed doctrine.

 

[Maximus]

Agreed, but we should direct our criticism towards his flawed doctrine.

I can't argue with that!

( I can't argue with what Philip said; of course I can argue with Benny Hinn's doctrine! )

 

[Grace_Alone4gives]

Your threads here are always so kind, I enjoy reading them BTW.


Just commenting, from a Protestant view, Many Protestants do not support Benny Hinn's teachings either. Infact, most of his supporters are only found in the Charasmatic WOF movement...which I find to be heretical.

Peace to you

Victoria

 

[Photini]

Your threads here are always so kind, I enjoy reading them BTW.

Stop by more often!

 

[Seraphim Reeves]

Benny Hinn, if nothing else, is a heretic and incredibly misguided. This in itself should make any appraisals of Orthodoxy meaningless at best, unfortunate at worst (since they're going to be read by some unhappy soul.)

I wouldn't loose any sleep over how his "ministry" feels about the Orthodox faith. Sadly, his people have money, and people like him have a bad habit of preying upon ignorant people. It is perhaps this, and only this, that should bother anybody - but I wouldn't feel at all slighted by anything he or his fellow fakers may have to say about Christianity.

Seraphim

 

[Photini]

Seraphim, Welcome to the forum!!! Have some blessings.

 

[Reader Nilus]

Agreed, but we should direct our criticism towards his flawed doctrine.

It is called Elmer Gantryism. When ever you see a ministry called Rev X or what have you, giver beware! When the fellow who most profits from such gifts is the boss, what kind of accountabilty is there? My advise is to give to a local parish period, and in Orthodoxy one can give to the Diocese as well but if you are not Orthodox by no means give to these type of ministries, give to the locals that way you know what your money is spent on.
Jeff the Finn