Who Really Has “Touched” Benny Hinn?

by G. Richard Fisher There is no doubt that lies sell and and M. Kurt Goedelman PFO’s volume on Hinn captures him are more popular than truth in this as a man in a world of deep confu- day and age. esy and necromancy do not slow the sion. There is no reason to believe what Hinn says about anything. It is a Hinn Express. He continues to sweep A popular Hollywood film a few serious venture to claim to speak for thousands off their feet — literally, as years back featured Jim Carrey play- God in the manner of prophecies and his followers succumb to what ing a congenital liar who is forced to visions as does Hinn. tell only the truth for a time. Carrey’s Thomas Upham called ‘‘sympathetic character is subject to all kinds of imitation’’ and are willing to fall on WHO TOUCHED WHOM? hysterics and self-flagellation as he command.2 In his latest autobiography, He tries to resist the urge to prevaricate. Hinn’s critics try to force him ‘‘to Touched Me, Hinn continues to com- Benny Hinn, who claims to be ‘‘one tell the truth’’ by comparing his con- pound contradictions and falsehoods of the great healing evangelists,’’ is tradictory public statements and out- that have been documented in previ- much like Carrey’s lawyer character: right lies with documented facts. At ous articles in The Quarterly Journal. he just cannot tell all the truth all the times, Hinn allows his underlings to The adage, ‘‘You can’t tell a book by time. He claims to have an especially apologize or offer alibis for his slip- its cover,’’ applies to Hinn’s latest ups.3 Hinn, at other times, simply deep relationship with the Holy one. The golden-hued dust jacket is alters his claims in newly released Spirit. Hinn even explains away his graced with Hinn’s subdued face as material. lack of formal Bible training by claim- he would have us believe that he has ing that during his purported early However, even in the revisions and been touched by God in some unique encounters with the Spirit, ‘‘I was updates, Hinn can’t get it right. The and special way. The back cover says receiving an education greater than careful observer can only wonder if Hinn’s life story ‘‘reveals what can any university or seminary could Hinn has been fibbing for so long that happen when one person becomes offer. My teacher was the Spirit Him- he is incapable of telling the whole totally yielded to the Holy Spirit.’’ self.’’1 It is a wonder then how Hinn truth and of functioning within the can be so mired in heresy. bounds of reality. He is a serial Upon examination of the book, Hinn is a phenomenon of our times. prevaricator whose followers don’t however, one can see that Hinn again Sadly, many Christians demand he- seem to notice or care. No one around has misrepresented his life story. roes and icons and for many of them, him or within his organization holds While these lies are certainly creative Hinn answers the call. His broadcasts him accountable. and artful, they remain lies. are full of self-serving tributes to his In the last decade, Hinn has prom- Hinn’s stories keep shifting and claimed spiritual stature and impact. ised to reform as often as a politician changing until one wonders if he ever In spite of his many goofs, gaffes and in an election year. A video titled The will get it right. Parts of Hinn’s new media troubles, he still manages to Many Faces of Benny Hinn, helps spell biography get closer to the truth enchant people. False prophecy, her- out the dilemma. Similarly, the title of (continues on page 12)

4 · The Quarterly Journal January-March 2001 THIS OLD HOUSE in number and flower species, Hinn’s Kurzman tells us that at the time of (continued from page 4) interpretation of the dream remains the 1948 War in Israel, ‘‘Jaffa was left consistent — and herein lies the virtually leaderless.’’13 From that question as to its divine source and while other parts carry on the decep- point on, Kurzman states, ‘‘Jaffa ... precise interpretation. Hinn now ex- 14 tion and give new versions of old became a Jewish suburb’’ with Jew- plains the dream of ‘‘six beautiful stories. ish mayors. Costandi Hinn was an lilies’’ in his mother’s hand as: Arab, which alone precluded him Hinn says that as a young child he ‘‘When she awakened, Clemence from such an office. underwent a ‘‘time of intense reli- [his mother] asked herself, What gious instruction’’ by Catholic nuns When Hinn’s untruth was exposed does this dream mean? What can who ‘‘had a great spiritual influence’’ by PFO, he scrambled for excuses and it be? Eventually, our family was on him. His learning included being alibis. For a while he retreated to the to have six boys and two girls, able to pray ‘‘the Nicene Creed.’’4 Yet, claim that his father was only the yet my mother never forgot her the influence of the Nicene Creed is ‘‘unofficial mayor’’ of Jaffa. Then he bargain with God. ‘Benny,’ she not apparent in Hinn’s description of blamed his book’s publisher and said said, ‘you were the lily I pre- the Trinity: ‘‘If I can shock you, and he tried to correct it prior to publica- sented to Jesus.’’’11 maybe I should. There are nine of tion. Hinn apparently has now even them.’’5 Hinn suggests the single flower abandoned this latter claim since it requested by Jesus in the dream too has been disproven. He has never Whatever differences evangelical symbolizes his call and life as a admitted that the claim was an out- and fundamentalist Christians have minister. The problem with Hinn’s (or right lie. with Roman Catholics, they all share his mother’s) interpretation lies in the a belief in three persons in the God- fact that Benny is not the only mem- In his new autobiography, Hinn head, not nine. Finis Dake’s annotated ber of his family to have become a now says his father ‘‘can best be reference Bible, not any Catholic nuns minister. Four other brothers — described as a liaison between the or Greek Orthodox teaching, is the Willie, Henry, Sammy and Michael — community and the Israeli govern- source of this particular idea. 15 are pastors and evangelists. Why then ment.’’ Throughout the book, he Hinn also has employed other unor- did Jesus only ask for one flower then ascribes to his father a host of thodox influences. At the same time when five of Clemence Hinn’s sons various occupations and responsibili- Dake’s teachings were influencing his would eventually devote themselves ties: postal service employee,16 Red theology, Hinn advanced the heretical to full-time ministry work? Perhaps Cross worker,17 fruit inspector at the teachings of the Word Faith move- Hinn’s Jesus is a casualty of open Jaffa port,18 president of the Greek ment when he taught ‘‘He who is the theism or process theology — not Orthodox Club,19 movie projectionist nature of God became the nature of knowing what the future would hold. for the club20 and, following the Satan when He became sin’’6 and Some may say that the number and family’s 1968 move to Canada, insur- ‘‘Jesus Christ knew the only way He type of flowers, and the dream’s ance salesman,21 all of which are a far would stop Satan is by becoming one interpretation type is a minor issue. cry from the political position once in nature with him. He [Jesus] did not Perhaps, but it still does beg the claimed for him. take my sin, He became my sin.’’7 question: How could one misconstrue a vision from God? Yet, Hinn maintains the pretense ALTERED STATES OF that his father held a ‘‘unique position UNCONSCIOUSNESS Then, too, one can ask: How many in the community’’ and persists in other tales and claimed revelations describing him ‘‘as a liaison between Hinn now admits that some boy- were misremembered, embellished or the community and Israeli govern- hood tales in Good Morning, Holy complete fiction? Hinn’s more bizarre ment.’’22 He also maintains he ‘‘was Spirit were not recalled correctly. In stories often have no witnesses or the early book, he told of a ‘‘dream’’ deeply touched that my father had support whatsoever. And when there earned such respect and trust from his mother had in which she had ‘‘six are claims of videotape evidence, the Israeli government,’’23 which is beautiful roses.’’8 In this dream, Jesus none actually exists. appeared and asked for one of the still an undocumented claim. roses. In the version of the dream A MAYOR NO MORE After Israel re-established itself a Hinn told to his Orlando church in Sometime following the 1982 death nation in 1948, the Arabs of Jaffa (as 1987, he said, ‘‘There were eight roses of his father, Hinn began to say that well as Arabs in other parts of the in her hand and Jesus came and said, during his childhood his father, Co- country) were a hated, suspected and ‘One of them belongs to me.’’’9 standi, was the ‘‘mayor’’ of Jaffa, oppressed security risk to the Israelis. In the new telling of the purported Israel.12 PFO knew that neither before Any history of Palestine in the 1930s vision, Hinn explains that his mother nor after 1952 (the year Benny was will establish that the Arab riots in recently ‘‘explained it was about lil- born) was there a mayor of Jaffa Jaffa, Hebron and other places, lead- ies,’’10 not roses. Despite the change named Hinn. Israeli historian Dan ing to the Arab massacre of Jews, are

12 · The Quarterly Journal January-March 2001 remembered to this day. In Jaffa should tell the truth, the whole truth rooms on the ground floor of a during the time of Hinn’s youth and nothing but the truth. building owned by the Greek Ortho- 29 Arabs had to get security clearance to BENNY GIBRAN? dox Church. This is a far cry from perform even the most menial jobs his previous description that, ‘‘We because of continuing Israeli animos- Hinn in some ways resembles the lived comfortably. Dad’s position in ity toward them. late Kahlil Gibran. Gibran was a government made it possible for us to charmer who used others for material have a home in the suburbs. It was a Two other major factors, which gain. Both Gibran and Hinn are best- wonderful home.’’30 Strangely Hinn has forgotten or is unaware, selling authors (with good editors) though, Hinn qualifies his admission should be mentioned as they militate who have gained a large following. by interjecting, ‘‘there was ample against any Israeli acceptance of Gibran composed a tall tale of being a room.’’31 Once again, we are con- Arabs being in any way acceptable to child of ‘‘fortune’’ growing up in a fronted with Hinn’s ongoing child- Jews during the 1940s and 1950s. very well-to-do home of culture and hood delusions since the reality of First, the Arabs of Israel aggravated love. Many still hold onto Gibran’s nine people living in three rooms Jewish hatred and fear by overtly myth. However, in fact, Gibran was would hardly be ‘‘ample room.’’ One backing Nazi Germany during World raised in ‘‘a harsh life of poverty, with can only imagine the conditions with War II.24 This never has been a cruel overbearing father, a drunkard 28 seven children living in one bedroom. forgotten. who bullied his family.’’ Second, the Arab-Jewish fighting, bombing and killing, so fierce in the 1930s and 1940s, finally came to a head with Israel’s 1948 War of Inde- pendence. The hatred continues to- day. In spite of the repeated attempts by the leadership for peace through- out the past five decades, the hostility amidst these people can and has erupted at any instant — and without warning. No one familiar with Israel’s political climate would believe for a moment that Hinn’s father would have been treated with ‘‘respect and trust’’ or as an equal by the Israelis. Hinn actually — perhaps unknow- ingly — provides for readers insight into the socio-economic status of his father and family when he writes: The Greek Orthodox Club in Jaffa, Israel where ‘‘My father didn’t own an automobile the Hinn family lived in the basement level. the entire time we lived in Israel — he either walked to work or took public Gibran, like Hinn, was born in the Moreover, the location was less transportation.’’25 A mayor or even a Middle East in an Arabic culture. than ‘‘wonderful’’ in a minority Arab ‘‘government liaison’’ would be ex- Gibran was Lebanese, Hinn is Pales- area of a run-down and neglected pected to have a car and driver (as do tinian. Exaggeration of pedigree is a section of the city. PFO visited the politicians in Israel today) and not be way of life all over that region. While building that housed the Hinn base- left to walk or take a bus to work. a Bible believer would say one should ment home in Jaffa. The visit not lie about his parentage, the confirmed the idea that conditions Moreover, Hinn says, ‘‘We were not Middle Easterner is conditioned in a were crowded. Jaffa neighbors inter- 26 a wealthy family.” Hinn’s family left tradition (of fabricating) that is looked viewed by PFO talked of poverty Israel for Canada virtually penniless upon as honorable. Even conversion there. The only attractive thing about and was dependent upon the sponsor- to Christianity does not change that the neighborhood is that at the end of ship and goodwill of agencies recom- for some. For believers, words cannot the street one has a magnificent view mended by the Greek Orthodox be spoken just to appease others but of the Mediterranean Sea. And even Church and a neighboring family.27 must correspond to reality. though the house is within view of There was no status or good life but THIS OLD HOUSE the Mediterranean, the harsh realities rather, as described by Hinn himself, of life in Jaffa in that era cannot be just the opposite. This is not to say Hinn now also admits that his wished away. The oppression of the that poverty is bad but that one nine-member family lived in three Arab minority is well documented

January-March 2001 The Quarterly Journal · 13 and easily proven. from TV shows. He writes: confuse facts stated in previous ac- counts of the same events. His prob- When Hinn’s claims went un- ‘‘At their house I became an lem arises from his inability to recall checked, he was able to refer to the extrovert. ‘When are you going his earlier versions of a story. He house on Ibn Rashad street as ‘‘a to put on the show?’ my little Touched Me offers more examples. home in the suburbs. It was a cousins begged. They were talk- wonderful home.’’ The truth that ing about a skit, or a ‘production’ For example, Hinn has repeatedly Hinn has been forced to confess is I organized every year during flip-flopped on the issue of his sec- that his family only occupied the our visit. During those years ondary (high) school education. He ground floor of the building which there was a popular television had claimed to have been a senior in housed the Greek Orthodox Club. He comedy program in the region 1972 at Georges Vanier Secondary further admits, ‘‘By the time I was a titled, Doctor, Doctor, Follow Me! School in Toronto.40 When it was teen, our bedroom in Jaffa began to We did our own version of the revealed that school records showed resemble a hospital ward.’’32 show — complete with song- him to be an undergraduate in 1972 and-dance routines. You should TRUTH IS BETTER and a dropout before graduation, have seen us — me, Willie, Chris Hinn replied: ‘‘I never said I was a THAN FICTION and our cousins entertaining a senior, period. Anywhere. It’s not in In the past, PFO has been threat- room full of cheering, exuberant my book. All I mention in my book is ened by Hinn’s attorneys over its relatives.’’36 that I got saved in high school in 41 exposés of his exaggerated and false At his relative’s home, gone is the February of 1972.’’ Now Hinn has statements. Yet now Hinn is conform- fear and reclusive behavior that he returned himself to his original stand- ing at least parts of his story to that claimed dominated his youth. This, ing. In He Touched Me, he writes: which in the past his lawyers said had too, is the way teenage friends re- ‘‘During my senior year at Georges 42 been misrepresented. member him in Canada. A showman Vanier... .’’ Rather than try to keep the pretense — sometimes rattling off memorized The current offering of Hinn’s con- going, Hinn perhaps could have got- material — not the fearful, tongue- version experience likewise disagrees ten far more traction with the truth: tied, shy, inhibited, reclusive, back- with earlier versions. While Hinn’s ‘‘Poor Arab boy and high school ward child Hinn repeatedly claims to description of the event in He Touched dropout makes good.’’ Somehow he have been. Me parallels his former account in just seems driven to fabricate his Hinn goes on to say, ‘‘When I was Good Morning, Holy Spirit, it still pedigree and spiritual experiences. seventeen or eighteen, I believed that contains conspicuous differences from Perhaps all his lies and exaggerations some day I would go into politics, or an early account. Hinn writes in his are his way of responding to a perhaps find employment in the He Touched Me: 33 childhood of humiliation. In reality, travel industry.’’37 Both occupations ‘‘The next morning I awoke early his new autobiography is really just a are quite ill-suited for a young man and rushed off to school before revision and rewrite of his testimony allegedly crippled with a shattered class began. I needed to study in tapes and a previous best-seller, Good self-image and humiliation. the library. I was seated at a Morning, Holy Spirit. large table, concentrating on my Later in the book, he appears to Hinn continues to assert what he work, when a small group of rationalize by claiming a temporary labels ‘‘a horrible stuttering prob- students approached me. Imme- nature to his affliction: ‘‘There had lem’’34 as a young child up until the diately, I knew they were the always been times when I could time he was called into ministry. This, same ones who had been giving speak without a noticeable problem too, has been a claim that PFO has me all this ‘Jesus talk.’ ‘Would for a short period before something challenged. Hinn’s response has been you like to join us in our morn- set the stuttering off again.’’38 Never- to misrepresent PFO’s assertions. ing prayer meeting?’ one of them theless, his admissions in the book asked. They pointed to a room Hinn says PFO claims he never stut- reveal a new Hinn — a Hinn which that was just off the library. I tered. PFO never denied that Hinn PFO previously discovered in per- thought, Well, perhaps I’ll get them stuttered; it only questioned the sever- sonal interviews with Hinn’s boyhood off my back if I agree. After all, one ity of his stuttering. acquaintances. It is the same Hinn little prayer meeting isn’t going to While still trying to claim he was a that as a young man told a Toronto hurt me.’’43 reclusive, shy, backward stutterer as a newspaper, ‘‘I’m an artist. I’ve always Previously Hinn reported the event child, Hinn now says that as a boy he been an artist.’’39 this way: put on shows, productions and song- HABITUAL INCONSISTENCIES and-dance routines.35 He tells how he ‘‘I go into school, open my loved to strut among his mother’s As Hinn assembles his narratives, locker, get my books, a girl family and rattle off memorized parts he has a propensity to misstate or shows up called, Michelle. ... She

14 · The Quarterly Journal January-March 2001 looked a little strange, a little As his classmates babbled in & Forever, produced in 1994 by Hinn’s like, you know, flying, spacey. tongues, Hinn suggests a genuine organization, emphasizes the influ- Michelle said, with this big smile, conversion experience. Absent, how- ence of Roberts’ life and healing she said, ‘Would you come to a ever, from the event is any distinct ministry on Hinn and suggests that prayer meeting?’ I said, ‘Well, presentation and understanding of Roberts has passed his mantle to Michelle, I—I, you know it’s only man’s sinfulness and God’s offer of Hinn. ten minutes.’ It was like quarter forgiveness through the sacrifice of OTHER WHITEWASH to eight, and class begins at Jesus Christ, our need for repentance eight. And you know, here I’m and faith, and the cost of our faith Hinn also uses his new biography stuttering back trying to tell her I and obedience. Hinn’s chronicle is to neutralize damaging reports and can’t. She said, you know, she nothing but a mystical, easy-believe episodes during recent years. An il- said, ‘It would really be nice if conversion. But, perhaps, this like lustration of this is in his description you’ll come.’ Took me by the other facets of his life profile may of the death of longtime aide David hand and pulled me to the well change and evolve in the coming Delgado. Hinn says ‘‘Dave was con- prayer meeting.’’44 years and in its retelling. verted from a life of drug addiction and became a personal assistant to Hinn’s former narrative was a DIVORCING KATHRYN me.’’49 He then writes: single-student encounter at a school locker. More recently the story has In his latest book, Hinn appears to ‘‘Later in his life, after becoming evolved to a multi-student confronta- be distancing himself from Kathryn deathly ill with hepatitis, he died tion in the school library. Regardless Kuhlman, the woman whom he has prematurely. His death was a of which report Hinn says is true, the said meant so much to his life and mystery to his family, our staff, more serious concern is lack of a clear ministry. Hinn writes: and myself. Although reports of Gospel presentation at Hinn’s ‘‘prayer ‘‘Many times, I’ve been asked, a drug relapse came to our atten- meeting’’ conversion. Each version is ‘Benny, tell me about Miss Kuhl- tion following his death, know- grossly inadequate when it comes to man. What was she like?’ They ing David as I did — and how this vital issue. Hinn currently are surprised when I say, ‘Oh, I deeply he loved God — I can describes the episode: never had the opportunity to only leave the circumstance of his passing in the hands of the meet Kathryn personally.’ Look- ‘‘Suddenly, every member of the 50 ing back on my journey to Pitts- Lord.’’ group raised their hands toward burgh, I believe what happened heaven and began to pray in For over a year, knowledge of that day was in God’s provi- languages I’d never heard before. Delgado’s death and another heroin- dence. As I told members of my My eyes became the size of related death of a ministry staff mem- staff recently, had I met Kathryn saucers. These were students I ber were concealed by law-enforce- it is possible that I would have had known in my classes — now ment and Hinn’s church officials. forever believed she gave the talking to God with sounds I did While Hinn asserts Delgado’s death anointing to me, or that God may not understand. ... My mind ‘‘a mystery,’’ Delgado’s widow, Mary, have used her in some way to flashed back to Bob in the kiosk, revealed that her husband knew he transfer it to me.’’46 saying, ‘You’ve got to meet Jesus. was dying from cirrhosis of the liver, You’ve got to meet Him!’ Meet This, now, is from the man who in which can be a side effect of heroin Him? I thought I already knew the past has visited the burial site of abuse. Him. ... In the middle of the Kuhlman where he claims her anoint- More alarming is the fact that ac- room, I closed my eyes and ing still lingers — even to the place cording to the Orange County (Fla.) spoke four words that changed where people are actually healed sheriff’s records, at the time of his my life forever. Out loud I said, from visiting the grave.47 Hinn also death, Delgado was under suspicion ‘Lord Jesus, come back.’ I had no says Kuhlman appears to him in for the heroin-related death of minis- idea why those were the only dreams and visions. In one report, she try staff member Sydney Williams. words that came out of my supposedly revealed to him a revela- Williams died in November 1997 at mouth. Again, I said, ‘Lord Jesus, tion of a heightened level of the his Florida home after injecting him- come back.’ ... Then I said to the miraculous — ‘‘greater things for the self with a large dose of heroin. Lord, ‘Come into my heart.’ And glory of God’’ — coming to his Before his own death, Delgado was what a glorious moment that ministry.48 being investigated in Williams’ death was! His power was cleansing because Williams appeared to have me from the inside out. I felt If Hinn is truly beginning to down- been drugged following a visit to absolutely clean and pure. Sud- play the significance of Kuhlman in Delgado’s home. denly, in a moment of time, I his ministry, one can only wonder if saw Jesus. There He was. Jesus, Oral Roberts will be next. A three- Hinn’s shaded narration of the Son of God.’’45 hour video, Miracles: Yesterday, Today Delgado’s death is also inconsistent

January-March 2001 The Quarterly Journal · 15 with a lofty claim of deliverance from was ushered onto the stage, bodies Endnotes: drug addiction. During a miracle were already strewn across the plat- 1. Benny Hinn, He Touched Me. Nashville: crusade, Hinn drew attention to form. Once onstage, his wife, Su- Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999, pg. 80. Delgado and told followers that zanne, and daughters and son were 2. Thomas Upham, Elements of Mental Delgado was one of his “right-hand also subjected to the same intense and Philosphy, cited by Ann Taves in Fits, men” and announced: forceful handling. ‘‘Fire, I said! Fire, I Trances & Visions. Princeton, N.J.: Prince- ton University Press, 1999, pg. 122. “This guy at one time was on drugs. said! Fire, I said!,’’ he screamed as he 3. A classic example of this is an investiga- ... He was a — he used to sell drugs. brought his family under the subjec- tive report by WDFW - Fox 4 Television in His father is a preacher. He rebelled tion of his ‘‘Fire’’ anointing.53 Dallas-Fort Worth. Hinn’s spokesperson against God. He used to attend and executive producer of his television It is quite suspicious to see Hinn’s programs, Jeff Pitman, was left to grope Kathryn Kuhlman services in New wife Suzanne, falling in a controlled for responses to Hinn’s erroneous claims York City. She used to come and manner on cue and adjusting her of raising the dead and a ‘‘miracle inva- minister to Teen Challenge when he jacket as she lays on the stage. sion’’ at a Canadian hospital. This three- was there with Dave Wilkerson. And part report aired November 18, 1999 and Kathryn one day said there’s In He Touched Me, he evaluates the is featured on the video, The Many Faces of event by claiming, ‘‘God did an amaz- Benny Hinn. somebody that God wants to set free 4. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 26. from drugs. And David said, ‘Huh ing work that night. When they re- 5. Benny Hinn sermon, Orlando Christian uh, I’m not going.’ But a few years turned to Orlando their Christian Center broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting ago, standing in our church he said, witness took on a boldness we had Network, Oct. 13, 1990. Tape on file. ‘Lord, I love drugs. Unless you take never seen — and the effects of that 6. Benny Hinn sermon, Orlando Christian meeting are still evident.’’54 The last Center broadcast on Trinity Broadcasting that thing out of me, I’m going to die.’ Network, Dec. 9, 1990. And God took the desire right out of part of Hinn’s comment may well be 7. Ibid. him.”51 one of the more honest statements he 8. Benny Hinn, Good Morning, Holy Spirit. has ever made. The harsh and abusive Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Another whitewash is his conduct by Hinn toward his family — 1990, pg. 17. description of his October 1998 which is a clear reality on the cru- 9. Benny Hinn Testimony, Orlando Chris- service at “The Pond” in Anaheim, sade’s video highlights — could very tian Center, Orlando, Fla., July 19, 1987. Calif. Hinn described this event at Tape on file. well have left ‘‘effects of the meeting the service: 10. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 11. [which] are still evident.” 11. Ibid. ‘‘That night I felt led to ask my 12. Hinn twice makes this claim on his children to come to the platform Over the years, and as his ministry 1987 testimony tape and then again on — I was going to introduce them has grown to a multi-million dollar another testimonial recording from Or- to the audience. However, God enterprise and thus come under closer lando Christian Center with no date, but with tape number 315 and a copyright of had something else in mind. The scrutiny, Hinn has nuanced and shaded his legacy of false doctrine, 1990 on the cassette sleeve. It is also found moment they approached me in in Good Morning, Holy Spirit (pg. 18) and the center of the stage, the false prophecies, lies and exaggera- in his second book published by Thomas anointing became so strong that tions. He Touched Me is really just Nelson, The Anointing (pg. 21). when I turned toward them, all another volume to sell and help 13. Dan Kurzman, Genesis 1948.New four of my children fell to the subsidize his grand empire. In reality, York: DaCapo Press, 1992, pg. 182. Hinn’s professed calling as a minister 14. Ibid., pg. 188. floor. There were Jessica, Na- 15. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 4. tasha, Joshua, and Eleasha, slain continues to be contrary to the Word 16. Ibid., pg. 8. in the Spirit by the power of of God: 17. Ibid., pg. 9. God. It was a beautiful sight, and 18. Ibid. ‘‘Since an overseer is entrusted I began to weep before the 19. Ibid., pg. 14. with God’s work, he must be Lord.’’52 20. Ibid., pg. 18. blameless — not overbearing, not 21. Ibid., pg. 45. Here, Hinn demonstrates just how quick-tempered, not given to 22. Ibid., pg. 4; see also pg. 15. far from reality he can take his drunkenness, not violent, not 23. Ibid., pg. 40. readers. A videotape of that evening’s pursuing dishonest gain. Rather 24. See Said Aburish, Children of Bethany Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, service shows Hinn to be a man out he must be hospitable, one who 1988, pp. 85 and 93, and Phillip Mattar, of control. His stage mannerisms and loves what is good, who is self- The Mufti of Jerusalem. New York: Colum- voice inflections would strike mortal controlled, upright, holy and dis- bia University Press, 1988, pp. 99-107. fear into most individuals. It was not ciplined. He must hold firmly to 25. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 18. a simple matter of wanting to bring the trustworthy message as it has 26. Ibid., pg. 42. his children on stage for an introduc- been taught, so that he can en- 27. Ibid. 28. See further, Fouad Ajami, The Dream tion. ‘‘Get my children up here! ... Get courage others by sound doctrine Palace of the Arabs. New York: Vintage my wife up here!,’’ he wildly com- and refute those who oppose it’’ Books, 1998, pp. 74-75. manded in a deep voice. As his family (Titus 1:7-9). 29. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 13.

16 · The Quarterly Journal January-March 2001 30. Good Morning, Holy Spirit, op. cit., pg. pg. 28 and Toronto Globe and Mail, Dec. 25, on file. 20. 1976. 48. Benny Hinn, This Is Your Day, June 11, 31. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 13. 41. Christianity Today, Oct. 5, 1992, pg. 54. 1997, tape on file. 32. Ibid., pg. 14. 42. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 48. 49. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 169. 33. Ibid., pp. 19-20. 43. Ibid., pg. 49, italics in original. 50. Ibid. 34. Ibid., pg. 19. 44. Benny Hinn Testimony, July 19, 1987, 51. Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade 35. Ibid., pp. 36-37. op. cit. highlights, Trinity Broadcasting Network, 36. Ibid. 45. He Touched Me, op. cit., pp. 50-51. date unknown, tape on file, emphasis 37. Ibid., pg. 87. 46. Ibid., pg. 120. added. 38. Ibid., pg. 105. 47. Benny Hinn sermon, Double Portion 52. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 196. 39. Toronto Globe and Mail’s Fanfare maga- Anointing, Part #3, Orlando Christian Cen- 53. Benny Hinn, This Is Your Day, Nov. 12, zine, Feb. 15, 1978, pg. 11. ter, Orlando, Fla., April 7, 1991. From the 1998, tape on file. 40. See Good Morning, Holy Spirit,op.cit., series, Holy Ghost Invasion. TV#309, tape 54. He Touched Me, op. cit., pg. 196. g

GETTING OUT grace to traverse a wilderness. Risks emotions that are delicate and maybe (continued from page 1) of faith are difficult and scary. Trust even broken. Thank God we have a and obedience often have to work in Savior who ‘‘heals the broken- ‘‘Grief may be called a life-shaking the absence of feelings or even against hearted’’ (Luke 4:18). The doctrinal sorrow over loss. Grief tears life to feelings. issues must be woven into the practi- shreds; it shakes one from top to Think about what has been lost in cal issues of life and living. Position in Christ for instance gives great encour- bottom. It pulls him loose; he the years of cult involvement and agement and morale to a floundering comes apart at the seams. Grief is investment. In some cases: truly nothing less than a life- ex-cultist. 1 • The loss of years of time. shattering loss.’’ If the exiting cult member is genu- • The loss of family and friends. That life-shattering sorrow called inely saved, he or she has God’s grief, we must not forget, has the • The loss of large amounts of grace, God’s Spirit and God’s prom- power to enslave if not handled money. ises. On a human level he needs properly. Loss, loss, loss. In other cases: skillful, caring, biblical, grief helpers. He needs real support to learn to How about that person who gives • The loss of morality. apply the means of grace. his life to a cult? That individual gives • The loss of children. himself or herself to an illusion, a • The loss of a spouse. If he is saved, it is not that he does delusion, perhaps for years. They not have joy and gratitude for salva- stake their eternity on the group and More loss. And in other cases: tion and for the Savior but that he is a its teachings. However, when they • An entire family lost with the complex being who experiences con- attempt to break free, there can be a agony of ‘‘we helped mislead them’’ flicts, emotions and a range of ups painful and even excruciating aware- and feeling totally ashamed for being and downs from the grief process ness of major losses. Major grief may so stupid or so ignorant. triggered by the losses. We can see in set in and that person has to begin the the Psalms the wide range of emo- long hard process of dealing with that And finally, in extreme cases: tions and emotional turmoil triggered grief. The old spiritual says: ‘‘It’s not • The loss of an identity surren- by the stresses of life. We must be an easy road.’’ At times we may feel dered to the organization. keenly aware and sensitive to the fact that is an understatement. • The loss of an entire lifetime. of grief in exiting. The first thing that needs to be • The loss of a social life and social Second, we must think about: established is: skills. THE FACES OF GRIEF THE FACT OF GRIEF • The loss of an education and now IN EXITING no job skills. What does grief look like? What are • The loss of a desire to ever trust we dealing with? What do we experi- What a strange phenomenon in again. ence when loss triggers grief? What Numbers 11 that when the going got kind of terrain does grief offer us? If • The loss of all hope. rough (in the wilderness) the people we know the many faces of grief, it of God cried out to go back into the Written in large letters over the will aid us in processing our own bondage of Egypt. It was a case of exiting cult member is the word grief and in helping others process selective memory and having to feel LOSS. A good book title would be: theirs. good. Sometimes the comfort of the The Scarlet L. known feels better then the fear of the The book of Lamentations is only unknown, even if that known has So it is not only doctrinal issues that five chapters. Yet, it is a book that many downsides. It takes courage and we must deal with but heart, soul and deals with acute, devastating and

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