Benny Hinn: Fake or Real?

[Lee]

Well I watch Benny Hinn every Friday night. Sometimes I watch it during the weeknights when I have time.

I know some of the contraversial issues behind Pastor Benny. Please if you do dislike him, place your opinions here. I will like to know.

For me so far, I respect the guy for the ministry that God bless him in. I respect him and I do admire him.

Please I am not looking for a debate. I am just looking for some insights.

 

[enoch son]

Always look to Jesus my brother and not to man. I enjoy him too. But I keep my eyes open at all times.

 

[Charlesinflorida]

Central to Benny Hinn is this "Slaying in the spirit" which must take place for you to receive whatever God has or you. First off lets realize there is no scriptural presedence for this. Secondly, if you WERE touched by the spirit this powerfully, then you would not come up off the rug without being a totally changed man. Think of Paul on the Damascus Road. Changed!! I see these people come up after this experience and go on with their same old lives. You see it is Satan who uses our emotions to to direct us, because they are very powerful within us. God never uses your emotions. They are easily fooled, and you are a target for deception. God uses his word, and a very small still voice of the spirit to guide us. Hinn takes your eyes off of God and directs them to Hinn.

People go to these meetings where "Hinn like" events are taking place, and they expect a thrill ride in the spirit like it was Gods universal studio theme park. They go expecting and desiring this experience, so they will usually have one. Mostly self induced, and perhaps helped along by the adversary. If a person wants an experience related to faith, then consider the experience of 146,000 believers who were hacked to death for their faith just last year.

Sorry but Hinn is a fake front to back. He's selling emotional experience for dollars.

This is my opinion (which you asked for) . God will judge, not me.
Charles in Florida

 

[Jim B]

Lee,

I think anything we say about Benny Hinn that we do not have evidence for can only be a judgment call. And you know how the Lord feels about judging others. Personally, I do think his TV show is silly and brings more reproach on Charismatics and Pentecostals than you need. However, I do believe God works among the people who attend his meetings and there are probably bonafide healings. And Benny gets the credit and the $$$ continues to flow.

Whether he is a fake or not I do not know, but I do know he sets himself up for a fall by insisting on presenting his message in the medium and in the manner he does. He makes himself a lightning rod for criticism -- by his white Nehru suits, funky hair style, gaudy jewelry, $8-million home, yes-God-told-me-to-move-to-Dallas-no-He-did-not double-mindedness, Mercedes and Jags, puffing on people, waving his jacket at people, etc. -- and whines when he is criticized. Go figure.

Is he a fake? Who knows! If he is the secular media, as they are so good at doing, will find it out. Stay tuned.

Jim
\o/

 

[enoch son]

I truely wonder why some of you are in the fourm. It seems to me that you only look down on P/C?

 

[Charlesinflorida]

Not so Brother Enoch,

But if I was put in the place of Elijah, I would call Benny Hinn to Mt. Carmel to set fire to the offering and see what God he really serves.

Jim B. "We are not to judge?" What does the scriptue say "Don't you know they ye shall sit and judge angels". "You shall know them by their fruit". We are to have spiritual descernment. It is one of the empowering gifts of the spirit for the strengthening of the church, knowing the holy from the vile. Look how the disciples dispatched false prophets and would be healers in their day. The church has lost its ability to know right from wrong.

Charles in Florida

 

[Jim B]

Charlesinflorida wrote:

"We are not to judge?" What does the scriptue say "Don't you know they ye shall sit and judge angels". "You shall know them by their fruit".

We are not judging angels yet and, I’ll admit, some of Hinn’s fruit appears, well, overly ripe. I am just not so quick anymore to pull out my big guns and blast away at Mr. Benny Hinn or anyone else. My guns backfire. I can be wrong and I have enough trouble to worry about with old Number One about – you know, the mote and the beam. I do not know Hinn’s motives, but I know his tactics leave a lot to be desired and he is not doing the Charismatic cause any good. I have given up trying to defend him and his road-show antics and simply choose to disassociate myself with him and his persona. I am very weary of having to explain all the antics, clothes, pink hair, constant appeals for money, lack of accountability, twisted doctrine, fleshly-ness, self-serving, ostentatious, and audacious stuff that goes on the name of the Spirit of God and daily comes into living rooms via TV. In my opinion, it misreprents our purpose for being and the message that I believe and am trying to share with our community.

And that’s about as close as I want to get to calling Benny Hinn a fake.

And please, enoch son, who wrote

I truely wonder why some of you are in the fourm. It seems to me that you only look down on P/C?

I do not have to agree with everything you believe to be on this forum, do I? Can’t we speak our disagreements as well as our agreements (providing we do it in a loving way) or must we all march lock-step? Do we have to hang a label around our neck before we are allowed to participate.

Theologically, e., you and I are probably not that far apart. People have labeled me “Pentecostal,” “Charismatic,” “Third Wave,” “Empowered Evangelical,” and a few not-so-flattering things, because of my beliefs. You would probably call me one of the above and, if we were only talking theology and practice, I might agree. It’s all the other stuff (that we have re-hashed again and again) that makes me want to disassociate myself with the labels.

Jim B
\o/

 

[oneshot012]

I really don't like Benny Hinn all that much but i heard a story one time of a pastor who questioned whether Benny Hinn was real or fake but he didn't ask his peers he went straight to the source and asked God. When he asked God ( sorry i don't remeber the story perfectly it was like a few months ago that i heard it) He gave this pastor an illustration. In this illustratration God told him to clean the carpet with his tongue (to my remberance of the story God did not ask him to do this this is only an illustration) and God asked him what his response would be and because he knew he was talking to God he said well i would have to question whether that was from You or not. God then told him that if i told Benny Hinn that he would drop down to his hands and knees and clean the carpet with his tongue.

Really i am not that big of a supporter but i have had friends that went to his crusades and they have been healed. So to say that this man is not of God i don't believe is correct but who know's? You may have problems with his teachings or the way that he does things but why should we disccuss these things amongst ourselves. Instead of posting this hear why not let us go directly to the source and ask God if he is real or fake. He may be foolish with his money and what not but what about Solomon or Abraham? Weren't these men extremely rich and so where many other people from the Bible. I don't have any of the answer the only thing i know is that God is God and i am not and that i don't like to see one sided discussions. I am not hear to debate i am just hear to bring the otherside of the story that is all and my insights as Lee requested.

May God Bless you all.

 

[victoryword]

While I do not watch Benny Hinn all of the time, I will take him over his critics any day. If I had to choose which ones I wanted to pray for my sick child - Benny Hinn or his critics - there is no question who I would go to.

(The above is just an illustration. I already know that Jehovah is the healer but I must clarify that since some hotshot might say, "well don't trust Benny, trust God. I know that already. But if God chose that He would heal through a specific person and asked me to choose the man - The Benny Hinn critics would not even be on the list).

 

[Jim B]

Hey oneshot,

Thanx for your input. The story of Benny Hinn willing to clean the carpet with his tongue, is probably just that, a story, since I have heard variations of it down through the years. Who knows, maybe Benny would; but then, maybe he wouldn’t. Either way, it’s a judgment call I am not willing to make until I can “judge righteous judgment” (have the facts).

The fact that people are saved or healed is not a validation of Benny Hinn’s ministry, it a validation of the ministry of Jesus Christ who does not need Hinn (or anyone) to heal the sick. Many years ago, after the death of A. A. Allen, one of his converts began to doubt his own salvation. A. A. Allen was a flamboyant Pentecostal evangelist (as is Hinn, but even more so) who took his big tent around the country back in the 50s & 60s. He was controversial and wild and my friend, an older man, had been saved and filled with the Spirit in one of his huge tent meetings. Allen had had been kicked-out of the AG because of chronic arrests for drunk driving and public intoxication and in June 1970 he was discovered dead in a San Francisco motel room. His death was ruled alcohol poisoning (some say a heart attack, others sclerosis of the liver) brought on from the large quantity of Vodka he had consumed the night of his death. Yet, despite Allen’s moral frailty and failings, many were saved, healed, delivered, and filled with the Spirit at his meetings.

Why this is, I am clueless. It is one of the great mysteries of grace I have yet to fathom. But I do know that Christ meets faith where He finds it, whether under a Big Tent or a TV Rally, and no matter who gets credit for it. He will sort out the credit due at the Judgment Seat.

Jim
\o/

 

[victoryword]

The fact that people are saved or healed is not a validation of Benny Hinn’s ministry, it a validation of the ministry of Jesus Christ ....

You could be right, but, whether or not this is so, one thing is for certain: Hinn is allowing himself to be used by God as a vessel for God to heal through.

His critics on the other hand attempt to hinder the faith of people by their powerless theology and their attacks on men who simply want to be used as God's vessel.

Hinn may get criticism but I think you and I both know that those who preach the unbelief prevalent amongst so called "orthodox" Christians today and use their dead orthodoxy to attack those who are at least making an effort to be used by God will be judged very harshly when we stand before Him to whom we must give an account for the deeds that were done in the body.

 

[Charlesinflorida]

Thanks Jim B.

You are a gentle spirit. I think the thing that bugs me is first off they fact that he is bilking $ millions from people who are searching for some sort of hope. Hinn directs people to himself rather than to Yeshua. He makes himself to be an essential link between a person in need and the Lord. Some of the things he has said on the air are astounding, completely unscriptural and destructive, and as you have well stated, he and others like him are doing terrible harm to the church in general.

Charles in Florida

 

[Trish1947]

Doesn't it seem right that God will bestow His gifts on those that He knows will be responsible to use them faithfully? After all the Bible says that the "gifts and the calling of God are without repentance? Now I'm not saying that to reflect on Benny Hinn's or any other ministers "spiritual condition". But look at the ones that seem to be faithful to that calling, Kathryn Kullman, A.A. Allen, Benny Hinn, and the like. All seem in our eyes very "strange" people, and yes, even maybe unrepentant. But God chooses to confound the wisdom of the wise. Remember the man in the Bible that was casting out demons in Jesus name, and the apostles wanted to stop him, and Jesus said leave Him alone. At least the people we're seeing the manifestation of Gods power. God will be praised in all the earth, I dont care if He has to cause rocks to praise Him.

 

[Jim B]

Victoryword wrote:

one thing is for certain: Hinn is allowing himself to be used by God as a vessel for God to heal through.

His critics on the other hand attempt to hinder the faith of people by their powerless theology and their attacks on men who simply want to be used as God's vessel.

I would counsel anyone who esteems leaders “more highly than they ought“ to always exercise caution and discernment before assigning too much admiration for them. I do not know much about Benny Hinn and do not follow him. But I do know that leaders, many of them self-appointed within P/C ranks, have disappointed their followers and brought reporoach to the cause of Christ in the past – too many for it not to be a serious warning to all of us.

Jim
\o/

 

[J.A.I]

Just a link to throw in:
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/hinnfalse.html

Along w/audio clips, so I guess you can come to your own conclusions, but also, seek God in the matter. That's why we need to know our Word front to back.

 

[Svt4Him]

Not so Brother Enoch,

But if I was put in the place of Elijah, I would call Benny Hinn to Mt. Carmel to set fire to the offering and see what God he really serves.

Jim B. "We are not to judge?" What does the scriptue say "Don't you know they ye shall sit and judge angels". "You shall know them by their fruit". We are to have spiritual descernment. It is one of the empowering gifts of the spirit for the strengthening of the church, knowing the holy from the vile. Look how the disciples dispatched false prophets and would be healers in their day. The church has lost its ability to know right from wrong.

Charles in Florida

Again, are you not in the wrong forum?

 

[Svt4Him]

As for B.Hinn, CS Lewis once wrote something along the lines of 'a Christian may have bad theology which makes them a bad Christian, but he's not the one to determine if he is or isn't a Christian' The video clips and quotes that show he's wrong are wrong, imo. When I became a Christian, the man who was preaching was the devil's right hand man, according to some 'wise in the faith'. It makes me sick. B.Hinn professes Jesus Christ as Lord, so he is Christian. I may not agree with all he teaches, but I have to laugh when I read 'he turns people off'. Anyone who posts that, let me ask how many people you have lead to repentance and belief in Jesus Christ this last year? He makes so much money and he should give to the poor. Ok, how much do you give to the poor, and how much does he give to help others?

My issue with this is the devil doesn't need to go around roaring like a lion, Christians are too willing to do it themselves. It took my father maybe four years before he could believe I was actually saved. During that time I received no support from him. So I've also seen the 'fruit' of ministries that are out to show us the truth about other Christians. Again let me say I don't agree with B. Hinn's teachings. Some I like, some I don't. But I don't agree with all of many people's teachings...actually I can't think of any I agree with totally, but honestly that's not a bad thing.

 

[Lee]

Doesn't it seem right that God will bestow His gifts on those that He knows will be responsible to use them faithfully? After all the Bible says that the "gifts and the calling of God are without repentance? Now I'm not saying that to reflect on Benny Hinn's or any other ministers "spiritual condition". But look at the ones that seem to be faithful to that calling, Kathryn Kullman, A.A. Allen, Benny Hinn, and the like. All seem in our eyes very "strange" people, and yes, even maybe unrepentant. But God chooses to confound the wisdom of the wise. Remember the man in the Bible that was casting out demons in Jesus name, and the apostles wanted to stop him, and Jesus said leave Him alone. At least the people we're seeing the manifestation of Gods power. God will be praised in all the earth, I dont care if He has to cause rocks to praise Him.

I do agree with you on that.

And I just want to give further more details of my personal research on Benny Hinn so far.

I watch Benny Hinn "This Is Your Day" on his website. http://www.bennyhinn.com

I do check if whether or not Benny gives credit to himself or God. All the times, he gives credit to God. I have not seen a show that he takes the credit. And whenever somone comes up to Benny to tell him that while he was preaching that person was healed, Benny will actually correct the person by stating that person is healed by God. So I have not seen him ever taking any credit for the miracles. Yet he give credits to God.

Please do watch his show through the internet to find out more for yourself. I watch his show for almost more than half a year now. I do not agree with some of his teachings, but I see that even my own pastor I do not agree with some of his teachings. I know that no one has a perfect theology. So the littlest things, I will not argue with.

Yet, there is more I want to say. But I have to go....Peace!

 

[Trish1947]

Lee's quote:

Please do watch his show through the internet to find out more for yourself. I watch his show for almost more than half a year now. I do not agree with some of his teachings, but I see that even my own pastor I do not agree with some of his teachings. I know that no one has a perfect theology. So the littlest things, I will not argue with.

Yet, there is more I want to say. But I have to go....Peace!Today 10:42 AM

Lee, I was making a general comment to those that feel he's a "fake".. I not only watch Benny Hinn, but have been to two of his gatherings in Los Angeles. And I will tell you this, the presence of the Lord is so strong, your either, crying, not standing, or your in awe from the Lords presence. My daughter was healed at his meeting. The Glory of the Lord was there!!. No matter what they think of the "man". And he gave all the glory to Jesus.
And one thing you dont see on tv, is the call to salvation which he always presents to the people at his meetings. At least the two I attended, he did.

 

[enoch son]

I think it's funny. When I look at a lot of your post all that seems to be seen are the gifts and other things. But do people get saved under his ministry. Is the blood of Jesus spoke to them? Is salvation thru Jesus taught. If so, some of you need to put a sock in it. Jesus said "if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me".