Benny Hinn on Dateline Last Night

[amorosi]

bro amorosi,

i get what you mean... pursuing God's heart and kingdom... but you do seem to suggest that being rich materially on earth is wrong? Though Jesus, while ministering, was living simply, He had no lack...

So now, is it wrong to be rich?

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

dear inrsoul...i guess i am only approaching and addressing the one-side of it, just for now !!

i do not teach poverty is a sign of spirituality either, nor that is wrong to have nice things, what is wrong is, if those nice things have your heart, more than jesus does !!

and we also have to be willing to lay them down and walk away....if so demands us to i.e the rich young ruler...went away grieved cuz he had great possesions, and jesus was cut up by the rich young ruler's response, and went on to say how hard is it, for those that have riches to enter the kingdom of heaven ?? easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle, than for most rich men and women to enter heaven !!

riches are not wrong if one can be fully responsible and accountable to god with their stewardship...but having said that "few" can handle wealth, with-out that wealt destroying them ultimately and leading them to stray from paths of righteousness !! for example balaam started out as a prophet, but ended up being a prophet for profit instead !!

and there-in lies the danger....do not seek wealth.....but rather seek first the kingdom of god, and then shall all things be added.

greed would ultimately see annais and sapphira drop dead in church !!

the pharisee's derided and heckled jesus cuz he pin-pointed there greed
and it says jesus knew they ( the pharisee's ) were covetous.

they wanted opulence and extravagance, the latest gadgets and the best houses etc keeping up with the jone's mentality.

i simply say to you what paul said to timothy...charge them that are rich in this world to be not high minded ( we might use the word stuck-up ), nor trust in those uncertain riches, but that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready always to distribute ( share their wealth ) willing to communicate ( a life that is an open book- nothing secretive )

incidently those who desire the office of a bishop ( pastor ) then one of the qualifications is to not be given to filthy lucre !! titus 1:7
timothy says it this way " not greedy of filthy lucre" 1tim 3:3
this then goes cross-grain to many tele-evangelist and the like, who happily declare wealth and prosperity is a sign of god's approval and his divine blessing....they always equate gain to be godliness, which contradicts what timoths epistle says 1 tim 6: 5-18

hope this answers your questions

never forget the rich young ruler's response...when jesus said one thing thou lackest !!!

 

[inrsoul]

Bro amorosi,

I'm pretty aware of what Jesus said to that rich young ruler. The rich young ruler loved money more than God. Remember that verse about not having two masters? You can't serve both money and God... So, in that view, the rich young ruler was in fact serving his 'riches' and made it his master.

So, with that in mind, if we choose to serve God and when God blesses us with immense riches just because you follow Him intently; will you choose to reject all the blessings?

And btw, I have never heard him (benny hinn) speak nor read his books but I am approaching this thread objectively and as much as I can, Scripturally...

 

[GypsyBella]

I wasn't talking about Benny Hinn in that post, btw

God uses people sometimes to preach His Word, eh

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.


Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?


Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

I didn't think that you were talking about Benny Hinn... I was just using him because that's who this thread is about... sorry, I should have made that more clear I don't think all televangalists are bad...

I think that it is very possible that Benny Hinn was "sent to preach". However, I don't think that he has been upright in the position God gave him. (This is just my opinion) I believe he has abused it. God appointed David to be king, but he caused his own downfall.

Why are we all constantly trying to find Scripture to outweigh each other? Shouldn't we be bringing Scripture to the table to see how it all works together?

 

[Andrew]

Btw, he's coming over this coming weekend to singapore.... Personally, I've no urge to attend his services but my only concern right now is the effective of his ministry. I had 3 mentions of Benny Hinn, all of unrelated sources prior to my fiancee telling me that her mum had really chest pains, I was thinking of taking her to prayer meeting. Good idea? No?

Good idea if you are looking to Jesus for the healing. God uses people who are willing vessels, who make themselves available to be used. He doesnt say "Wait be perfect first, then I'll use you."

God loves people. Even when Moses struck the rock again -- and crucified Christ twice -- God still bless the people with water from the rock.

God will bless us despite the preacher or pastor's mistake. Don't let the critics and sore losers rob you of God's blessings.

 

[WashedClean]

Now as to the minsitry itself - I have my worst level of discomfort in the fact that it is named after a man - not The Man. I don't care how many people he has brought to Christ, how powerfully God uses him - if I see him at the forefront of the results - then I am looking at a man - and I am putting both myself and that man in danger of losing the way. We have a jealous God, and He will not allow us to give a man our worship - and that is what truly worries me with these televangelists. If I was to find myself tuning in because Benny was on, then it is time to tune out. I need to tune in to see what God wants me to learn. I need to tune in to be blessed by the miracle working power of Jesus. I need to tune in to grow my Holy Spirit wisdom. Preacher man should become invisible in these services, if watching man is truly focused on God, and God
alone.

First of all, Happy Birthday!

I agreed with all of your post, but this in particular. I have the same issues that you do about preachers trying to get the glory instead of God. But whenever I've watched Benny, which is only a few times, he does give the glory to God. Many don't, and that's when I stop watching. Humility is so important when you're preaching, healing, teaching, etc.

Thanks for that great post Sweetrevival! God bless you!!

 

[CelineDion]

My Question Still Hasnt Been Answered! How Does This Affect Any Of Your Lives In Any Important Way?

 

[JimB]

My Question Still Hasnt Been Answered! How Does This Affect Any Of Your Lives In Any Important Way?

Celine,

Truth affects our lives in every way, directly and indirectly, especially in the work of the kingdom. So does honesty, ethics, integrity and long list of other virtues we either approve or excuse.

~Jim

 

[CelineDion]

But Jim ( I love you to pieces so anything i say is NOT personal) the thing is he is a guy on t.v. who some people like and some dont. You dont like him, I do. Will that ever change ...nope. So why argue? Why should something soooo amazingly pointless divide the body of Christ? It shouldnt. Its ridiculous. I love you all and think this is a ignorant thing to argue over.

 

[JimB]

But Jim ( I love you to pieces so anything i say is NOT personal) the thing is he is a guy on t.v. who some people like and some dont. You dont like him, I do. Will that ever change ...nope. So why argue? Why should something soooo amazingly pointless divide the body of Christ? It shouldnt. Its ridiculous. I love you all and think this is a ignorant thing to argue over.

Celine,

I never take anything personal from you.

To answer your question, I am not arguing about Benny Hinn, this thread just happens to be about him. I do not know a whole lot about Hinn, so I have no personal feelings one way or the other toward him.

My point is, and has always been, I do not like the flawed system he works in (Christian TV) that seems to generate more controversy than it could if it functioned in a more open and accountable manner. Why Christian media does not clean up its act is beyond me. It would be to their advantage to adopt stricter policies, require an acceptable code of ethical behavior for their clients (i.e., televangelists and ministers) and require that they be accountable for their fundraising methods and more controversial actions. Not only would it increase the networks’ audience but it would also disarm their critics. If a ‘ministry’ refused to function in keeping with their ethics policies or requirements for accountability they would not be allowed to broadcast – and the world would be better for it.

IMO.

~Jim

 

[mickd7]

Anybody that sends their money to people like that deserve to drive a Kia when these type people drive Lincoln Continentals. I would support the local church and its ministries and drive a nicer car and let these television people drive a Kia. Fat Eagle.

 

[Andry]

A Lincoln Continental is a nice car?

 

[Trish1947]

I think the only time in the Bible that some other Apostle was inquiring "well what about this guy, whats he going to receive?".. Jesus reply was "if I want Him to live until I come, what is that to you".."come follow me".. it probably still applies today in any inquirey.

 

[JimB]

Evangelists and pastors who derive their incomes from the goodwill donations of people and who flaunt their affluence by purchasing luxurious cars, homes, clothing, etc. an probably not wise. Do they have the right? Sure. But I do not see the wisdom in opening yourself up to broadside criticism.

When we started our church plant a few months ago, an unsaved (pagan) friend of mine said to me, “I know what you’re doing? You’re just trying to get money out of poor folk.” That is laughable, of course, but he was convinced that was my motive for starting a church. He got that misguided idea from somewhere!

What would he think if he saw me driving a Rolls-Royce or Mercedes ? It would only confirm his already misguided suspicions and make my task in reaching him with the Gospel all that more difficult. I will stick with my 1995 Chevy. It gets me where I’m going and it’s paid for. Now, my money can go to more charitable causes than Mercedes-Benz.

~Jim

 

[Trish1947]

I just don't see this sort of thinking Jim, because what we have is the promises of God on one side. That your heart is seeking the kingdom of God, and these blessings both spiritual and material are going to come.
Now we have the other side, we must care what is in mans heart which is evil, he eqates godliness by how poor you are, so we must set aside the promises of God to serve mans evil minds..Who are we really serving here? I'm not talking about someone that is seeking riches, but those that are blessed because their whole lives are sold out to the service of God.

 

[JimB]

I just don't see this sort of thinking Jim, because what we have is the promises of God on one side. That your heart is seeking the kingdom of God, and these blessings both spiritual and material are going to come.
Now we have the other side, we must care what is in mans heart which is evil, he eqates godliness by how poor you are, so we must set aside the promises of God to serve mans evil minds..Who are we really serving here? I'm not talking about someone that is seeking riches, but those that are blessed because they are sold out to God.

He is more important to me, Trish, than my personal comforts. I’ll stick with my Chevy. It does not bother me.

~Jim

 

[CelineDion]

I like mercedes LOL But i personally have a pt cruiser. My dad is a wealthy televangelist but he says , like Jim, that we should not flaunt the money our church pays us. Now all ministry money goes to just that. Dad has a porsche and says that's as expensive as it goes in our family lol. I know Benny personally and must say he is a genuine christian and yes he does have alot of "stuff" but his ministry far outwieghs it. I really am being honest he is a good man of God just trying to spread the gospel.

 

[Trish1947]

I like mercedes LOL But i personally have a pt cruiser. My dad is a wealthy televangelist but he says , like Jim, that we should not flaunt the money our church pays us. Now all ministry money goes to just that. Dad has a porsche and says that's as expensive as it goes in our family lol. I know Benny personally and must say he is a genuine christian and yes he does have alot of "stuff" but his ministry far outwieghs it. I really am being honest he is a good man of God just trying to spread the gospel.

I agree, and their is one thing about it. none is taking it with them, so enjoy the blessing, and give thanks.. Price tags means nothing to God. The heart does.

 

[CelineDion]

Exactly trish...its all about the heart

 

[~RENEE~]

Honestly what I am seeing here is some people are just jelous because others have more than them.

 

[JimB]

True, God knows the heart and man only looks on the outward appearance, but, as my brother says, “Like it or not, we must not forget that men are still looking on the outward appearance.” And men are more important than luxuries.

~Jim