Concerned about Benny Hinn

[Garnet2727]

Hello all,

I'm looking for some advice here. My sister, who is a Southern Baptist is going to a Benny Hinn revival (show?) in Atlanta in a few months. I'm VERY concerned about this. My sister is in a particularly needy state of mind. She lost her eldest son 4 years ago and still is grieving daily.

I've watched Benny Hinn on TV and have also done some research about him. It seems that many conservative Christians consider him a heretic. As for me, I think he's a snake oil salesman out to get money.

I'm not sure what to do about this. I see my sister getting easily sucked into his nonsense. I've tried telling her and sending her links from Christians sites, but her mind is set on going and she frankly doesn't want to hear it from an atheist.

Any input?

 

[JohnnyV]

The only thing I can say about Benny Hinn is becareful. Im sure he does do some good things and I am not trying to put him down because he is a man of the lord, but from what I have seen he is walking a very thin line. I watched several shows where there was a lot of new agey stuff going on. Benny Hinn was a favorite of my family for a long long time until recently when this new agey stuff started taking place.
If your sister is a prayerful person, Id suggest she prays for discernment.

 

[12volt_man]

You're right to be concerned. Benny Hinn is a part of an abberational movement within Christianity called the Word of Faith movement, which is dangerous from both a doctrinal point of view and from a sociological point of view.

From a doctrinal point of view, there is much to be worried about. Simply put, Benny Hinn is to sound Christian teaching as Benny Hill was to sound Christian teaching.

Hinn has as many heresies as there are stars in the sky but just to cut to the chase, by far the worst is that Jesus was a sinner who had to suffer in Hell to purchase His own salvation before He could purchase ours.

Now, even as an atheist, I'm sure you can see how this idea departs from orthodox Christian teaching.

Much less troubling but indicative of the man's character, is his history of lying in his books.

He has claimed that his father was the mayor of Jaffa, Israel. This not only turned out to be patently untrue but, had it been true, would have been an amazig feat, since his family is Palestinian.

He claims to have held a healing service in a hospital in Sault St Marie, in which the "annointing" was so powerful upon him that even people walking past the hospital were healed. Again, not true. First of all, you would think that, if everyone not only in the hospital but within a 100 yard radius were miraculously healed of various diseases, it would have been pretty big news. Unfortunatly, when asked, no one at the hospital had even heard of Hinn.

Worse, it turns out that the hospital was a Catholic hospital and, according to the hospital spokesman, Hinn, being a non-Catholic, would have needed special permission to preach there from the archsioscese.

Third, and one that I find funny, being a big Flyers' fan, he claimed that God miraculously cancelled an NHL game between the Florida Panthers and the Phildelphia Flyers so that he could put on a show in that arena. Again, when investigators went to NHL offices to inquire, the official NHL schedule showed that there was never a game scheduled for that night.

Then there's the necromancy, but that's for another thread.

If your sister won't listen to you, I would suggest two things:

1. Go to her pastor and tell him you're concerned. I am from this denomination and we generally keep well abreast of these things.

2. Send her to baptistboard.com. If she won't listen to you, an atheist, she may feel more comfortable talking to other baptists.

There is also a great book called "The Confusing World of Benny Hinn", which is available all over the internet. It is scholarly, well researched and foot-noted and addresses the problems with Hinn's teaching and behavior, which are many, in detail.

Federal investigators found the writings of the men who did this book so credible that they used them as evidence in several federal trials, including those of Robert Tilton and W.V. Grant.

 

[ClementofRome]

Here is the problem as I see it.....if Benny had the power and gift of God to heal, he would not hire out the local arena and put on his SHOW (and yes it is a show).....he would be on a touring circuit of every childrens hospital in the world, touching and healing the little ones.

He cannot answer this criticism and neither can any supporter of his.

 

[12volt_man]

The only thing I can say about Benny Hinn is becareful. Im sure he does do some good things and I am not trying to put him down because he is a man of the lord,

He's not a "man of the Lord", he's a dangerous heretic. He is one of those whom Jesus called "wolves in sheep's clothing".

If he were a "man of the Lord", he would not pervert the Gospel for his own ends.

 

[12volt_man]

Here is the problem as I see it.....if Benny had the power and gift of God to heal, he would not hire out the local arena and put on his SHOW (and yes it is a show).....he would be on a touring circuit of every childrens hospital in the world, touching and healing the little ones.

He cannot answer this criticism and neither can any supporter of his.

An excellent point and, to that end, there were two challenges issued to Hinn, one by the Christian Research Institute to submit three healings for review and one from the Trinity Foundation (the ministry behind the book I referrenced earlier) to submit his "five best" healings.

In the case of CRI, all three were debunked. In the case of the Trinity Foundation, three were debunked, one was not a healing at all and one was inconclusive.

 

[LilRitt04]

Personally, I have never liked Benny Hinn nor do I think that his show is real. i have been around the pentecostal enough to know that he is a show

 

[Mrs_DeBey]

John 8:7

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is with out sin, let him be the fist to throw a stone at her"

John 8:15-16
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.

In other words...Don't judge people...It doesn't matter who they are...God still loves them.

 

[LegomasterJC]

It is fake shows that give the true times of healing a bad name and with it ubelief in God's healing power. I pray that even if she goes to this, that God will give her Wisdom and discernment with what goes on there. And she may even recieve some healing from God in the midst of the lies. That reminds me of a movie I saw... I forget the name of it but you may know what I am talking about.

 

[foursquareman]

Is that Leap of Faith, with Steve Martin?

 

[lookinguptoo]

Garnet, I certainly understand your concern, and I think by sending links you have done the right thing. However, I can also understand your sister's apprehension about your advise considering you are an atheist. She probably feels you just don't understand or have your mind set against anything Christian all together. Therefore, I would copy this thread of what other Christians have said about Benny Hinn and let her read that. It is one thing to hear an atheist say he is "snake oil salesman" and it is a whole different story to hear another Christian say it. You can point out that this is a world wide forum of people from all different denominations so it is not an "anti-Benny" group or denomination. I also like the idea that someone else suggested and that is asking her to pray for discernment regarding the matter. Personally I have gone to a Benny Hinn event and I was not impressed. Here is why, the first part of the event is just pumping people up emotionally. There is no solid Biblical teaching time; then right before the "miracle service", music was sung about the Holy Spirit and people were getting all worked up. Personally I do believe in miracles and I have seen miracles BUT I also have a level head, level enough not to get caught up in the emotionalism which let me see what was going on. As the Holy Spirit music was sung and Benny pleaded for the Holy Spirit to descend the fans were quietly and gently turned on. My friend next to me said the Holy Spirit had hit him and people started shouting, but I traced with my eyes and body where the "Spirit" was coming from and I knew what was going on. The music was loud to prevent and distract people from hearing the fans and of course, many people would not have wanted to believe it was fans either. Then the miracle service started and I saw a couple with a crippled child trying to get that child to get up and walk but the child could not. I saw them getting frustrated and sort of yank the child but it was to no avail. The child could not walk. They were in the front aisle so I am sure Benny could see them but he did not offer help that child nor did his workers who were in the aisles nor did they console the parents or try to prevent them from trying to force a miracle on the child. I think it was emotionally traumatic for the child and I can just imagine the parents blaming the child for not having enough faith. Benny should have intervened in my opinion. I also noticed not everyone that went down for their "miracle" was permitted on stage. Many people were turned away because time was up. I have never been in a legitimate church where there was an alter call and people were turned away because "time was up". I have been in many services where we just kept singing the same song over and over and over until everyone finished coming and the pastor was sure no one more was to come and he had talked with and prayed with each one individually. The others that wanted to see Benny were not given an alternate person either, they were just sent back to their seats. I went to the service because a friend and my sister asked me to go so I went with them hoping to enjoy a good service, but I went away feeling like Benny was not all he was pumped up to be. If I could address your sister personally, I would remind her that God warns us to be careful of false prophets and teachers, and the Bible says that not everyone that calls Him Lord is His child. He also tells us to judge a man by the fruit he bears and she should consider what other Christians have said about Benny to be a better judge as to whether he is really in the business of serving God or not. Jesus picked out the false teachers and we have to too. It is not fun, but we are called to be wise not blind. Garnet, I don't know if this will help your sister with her decision in any way, but if she still chooses to go, then you can at least feel satisfied that you did all you could for her, and I think she should appreciate the fact that instead of going to an atheist forum to say "how do I get my sister to see this miracle stuff is just a bunch of craziness?" Instead, you had enough respect for her to ask fellow Christians. You did not know what our responses would be either. We could have started preaching to you or fully defended Benny, but it looks like everyone so far is agreeing with you that she should exercise caution with him. It does not mean we don't believe in miracles or have a flighty view about God. I for one believe in God with all my heart, mind, and soul, but I do not believe in Benny. I wish both you and your sister well.

 

[12volt_man]

John 8:7

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is with out sin, let him be the fist to throw a stone at her"

John 8:15-16
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.

In other words...Don't judge people...It doesn't matter who they are...God still loves them.

Actually, that's not what that passage says. It says not to pass unrighteous, hypocritical judgement on people.

We're still commanded to test the teachings we hear in light of scripture.

 

[TearsOfTheDragon]

He is not a man of god. He is a nasty piece of trash who I beileve prays upon the helpless and particuarly needy.

Please talk to your sister and tell her your concerns. She may listen to you.

 

[JohnnyV]

ok when I said 'he is a man of God', what I meant was: he , like Swaggart and Baker and Oral Roberts etc, is in a position of a man of God. Therefore I was always taught not to make fun/talk bad of or in anyother way 'dis' a person in that position because I was not God. I still agree with that, only God knows Benny, I dont. I also still agree with my original statement to be careful and wary and to pray for discernment (not just where Benny Hinn is concerned but with all the Tele-evangelists and any other preacher).
I have seen many in my family be taken in by telepreachers and then become so downhearted and bitter when these people are shown to be human like everyone else.
God is God and no one will change that, but Man is still Man fallible and easily distracted from truth. Thats my opinion take it for what it is.

 

[shprdslamb7]

Chalk me up as one that believes people need to be wary of Benny Hinn. I need someone to corroborate this but didn't he make some kind of prophecy for the 90's that the gay community in California was going to be destroyed by fire?

That's the point. The man has made many "prophecies" that have not come to pass. He's lucky he's not living in Old Testament times for he would be stoned for that.

And, I just wanted to reiterate what someone else said...if he has the ability to heal why isn't he walking the streets doing it? I know I would.

Finally, yes we are not to judge...but, I don't see anyone judging here. "Judging" is judging someone's salvation. It is not for us to say whether he is saved or not. Personally, I believe he is...but, has strayed from the truth over the years. Fruits, on the other hand, CAN be judged...and, this man has strange fruits.

 

[Garnet2727]

Wow. Everyone, thank you for the replies and advice. I think I shall do exactly what lookingupto says and simply send this thread to my sister to review. I think it will be better for her to hear these things from fellow Christians rather than from her atheist little sister who is always harping loudly about televangelists and faith healers.

To put things in a little perspective, I'm 41 and my sister is 52, so neither of us are youngsters nor do we have a bad relationship. We are in fact quite good friends as well as sisters. But there are some things that I consider her biased about because of her beliefs and some things she considers me biased about because of my non-belief.

So...thank you all.

 

[Ave Maria]

Hello all,

I'm looking for some advice here. My sister, who is a Southern Baptist is going to a Benny Hinn revival (show?) in Atlanta in a few months. I'm VERY concerned about this. My sister is in a particularly needy state of mind. She lost her eldest son 4 years ago and still is grieving daily.

I've watched Benny Hinn on TV and have also done some research about him. It seems that many conservative Christians consider him a heretic. As for me, I think he's a snake oil salesman out to get money.

I'm not sure what to do about this. I see my sister getting easily sucked into his nonsense. I've tried telling her and sending her links from Christians sites, but her mind is set on going and she frankly doesn't want to hear it from an atheist.

Any input?

You're definitely right to be concerned about it. Benny Hinn is a heretic! I find it rather bigoted of her though to refuse to accept your advice simply because you're an Atheist. If you can find someone close to her who is a Christian who will tell her, maybe that will work.

 

[Garnet2727]

John 8:7

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is with out sin, let him be the fist to throw a stone at her"

John 8:15-16
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.

In other words...Don't judge people...It doesn't matter who they are...God still loves them.

Hmmm...at risk of derailing my own thread, consider this:

John 17:4 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Romans 14.13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

I've heard from time to time that Christians are not supposed to "judge". However, I think it would be better said that Christians are not supposed to "judge wrongly". Paul talks quite a bit about discernment. And it seems that in all the verses where Jesus is saying not to judge, that he is speaking in the context of some plain hypocrasy.

Back to the topic at hand, this kind of thinking is what I'm REALLY worried about with my sister. ie, she has told me that I nor anyone else has a right to judge the motives of Benny Hinn. That he is a man of God and that's that. She used the very verses you did.

So maybe it isn't a thread derail. Maybe she does need to understand when judgment is appropriate.

In the case of Benny Hinn, one might say that by his heretical teachings. (Verifiable.) That HE is placing stumbling blocks before his fellow Christians.

 

[Sketcher]

Hmmm...at risk of derailing my own thread, consider this:

John 17:4 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Romans 14.13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother's way.

I've heard from time to time that Christians are not supposed to "judge". However, I think it would be better said that Christians are not supposed to "judge wrongly". Paul talks quite a bit about discernment. And it seems that in all the verses where Jesus is saying not to judge, that he is speaking in the context of some plain hypocrasy.

Which is something I hear he does- judging people for their "lack of faith" or "lack of submission to the Spirit" when they don't fall down when touched and when they don't get healed.

She may end up going, seeing all the bull and not be impressed at all. I just hope she doesn't give him money.

 

[LilRitt04]

There is a fine line that you have to draw when it comes to Benny Hinn. Yes he is a man of God but I think some of the things that he has done or what have you may be a little exaggerated. I have been to one but I was to far back to really see anything. But what I am saying is that. Benny Hinn is a true man of God and does know his Bible like the back of his hand. But even with preachers now a days you have to watch when it comes to altar calls and healings and things. People could be faking it or what have you. I know people that say they have been and loved it and people that hated it. I would personally never go.