| Author | Message | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 52 Registered: 11-2004 |
I don't disagree that Hinn's theology and teachings are a bit "out there". But would that disqualify him from being used by God? He says he doesn't heal anyone. He never lays hands on anyone for healing. People come to the meetings expecting something to happen and it is THEIR faith in God that heals them. Benny Hinn leads the music. Does God only use people who have their theology correct? Jesus did point out that people can believe and have faith in him because of the works He did. In John 10 it says: 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, ìMany good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?î 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, ìFor a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.î 34 Jesus answered them, ìIs it not written in your law, ëI said, ìYou are godsîí?[c] 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ëYou are blaspheming,í because I said, ëI am the Son of Godí? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe[d] that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.î 39 Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand. The Bible talks about the devil working signs and wonders that will deceive people. Jesus said the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy and that He has come that we may have life and have it more abundantly. Signs and wonders do not equal healing. The Bible shows no evidence that the devil is able to heal. The devil's nature is to kill, steal, and destroy, and not to give life or make someone whole. | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1897 Registered: 3-2005 |
Here is just a portion from that Modern Reformation article on Benny Hinn: Hinn's Neo-Gnosticism There is a striking parallel in the teachings of many of America's televangelists with ancient philosophical system of gnosticism, and Benny Hinn is no exception. Many of his serious doctrinal errors are largely the outworking of his own neo-gnostic world and life view. The gnostic lineage in Hinn's thought is readily apparent in two ways. The first is in Hinn's description of created reality, wherein God exists at the top of a ladder of being, closest to pure spirit, with Satan at the bottom, closest to matter. The second indication of Hinn's gnostic orientation can be found in his exceptional claims to be a gnostikoi or enlightened teacher, who claims a great insight into the divine, beyond that of his followers or other ministers and ministries. Hinn's gnostic conception of reality is clearly developed in an early work, War in the Heavenlies, where Hinn lays out an overtly gnostic chain of being as the nature of reality: There is only one step from the natural world to the invisible world. Visualize a ladder from God to Satan, the invisible through the visible or earthly into the invisible. At the top of this line is God. Under God are angels. Then a thin dividing line and we find spirit filled people, then average Christians, carnal Christians, and then the division of the Blood line. Then a moral sinner, average sinner, demon-possessed sinner, a dividing line, then demons and Satan. Only a thin dividing `line' separates the seen from the unseen, the natural from the spiritual, the earthly from the heavenly.4 It is clear that Hinn has divided reality into various levels, with God at the top of the ladder of being and Satan on the bottom rung. This means that humanity is caught in a cosmic tug-of-war, stuck between the powers of good and evil. As you may know, the entire epistle of I John was likely written to combat this same anti-Christian system of thought. Instead of employing the classical Biblical categories of sin and grace, and giving proper consideration to the Biblical doctrine of the Creator-creature distinction in describing humanities' predicament and ultimate redemption, Hinn recasts the entire Christian faith purely in terms of spiritual warfare along this chain of being, invisible to the naked eye of most everyone except, of course, Benny Hinn, the "enlightened one." The second aspect of this gnostic system is found in Hinn's claim to be an individual with God's extraordinary favor, a gnostikoi, as proved by his professed dramatic encounters with Jesus Christ. In fact, Hinn's entire ministry is based upon his claims to receive divine and angelic visitations, "revelation knowledge," as well as out-of-body experiences. Hinn's rise to influence is largely due to the fact that many of his followers believe these sensational claims to be true, and accept them as the basis for Hinn's authority (his "anointing") to minister in the mode in which he does. Hinn's first reported divine visitation was when he was just eleven years old. At the time, Hinn lived in Jaffa, Israel. "I really believe it was the moment that God began moving in my life....I saw Jesus walk into my bedroom. He was wearing a robe that was whiter than white and a deep red mantle was draped over the robe. I saw his hair. I looked into his eyes. I saw the nail prints in his hands." Hinn concludes, "I saw everything."5 A second visitation came while Benny was in high school and living in Toronto. One night, Hinn claims "I had an encounter with the Lord. He came into my room and visited me -- this time in the form of an unforgettable dream." This dream, in which Hinn recounts how he was delivered from being bound to others shackled as prisoners and who were heading into a deep, black pit, was but a precursor to an even greater experience which followed the next day during a prayer time with Hinn's pesky Christian friends. "Suddenly I saw Jesus with my own eyes. It happened in a moment of time. There he was. Jesus."6 Those around him could not, of course, see or hear what was going on. But Benny Hinn, however, knew exactly what had happened to him. It was a trip with a friend to a Kathryn Kuhlman crusade in Pittsburgh, that Benny Hinn claims changed his life. Experiencing strange "vibrations" while waiting outside for the doors to open to get into the building, Benny recounts uncontrollable "shaking" once the meeting began. After Kathryn Kuhlman appeared, Hinn experienced a dramatic conversion during the time of worship. Not quite sure what had happened to him, Hinn tells of how he later prayed, "I've got to have this (what Kathryn Kuhlman had)." That night Benny had yet another experience, this time, after speaking to the Holy Spirit as a person. "Then, like a jolt of electricity my body began to vibrate all over -- exactly as it had through the two hours I waited to get into the church."7 This culminated with an eight-hour experience with the Holy Spirit, apparently the next night, in which Benny's room was "full of glory... Folks, This stuff is outright scary and is at least as bad as some of the stuff I read in Early Writings. Jeremy, You know that there are also good gospel statements that Ellen copied from other evangelical writers. It doesn't matter if Hinn can come across as sounding orthodox on his own web site. We need to learn the lessons from Adventism. All false prophets come out of the same mode. Stan | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 53 Registered: 11-2004 |
Stan, I think the comparison of Hinn to EGW is an unfair one. True, Hinn does have theology that is off as did EGW. He has prophesied, but that doesn't make him a prophet. If you don't believe Hinn's theology he doesn't consider you lost. His books are not used to interpret the Bible. He is not the head of a denomination, but has an independant ministry. He doesn't preach a Gospel of works. I realize charismatic things make you uncomfortable, but I think you are being a little unfair to compare him to EGW. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4326 Registered: 12-2003  |
I believe Richard made a very good observation above. He compared two different Charismatic congregations with similar practices; one congregation bore fruit, the other did not. He observed that the commitment to Biblical teaching was likely responsible for the fruit in the one, while the tolerated sin and the corresponding flaunting of Biblical teaching in the other was likely responsible for the lack of fruit in it. U2óGod can (and does) use anyone and anything for His purposes. Paul even said that people preaching the gospel from false motives/profit were nevertheless preaching Christ, and that is what mattered. (See Phil. 1:17-18.) Even Judas went out with the apostles and healed the sick and drove out demons in Jesus' nameóbut he himself was lost. I believe, U2, that if you ask God to teach you His will and to show you what is true, He will. God has given us His word, and He teaches us with His Spirit. It is more important to be grounded in God's word and submitted to Jesus to learn His will for us than it is to focus on learning from human interpreters. It is important to consider the fruit and the teachings and practices of religious leaders. If they are living un-biblical lives or practing deception, we really must be on guard, because when truth is mixed with error, the sum is deception. Just don't be afraid to submit everything to Jesus and ask Him to confirm truth. I have a friend (on this forum, actually!) who, when she was struggling with whether or not to leave Adventism, prayed that if it was not of God, He would take it from her and replace it with Himself. This person says that after that prayer, her emotional confusion and her ties to the church were gone. She was released. You can trust God to show you what is true and what is His will. With prayers for you, Colleen | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 92 Registered: 7-2005  |
As we test everything, let us remember to hold fast to that which is good. | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1900 Registered: 3-2005 |
Deuteronomy 18 is very clear about any prophet who claims to speak the word of the Lord, and that prophecy doesn't come true. Here is a link to an article I posted on another thread but it is very pertinent to this discussion: http://www.letusreason.org/Latrain23.htm Here are some excerpts: When a PROPHET SPEAKS and his words DO NOT come to pass ìIf what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of himî (Deut. 18:22) "The word prophet is found over three hundred times in the Old Testament and over one hundred times in the New Testament. It comes from two Greek words pro meaning ìbefore,î or ìin place ofî and fayme meaning ìto speak.î In Ephesians 2:20, the New Testament apostles and prophets were foundational: ìAnd are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.î A foundation is laid only once to begin a building project. You do not keep laying a foundation. These men (*apostles and prophets) were foundational -- through them that we received the New Testament Scriptures for all generations. The Bible makes it clear that a prophet is someone who speaks on Godís behalf to the people and there is no inaccuracy in his words. When the prophets of old got their message from God, it was perfect, free from any error. They spoke confidently knowing that what they said God would bring to pass. Todayís Prophets "Heb.1 makes it clear about the prophets words in the past, and the Son speaking to us today by the record of the apostles. As Heb.1 tells us, there were many prophets sent in successive periods, these were in contrast to the Son came one time with a completed message. The Son being not only a prophet but our priest and king. None of the former prophets possessed the Spirit continually, He would come upon them for a message, but not necessarily abide with them. So the prophets were all partial in the revelations, incomplete. All of these are eclipsed by Jesus Christ as the final revelator of Scripture." As established from God, prophecy is always 100% accurate or it is not from God. Yet Rick Joyner who is considered a prophet and visionary says ìThere is a prophet named Bob Jones who was told that the general level of prophetic revelation in the church was about 65% accurate at this time. Some are only about 10% accurate, a very few of the most mature prophets are approaching 85% to 95% accuracy. Prophecy is increasing in purity, but there is a still a long way to go for those who walk in this ministryî (The Prophetic Ministry, Rick Joyner- Morningstar Prophetic Newsletter. Vol. 3, No. 2, p. 2). Does this sound like the biblical prophets from the Bible. Does this sound like ì...I am the Lord, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who foils the signs of false prophets ... who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengersî (Isaiah 44:24-26) Ezek 12:25 ìFor I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,î says the Lord GOD.îë Therefore any prophetic gift they are exercising that is not accurate 100% of the time is not the same one God gave to the prophets of old. Can one actually be considered a ìprophetî with an accuracy level of about 65 percent, and those who are better at get a higher rating. We donít rate them for their effort and ask them to go home and practice and come back again when they improve God is not training His prophetic mouthpieces on improving in their accuracy? God always rebuked the inaccurate (false) prophets by calling false ones. It is no different today. We often here the excuse well if someone had to think they were to be 100% accurate they may not try to prophecy. Good! Because it is a most fearful thing to say thus saith the Lord. And there are too many people who have practiced this gift as if it is like teaching. While we are told not to despise prophecy, in the same section of Scripture it tells us not to accept everything without testing it. (1 Thess.5:20-21) Are there no more false prophets? Dr. Jack Deere is a former professor at Dallas Theological Seminary who converted from the cessationist to the non-cessationist viewpoint and wrote a book on this called Surprised by the Power of the Spirit. While I do not hold a cessationism viewpoint I find tremendous disagreements from what Deere seems to neglect with the clear word of God. Deereís also points to John Wimber, British psychiatrist John White, and prophet Paul Cain as having a major influence on him (pp.33-41). In my opinion Deere has reevaluated his theology by his experience. Deere, a Vineyard pastor was present when the Kansas city prophets were incorporated in the vineyard movement. He explains about modern day prophesy: ìBut you know what? God is in the process of offending our minds in order to reveal our hearts. And I donít know any place where itís going to be 100% right. Thereís going to be stumbling blocks in every ministry that the Holy Spirit is really responsible for.î (Jack Deere, TACF, 11/20/94, audiotape)" It doesn't matter whether it is Benny Hinn, Jack Deere, or the KC prophets, or Ellen G. White, who prophecies falsely, it is all the same according to Biblical criteria. It should also be mentioned that the Assemblies of God (a pentecostal denomination) officially denounce Benny Hinn and the "Health and Wealth" gospel as unbiblical. Stan | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 54 Registered: 11-2004 |
There are many groups who would claim that Calvinism was unbiblical too. Stan, you probably think I'm "off my rocker" because I am of the Charismatic vein, but I do base my beliefs on the Bible. I do not base my beliefs on emotionalism or any person and all things are judged through God's Word. I do keep both eyes open. I accepted things as an SDA and I will not do that again. I take each thing and go to the Word of God about it. I think each person must search the scriptures for themself and let the Spirt of God lead them. I do not believe there is one church or belief system that has the "truth" and that God will lead everyone to the exact same belief. People are going to interpret the Bible differently. You and I could read and study the exact same scripture and come to very different conclusions. I do believe God's people can be found in many different churches and as long as beliefs are based on the Bible and not on a person we can stand strong and serve the Lord in whatever church He leads us. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1420 Registered: 7-2003 |
I'm with Stan on Benny Hinn. If you've ever listened to "Bible Answer man" and some of the soundclips they occasionally will play from Hinn, I would have no problem saying some of it is demonic. Equip.org probably has lots of good info on Hinn as well as those posted above. In this case, I'm not sure there is a baby in that bath water. | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1407 Registered: 10-2004  |
I totally agree with you, Melissa. I've posted before on a Christian forum that Benny Hinn is most likely demon possessed, and I'm not backing down from that assessment. When we're dealing with false prophets, there are demonic spirits involved definitely (1 John 4:1-6). Jeremy | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 56 Registered: 11-2004 |
I agree that Benny Hinn's theology is off and he says some strange things sometimes. What about Benny Hinn makes you believe he is demon possessed? Is there anything supernatural that you would consider is from God? 1 John 4:1-6 talks about false prophets and that we can know the Spirit of God. It says every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has become man and has come in the flesh is of God. Benny Hinn does do that and people have come to Jesus through his ministry. | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1905 Registered: 3-2005 |
U2bsda wrote: "There are many groups who would claim that Calvinism was unbiblical too. Stan, you probably think I'm "off my rocker" because I am of the Charismatic vein, but I do base my beliefs on the Bible." U2, We are not discussing Calvinism vs. Arminianism, as there are many sincere Christians in both groups. We are though discussing a ministry that is considered even by Pentecostal standards (such as the Assembly of God) to be heretical. There are not three gods, infact Benny Hinn said there were nine gods at one time, before someone pointed out to him how ridiculous this was. And for Benny Hinn to say that Jesus will come visit him personally in the flesh, before Christ's literal second coming is absurd. We have to be careful about how that 1 John text is applied. It has to be in the context of everything else the Bible has to say about false Christs and false teachers. Otherwise, the Pope would be considered to be of God. And we know that the pope is an anti-christ. Even Ellen White believed that Jesus came in the flesh, but that doesn't make her a true prophet. Deuteronomy 18 is the absolute proof that Ellen White, Benny Hinn, the Kansas City prophets, Kim Clement etc, etc. are all false prophets. There is absolute proof that all these folks have made false prophecies, and they are not of God. So, this is not a Calvinism vs Arminianism debate. We may just have to agree to disagree on this one. Stan | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1408 Registered: 10-2004 |
U2, Benny Hinn does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. He teaches a Gnostic view of Jesus, which is exactly what the Apostle John was warning about in 1 John 4. Hinn also teaches a false view of the Trinity, and therefore a false Jesus. (Interestingly, EGW also taught similar things on both points.) See this link that I posted last night for some of this information about Hinn: http://www.modernreformation.org/krhinn.htm I just noticed that that link even discusses 1 John 4, and how Hinn fails that test. Jeremy (Message edited by Jeremy on July 16, 2006) | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 57 Registered: 11-2004 |
Stan, Yes, we will have to agree to disagree on this one. While I agree that Benny Hinn has made false prophecies I don't necessarily believe a false prophecy means a person is demon possessed or not of God. Prophecies from God do come to pass. Prophecies from men do not. I just think Christians need to be careful when calling another Christian demon-possessed or of the devil even if their theology is whacky. | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 58 Registered: 11-2004 |
Jeremy, Please point out where in that article that Benny Hinn says that Jesus did not come in the flesh. I didn't see it. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4330 Registered: 12-2003 |
U2óI want to clarify something. God absolutely produces supernatural miracles. All the gifts of the Spirit including healings are from Him. These gifts are continuing gifts which God grants to the church. Not evereyone has every gift, nor does every congregation have every gift. But God knows what the body needs, and He provides it. Absolutely. I don't believe the issue is Benny Hinn's miracles. God can heal people if they come to Him with faith. Jesus often told the people He healed that their faith had made them whole. God doesn't necessarily need an honest person to facilitate miracles from Him. I can't vouch for any of Hinn's miracles, but it wouldn't surprise me if some of those he has touched were really healedóbut not because of Hinn. Those who might have been healed at one of Hinn's services would have been healed because they asked God for healing and submitted themselves to Him, accepting His gift with praise to Him. If people come to Hinn in good faith, sincerely worshiping and seeking God, He Himself can meet them. The problem with Hinn is that he has verifiable practices and claims and beliefs that are unbiblical. Once a person becomes aware of his or anyone else's false practices and teachings, they compromise themselves by rationalizing away the problems and trying to retain what they like. It's like rationalizing Ellen and trying to hold onto what we like in Adventism. Ulitmately such rationaliztion results in spiritual atrophy because we are not choosing to know truth and to grow in submission to God's will. And yesóGod absolutely does miracles. Keep asking God to show you the truth He wants you to know and to give your heart the willingness to accept whatever His gifts are to you with thanksgiving and joy. Colleen | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1409 Registered: 10-2004 |
U2, Here is part of it:
There are two issues here. One, Hinn teaches that Christ is not God, but one of three gods. Second, he teaches that the man Jesus was only a spirit-filled man, not God in the flesh (and that we can become just as "divine" as "Jesus"). This is very similar to what the Gnostics taught, that Jesus was only a man who had the "Christ spirit" come upon Him. That is why John says what he does in 1 John 4. These anti-christian teachings are the same things that are taught by other false prophets such as Joseph Smith and Ellen White. Therefore, I must conclude that they come from the same source. Jeremy | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 59 Registered: 11-2004 |
Colleen, Yes, I realize things Benny Hinn says are unbiblical, but I do not believe unbiblical teachings equal "of the devil" or "demonic". The topic of being "slain in the spirit" was how this discussion started and I know circumstances of people being "slain in the spirit" where the Christians were grounded in the Word of God. When people are "slain in the spirit" it is typically at time where the person communes with God or has physical/emotional healing. Colleen, do you feel like I am rationalizing away the problems of Benny Hinn? I have a different perspective. I do not follow after Benny Hinn. I've seen his show in the past and saw him teaching in person once and read a biography about him. It was obvious that his teachings were off so I don't heed any of his teachings at all. However, I do believe God uses him to change people's lives. I don't believe that a person needs to be theologically correct or sound to be used by God. Christians thoughout history (Catholics too) have had various viewpoints/teachings and have been used by God. I do believe there were some good points in EGW's writings and good beliefs within the SDA church. I'm sure that God is able to use the SDA church to reach people that no other denomination could. Also, I'm sure that God is able to use Benny Hinn to reach people that no denomination could. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4335 Registered: 12-2003 |
U2óI understand what you're saying, and I do agree that God does reach people initially, many times, even through false systems. I understand that you're not following after Benny Hinn. God is GodóHe's way bigger than any system of theology or specific teaching. He knows what we need in order to believe in Him. Colleen | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 182 Registered: 10-2002  |
U2bsda & others--- I thought I'd jump in and link something I wrote earlier which touches on this. Using the Deuteronomy passage is a bit problematic, because the focus turns to someone's prophecy instead of the Gospel. The Gospel is the criteria that interprets prophecy, not the point-by-point accuracy of the prophecy. There are a few reasons for this: #1 - The spirit (essence) of prophecy is to testify about Jesus. The gift is given to point you to Him. #2 - Many Biblical prophecies were not understood until long after the prophet died. People could have easily pointed to these and claimed the prophet was a "false" prophet. There are other factors besides accuracy which will tell us if something is from God or not. #3 - If we approach evaluating a prophecy by its point-by-point accuracy, I think we would not believe the prophecy even if it meets our criteria of accuracy. In other words, even if it's totally correct, we would not mentally assent to it being from God. It is very rare to arrive at "belief" when approaching from the position of "unbelief". #4 - If we take this approach, we're approaching God through another person as an intercessor. What we need to be doing is praying to God and letting God Himself tell us the truth about a prophecy. Again, should the prophet's words turn out to be "accurate", what choice would that leave us with? We would either find a reason to disbelieve, or if we did believe, we would line up behind the prophet in the same way we used to line up behind Ellen White. We would look to the prophet the same way Israel looked to Moses---"Moses, what is the Lord saying to us?" We must recognize that prophecy in the era of the New Covenant is different than prophecy in the era of the Old Covenant. Now the Lord has put His Spirit in everyone, and this is the number one way He speaks to us. He certainly still gives prophecies, but these work in tandem with His Spirit inside of us---and in ways I can't fully explain, either. #5 - We forget to recognize the power of the flesh as a factor in producing a prophecy. We look at things as if it's either God or Satan, and in so doing we forget that the speaker is human just like us. Everything in our lives is not easily categorized as "from God" or "from Satan". The flesh is a force to be reckoned with in our own lives, and it is a force to be reckoned with in the life of a prophet as well. Many modern prophets are prophesying in the flesh. I would venture to guess that there is not as much demonic prophesy as there is flesh prophecy. There is also a lot of God-prophecy, but I don't think it's highly recognized in the Body. ***** We are very quick to throw stones at "false prophets". I used to be part of a church here in Osaka that was connected to Bill Hamon's CI network. While I don't recommend the CI networks way of prophesying (it relies on the flesh too much), at the same time, Hamon did get one thing right: many of us are fearful of getting in touch with the Holy Spirit's workings in us because we're afraid of being stoned as a false prophet. We're afraid to develop our hearing of the Spirit because of the rejection and pain we might experience from other Christians if get it wrong. Hamon set up some prophecy seminars & workshops where people could basically practice. Again, I don't recommend them, but at the same time the model is Biblical---there was "a school of the prophets" in the times of Samuel and Elijah. Today instead of helping people into the "school" of the Spirit, we put the fear of God into them about speaking in His name. This we do to guard ourselves (and others) from error, but at the same time we may also slam the door on the real Spirit speaking. | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1909 Registered: 3-2005 |
Jeremy, Thanks again for posting that article. As usual the White Horse Inn guys do a terrific job and that article is by a thorough scholar Kim Riddlebarger. (BTW--the Romans series the White Horse Inn www.whitehorseinn.org is doing right now is terrific). And Jeremy, I see the EXACT parallels of Hinn's false theology with Ellen White. Here is an example: "According to Hinn, Jesus is not unique as to his divine nature as the eternal Son of God, who takes upon himself a true human nature. Jesus is merely the pattern for all believers who come after him, who can now partake of the same divine nature as Jesus did by virtue of the power of the Holy Spirit. What is perhaps the most troubling aspect about this is that Hinn claims that the source of his teaching and views on the subject came to him through revelation knowledge. In other words, Hinn claims that God himself revealed the little gods doctrine to him. In a tape series entitled, Our Position in Christ, Hinn declares, "Now are you ready for some real revelation knowledge? Watch this! He laid aside his divine form....Why? So one day I would be clothed with the divine form."20 Are we really to believe that God would reveal to Benny Hinn that Jesus would lay aside the divine form and thereby cease to be God? And do we really believe that we become a "god" by taking on the divine form ourselves that Jesus kenotically set aside?". That theology is POISON. In other words, Jesus becomes our example. We can become "little gods" and Hinn got this through special revelation. If we don't call this kind of theology false, then we have no business denouncing Ellen White, and Adventism. We as former SDAs need to guard our hearts from all the deceptions out there. I will admit, that but by God's grace, I am vulnerable to deception. Ramone and U2 I appreciate in so many ways your heart for God, and I believe you know Christ. But it seems like you are willing to accept just about any wind of doctrine as truth. I see dangerous trends stated above in your posts. With regard to prophecy, Ramone, did you read that article linked here?: http://www.letusreason.org/Latrain23.htm Ramone wrote: "We are very quick to throw stones at "false prophets". I used to be part of a church here in Osaka that was connected to Bill Hamon's CI network. While I don't recommend the CI networks way of prophesying (it relies on the flesh too much), at the same time, Hamon did get one thing right: many of us are fearful of getting in touch with the Holy Spirit's workings in us because we're afraid of being stoned as a false prophet. We're afraid to develop our hearing of the Spirit because of the rejection and pain we might experience from other Christians if get it wrong." The Biblical canon is complete. Hebrews 1:1-3 is so clear: 1"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,..." What more revelation could God give us? What more is there to say? We have the entire inerrant Bible given to us to read and study. If we spent more time studying God's Word, we would not be looking at so-called "prophecies" or other men's interpretations. God has given us His Son as an exact representation of God. Why do we even need prophecying that has been proven over and over again to be false? I think of that song by the "Who" called "We won't get fooled again"--great song, but it should be our motto as former SDAs. If we just stick to the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to guide, then we son't get fooled again. Stan |
