Thursday, November 22, 2007

Benny and the Letter

Today a letter purporting to be from Benny Hinn made its way into my hands. It was titled "Seven Supernatural Truths of the Tithe" so of course I was eager to appropriate my share of the blessing. Especially because of the unusual way this letter had been sent - the envelope states:

"This message is so special, in fact, I have had it placed in a sealed envelope"

As opposed to what?! "This message is so wholesome, I have wrapped it in a lettuce leaf..."

Before opening the letter I paused: the envelope implored me to ask for God's wisdom before reading the letter, which I did, having a Reader Digest(ion) moment at the same time...and you know what? God's wisdom really helped me evaluate this teaching...

Interestingly the letter noted that Benny had never before said any of what was to follow publicly or in writing - I was excited hoping for a full recanting from the prosperity doctrine he has espoused as an adjunct to his Word of Faith heresy.

I was disappointed. The letter walked through Malachi 3 saying:

1. The tithe belongs to God and his work
2. There are 7 blessings that follow - they include personal revival, prosperity and blessings, paralysis and crippling of the Devil, protection of finances, protection of family, blessing, special desire from God in his use of the tither
3. The "storehouse" is not the local church. The storehouse is "the ministry" that feeds your life...
4. If you give to a dead ministry you won't receive the blessings (Deut 26:14)

The summary then is this: "If this ministry (ie Benny Hinn) has been the storehouse (ministry that feeds your life) then IT IS THE LAW OF GOD (emphasis added) that you should give your tithes and offerings to this ministry...Remember it is your tithe that opens heaven..."

It was signed "Winning the lost at any cost" - truly ironic

I did wonder whether it was a fake aimed at a quick buck, but I couldn't see the benefit as there are no extra special contact details - the person concerned had given to BH Ministries and so was a "partner" in the ministry. But it did seem weird that this letter was stating such profound truths "for the first time". Except it wasn't. He's said it before here and here

So he lied.

That's if plain heresy is not enough for you.

2 comments:

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Anonymous said...

Interesting that's a post for a telecommunications company in Portuguese...

SK