DaJudge wrote:scooter wrote:3. Who is to say that the lavish spending isn't coming from the proceeds of best selling books. If I write a book having to do with God should the goverment tell me how to spend the proceeds??
We just basically run to the little old widow card and assume offerings are what funds the jet fuel.
I don't know that there are enough widows giving to do that.
Here's how Benny makes his Money (from the Ministrywatch.com website)
Fundraising material is one item that BHM is quick to produce and send in mass. It produces lengthy fundraising appeals that are generally emotionally charged.
Fundraising speeches are also prominent in the healing crusades. For many people, the healing crusade becomes an all day event, with the televised portion lasting up to three hours. Because of the lengthy performance, multiple offerings are easily taken for the same event. Cash offerings are sometimes followed-up with credit card offering envelopes. While the offering baskets are going around, emotionally led music is performed, with Hinn sometimes admonishing his audience to repeat phrases like, “This is my day to be healed,” and then talking of sowing and reaping in financial and health areas. Sometimes the offerings have a flare and feel of a healing lottery ticket. Here are a few quotes:
* “As you sow your seed, miracles will happen as you do it!”
(Benny Hinn, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, April 1, 2004)
* “The Lord is speaking to eight men to sow a $1,000,000 each. If you will obey, one of you who lost millions, if you sow that seed God will restore everything that you lost...Obey God and win! I am speaking under the anointing. What God is asking for is a little to what he is going to give you.”
(Benny Hinn, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, April 1, 2004)
* “The more you give the more protection you will have for tomorrow...God will spare you if you sow today.”
(Benny Hinn, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, April 1, 2004)
* “Cause it doesn’t take brains to figure the thing out, you give to get!”
(Benny Hinn, This Is Your Day, October 28, 1999)
* “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)
* “God multiplies the seed you sow, the supernatural power of God hits after you sow, not before, after.”
(Benny Hinn, This Is Your Day, August 19, 1996)
In addition, there is much talk about sacrifice at times of giving. However, such an appeal overlooks a balanced biblical perspective, as evidenced with the biblical admonition “To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord rather than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3).
Many of the collections of money also seem to create hasty decisions by donors, again seeming to contradict scriptural precepts. From Proverbs we read, “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way” (Proverbs 19:2). And, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit, so surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).
http://ministrywatch.com/mw2.1/F_SumRpt ... =591245704
Let me start by saying that I do not defend that which is wrong ( to my understanding of what is right or wrong scripturally). Nor am I a self appointed spokesmen for any of what is termed WOF preachers or ministries.
But I do so tire of the constant bombardment of any ministry. I have been to many BH meetings over the years. I have had many very close friends work for the same ministry.
I have seen very few Fund Raising Events at the crusades. These are gewnerally held with the Partners meetings. People who of their own choice want to be a partner with the miistry.
The one large fund raising event I did see was when they received $50,000 for the Oklahoma Bombing. Half was given to a relief organization and the other half to the Salvation Army.
Envelopes with Credit Card Blanks......Many church do that now. My ministry sends out envelopes with a place for credit/debit card opportunities to give.
Every statement that is mentioned of statements made... I jhave heard many times over in local churches when talking about tithing. And I mean COGOP churches. Long before these minitries came to prominance.
As to the statements concerning Proverbs........these scriptures are being used to support the writers view.
How about Proverbs 20:30 " if you purge away evil, then strike hard enough to wound, for a severe beating scours even a sinner's inward parts ! "
Just think less than 100 years ago, keen floggers would quote such passages to justify whipping a man until his flesh hung from his bones in shredded ribbons. Parents would justify beating children while quoting this biblical text.
BH is not my most highly favored minister. I disagree with him in many areas. He as well as each of us , will be judged by the Word of The Lord.
Sometimes as a pastor tithes may just go right back in to the work of the church if needed. No matter the situation we all have a calling and it is a divine appiontment no matter what it is.