Review Of "The Many Faces Of Benny Hinn"
I want to start out by stating that I highly recommend this video. It is an excellent compilation of shows, news reports, video clips and interviews with and about Benny Hinn in chronological order. This production is proof positive that Benny Hinn has not changed his heretical teachings or his method of operation in all the time that the media has been watching him, despite repeated alleged "apologies" and promises to change his ways. The saying comes to mind "You can't teach an old dog new tricks".
But there are some observations I have about this video that may not be quite as obvious.
(1) I was frankly concerned about Ole Anthony's statement that he used to be a supporter of Benny Hinn early on and that he is a brother in the Lord, though I am glad he changed his mind about being a Hinn supporter. Where was Anthony when Hinn was giving his conversion testimony that clearly shows he very likely never believed unto salvation to begin with? There are many other quotes but here are a few examples:
Hinn claims that while he was a young boy of 11 years of age in Israel, God first appeared to him, and has been appearing to him ever since. At the age of 14, Hinn moved to Canada with his parents. While attending high school there he says he had visions of himself preaching before huge crowds. He also claims that God healed him of a stuttering problem so that he could become a preacher. Yet in spite of the visions and God's appearing to him for several years, Hinn marks the year of his being born again as 1972 when he was about 20 years old. It was at a Kathryn Kuhlman service the following year that he says he had a "profound spiritual experience." Hinn readily admits that much of the misunderstanding that has arisen from his teachings is the result of his lack of formal Bible training. In fact, almost immediately after his having been "born again," Hinn says, "The Lord launched me into ministry almost overnight." (Excerpt from a Media Spotlight Special Report of May, 1992 (Albert James Dager, P.O. Box 290, Redmond, WA 98073). Biblical Discernment Ministries - 5/92)Is having a "profound spiritual experience" synonymous with being "born again"? Who can tell but one thing is for sure: only if he heard the gospel and truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is doubtful that could have happened in a Kathryn Kuhlman crusade amidst the circus atmosphere and spiritist techniques that were being used there such as "slain in the spirit". Would God have launched him into a ministry overnight? Unless he was taught by Jesus Christ directly, which is clearly not the case, if Hinn were following the Scripture he would need to be discipled and taught before he should presume to lead.Even though Hinn claims to have been saved at age 20, he declares that God first appeared to him when he was 11, and has been appearing to him ever since. He also claims to be a revelatory channel for God! (Adapted and/or excerpted by permission from the 2/94 The Berean Call, P.O. Box 7019, Bend, OR 97708, and from a 1992 Media Spotlight Special Report, P.O. Box 290, Redmond, WA 98073)
Hinn has lied about his background and has basically studied and ripped off all of Kathryn Kuhlman's ideas. This is all detailed by the important book by Personal Freedom Outreach called "The Confusing World Of Benny Hinn". The few clips of Kuhlman during the course of this video ought to be a wake up call to every Christian. Her incantations and tone sound exactly like a witch or sorcerer. She was called a spiritist by not a few of her contemporaries. There are pictures available that show looks of evil glee as she was slaying people "in the Spirit".
(2) Another frightening feature of this video is the reaction of the crowds to Hinn, as it is in any video from the Third Wave. It quickly becomes apparent that people who profess to be Christians have lost their love of the truth.
2 Thes. 2:9-11 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.The spirit of antichrist is already here as evidenced by the way followers of Benny Hinn fall down in trances and shake on the floor. But just as importantly, they choose to ignore the facts while at the same time treasuring the way Hinn comes off confident in an interview as well as the showy "slain in the spirit" antics he does while claiming healings he cannot document. That Hinn has taken a page out of the Bill Clinton play book of "act like you knew nothing about what you did and/or had clear knowledge of" becomes obvious after watching this 3 hour epic. I remember the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh well since I was living in Oregon at the time of that whole mess. The similarities between Hinn and Rajneesh, with regard to the way he manipulates the truth with a straight face, are so stark that Hinn could be his successor. Apparently all you have to do today is have the confidence of Rush Limbaugh and the morals of Bill Clinton to be a success with most people ... a cult of personality, if you will. Never mind the truth. It is theatrics and bravado that count for everything these days.
(3) A revealing interview was Hinn's 700 Club interview with Pat Robertson. Robertson was in such a rush to try to reestablish credibility after Hinn's shameful expose' on the CNN Impact show that he virtually became a co-conspirator. This should be a wake up call to those who still watch 700 Club and still think Pat Robertson is the "cat's meow". Robertson, long ago, gave himself over to the false anointing of the Toronto "Blessing" as evidenced by his endorsement of the counterfeit revivals of TACF and Brownsville. He has long been a Dominionist/Reconstructionist and is one of the premiere signers of the ECT document and a supporter of the Pope. He still uses the deploarble "word of knowledge" scam on his show regularly to bolster his image and financial support. It was interesting how slick both Hinn and Robertson were in that interview. Pat tried to come off as a sort of admonishing father figure, kindly making sure that Hinn was set back on track for the rest of Christendum. Hinn managed to sound like he was apologizing while making up a lot of excuses. After watching that interview it became clear to me that Hinn was not going to change at all, and people like Ole Anthony should have seen it coming. Hinn has apologized about a great number of things then managed, in avoiding those same sins, to sin far greater ones. Note the examples toward the end of the video from the Anaheim and Denver crusades. Hinn's voice changed while he cursed anyone who disagrees with him. He continues to teach Word-Faith false doctrines and has not discontinued his "slain in the spirit" business when confronted by people he has "slain" writhing and even vomiting ectoplasm -- even though he claimed there would be no more of those "demonic" episodes on his stage.
"You have so much today that is pure flesh, yet people have labeled it as the Spirit. It's not the Spirit, because it's not centered on Christ. It's pure emotionalism. Some of what is happening today, some of these manifestations where people are barking, making sounds of animals - I can tell you, that is not the Holy Spirit. It is purely demonic. The Holy Ghost does not bark. Only a devil barks. If somebody barks in my meeting, I'll cast the devil out of that man." (Benny Hinn Condemns Toronto Blessing/Pensacola Phenomena Praise The Lord July 4, 1997)Even his wife is clearly either mentally unstable and/or demonized. No true believer can speak the kinds of words she did about the Holy Spirit, especially without repentance. Benny's organization continues to rake in mountains of dough without feeling the need to be open about his finances, even to his own supporters.
Benny Hinn continues to be the premiere example of a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has already led millions to a bankrupt faith in a different Jesus, a different Gospel, a different Spirit. If and when his ministry crumbles because of some scandal, those who followed him will sink to the depths of a ruined faith. If by some miraculous turn of events Hinn's ministry continues to grow, even more people will end up blaming God for the actions of someone who claims to represent Him but clearly does not.