WisteriaDrapedWishingwells

Here's a description of a Benny Hinn show I observed from April 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia...moment by moment.

Miracles from Jakarta, India

People yelling out how good he (Benny) is. "When you give your heart, when you surrender to Jesus. There is nothing greater than that. It is just as easy to be healed as it is to be saved." 1.5 million came to the meetings. Big fanfare, dancing, organised mood setting music. Singing of unity song, ‘United We Stand’. People were fenced off from the stage where Benny Hinn was to appear….iron fencing. Looked like an audience gathered for a rock concert.

Benny says, "Thank God the anointing is here."

Benny came out and prayed over the dancers, his words interpreted by a man, Benny makes all of them fall over and catchers had to try not to step on the ones already fallen, people were falling on top of each other. They could not keep up and I am sure there would have been injuries, though if any were attained, Benny must have healed those too.

Benny walked around with his hands outstretched, people on the floor, some started shaking their hands uncontrollably. He started screaming out, "touch touch," to the choir and hundreds of people fell on top of each other, it was a mass of hundreds of bodies falling onto the body behind them. He then stared yelling that, "God is going to heal everyone today."

Benny said, "The power of God they pulled it out of heaven I think."

He instructed the entire audience to lift their hands to heaven and then prayed for Indonesia and instructed all partners to pray for Indonesia that Indonesia shall be blessed always, the God’s light will shine always on Indonesia.

"See why I love coming to the nations, going to the world, the the the hunger of God’s people is pulling on me, I have a request of the committee and the pastors, I want to come back to Indonesia."

Lady flew in all the way from Taiwan has breast cancer has had 17 treatements, can hardly walk and said tonight while she was out there that she felt fire come all the way through her and the pain went away and now she can run (woman runs across stage)

He then shoves her to the floor, under the power, 2 times.

A famous Indonesian singer claims he had cancer and claims to be healed at crusade…lifted his shirt and showed his scar from operation…the man claimed that he used to turn the tv off when Benny Hinn came on and now he says the power of Jesus is on Benny Hinn. The man then hijacked Benny Hinn’s stage getting everyone to sing a song he chose, Benny Hinn stood there arms crossed and he seemed to find it funny, I think it was rigged.

Wheel chairs lined up against the front of the stage, all looked shiny and brand new…I found that odd for an impoverished country that ALL the wheel chairs were immaculate, shiny, even the wheels weren't dirty. Mass hysteria seemed to overtake the crowd…Benny tried to slay the man in the spirit but the man kept singing his song, The man then went on to sing How Great Thou Art…seemed he hijacked it to showcase his singing ability. Benny Hinn disappeared for a while into the midst of the people on the stage. I still suspect that part of the show was rigged.

Benny Hinn then cut to himself in a room on his own and then he began blowing his own trumpet, "One million and a half people heard the message."

Benny then showed his picture with the govenor of Jakarkta in the major paper and was skiting about being on the front page with the govenor. He then toned it down a little by saying, "This is the day that the prophets spoke of this is the day that God spoke of…that the word would be preached to the whole world and then the end would come."

He claimed multiple miracles happened in Indonesia…saw soldiers help people out of their wheelchairs. Yet in what I observed I saw none of this. "Hundreds of thousands of people were saved…" I saw no evidenceof that either, but I am sure thousands were hoodwinked!

Benny then claimed healings over people through the TV screen.

"Someone has prayed for a miracle, poison in blood, it is very critical, serious, God is touching you, someone else with a heart condition and someone with an eye condition and one with tumour on spine."

Then asked for money, to do all they can for God, "to give as you have never given, will you obey the Lord, pick up the phone now, do it for Him. If you love Him and love his work, give and watch Him give it back. He will protect you if you give and he will protect your finances when you give to his work."

Further, for a $270 love gift he will send a ceramic statue...Ps if you really like that statue, the Warehouse in New Zealand sells something similar for a love gift of $9.99...incl GST.

Also said call today for your free gift, yes as an added bonus he will give you a plastic band for your wrist. (These are very popular with children and can be picked up at the $2.00 Shop for, wait for it $2.00).

Advertised his tapes and then promoted his upcoming shows.

Benny finished with, "Jesus loves you and your miracle is on the way." I guess this only applies if you sent your love gift of $270.00, Benny's god will do nothing for you without it, according to Benny anyway.

In the fine print it said how Benny Hinn Ministries submit to an audit.

I thought that was kind of cute because if you know anything at all about Benny Hinn's finances it is that no one knows anything about Benny Hinn's finances because he discloses nothing.

Now some other people's views about this very crusade.

"Benny later told about the warm welcome given him by the Muslim Governor of Jakarta. It’s funny how Hinn is such a notorious name dropper, always placing himself in the company of powerful men of the world. One can’t help but notice how different Hinns encounters with the powerful are than say that of Peter or Paul who generally spoke to Kings and Governors only as prisoners in chains rather than as honored guests (cf. Acts 12:6

Hinn, who refers to himself as a Pastor even though he has no church, talked in detail about his meeting with the Muslim President of Indonesia. According to Hinn, he boldly requested that he be allowed to “preach the gospel” to this predominately Muslim nation. Assuring the president that he “would not preach hate” but only the love of God, Hinn claims he was physically embraced and welcomed by this Muslim who then granted his request.

Benny explained that he had no choice but to be bold because as he told the audience “these people” (meaning Muslims) are “really very smart you know”. Hinn stated “they can see right through you” if you aren’t being authentic (thus making Muslim politicians a whole lot smarter than the average Benny Hinn partner)." Ó Steve Lumbley, 2006 Benny Goes to Indonesia

Steve then goes on in his article to pose some pretty thought provoking questions, the same questions crossing my mind as I watched Benny Hinn pull his mupphet show routine in Indonesia, the first being, why did the leader of a predominantly Muslim country allow Benny Hinn to come into his country and preach a message that is contrary to Islam?

Steve proposed exactly what I thought anyway and that is that the average Muslim IS more discerning than Benny Hinn parters and they can see that his message is a charade, a false message that poses no threat to Islam whatsoever. Well, like Steve pointed out, Hinn NEVER advises the audience to turn from Islam and to embrace the message, beliefs and lifestyle of Jesus Christ. WHat would have happend to him if he had? They would have jailed him or worse, killed him outright for saying such a thing..."If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." John 15:9 This pretty much sums it up, Benny Hinn is of the world and so the world loves him. The story of Abdur Rahman (Afghanistan) is a classic example of a true turning to Christ and they JAILED AND THREATENED TO KILL HIM! Through interenational pressure he has been release and as I understand it, he may well have left that country, but this is the typical result of a true conversion and totally contrary to Benny Hinn style.
He runs them through a prayer of sorts that really does not follow any sensical format and holds no meaning and then he claims them to have been saved. Saved from what? Him? Well the Muslims leaders of the countries he goes to seem to think so, they are not stopping him going. Think about it, in some of these countries Christianity is against the law and yet they let Benny come in...smell a rat?

"At Hinns crusade it was apparently even worse... According to Benny, the healings started as soon as he walked on stage. There was no need to preach a message of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ because Jesus started healing people even before Benny preached a word. Even though Jesus said signs and wonders would follow the preaching of the gospel, I guess Benny is just so special, Jesus does it different today through him." Ó Steve Lumbley, 2006

In December, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase said the Government would providing VIP security for Mr Hinn. He said the Government had offered to foot Mr Hinn's security bill because he was an important figure. However, the Methodist Church said Mr Hinn didn't need protection because he already had divine protection. Fiji Times...Jan 17, 2006.

"The Bonnkes, Moonies and the Hinns of this world bring nothing that's not here already. So why do they come here? Is it for love of Fiji, or Fiji money? I suggest that all of these evangelists look on Fiji as a medium sized Third World chicken farm, and they believe that the gullible chickens are ready for plucking. But don't leave it too late, they may wake up. Is that why we have had the Bonnkes, Moonies and now Hinn in such a short space of time? Who's next on the list?" Ron Welsh

"As a suggestion, once Hinn's plane lands in Fiji, Christian Research Service suggests that the Fijian officials immediately wisk him and his entourage away to the nearest hospital. If Hinn has the true, New Testament gift of healing, the bedridden and lame will walk; the diseased will be healed; the weak will be made strong; amputees will grow new limbs; children confined to wheelchairs with twisted bodies will be made whole; the suffering will find peace; the incurable will be miraculously cured; broken bodies will be mended; the blind will see; the deaf will hear; the dead will be raised to life.
But if he fails the Biblical test, put him back on the plane! " Bud Press Director CRS

How's this for arrogance

"Yes, Jesus did say the "poor" would inherit the kingdom. Perhaps Jesus did not need as much "security" attendant to his ministry, as He expected that His enemies would soon destroy his earthly body (temporarily), but Benny wants to remain in health, so he does not take risks which would "tempt the Lord." And we do not hear of Jesus supporting a wife and children, so he could have relaxed at modest homes, say, that of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany. Yet we do not know that Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were "poor," and living in straightened means. Possibly they were landowners who were well to do and therefore could easily offer hospitality to Jesus and his retinue. Jesus' use of the word "poor" has been taken in many ways--sometimes literally, but relatively, meaning that a person should give generously of all he has to others--sometimes meaning "poor in spirit", or humble--sometimes meaning a person who has dedicated his life, as in holy orders (as the Essenes are thought to have done) to a communal ascetic way of life. I think Benny's ministry gives out as much as it takes in. I surely do pray daily that it may not become "triumphal," and I know Benny is aware that many of us are praying for that, and he prays for that himself. He is a street-wise guy, aware of the traps that Satan sets up to undermine God's servants by making them arrogant." Mariel Strauss Ship of Fools (I called this article that)

You have got to take your hat off to Hinn though, he has learned the art of manipulation well and he has chosen a captive audience, the world and its hopelessness. And in our world of instant gratification he appears to fit the bill, he picks on the terminally ill or chronically ill and then convinces people that giving money is 'planting a seed of faith' for which they 'will be rewarded immediately'. Quote from earlier... "If you love Him and love his work, give and watch Him give it back. He will protect you if you give and he will protect your finances when you give to his work."

I compare that to charismatic/pentecostal do gooders who manipulate you by opening what they have to say to you with saying, "God told me to tell you..." I mean, what person, who is in a vulnerable state is going to argue with that? (And remember, anyone caught up in that movement IS vulnerable, if they weren;t then they would possess the wisdom and foresight to have never gotten involved in the first place.) To argue is to be accused of not listening to God, to listen to it is to be further manipulated...it is not too different to the old witch test...throw the witch into the lake, if she sinks and is never seen again then she obviously isn't a witch, if she floats to the top for air then she is a witch and we will promptly burn her at the stake...your head or your life???

One man, Pitzer states, "Benny Hinn manipulates people's losses, grief, sadness and despair for his own benefit." How wicked is that, to manipulate those people? Any people? And if it is so well recognised that he does this then why is this man Benny Hinn not in a 6X4 cell?

Benny Hinn manipulates people, gets them on a high where their natural thought processes are quite obviously suspended, along with their ability to rationally weigh anything, and then Hinn pressures them to make split second financial decisions...remember Proverbs 19:2 "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way." Proverbs 21:5 "And the plans of the diligent lead to profit so surely as haste leads to poverty."

"To my knowledge there is not one incident recorded in the Scriptures where Jesus solicited money from the people He healed. When Hinn was on Larry King live (1997) and a caller from Illinois asked, "My question is, Jesus never asked for money, why do you?" Hinn’s response was short and candid, "Well, Jesus didn’t have a TV program." There’s his justification. Yes it takes money to do things, but is he being a frugal steward over it? Not really, there are too many instances of extravagant spending. He spends his time in the best hotels when he travels, presidential suites costing as much as $2,200 a night. And takes Himself and his crew on $7,000 plane flights for their immediate appearance somewhere else in the world. (Impact News report)

Benny Hinn, who is held in high esteem for his healing ability, promises many material blessings to those who give. By misapplying Phil.1:2-5 to prove his definition of a believer’s "partnership" in the Gospel, Hinn tells his ministry partners what is about to come back their way for supporting his ministry. He translates v. 7 to mean that because of their partnership with Benny Hinn Ministries, "the grace that is on my (Benny's) life will be on yours." What he is telling his audience is that if they give him their money, God will be gracious enough to give them the same "grace" (same anointing) he has given Benny! Hinn makes some powerful, absolute statements to manipulate the giving. "Every dollar you give God will use it as a weapon against the Devil." With a pitch like this who could not give?" Let Us Reason Ministries

Further to this, I had occasion to speak to someone named Mightylion (nickname) who attended a Benny Hinn crusade. Mightylion had a friend with a very sick child and at the crusade the friend took the child and approached the stage to go up for healing. When they got to the stage, Mightylion's friend was told that they were only allowing those with the 'anointing upon them' up on the stage. From what I gathered from Mightylion, the usher was basically saying to them that if they let them up on stage with the little child then they might make the anointing go away. Mightylion was very aggrieved by this, as was the parent with the child. Can you even begin to imagine how devastating that experience was for Mightylion, the parent and the child? What kind of arrogant would a person have to be to say something so terrible to a person who has a child that is incredibly ill?
Sadly, this incident is typical of any Benny Hinn crusade.

Big Clue Hinn is a Fraud

HINN’S HISTORY: Benny Hinn was born in Israel in 1953. He was raised as a Greek Orthodox and went to a Catholic school. He claims to have had two visions and an appearance of Jesus at age 11 before he was converted.1) This appearing he says continues to occur regularly since he became a Christian. At the age of 14 the family moved to Toronto, Canada. Hinn has given a few different stories about the when and how of his conversion. He claims it occurred in 1972. But this differs from his story on a recorded testimony from a 1987 tape describing The Angel of the Lord in a vision taking him into a room in the high school and there he was saved.2) In his book, Good Morning Holy Spirit, he said the angel dropped him off on Don Mills road outside the wall of his school. Then in the 1981 publication of the PTL Devotional, he said "I got saved in Israel in 1968".3) Yet in a 1983 message in St. Louis, he claimed that someone witnessed to him and he got saved after he came to Toronto from Israel. He also tells of his family members giving their hearts to the Lord at different times.4) However, in 1984, in his book War in the Heavenlies, he said his family all got saved at the same time.5) There were multiple claims in his stories and Hinn is found to be consistently inconsistent with his word. One can only wonder which story, if any, is accurate?

HINN’S TEACHINGS: Benny said, "Within me is a God-man…The Spirit man within me is a God-man…I’m a God-man."16) "Are you a child of God? Then you are divine!…Then you’re not human."17) "When you say I am a Christian, you are saying ‘I am a messiah’ in Hebrew. I am a little messiah walking on earth…"18) "You know what your last name is? Jehovah! So I’m Benny Jehovah!"19) Numerous statements have been spoken while under his "anointing," even, "If we quit giving you new revelations we’re dead."20) This approach became the modas operandi of the Benny Hinn ministry which makes it the enigma it is today.

Benny Hinn has been caught out in lies from claiming to once have been healed of stuttering (no one recalls him ever stuttering), to surviving a plane crash unscathed and healing a man at the crash sight. All these claims were proved erroneous by the people tending to the victims of the plane crash..ALL WERE HOSPITALISED! Benny Hinn has told so many lies that I believe that the truth is 'lost to him'. Whenever these lies are exposed and he is questioned he responds with, "Do not touch God's anointed."

Benny Hinn speaks of many other experiences given over the TBN network. For example, he said that the Lord was in front of him and when he moved his arm so did Jesus. When he moved his foot so did Jesus. This continued until they walked together and they merged becoming one. Incredible! This "Christianity" is more at home with New Age Occultic experience than with the Christ of the Bible!

Piczo