Benny Hinn

[Bill]

That comment reminds me of the "don't touch the anointing" statement.

I recently emailed my Christian radio station that was all excited about their trip to Baltimore to see Hinn...promoting it as "if you need a fresh touch from the Lord...". Asked them about the questionable teachings that Hinn promotes. They haven't responded to me.

Kinda figured that. :x:

[Guest LCPGUY]

Matt 5:22

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

(KJV)

You all need to think about what you are doing here. Have any of you ever gone to him via mail, e-mail, phone, or in person to ask him about all this?

Dear His,

I don't need to do that personally. I have audio tapes and CD's by him that clearly, in his own voice, prove him a false prophet and false teacher. Heretical is more appropriate.

As far as contacting him, both Hank Hanegraf and Dr. Bob Morrey did that. To no avail.

He leads many astray and IS NOT MY BROTHER!

Bro John

[Guest LCPGUY]

That comment reminds me of the "don't touch the anointing" statement.

I recently emailed my Christian radio station that was all excited about their trip to Baltimore to see Hinn...promoting it as "if you need a fresh touch from the Lord...". Asked them about the questionable teachings that Hinn promotes. They haven't responded to me.

Kinda figured that. :x:

Hi Bro Bill,

don't expect to hear from them. Even amongst so-called Christian stations, many are simply in it for the money. And Hinn has an abundance of that!!!

Bro John

[Guest bjorn to Christ]

"Unregistered" ... I like and agree what you have just said here. I could not have said it better myself.

As far as Benny Hinn and some others ... If they are claiming things that are unbiblical, than they are listening to another Jesus and we know who that is! People like this need to be checked out and expossed for what they may be. Our best and our only source is the Holy Bible. If what they are saying is against Scripture, and if they are told by two other christians that what they are saying and doing is against Scripture ... but they reject the Truth and sound doctrine ... well, then they need to be OUSTED off the air (TV). There again ... prayer and the Good Book are our best resource and defence. God Almighty is our judge ... but I believe He appointed us as His jury!

Love and Peace - Nancy

[His son]

There are reports out there that show that Hannagraff and the CRI are way out in left field. The Bible tells you how to deal with a brother who is in sin. For you to claim someone else has done it doesn't qualify you to go public with it. God has His proceedures, and He expects you to follow them. I am not a supporter of Benny Hinn, I am a supporter of Christ and His truth, and what I am reading on these posts is not lining up with Christ's truth. The only thing we are to judge is the fruits, not the ministry. And the fruits are in the lives of those exposed to these people, If you have personal relationship with those people, and have seen bad fruit in their lives then you and that person are two witnesses to a truth. As far as judging another persons standing with God that is not our authority.

I watched Benny Hinn last night just because of this debate. I had not watched Him for something like ten years, and I got a surprise. I didn't see the same Benny Hinn I used to watch, and I didn't hear the same kind of message I used to hear. It is enough difference to make me curious enough that I will probably take time to check him out further. My first reaction was that someone must have got to him that could get his ear.

Everyone of the giants of our Christianity in The Bible did some wrong things, and when they repented they were cleaned up and restored. The same thing is possible for everyone, and thats why God has set up His systems the way He has. They are for our protection, so I would close by saying as Christ told the accusers of the harlot He among you who is without sin let him cast the first stone.

[artsylady]

There are reports out there that show that Hannagraff and the CRI are way out in left field.

Where are these reports and who did them?

[artsylady]

I watched Benny Hinn last night just because of this debate. I had not watched Him for something like ten years, and I got a surprise.

I watched Benny Hinn about 4 months ago. He had a guest with a major 'revelation' from God. He came up with a formula of how he got a dollar amount of 68.97. He went on a lengthy explanation of how he got this amount from the Bible! He quoted scriptures and everything. And guess what? If you sent in that exact amount, you would get your miracle within 48 hours- 'praise God.' And of course, if you didn't have the money, they advised people to put it on your credit card - 'thank you Jesus.'

This disgusts me.

And for the record, Hank Hannegraf does know scripture, does know that according to the Bible you are to go directly to the person. He has done this many times. Benny Hinn actually did change something at one time too because of what Hannegraf told him.

[His son]

I watched Benny Hinn last night just because of this debate. I had not watched Him for something like ten years, and I got a surprise.

I watched Benny Hinn about 4 months ago. He had a guest with a major 'revelation' from God. He came up with a formula of how he got a dollar amount of 68.97. He went on a lengthy explanation of how he got this amount from the Bible! He quoted scriptures and everything. And guess what? If you sent in that exact amount, you would get your miracle within 48 hours- 'praise God.' And of course, if you didn't have the money, they advised people to put it on your credit card - 'thank you Jesus.'

This disgusts me.

And for the record, Hank Hannegraf does know scripture, does know that according to the Bible you are to go directly to the person. He has done this many times. Benny Hinn actually did change something at one time too because of what Hannegraf told him.

Hank Hanegraaff Lawsuit*

Christian Research Institute's Hank Hanegraaff had been accused of financial fraud and other criminal activities. A lawsuit was filed ("wrongful termination suit") on March 7, 1994, in Orange County Superior Court, California. The suit alleged that Hendrik (Hank) Hanegraaff, president of CRI, was guilty of numerous ethical lapses, financial theft, tax fraud, and a shocking list of other criminal activities and deceptive practices. The plaintiffs also charged CRI and its president and officers with violation of the federal racketeering act, defined as a criminal conspiracy or a "combination." Some of the details of this suit follow:

1. Brad Sparks, formerly a top researcher on the staff of CRI (from 1992-1994) and assistant to Hanegraaff, stated in the suit that Hanegraaff and his wife, Kathy, had pocketed over $750,000 in bloated "salaries and benefits." This while CRI's rank and file employees "typically earn[ed] poverty-level income of approximately $13,000 per year!"

2. Sparks, who left CRI in "good standing" in 3/94, according to a CRI exit counseling form (included as documentation in papers filed), noted that CRI enjoys non-profit organization status by the IRS, but had fraudulently used its tax exemption privileges to provide tax exempt "cover" for the Hanegraaffs' own personal, profit-making business, Memory Dynamics, Inc., a Georgia corporation, which was conducted out of the couple's home. Sparks' suit charged that the Hanegraaffs had repeatedly bled the ministry's bank accounts to feather their own nests. For example, "defendant Hanegraaffs have sought to conceal their total six figure income by the device of separating out major categories of personal expense such as the estimated $50,000 per year 'pastor's housing allowance.'" [Hanegraaff reportedly lived in a $730,000 house in an exclusive gated community in Orange County, California; CRI's board allegedly loaned Hanegraaff the $100,000 down payment.] The financial details provided by Sparks to support his lawsuit were convincingly documented. Some 14 pages of fine print were contained in the lawsuit.

3. According to Sparks, CRI even leased two automobiles for the Hanegraaffs, almost entirely for their personal use, unrelated to ministry business. One of the most unsavory charges of corruption detailed by Sparks was that CRI deceptively claimed to be a "church" merely to deceive the IRS and state taxing authorities, as well as mislead those who donated money for its activities. (Hanegraaff told Charisma magazine in early 1994 that he considers himself a charismatic and holds ministerial credentials with Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel denomination.)

4. The suit claimed that Hanegraaff was personally paid by Harvest House approximately $500,000 in royalties for the book Christianity in Crisis even though "the book was researched, edited, and partly written by two full-time CRI staff members (including plaintiff Brad Sparks) and several part-time members." Additional allegations stated that Mr. Hanegraaff's own, for profit company, Memory Dynamics, Inc., then turned around and sold huge quantities of that same book to CRI for a handsome gain for Hanegraaff.

5. The court suit further alleged that the Hanegraaffs "have used full-time CRI employees to support and conduct the Memory Dynamics business, including mailings and manning of sales booths." The Hanegraaffs were also said to have used CRI vehicles to transport Memory Dynamics' personnel and materials. When CRI's shipping department supervisor, Mary Cook, protested, she was fired on 7/6/93. Sparks also alleged Hanegraaff used CRI's confidential donor mailing list for his own private business, and that CRI lied to donors by continuing to promise that their names and other personal information remained confidential.

6. Craig Nelson, CRI's Director of Broadcast Media, "was fired in retaliation" for making complaints against Mr. Hanegraaff, specifically relating to Hanegraaff's use of free radio advertising for his personal gain on CRI's Bible Answerman program. The suit also named many of the employees and staffers said to have been "wrongfully terminated" because they challenged Hanegraaff's unethical conduct. They included former research director Dan Schlesinger (who reportedly accused Mr. Hanegraaff of "mixing private business with CRI ministry"), Jerry Kissler, Mark Hoover, Craig Hawkins, Michael Buesing, Perry Robinson, Dennis Green (former marketing director), and Anthony Horpel (former seminar director). The court pleading also said that Rob Bowman, a former CRI senior researcher, was terminated after "he refused to let Mr. Hanegraaff plagiarize Bowman's work to publish two books under Hanegraaff's name."

7. The lies and deceit alleged in the suit were of monumental proportions, considering the fact that CRI is a section 501C(3), tax-exempt, non-profit "church" and ministry, which was at the time of the alleged infractions a member of the National Religious Broadcasters' Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). ECFA members are required to maintain a high ethical standard of conduct.

8. To avoid the strict financial ethical standards of the ECFA (specifically the conflict of interest clause -- see #4 above), CRI resigned from the organization. The suit contended that CRI then lied to its donors and radio listeners by claiming that it was still a member of the industry group. CRI was also said to have continued its use of the ECFA's seal of approval on its catalogs, order forms, and other materials to solicit contributions.

9. Other serious charges leveled in the lawsuit included assertions of "racketeering." One violation claimed was that the organization "solicited and misappropriated charitable contributions across state lines and international boundaries." Mail fraud and wire fraud were said to be involved, including the illegal interception and seizure of fax telephone communications intended for others.

10. It was also alleged that Mr. Hanegraaff misled CRI donors into contributing money which may have ended up in the coffers of Hanegraaff's profit-making company. Also, the court suit claimed that Mr. Hanegraaff's own wife, Kathy Hanegraaff, was paid a generous salary by the ministry as a full-time "CRI Director of Marketing" when, in fact, her job primarily was "a cover for conduct of personal business ..."

Could the long list of crimes and dishonest conduct alleged by Brad Sparks be corroborated by others? A 6/6/94 letter from John Wanvig (a Christian attorney) to Hanegraaff was signed by 24 former staff members. The letter also asked Hanegraaff to meet with them. Hanegraaff refused to meet and, instead, counter-sued Sparks for libel. In addition, the Group for CRI Accountability was organized in 1994 and included some 35 former CRI staff members who publicly demanded Hanegraaff's resignation. They said that Hanegraaff did not have the theological training, the communication skills, nor the ethical standards to lead CRI. The suit against Hanegraaff was scheduled for trial in July 1995, but was "settled"

This shows the fallacey of depending on other people for your information about ministery, or people. Perhaps Hank was jealous of the money Hinn is racking in.

[Catsmeow]

His son: I noticed you attack godly men who guard the sheep from intruders yet you support and champion those wolves who prey on the weak.

Most grounded believers with even the slightest discernment perceive danger in Mr. Hinn's continual pleas for cash.

If you want to cry foul and quote scripture,it works BOTH ways. You're doling out attacks against godly men, while accusing others of the same.

You're a paragon of virtue, Sir.

[Catsmeow]

Regarding those who are greedy swindlers:

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people. 12 It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."