Benny Hinn Passes Grassley
January 8, 2011 18 Comments
Yes, the Grassley investigation has been completed and Benny Hinn comes out clean. Here’s part of a letter he sent to his followers:
January 8, 2011I just received the greatest news and can’t wait to share it with you!
On Thursday, January 6, 2011, the Senate Finance Committee’s inquiry was officially concluded and a revealing 61-page report was released to the press. The committee specifically singled out our ministry for being responsive and transparent, and they commended us for demonstrating a high degree of integrity.
You can imagine how excited I was to send you this note.
A “high degree of integrity.” This is good news! I’m sure we can expect verifiable reports of bona fide healings in the near future as well.
CrossWise 
Hmmmmm, how did he manage it? I have seen videos proving the opposite…..sigh!
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Hinn will not even be accountable to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA); so, I smell a rat.
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Hey, what else is new? Congress is just as bad in that regard as what they claim to be investigating. Just a big sham, and dog and pony show, in my book to make it seem like they are doing something worthwhile. If they are serious, they would be investigating themselves. And what are the odds of anything like that really happening? Probably zip. If we Chrisitians are going to depend upon them for redress to clean up the church when our own very pastors are afraid to speak up, what are we saying about ourselves?
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This is actually a victory for Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, etc. as they did not cooperate at all with the investigation and were left with no penalty for not doing so. And, since Hinn and the others who did cooperate were given a clean bill, this will further encourage those who will not come under scrutiny by the ECFA to continue to do same. It’ll be seen as even more unnecessary.
– “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
– Edmund Burke (quote may not be exact)
CORRECTION:
Silly me: I recently purchased The Westminster Collection of Christian Quotations compiled by Martin H. Manser and, therein is the actual quote. It reads:
“For evil to triumph, it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.”
– Copyright 2001 by Martin Manser, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY; p 97
[I should note that while this book claims to contain “Christian” quotations, some of the quotes are NOT from Christian sources. As but two quick examples: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (New Ager) and Henry Ford (Theosophist). Plus there are numerous philosophers and mystics.]
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mbaker,
You are so right. We end up with the proverbial egg on our faces in instances like these, or so it seems. There has been much from the secular side that questioned not only the “miracles” but of course his outrageously lavish life style that it leaves one dumbfounded that no indiscretions were found in the handling of finances; but as you have pointed out look who’s looking into these things. To be spiritually and morally corrupt, doesn’t necessarily translate to being legally corrupt according to the worlds standards; wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a solid base of pastoral leadership that would stand and lead in not only these situations but others as well? I know that there are some out there but so many pastor’s/leaders seem to get caught up in the ole boy network etc. and the sheep seem to follow blindly, happily oblivious. Always have to remind myself that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God…..
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After making some claims as to how ‘above board’ the Benny Hinn ministry is regarding finances:
http://www.bennyhinn.org/finances/articledesc.cfm?id=998
…comes this final statement:
“…And although the ministry’s Board of Directors believes that my total compensation is a private matter, it is well within what is considered prudent and reasonable.”
My questions are: Why must it be a “private matter?” And, what is “prudent and reasonable?” I would say it’s obvious he enjoys a standard of living WELL above the average.
If I had a public ministry from which I was paid a salary and other additional compensation, I would have no problem making this info available to all who inquired. AND, I would provide info to the ECFA in order to show everyone that I’m not taking advantage of anyone’s donations. But, I guess that’s just me…
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I agree that anyone who publically solicits donations should be willing absolutely honest about where and how these monies are used.
Certainly our local churches have many people in them nowadays who are desperately in need of financial help after losing their jobs and/or their homes. So why, I wonder, would anyone want to send money so Benny Hinn can buy another designer suit or to finance Copeland’s several private planes, along with the runway he built behind his church?
While certainly our pastors should be adequately compensated, these are such glaring excesses, i cannot imagine God approving of such things, which as Craig pointed is taking advantage of other’s donations. While it may not be against the law, as Congress defines, it is certainly a black mark on the church.
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The integrity of a charlatan! Could there be a reason why we are warned to not become involved with worldly ways? These ministries want their tax write-offs and benefits from the government and so are subject to government rule and investigation. Are we to believe the government is any more honest than those who lie to people so that they can live like kings? The government may have some good points but they are far from biblical standards. This is just more proof they are not trustworthy.
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I would say likely that the integrity of the investigators is matched by the integrity of Hinn.
Money buys power. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Benny Hinn absolutely has money…
Senate Finance Committee Investigation
http://www.trinityfi.org/investigations/grassley_main.html
For three years, Trinity Foundation has been working with the Senate Finance Committee in their investigation of religious non-profit organizations. On Jan. 6 the committee issued its final report, with no penalties for the pastors who refused to cooperate and no definitive findings of wrongdoing .
Ole Anthony, president of Trinity Foundation, told Sarah Posner of Religion Dispatches he is “disappointed” with Sen. Charles Grassley’s recommendation that the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountabilty form a commission to study the issues raised by the probe. The ECFA, he said, has no “teeth” to compel the televangelists into greater accountability and transparency.
Grassley’s staff reported they found instances of fear and intimidation by some of the ministries toward members of their own staffs who wanted to talk to the investigators.
–Insiders in Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas, said they were intimidated from speaking with committee staff, with one former employee saying they were told “God will blight our finances” if they talked.
–Georgia pastor Creflo Dollar’s ministry was called the “least cooperative,” with staffers unable to determine the names of board members.
–The majority of questions asked by Grassley staffers of Bishop Eddie Long’s megachurch in Lithonia, Ga., remained unanswered, including the amount of his salary.
–Several former staffers at Paula White’s megachurch in Tampa, Fla., wanted to speak with staffers but “were afraid of being sued by the church,” and at least one was reminded by a church lawyer of a previously signed confidentiality agreement.
No ethics, no accountability.
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I would say likely that the integrity of the investigators is matched by the integrity of Hinn.
YES!
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Poor Benny needs your $$$$$$$$$:
At this moment, our ministry is facing an alarming challenge!
Here’s why: I’m sure you’ve heard the great news that Senator Grassley has cleared my name and announced that he found no wrongdoing in our ministry.
After three and a half years of investigation, our ministry has been given a clean bill of health!
However, as a result of that three-year investigation, we’ve spent millions of dollars to defend our name and innocence and to protect the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
At the same time, we’ve lost millions in revenue, as some partners walked away, believing there was something financially wrong with our ministry.
Now that the investigation is over and the news media has even been praising me for a job well done, our ministry is facing great financial danger.
Due to the expense and losses we experienced during the investigation process, we’ve been forced to cut back on essential ministry outreaches.
And now we will not be able to go on unless we recover our losses and restore the outreaches this ministry must have in place to preach the Gospel to the world.
This is what is known as SPIN.
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TBN has been hosting one of their fundraisers this week. I just turned on the TV and there was Benny Hinn coaxing viewers to give yet again. I may not have this verbatim; but, essentially, I heard him say:
Give so that God will cancel ALL your debts. He did it for me. He can surely do it for you.
How does that square with his plea for money above?:
…And now we will not be able to go on unless we recover our losses and restore the outreaches this ministry must have in place to preach the Gospel to the world.
Or does this mean that ol’ Benny was able to “cancel all his debts” from the $$$$$$$$ given by his gullible followers in response to his request above (1/19/11 quote)?
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I would think that maybe the solution to a large part of Benny’s supposed (ha) lack of funds would be for him to cut back on his well known lavish lifesyle! If he didn’t expect to live like some kind of royalty he might be able to use all of that money to accomplish a lot. But of course, he is a King’s Kid and as such is entitled, right??!!?? Me thinks the truly “anointed ones” such as Peter and Paul of old would be completely appalled at his lifestyle.
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Hopefully the drop in donations wasn’t just caused by folks just being suspicious because of Grassley’s investigation, but because they are beginning to recognize what Hinn calls ‘cutting back on essential ministry outreaches’ means he might have to sell one or more of his purported 12 luxury mansions around the world, and maybe fly on commercial airlines instead of his luxury privately owned jet .
Oh, and let’s not forget the designer suits and shoes that are must haves to convince folks in the poor reaches of Africa that the ‘prosperity’ gospel actually works for anyone, but those who started that Ponzi scheme in the first place.
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Yes, it would be nice if Hinn were to actually liquidate his ‘many mansions’ and give the proceeds to the poor.
But, from Hinn’s perspective, I’m sure he realizes that with the state of the world economy his assets have shrunk in current value; so, he won’t be able to maximize profits on these sales.
I’ve got my violin.
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“But, from Hinn’s perspective, I’m sure he realizes that with the state of the world economy his assets have shrunk in current value; so, he won’t be able to maximize profits on these sales.
I’ve got my violin.”
LOL. Me too.
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And some cheese to go with that WHINE!
Even if no one sent him a penny he would still do what he does. He’s not going anywhere!
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Craig: Pull up the entire read 9/19-20/2004 Los Angeles Times Article by William Lobdell exposing Benny Hinn and TBN, what own, worth what they could find, exposing fundraising tactics (TBN 60 Homes maybe more)? Also, contact Pete Evans at Trinity Foundation in Dallas TX, they’ve been going after Benny Hinn for Years, they have DVD’s on major corrupt names (they’ve been going after Pat Robertson, Paul Crouch, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Billy Graham etc). Excellent group “Onward Christian Soldier” by William Lobdell. They want accountability hardcore and been exposing. Google: “How Benny Hinn became Our Wacky Neighbor by John Bloom”, excellent write.
Also, David Wegner’s DVD “exposing false prophet” is on Benny Hinn and he still has a following (sent order form to major big name leaders to order like David Wilkerson, Dr. Dobson, a lot of men in Christendom) because drugs we’re going on in the Board Room and shows who was participating-shocking mockery.
Trinity Foundation archives every preacher daily and what they say, so if 60 minutes, 20/20, Dateline wants accountability they can order the preaching and hold them accountable for lying (Dateline was going after Hinn and TBN for awhile). Was in Dallas, TX when some reporter exposing Kenneth Cope land on news what owned, worth etc.
David Wilkerson, posted Benny Hinn cursing anyone who comes against his ministry. It was on world challenge website. Just Google: Paul Crouch damning anyone to hell who comes against his ministry=on video (this evil dude was teaching his staff to pray for people to die, they were taking pride that 4 of five lawyers died of cancer that came up against their ministry); they stole a manuscript and made into a movie that made the Los Angeles Times believe Sylvia Fleener. Know, because took it ALL public to major church leadership at the time to deal with and a man told me these two men had PR groups cleaning up and removing bad press and threatening Dateline and Los Angeles Times with lawsuits.
A lot is written in the book “Losing My Religion by William Lobdell who was also getting major death threats” and he exposed the truth and people don’t want to see and or know truth. George Barna wrote it in his book about church like the frog in boiling water he was exposing also. Note: it’s their or his ministry, God has NO hand in it; God doesn’t get a dime but the prostituting and the whoring of his name (been at it for years exposing also). Spent some time with Trinity Foundation Group; they are doing what Art Katz writes about in “True Fellowship”=total accountability; and living the Gospel (was a total wonderful time to be around TRUTH).
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