Comment from Jim Lorson Sr

Excellent

Deniz22, I despise the Benny Hinn's of the world. Spewing their versions of the bible without truth. Jim and Tammy Baker and their PTL club. For me PTL stood for "Pass The Loot" and then when he was caught with Jessica Hann it turned into "Pay The Lady." It just shows the gullibility and naivete' of the human spirit. You have brought for the many shortcomings of this guy. Well done,,,,,Jim

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

Thanks Jim, I appreciate your reading and commenting. I certainly got a response...which allowed me to share some more scripture like this:Jesus said, (Matthew 7:15) ?Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep?s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

The "fruit" of false Prophets is their teaching that either twists, or opposes the Gospel by denying it.

Benny Hinn, as a number of others of the money grubbing crowd, are in it for the money. It's nothing new, just now it's on television. Peter talked about it in 2 Peter 2; 2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them?bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

Good bible teaching is balanced in both invitation and comfort with warnings of incorrect life styles or teaching. God bless, Dennis

Comment from MoIronE13

Excellent

TV evangelist??
Hoksters...
Actors!!
Big smiles
Sincere and arrogant.
I have never bothered much..

Only exception has been "Joel Osteen"..
I went to a service in Chicago with 20, 000 worshippers.
I cried with joy for 2 hours straight..
WOW...powerful cleansing..

Thanks for your story..

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

Dear MolronE13, because of your battle with terminal cancer, you are perhaps more than usually open to emotion. I say that not as a put down in anyway but as something I have personally experienced at times of stress in my own life.

And I say it only because I want to bless you and help spiritually even as I pray for you. Being vulnerable is not really a bad thing if it makes us more open to the Lord and His Word. As we come to understand His Word better and better, we are more aware of the many bad teachings there are. Yet many false teachers take advantage of us, or seek to, when we are needy ourselves.

In the jungle, the predators stay near the waterholes, knowing that everyone must drink at sometime. So let us make as sure as possible that we are indeed drinking the water of life, given by the Lord Jesus to every thirsting soul who looks to Him.

In Matthew 7:15 , He lovingly warns His flock:" ?Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep?s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

The "fruit" of false Prophets is their teaching, which either twists, or opposes the Gospel by denying it.

Benny Hinn, as a number of others of the money grubbing crowd, are in it for the money. It's nothing new, it's just that now it's on television. Peter talked about it in 2 Peter 2; 2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them?bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

Good bible teaching is balanced in both invitation and comfort with warnings of incorrect life styles or teaching. God bless, Dennis

Comment from Selina Stambi

Excellent

Hello Denizz,

I am not a champion any particular preacher - TV or otherwise - we are all frail mortals, subject to the flaws and defects of our fallen nature.

I read this article last night and spent some time thinking about it in my quiet time early this morning. The following scriptures came to mind.


Matthew 12:32 / Luke 12:10

Matthew 28:19 (this gentleman has been faithfully doing this.)

Luke 6:37

Luke 12: 11(b)-12

John 14:12

John 14: 26

1 Corinthians 2: 12

1 Corinthians 3:3-7


1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 14

2 Corinthians 3: 4-5

Galatians 5:22

Galatians 6: 3

1 Peter 3:15

Revelation 22:17

Have a blessed weekend, dear child of the Most High God.

God bless you. :)

Sonali

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

Thanks for your extended reply! I read most of your references and your note of our human weaknesses. However, I would call to your attention what Jesus said about false prophets like Benny Hinn.


Jesus said, (Matthew 7:15) ?Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep?s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

The "fruit" of false Prophets is their teaching that either twists, or opposes the Gospel by denying it.

Benny Hinn, as a number of others of the money grubbing crowd, are in it for the money. It's nothing new, just now it's on television. Peter talked about it in 2 Peter 2; 2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them?bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

Good bible teaching is balanced in both invitation and comfort with warnings of incorrect life styles or teaching. God bless, Dennis

Comment from w.j.debi

Excellent

These tv preachers always make me wonder. The lifestyles they live are so often opposite of what they preach that it is hard to take them seriously. It appears to be all about the money, which they should b turning over to the poor if they practice what they preach, right?
Interesting and well written essay.

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

I couldn't agree with you more. A good contrast is the One they claim to be following said of Himself," The foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay His head." Thank you!

Comment from Spiritual Echo

Excellent

There is a history of these Evangelical TV ministries, some of the ministers have even taken their work so to heart that they've 'allowed' themselves to be imprisoned, no doubt to reach the lowest level of depravity and bring the word of God to the confined corners of a jail cell.

We all know that, especially for the very lonely and shut-ins- these TV shows may be the only connection to some spiritual inspiration, but that sadly also makes them vulnerable for the financial pitches.

I recognize, and respect all religion, and I know you are a devout Christian, but I used to absolutely LOVE watching these shows, so don't take offence at what I'm going to tell you. When I was in the weight loss business and had to do public speaking for groups every week, I used to watch these shows, make notes every Sunday morning and write my lectures substituting the word God for weight loss or self-respect. Hot damn, you know it works. And man, did people lap up my 'sermons.'

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

Your utilizing their sermon outlines for a self-improvement program, (I think)shows the appeals of these charlatans. Regardless of our public portrayal of ourselves, we all feel the need to be better, and these guys and gals are masters at offering the illusion that we have actual achieved the goal of bringing our lives into line with our egotistical assessment of ourselves. It's all emotion led hype.

Compare their opulent lifestyle to Christ's who said, "The foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.

A personal remark here so don't take offence even as I am not taking offence at your honest opinion. To say one respects all religions is a kind of cop-out from a Biblical POV, since Jesus taught against wrong teachings and false religion. Christ requires us to choose Him above all others. To not choose, is to have chosen already. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Dennis

reply by Spiritual Echo on 08-Feb-2014

Ah, bet here's the crux, I 'respect' or perhaps surrender the right of censorship for other beliefs. I define my own. Even Christians of different sects can not agree on interpretation and I simply won't participate in arguing as to who is right.

Case in point: For five years, every month. a charming lady from the Jehovah Witnesses comes to my door. I don't renounce her take on God, but absolutely refuse, adamantly, to entertain or respond to her suggestions to be 'saved.' She will not stop coming (and I truly do understand she is devoutly living her faith's gospel, and I won't be rude to her. or debate her message. I allow her to put her magazines in my hand, I laugh at her at times--to her, but I won't debate.

Of course I think the TV boys are charlatans and are using religion to guilt people out of money and abuse their neediness. No question in my mind that Christ set an example. But Deniz, I've met the same kind of self-righteousness in people in churches. Their currency is simply being right--their take on God's word is force-fed for their own ego gratification.

At any rate, religion is not something I usually get involved with in debate and I'm not offering any POV as to my personal beliefs and never will except in generalities and questions of philosophy--that is garnered from many sources.

Comment from Sasha

Excellent

It is guys like this that turn many away/off from faith. have heard of his guy but fortunately, living in Mazatlaln, we don't get much like him on television. Thanks for sharing this.

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks Smurphgirl. Looking forward to your next ramble, Red.:)

Comment from GE Parson

Exceptional

Gotta give you a sixer on this observation and the courage to speak out against a man of Go..uh I mean Satan. I need to give you a heads-up that you an expect some satanic revenge for exposing this "man dressed in white."

I would like to add to your observation: If anyone would compare the "miraculous healing" of this "man dressed in white" they would know that he is a "whited sepulchre" because when Jesus and the Apostles touched a cripple or other wise sick person, they didn't FALL DOWN unconscious, but to the contrary they ROSE UP and danced around in spiritual joy. Satan, AMONG OTHER RESTIS, IS ALSO A GREAT IMITATOR, WELL NOT GREAT BUT AN IMITATOR GREAT ENOUGH TO FOOL INNOCENT, UN-SPIRITUALLY TAUGHT people.

Thanks for your exposing this Man Dressed In White and oh yes loved your sarcastic way of describing your observation of him.


Your Fellow Believer, Friend ad Brother, Jerry

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

Thanks Jerry! What a day when they meet the One who said, "Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay his head." God bless, Dennis

Comment from Ekim777

Excellent

I think we might all have a rather na•ve attitude towards that jealous God. We would like to believe God's in his heaven and all is right with the world. (Provided he stays there.) The Holy Spirit might be just as moving or awesome under any other name, like feminine intuition. I think we all have an individual soul within us and in man it might just be feminine, because our souls have some feminine characteristics. Creativity is a feminine thing is it not?
As for the Holy Bible; it was written by men, was it not?
Let's not challenge our faith too harshly. I still wonder why there is so much suffering in the world. -Ekim777

 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

The bible read with Christ held central in our thinking will clear up a lot of misunderstanding as well as fortify us against out right deception.

As for the bible being written by men, so was every other book but we do not throw out every one for that reason. besides, the Bible claims consistently in both NT and OT that it is, in fact, the very Word of God.

Jesus put His stamp of approval on all of the OT by quoting it and then He pre-authenticated the NT. 2 Peter 1:20,21: Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet?s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Comment from jmdg1954

Excellent

I did not see him on TV, besides, if I were flipping channels and came across him, I would have kept going. I don't believe in these "showmen", "miracle workers". They all are full of crap.

I did like your tongue-n-cheek approach to this. Nicely done. John

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 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

All too true...however, there are some decent preachers on the tube who simply give the message of Christ and do not seek adulation or claim extraordinary powers. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it.

Comment from Jessica Bell

Average

I've also seen this "prophet" on television. He puts on a good show, that's for sure.

Aside from content, I think that this piece could have used a bit more imagery. If I didn't know who he was, I wouldn't have gotten a good feel for what he does - and I think that's important.

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 Comment Written 08-Feb-2014

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reply by the author on 08-Feb-2014

Perhaps I presumed too much in thinking that about everyone in America with access to a TV would have encountered one of these charlatans, however briefly.

Its also been my experience on FS that reviewers appreciate shorter articles. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Dennis

reply by Jessica Bell on 09-Feb-2014

You are right regarding length. In general, shorter articles get more reads, which translates to more reviews. Many are too lazy/short on time/unwilling to put effort into reading longer pieces. As someone who typically writes those longer pieces, I feel that pain!

reply by Jessica Bell on 09-Feb-2014

You are right regarding length. In general, shorter articles get more reads, which translates to more reviews. Many are too lazy/short on time/unwilling to put effort into reading longer pieces. As someone who typically writes those longer pieces, I feel that pain!