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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:49 am Post subject: A Biblical Perspective on Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn is called a superstar of televangelism. He draws large crowds around the world. It is said that millions of people, even tens of millions of people, believe that Benny Hinn is one of God's greatest spokesmen. But is he a man of God or a man of sin? Is he a true prophet or a false prophet? We should evaluate his fruits, as Jesus said:
"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:18-19).
A person's fruit are his works and words (his deeds and his messages).
Benny Hinn's Works
Pretended signs and wonders
Living the gospel of greed
It is widely known that Benny Hinn's claims of miracles are an enormous fraud and that he lives an extravagant lifestyle. The following video clips show the extent of that fraud that has been revealed by Dateline on NBC. Dateline's investigations have authenticated the research of Ole Anthony's Christian watchdog ministry, The Trinity Foundation. There is no doubt in my mind that these are very credible reports.
Dateline's Benny Hinn investigation in 5 parts
(Note: You will need RealPlayer to view the following files. RealPlayer has a free version of their software to play video files. If you need to download that software and install it, go to this page http://www.real.com/?PV=6 and click on Free Download - RealPlayer FREE).
(Note: Here is a tip on viewing video files if you have a slow connection. The playing of a video file will often pause and your player will display the message "buffering" or "communicating". That's not a problem. Just let it go through the whole video that way. When it's finished, just hit the "play" button and it will play the whole video again without interruption).
10 minutes of excerpts from Dateline's Benny Hinn investigation
The following link has 10 minutes of excerpts from Dateline's Benny Hinn investigation in high quality video. http://wittenburgdoor.com/godstuff/dateline_hinn.html
More reports
The perspective revealed in the Dateline investigation is not an exceptional point of view but is a generally agreed upon fact. [1].
Sensible Christians speak out
Benny Hinn gained his popularity largely by his "miracle shows." But many Christians testify that Benny Hinn's alleged miracles consist mostly of fraud. Please read the following interview with Justin Peters: http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/justin.pdf
(Note: If you need Acrobat Reader to open this file, download it here).
About Justin Peters
Justin Peters analyzed Benny Hinn's Ministry and its methods for his master's thesis in theology. Justin was born of two Christian parents. He himself is a disabled man with Cerebral Palsy. This led Justin to begin inquiring about Jesus at an early age. In fact, he became a born again Christian at age seven. As a teenager, Justin visited faith healers, hoping to be healed, but his hopes were unfulfilled. In November 1995, while attending Mississippi State University, Justin decided that his calling was to enter the ministry and become an evangelist. With that goal in mind, he set off to study theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. His Master's thesis, completed at the end of 2002, was an examination of the life and ministry of Benny Hinn. As research for his thesis, Justin attended several Benny Hinn Crusades. I see no reason to doubt Justin Peters' sincerity, Biblical insights and observations. [2].
God requires that we exercise discernment
What does God say about people who practice falsehood for dishonest gain? "The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight." (Proverbs 11:1). (Or the NKJV: "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.") Since God is a God of truth, any falsehood is an abomination to God.
The New Testament condemns those who live an extravagant lifestyle
"You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter." (James 5:5).
A new kind of Christianity
Benny Hinn's lifestyle draws a sharp contrast to the life of Jesus, the lives of all the apostles, and of all the Old Testament prophets of God. Talking about miracles, Jesus is the Lord of miracles, but Jesus never used his power of working miracles to obtain wealth for Himself. "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20). Now let us look at the lives of the holy apostles. The Apostle Paul, who himself possessed many spiritual gifts, described his life in this way: "To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world." (1 Corinthians 4:11-13).
I do not expect Benny Hinn to live in poverty as Jesus and the apostles did, but if he is truly a man of God, he should at least live a life of modesty, soberness and uprightness. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14). Yet Benny Hinn's lifestyle demonstrates utter ungodliness, worldly passions, drunkenness and greed.
Benny Hinn's response to those who oppose his "anointing" "Yes Lord I'll do it! I place a curse on every man and every woman that will stretch his hand against this anointing. I curse that man who dares to speak a word against this ministry."
This video clip shows Benny Hinn cursing those who dare to challenge his ministry. The way he spoke when he pronounced his curses on his enemies is scary and demonic. This again demonstrates his utter ungodliness. Even if he has some true supernatual power, his power would not come from God, but come from the devil.
The Bible teaches: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14).
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." (James 3:9-10).
What does the Bible teach about the manners a spokesman of God should have?
"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." (Titus 2:6-8).
In this video, Benny Hinn makes 25 or more of his followers fall down instantly by shouting and waving his arms. Many Christians believe that Benny Hinn is exercising a genuine unholy power over his followers.
Warning: This video shows Benny Hinn's wife preaching in their church and claiming that her message is from God but her message is so vulgar and blasphemous that it will hurt your sensitive spirit to listen to it.
There is an important lesson here. The person Benny Hinn married might be a refection of himself!
In speaking about people like Benny and Suzanne Hinn, the Apostle Paul said: "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." (Philippians 3:18-19).
Benny and Suzanne Hinn are certainly enemies of the cross; they direct people's minds to earthly things by their unbiblical prosperity "gospel" and by false miracles. Even if they preach some gospel truths at times with lip service, they are not serving the gospel. Instead, they are using the gospel as a means to serve themselves, to bring money and fame to themselves, to build their own empire.
Benny Hinn prophecy of Jesus visiting Nairobi, Kenya in 2000
This is especially alarming because Jesus himself warned us:
"At that time if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!' or, `There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. So if anyone tells you, `There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, `Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." (Matthew 24:23-27).
So far no one has seen "Christ" appear in Benny Hinn's meetings, but even if a dazzling being were to appear resembling the description of Christ in Revelation chapter 1, it will only confirm that Benny Hinn is a false prophet working in harmony with the devil.
Benny Hinn Prophesies That God's Glory Will Visibly Appear as Fire!
"Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name." Revelation 13:11-17.
This is certainly a spectacular sign that the end is near. I pray that God will protect you as his dear child and give you discernment to see through Benny Hinn's falsehood.
Conclusion
Beware the Lawless one!
"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thess 2:9-12).
Benny Hinn's life exemplifies a biblical false prophet
Jesus warned us about false prophets.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:15-20).
"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' " (Matthew 7:21-23).
Benny Hinn fits into this profile perfectly. From his fruits (his words and his deeds), we can see that he is not of God.
The Bible pronounces severe judgments upon false prophets like Benny Hinn
"With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness." (2 Peter 2:14-15).
"Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever." (Jude 1:11-13).
"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." (Jude 1:20-23).
I, of course, disagree with the magnitude of the accusation suggested in these videos that the Benny Hinn phenomenon is mostly mass suggestion or hypnotism. I believe that it boils down to willfully accepting a deception and many more being genuinely deceived. In the video called Benny Hinn Meets Benny Hill you can see, up close, several folks coming on stage at a Benny Hinn crusade and Benny Hinn swatting them with his Spirit filled jacket and they all supposedly falling down by the power of it. These pretenders don't even know how to pretend that they are being "slain in the Spirit." These are the most ungodly and most insincere evidences of divine power that I have ever seen.
I have no doubt that the video Benny Hinn Examined reveals genuine deception.
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