Benny Hinn is a Scam Artist

Last week, to my horror, I found out that Benny Hinn had a weekend event at one of the downtown Toronto stadiums/arenas a couple of days ago. To my shock, I found out that these events were considered "sold out" (even though admission was free). If you don't know who Benny Hinn is, he is one of those guys who gives mainstream Christians a bad name. He's the dude you see on television in the Glad garbage man white suit, with the badly combed matching white hair, shouting like a constipated fool on TV, claiming that he is a vehicle for God to heal people, and you see all manner of humanity crouched at his stage, claiming to be healed by this guy.

The problem I have with him is not that I don't believe in healing. It's not that I don't think miracles can happen. My issue with him is his thinking that somehow he is God's gift to healing. The guy has no humility, even though he claims that he's not the one doing the healing. Yet, he charges people to autograph their Bibles (what is wrong with this picture when a mere mortal feels that they have the right to place their John Hancock on God's inspired Word. What a freaking pompous ass Benny Hinn is.

Now, you look at the ultimate Healer in the Bible, in the person of Jesus Christ. Yes, he went town-to-town. Sure, he met with people who were sick, ill, people who were considered the physical outcasts of society. But look at Christ's life - full of humility. Do you ever think you'll see Benny Hinn wash anyone's feet? Nope, he's too busy living in his 7500 square feet mansion, driving his expensive cars, flying his private jet, staying in expensive hotels, wearing expensive clothes (as cheesy as they are). I guess he can afford this, with him pulling in $250,000,000 (that's two hundred and fifty million) in donations per year. That is, like the GDP of some small countries, sheeesh...

Now, as a staunch capitalist, I have no problems with anyone, including Christians, having wealth. The Bible is not anti-wealth - it does, however, scrutinize and deal with how wealth is treated. I don't have to tell you the fact that others have cited that there is more in the Bible about dealing with money, money management, and stewardship, than about heaven and hell combined. Money is not the problem, and despite common misunderstanding, the Bible does not say that money is the root of all evil, but the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Based on Hinn's lifestyle, I can't tell you that he doesn't love his money. There are very wealthy Christians out there who don't live even a fraction of the lavish lifestyle that Hinn lives.

Again, I don't really care whether people have money or not. If they do, it's not up to me to decide how they spend it. However, what I do have a problem with is what the Bible has a problem with, and that is "dishonest gain". I'm sure you can all figure out what this one means, so I won't bother patronizing you by defining it. Anyhow, it has always bee my belief that many of these sweating buckets, slickster televangelists are scams. Hinn is no different. I just have that feeling about people - and when I see Hinn pushing over a crowd of people in the audience and they all just fall over, I sit up and think, "whatever!" It's so scripted, so structured that every single one of his appearances utilized this common theme. Some poor saps get on stage and they are miraculously healed. How do we know that this is even legitimate? That's the question I first asked when I saw this guy on TV.

As much as I dislike the media, I do find their propensity to expose hypocrites and fakes, to be quite refreshing. In the last few days, I have found several programs and articles investigating Hinn, and the overwhelming consensus is that his productions are all scripted. Unlike what you see on TV, these "sick" people are all pre-screened, so it's not like these are random folks coming out of the audience. They have also discovered that Hinn's handlers will refuse to allow people in wheelchairs to come on stage (gee, I wonder why - maybe because buddy can't really heal them after all!). But add to that his stage act of his gutteral, sweat-filled diatribes as he claims to heal, and anyone with half a brain will know that this is pure silliness at its finest.

Again, I believe healing does take place, but I don't believe that God need flashy, ego-driven guys like these to be the vehicles. This is no different than my opinion of the ultra-pentacostal airport vineyard/blessing churches, which features people growling like animals, holy laughter, holy barfing, etc. I do believe in the Spirit working in people and manifesting, but last I checked, the Holy Spirit wasn't a raving lunatic. Besides, how does all this physical manifestation stuff bring glory to God? In my opinion, it does not, and if it does not, you have to question the source of this zanyness, as well as the motivation behind it.

Sure, Hinn claims that he is not actually doing the healing, but it has taken place in the audience already. This is his legal out to ensure that he never gets sued (hey, it wasn't me, it was God). But if that was the case, why is Hinn even needed? And why does he look like he is working so hard? I'm sorry, but again, it strongly appears as if he is usurping the glory for himself and not where it rightfully belongs - to God. But then again, I doubt that God wants his name associated with things that are not from Him anyway...