If your perspective and temperament is anything like mine, when you first heard about the Senate investigation you may have thought, It’s about time! After all, the ministries listed are not exactly the Salvation Army. Most are identified as “prosperity preachers” who flamboyantly practice what they preach. Sen. Grassley cited $10 million private jets and $23,000 toilets as part of his investigation.
If there has been a violation of the law, and not merely stewardship, then we should rejoice to see these ministries held accountable. But there’s another benefit to the truth being brought into the light. How many struggling people are suckered into sacrificially giving to these ministries in the hope of receiving God’s blessing? How many people are led astray? And how many non-Christians are given a false impression of Christ, the Bible, and his Church?
It would be understating the matter if I said the ministries of the likes of Benny Hinn didn’t seriously concern me. I was even more disturbed a few months ago to read about Dove One, which has now dissappeared from the TV "evagenlists" website, a personal private jet "for the sake of the gospel" and rhetoric such as:
“A man said to me, ‘How much do I sow?’ My reply was, ‘What kind of harvest do you want? If you have big debt, sow a big seed.’ That’s just the way it is!”
(Benny Hinn, This Is Your Day, August 14, 1996)
Also independent Christian financial donor watchdog "Ministry Watch" has recommended witholding of giving to his minstry
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1 Byrnesys Blabberings » Blog Archive » An Authentic Evangelism Pt.1 // Nov 12, 2007 at 12:59 pm
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