Benny Hinn: I Would Not Do This For Money; Most Faith Healers are Frauds

Posted on October 20, 2009
Viewed 1721 times
(49) comments

Benny Hinn gives an interview to Nightline to defend himself. He talks candidly about faith healers; and also says that he has to many times live a life of misery.

What about the people you've healed that aren't healed? "These are things I cannot explain". (His explanation: "I am not the healer, God is.") In other words... take it up with God.

Watch the video and let me know what you think...

I thought it was a great interview. Very telling. And a very unusual look at a very unusual religious personality.

What do you think?

Todd

Comments

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Leonard on Tue, October 20, 2009

Interesting… Hard to judge when it is all cut up and clipped… but I am not sure I heard any answerers. And as CS would say… “wheres that in the bible?”
dave anderson on Tue, October 20, 2009

I wonder if he can get healed from that double chin he’s sporting now.
Scott on Tue, October 20, 2009

Benny Hinn is a thief and a con-man, and any network that puts him on tv is the same. Guys like him give Christianity a bad name. One of the other news magazine’s did a piece on him a couple of years back showing his multiple mansions, two jets, etc. Looked like a piece right out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless.
dave anderson on Tue, October 20, 2009

Actually I listened to the entire thing and after I did, while I dont subscribe to Pastor Hinn’s brand of theology or some of the things I’ve seen on television and I feel for those who thought they were healed only to find themselves disappointed, when they press him on the money issues (500K salary + private jet) when you think about the size of the organization he leads, and the places that he has to travel to get there, I dont know that I would contend he is overpaid and should live like a pauper.

A pastor of a large church or Christian organization is not unlike the head football coach of a winning team or the CEO of a major organization. Paying him well is in fact scriptural. That definition of “well paid” may be difficult to define but ultimately he and his organization are accountable to God for that.

I should also repent for the double chin remark after looking in the mirror. ugh.
Carl on Tue, October 20, 2009

Did a commentor really ask where healing is in the Bible?
Leonard on Tue, October 20, 2009

No Carl, a commenter asked where what Benny Said was in the bible.
Matt on Tue, October 20, 2009

The question the interviewer forgot to ask: �Mr. Hinn, after 30-plus years of ministry you have not offered proof of one verifiable miracle in your crusades. You receive a salary in excess of $500,000 per year from a secretive ministry run by family members and friends. You travel in a private jet and stay in hotel rooms worth upwards of $5,000 per night. You appear regularly on TBN and promise viewers that they will receive wealth, spiritual protection and salvation for their family members if they give you and TBN their money. Many of your donors are the poor and elderly, with limited financial resources. Trained hypnotists and illusionists who attend your crusades claim that they use the very same techniques to manipulate suggestible people in their audiences. � Is there any possibility you are NOT taking advantage of people?�
CS on Tue, October 20, 2009

Boy, you’d have a tougher time nailing Jello to a wall with some of these answers. The thing that dismayed me the most was when the interviewer said, “Are you taking advantage of people…?”

Hinn replied by saying, “I’m glad you’re asking.”

NO! The first word out of your mouth should have been the word, “No!” you charlatan!

Leonard:

“And as CS would say� �wheres that in the bible?�”

I believe you can find that in 2 Hesitations 3:17. Perhaps Hezekiah 8:11 or 1 Exceptions 4:4.

—
CS
Steven Crutchfield on Tue, October 20, 2009

Wow, however uncomfortable one may feel about someone’s ministry, we need to be careful about the “spirit in which we judge”. We might need to leave that up to God and remember He uses messed up people like “us”. Also, as someone who experienced a supernatural touch through his ministry—-God can use whomever He chooses….even if we don’t agree with or understand the person. Yes, as a 16 yr. old with R.A…..God used B.H. to look into that tv camera and talk directly to me and my situation….I still can’t believe it….but I SURE BELIEVE IT!
CS on Tue, October 20, 2009

Steven:

“Wow, however uncomfortable one may feel about someone�s ministry, we need to be careful about the �spirit in which we judge�. We might need to leave that up to God and remember He uses messed up people like �us�. “

That’s right, but God also warned us about false teachers and heretics and gave us the tools and authority to mark them (Romans 16:17) so people don’t fall victim to their wiles. And in the case of Hinn, he qualifies at many levels:

-He prophecized that Jesus Christ would appear on stage with him at a revival. This violates the condition for a prophet in Deuteronomy 18, which means we should ignore him from now on, and also flies in the face of Matthew 24:26.

-He said that he wishes he had a, “Holy Ghost machine gun,” and that the Bibles said that he could kill people with whom he disagrees. Doesn’t sound like meeting the, “of good behavior, given to hospitality,” in 1 Timothy 3:2.

-He clearly enjoys the wealth he has and the evidence points to how he loves money. Check 1 Timothy 3:3 and, “filthy lucre.”

I know that you have a certain admiration for him because you feel he spoke to you, and I ask in love that you put down your experiences and look at the evidence against him in light of Scripture. If you go to Google and type in the words, “Benny Hinn,” the autocompletion for the second, third, and fourth entries are, “fraud,” “exposed,” and, “false prophet.” This is no coincidence.

—
CS
Steven Crutchfield on Tue, October 20, 2009

CS…wow, you’re on point!!!! And forget about me “putting aside” the fact that I’m HEALED!!!! And my admiration is for GOD alone not B.H. or any other person…and the fact that God uses tax collectors and murderers or B.H. is somewhat refreshing….knowing He doesn’t work within my ways of thinking (something to do with His ways being higher….) If you feel the need to judge (through scripture or whatever) that’s fine—-All I was saying was that God can use anyone…even the one’s we don’t agree with all of the time (Saul….you christian killer)! But thanks for your thoughts….i’ll remember them the next time I walk!!!!!
David Buckham on Tue, October 20, 2009

Steven and Others,

I may be off here but I feel compelled to chime in about God using individuals from a Biblical standpoint.

I am writing this without checking all my facts, so I may be wrong. Feel free to correct me, in love, if I am wrong but God didn’t use Saul, He used a repented Paul. God did not use a Peter of little faith, he used a Peter full of faith. God did not use an adulterous David, he used a repented David. God did not use a proud and murderous Moses, but a humbled shepherd. I believe this pattern is consistent throughout the scriptures…I will check more.

My point is, while in sin, God does not use men or women (at least not to my recollection). Benny Hinn, as a false prophet alone, is living in a state of sin. I would be careful to definitively state that God is using him, maybe God isn’t involved in the process at all. Can someone come to Christ through Benny Hinn, sure, but according to the scriptures even nature, which is silent, can point someone to God. Some people come to Christ because they are scared of the Devil. Does that mean God is using the Devil? I hope not. Could He? Sure, but I don’t see God using an individual while they are in sin in the scriptures.

Am I saying Hinn is not a Christian? Nope. That is not for me to decide. Am I saying he isn’t saved? Nope, again that is for God to decide.

What I am saying is that the scriptural precedent is God does not use people while they are in sin. Benny Hinn is a false prophet. That is not a judgment call that is just plain fact. Hinn repeatedly made various prophecies that did not come true…because they were false.

All that aside I was pleased to hear Hinn admit he is not the one doing the healing, it was God’s spirit through Him.

all about Christ,
David Buckham
Peter Hamm on Tue, October 20, 2009

God used Balaam’s donkey to speak… and yet Balaam’s donkey wasn’t a great saint…

Okay, seriously… Hinn handled himself, imho, really well in this interview.

If your ministry grosses 100 million a year and you’re taking .5% of that… or even if it’s 1%... not such a big deal. The argument about the private plane is valid. People like this are such a spectacle in an airport and the logistics of commercial flight… Okay, let’s give him that, too.

Doesn’t mean he’s not wrong about a great many very important things… as I am convinced very much he is!
David Buckham on Tue, October 20, 2009

Peter,

Name one sin Balaam’s donkey committed…other than he was a complete a$$.

all about Christ,
David Buckham
Steven Crutchfield on Tue, October 20, 2009

what about Judas….was he not “used” or “allowed” to do something very horrible in betraying Jesus…yet God brought a “Savior” out of it…how many pastors can God work through every week….yet, they stumble….the only point is….God uses people….people are sinners….i don’t condone or support any “false-prophet”....but we are all here because of God’s grace…..and may I bring out the fact that none of you have said how awesome it was that I was healed of R.A. (or do i need to show supporting documentation)....or are B.H. mistakes more important?