Televangelists...

[12volt_man]

This is a horrible abuse of public trust and the Bible. Whatever Christian group (denomination) he is associated with needs to censure him.

Therein lies the problem.

These guys won't be a part of a denomination because that would make them accountable to someone.

Benny Hinn was a part of the AoG but was thrown out over his heresy and shady business dealings.

At least, in their case, they did the right thing.

Also letters to the station to have him removed might be a good idea.

That's the other problem. Guys like this aren't sponsored by anyone, they pay their own way. As long as they're paying for their own airtime, the station has no incentive to remove him.

 

[12volt_man]

Do there exist authentic televangelists?

At the risk of sounding Clintonesque, it all depends on what your definition of "televangelist" is.

Nowadays the word carries such a negative connotation. When we hear televangelists, we think of the wackos like Bakker, Hinn, Copeland, Hickey, et al, but TV and radio are a legitimate way for preachers to spread the Gospel.

There are plenty of good preacher on TV and radio. You just have to be able to examine their teachings in light of scripture and be able to discern the good from the bad.

 

[Ave Maria]

That's the other problem. Guys like this aren't sponsored by anyone, they pay their own way. As long as they're paying for their own airtime, the station has no incentive to remove him.

You would think that Christian stations who sponsor televangelists like Benny Hinn would want to get rid of them because of their shady theology and shady business decisions. I would think that a Christian station would want to maintain their purity.

 

[12volt_man]

You would think that Christian stations who sponsor televangelists like Benny Hinn would want to get rid of them because of their shady theology and shady business decisions. I would think that a Christian station would want to maintain their purity.

You have to understand that these guys buy airtime on TV the same as a company would buy time to show an infomercial. Most of these stations aren't "Christian" stations so they don't really have an obligation to sound doctrine.

There are also legal issues involved. You can't tell Suzanne Sommers that she can sell a thighmaster and then tell Marilyn Hickey or Joyce Meyer that they can't sell miracle prayer cloths or whatever goofy thing those two are into this week, just because you don't like their religious views.

And then there's TBN, who wouldn't know sound doctrine if you smacked them in the head with a Bible (an idea that deserves further consideration).

Radio stations are a different story. Many of them are owned by secular enterprises, so they're run pretty much the same way as the TV stations above.

Those who are owned by Christian oriented outfits or churches have a little more leeway to keep bad doctrine out.

Here in our area, we have WFIL, WOEL and WBCH. They're all pretty good about policing the doctrine that goes out over their airwaves.

 

[Ave Maria]

You have to understand that these guys buy airtime on TV the same as a company would buy time to show an infomercial. Most of these stations aren't "Christian" stations so they don't really have an obligation to sound doctrine.

There are also legal issues involved. You can't tell Suzanne Sommers that she can sell a thighmaster and then tell Marilyn Hickey or Joyce Meyer that they can't sell miracle prayer cloths or whatever goofy thing those two are into this week, just because you don't like their religious views.

And then there's TBN, who wouldn't know sound doctrine if you smacked them in the head with a Bible (an idea that deserves further consideration).

Radio stations are a different story. Many of them are owned by secular enterprises, so they're run pretty much the same way as the TV stations above.

Those who are owned by Christian oriented outfits or churches have a little more leeway to keep bad doctrine out.

Here in our area, we have WFIL, WOEL and WBCH. They're all pretty good about policing the doctrine that goes out over their airwaves.

Well, that's what I'm referring to. Christian television stations (like TBN) should know better than to put televanglists on TV that don't have sound doctrine. I wouldn't expect secular television stations to say that Benny Hinn is heretical so they won't let him on their channel. They could probably care less about the doctrines of any televangelists coming on their channel. The only thing they need to worry about is ratings. Which makes me wonder. How do televangelists like Benny Hinn get good enough ratings for the television channel station to even want to keep them on the air?

 

[Onemonthman]

Well, that's what I'm referring to. Christian television stations (like TBN) should know better than to put televanglists on TV that don't have sound doctrine. I wouldn't expect secular television stations to say that Benny Hinn is heretical so they won't let him on their channel. They could probably care less about the doctrines of any televangelists coming on their channel. The only thing they need to worry about is ratings. Which makes me wonder. How do televangelists like Benny Hinn get good enough ratings for the television channel station to even want to keep them on the air?

I would be very careful about what you listen to coming from tbn. They are dangerous imo. The reason these people are able to pay their bills is because they are making millions. They pray on the people who are so desperate for a miracle. The sick and the hurting. They would give anything.

 

[Ave Maria]

I would be very careful about what you listen to coming from tbn. They are dangerous imo. The reason these people are able to pay their bills is because they are making millions. They pray on the people who are so desperate for a miracle. The sick and the hurting. They would give anything.

I used to watch TBN when I was way more Conservative. Since I became more Liberal, I don't watch very much religious television. TBN is like the only religious channel I get too so I don't usually watch it. Much of what they have on there is either concerts (which don't interest me) or some garbage featuring some televangelist trying to sell some kind of "miracle potion" or something. If they had real philosophical discusssions that actually meant something I might watch more often. I wish there was a Liberal Christian channel on TV, or at least a show.

 

[12volt_man]

Well, that's what I'm referring to. Christian television stations (like TBN) should know better than to put televanglists on TV that don't have sound doctrine.

In the case of TBN, they don't understand what sound doctrine is and Hinn shares their doctrine. He's a fellow traveller.

I wouldn't expect secular television stations to say that Benny Hinn is heretical so they won't let him on their channel. They could probably care less about the doctrines of any televangelists coming on their channel. The only thing they need to worry about is ratings. Which makes me wonder. How do televangelists like Benny Hinn get good enough ratings for the television channel station to even want to keep them on the air?

But that's the point. They're not concerned with ratings because the only purpose of ratings is to attract sponsors. These people who buy time don't have sponsors so ratings aren't a priority.

 

[Ave Maria]

In the case of TBN, they don't understand what sound doctrine is and Hinn shares their doctrine. He's a fellow traveller.



But that's the point. They're not concerned with ratings because the only purpose of ratings is to attract sponsors. These people who buy time don't have sponsors so ratings aren't a priority.

I'd like to discuss the doctrines that TBN espouses sometime but it'd probably be off topic in here. I think sometime tomorrow I'll create a thread on TBN. Feel free to participate.