The Purpose Driven Life of Benny Hinn

In a recent report on the BBC, we read that "In late April, scores of giant billboards and thousands of wall posters all over Lagos proclaimed the first of three days of divine miracles and healing for at least six million Nigerians." Who was on these publicity pieces - none other than American evangelist extraordinaire - Benny Hinn.

The article goes on to say that Hinn flew into Nigeria in his very own Gulfstream private jet with a large group of people that included his bodyguards. He was welcomed at the airport in a motorcade of Hummer jeeps and other expensive cars.

The advertisements claimed that "the deaf would hear, the blind would see, the lame would jump and walk, barren women would conceive, the jobless would gain employment, and the enemy - both seen and unseen - would be vanquished. Mention any problem - physical, spiritual, economic - Hinn had come with the instant solution."

But things did not go as planned.

Nigeria is the cradle of gigantic crusades. It is estimated that over one million worshippers attend the monthly Holy Ghost Congress service organised by The Redeemed Christian Church God (RCCG) at the same venue. Hinn was promised that SIX MILLION people would attend the three day event but in the end, only one million showed up. ONLY one million.

On the last evening, Hinn's frustration finally overflowed and he shouted in to the microphone to the crowd, "Four million dollars down the drain."

I think we've just discovered Hinn's purpose in ministry. He must have counted in his head and realized that all the public address equipment he had flown in from the US was not needed. He also complained about some claimed expenditures, the charges imposed on pastors who attended his day-time seminar, and journalists who sought to cover the crusade. He then announced publicly that he would not provide any more funds, and that the local organisers should pay all outstanding bills from the collections they made on the first two days.

Perhaps we have heard the real heart of Benny Hinn. It doesn't seem to matter that over one million people showed up to listen to him "preach." Instead, it appears that Hinn's main objective was not to share the gospel of Christ with this people but to enlarge his own earthly kingdom at the expense of the poor of that country.

What a difference in the attitudes of Hinn compared to Billy Graham. Dr. Graham uses the last of his strength to speak to all who will come and shares a very simple but powerful message that those in the audience are lost in their sins and must turn to Christ as their only hope. By comparison, Hinn comes across as a modern-day Tetzel! I had better stop - I can feel myself getting angry as I type this.

May the Lord use this incident to bring this charlatan's "ministry" to a stop.