Over the next five days, starting today, thousands of delegates will be descending upon this small island to be part of the Asia Conference 2008 where one of the highlights of the convention will be Benny Hinn and his fleecing healing session on Saturday evening.
I had meant to go to that particular session to attempt to give a first-hand report but I’m going to heed the advice of my wife, who upon hearing about my intentions earlier, asked if I was indeed mad. I still have half a mind to just go and get a first-hand look at Saint Hinn myself but there’s no other good excuse I could come up with to sneak in.
Like, I can’t possibly say that I’m going there to ogle at the girls and guys participating in the beauty pageant and “Manhunt” respectively, can I? It would be putting myself in temptation city in the first instance and, seriously, I don’t have an iota of interest in the second. Kong Hee (the senior pastor at City Harvest Church which is organizing the conference) does teach that “to the pure, all things are pure” even while looking at teenage girls in skimpy shorts prancing on the stage in church, but I guess that won’t fly either…
So I’m grounded, and bummed. Thousands will be getting their lessons on personal grooming, influencing the marketplace, and how to get their “best life now” while I know that my best life will only come much later or whenever God decides my time on earth is up. What bums me most is that I’ll be missing the chance to give all the spending money we have left to Saint Hinn for those 40, 60 and even hundred-fold returns!
Sigh, since when is that fair?
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
If you want, I will send you a prayer cloth
My wife grounded me once when i wanted to do something similar. Looking back, I don’t blame her.
I have mixed feelings about this. A part of me would want to go to see the
spectacleshow, but the other part of me wants nothing to do with those demons flying around.@ Derick Dickens:
Really?! Wow, thanks, bro!
I don’t on my end either — I think it’s only prudent.
@ Carol:
Ha ha! Yea, you told me. In this case, I am of the opinion that time could be better spent.
You must be crazy.
Polycarp reported that John the Apostle had gone down to the public bath in Ephesus, when he was informed that Cerinthus (a gnostic, antinomian heretic) was in the bathhouse. He quickly got his robe around him and tied it up and ran out of it, because, he said, “I would not dare stay in the same building where that heretic is, lest God should smite it, and him and me, because I dared to be there when he was there.”
And you would dare to be in the same building as Benny Hinn?
Erm… and how do I change my Avatar???
@ Beng:
That was just an angle and very much tongue-in-cheek, bro.
I do admit harboring thoughts of doing a first-hand report initially, but have decided not to a good time back.
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Isaiah:
Why not prepare some tracts and do witnessing outside Expo? Save some lost sheep perhaps?
I agree with Bro. Daniel, get some gospel tracts and preach the Word. I went to his event during Easter and I sat in the crowd and spoke with a number of people about why Hinn is false and more importantly, pointing them to the Gospel.
Obviously, tell your wife first…but I would seize the opportunity
Daniel:
That sounds Arminian — “save some lost sheep”
Douglas:
I’d agree with both you and Daniel on that. Let me see what I can scrounge up in terms of tracts before I decide on the course of action. I have no tracts with me at the moment and I’m definitely not going to give out “The Four Spiritual Laws” or “Steps to Peace with God”.
That said, I think it’d be prudent to stay out of the actual “healing” service though…
hi douglas,
so did you manage to explain hinn’s false teachings to the crowd during easter? How was the response? Everytime i speak to a chc member abt hinn, they will all say he is the anointed man of god and the presence of god is very strong and very defensive when i try to point out his false doctrine. They also told me if Hinn is fake, God will deal with him and we should not judge. So i wonder if they will listen to you.
@ lee:
Sigh! These poor young folks are just very much deluded and regurgitating what they’ve been taught. In most instances where I’ve had the “pleasure” of debating CHC members, they do the same with almost no independent thought. About the only time independent thoughts are manifested, it’s to type in caps and launch ad hominem attacks.
Oh, well. My weekend sounds more promising than yours. We are visiting Grace Life Church Sunday, Noblit’s and Washer’s church. Since it is just regular church we can take the kids.
Always listen to your wife, unless a wife is offering fruit.
Berean Wife
@ Berean Wife:
That does sound much more promising! Any space in the car for two more kids?
Sound advice… lol!
The car has room we have a 12 passenger van.
But it is a long swim to here since we don’t have a plane.
Berean Wife
@ Berean Wife:
Now you understand why I absolutely have to see Saint Hinn so that I can get
fleecedblessed and can afford my own private plane like he does when I receive the 40/60/100-fold returns?Dear Sir,
Benny Hinn, in a youtube video laid a curse on anyone who is against him.
The curse sounded scary, very scary.
The bible does says not to curse. Has Benny Hinn has a special annointing to curse people???
What do you say???
@lee,
Most of the responses were defensive - very defensive. The usual spiel about not touching the Lord’s anointed and being “a barrier to revival in London”. One girl I spoke to is now a member of a Reformed church in Blackburn, North England, so I cannot say that the Word fell on deaf ears/
Isaiah:
well, humanly speaking, you WILL be saving some lost sheep, but it is the Holy Spirit using you to save them. Nothing wrong here…
@ Daniel Chew:
I was pulling your leg, bro… B-)
@Douglas,
thats great. May the lord give us the power to discern! Btw guys. I have been reading and listening to sermons about the baptisim of the holy spirit.
.May i ask the brothers and sisters in this forum if any have the experience of batism in the holy spirit? I actually am still wondering if i am baptised in the holy spirit. Surely i have the holy spirit in me and i have conquered many sins through the power of the holy spirit. But how do i know if i really am baptised in the holy spirit and have the gift of the holy spirit? I need more guidance. Thanks alot.
So… you’re seriously thinking about going to Hinn’s
spectaclefarcetheatricscircusevent? Frankly, you would do better with an old betamax copy of “Fantasy Island”…that’s more rooted in reality than Mr. Hinn.Seriously, experience has taught me that most times I get an idea, the wisest thing I can do is tell it to my beautiful bride, so that she can talk sense into me and keep me from doing something stupid. Your wife is giving you wise counsel…take it!!!
why dont you guys walk the talk, instead of just complaining abt this and that? If you want to give out tracks, do it! I believe the folks know and are able to discern. Stop being so critical over everything. Its ppl like u all who sow discord in churches.
Anyway I’m from CHC, and Douglas, to answer your qn, by faith you have received the baptism of the holy spirit. Cast away your doubts as it is written in romans 11:29, God’s gifts are irrevocable.
@ SimpleSimon:
LOL at “Fantasy Island”.
Thanks, SimpleSimon, I am taking her advice.
Sadly, eternal life starts here on earth, not in heaven. I’m not talking about materialism, I’m talking about true quality life, that brings true joy. Joy comes when we are taken up by a superior reality and realm of eternity. Lack of joy shows trust and faith in the inferior and natural realm.
I disagree with Benny when it comes to prosperity teachings. I personally went to his meetings with prejudice, but after he came to India, I saw that majority of what people pass on by word is untrue. He is a humble servant of God. People came to the Lord in India when Benny came, and for that I rejoice.
Sidharth
Lee, I have experienced the baptism in the Spirit.
@ Raymond Chen:
Thank you for visiting, Raymond.
Short answer: no, Benny Hinn has no qualification to curse people in any manner.
@ lee:
This is just my 2 cents.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said that “by their fruits shall ye know them” (Matthew 7:16-20) and we are told what the fruits of the Spirit are:
See also 2 Peter 1:3-11.
Finally, are you in constant repentance and bearing fruit (Luke 3:8a)?
Be mindful, though, that the fruits of the Spirit are distinct from the gifts. Not all who are born again will have the same gifts — the members of the body of the Bride of Christ will receive different gifts that we might edify one another (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:4-16).
Some churches teach that all who are born again will speak in tongues. I do not subscribe to that view because Scripture clearly does not teach so, but that we have different gifts to edify one another. What good is it if your whole body can just perform one function and nothing else?
@Jonathan,
Errm, unity that is based on truth is not truth. Benny Hinn is a false prophet and as far as I am concerned, we shoot wolves, not embrace them. Now I am not calling for him to be physically shot - but for Christians to use every opportunity to prove Hinn for the evil, deceptive man that he is.
Besides you go to a pro-Word Faith Church - I’m hardly going to get an objective, Biblical response to Hinn’s lies and deception from you, am I?
Douglas:
In the charismaniac mindset, if you cannot speak in tongues and support the latest freak show, you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit. Worse still if you are a Calvinist and attack the theology of their favorite idol pop-star “pastor”. Then you are of the Devil…
But I guess you should know that already? =)
*Sigh*
Baptism in the Spirit, Lee, is not being born-again. The Scripture is too clear on this, unless you push off or eliminate the Scriptures that prove it by saying it is history.
If you’re a person who lets Scripture interpret Scripture, Lee. You will not have any trouble. If you would like to know more, just mail me. But if you’re happy with Isaiah’s answer, e-mail him
Personally, there is much more to the Christian walk than just being born into the Kingdom. If you want to grow in the Lord, it is vital you move forward unhindered by the extremists: those who get carried away and the other who deny the real thing.
Sid
benny hinn is the biggest christan fraud ever! He has been exposed time and time again by the media. Why is city harvest supporting this charlatan??