The world of Benny Hinn is a strange and mystical world. He fits perfectly into the category of a Charismatic Catholic priest, dispensing theological bondage and unbiblical superstition. A noted ministry described a past Benny Hinn three (3) hour video which presented him “as a ‘twentieth century’ ‘Holy of Holies’, a ‘point of contact’ for the power and anointing of God, much as Roman Catholic priests were presented during medieval times.” (The Confusing World of Benny Hinn, p. 79.) They also suggested that he is becoming a kind of “Charismatic Pope.”
There are a host of problems in the Benny Hinn world, but nothing is more dangerous than his Catholic style and theology. Kathryn Kuhlman was clearly the first public Charismatic to merge Catholic ideas and support with her Charismatic operation. Benny Hinn considers himself a benefactor and model of the Kuhlman mystic. Oral Roberts said on the three hour Hinn video, “I saw Kathryn Kuhlman as unparalleled”, implying that Hinn is greater than Kuhlman. Roberts then spoke of himself as having God’s power … in his right hand, but said of Hinn, his anointing “fills the building … a greater level has come.”
Benny Hinn And Catholic Confusion: There is not an organization on the face of this earth that is more thoroughly demonic than Catholicism. It is riddled with heathen teachings and doctrines of devils. Yet, Hinn proudly stated, “My upbringing, of course, was Catholic in that I attended the Catholic school in Jaffa, Israel. And so my mentality basically is a Catholic mentality. When I was born again, I was Catholic in my ways. I was very Catholic in my ideas, in my behavior.” (Christianity Today, Sept. 3, 1991.) Indeed, the mysticism that accompanies Hinn’s ministry, and according to his own words, has done so since the first time he spoke publicly is in the very style of a medieval mystic.
Benny Hinn personally told two reporters from the Toronto Globe And Mail about his first speaking engagement. This supposedly occurred on December 7, 1974, at the Trinity Pentecostal Church in Oshawa. His words were, “I held up my hands to pray and the 100 people present fell on the floor. That’s when I became aware of my tremendous power.” These kinds of phenomenon happen frequently in mystical religions, occultic ceremonies and with religious gurus, but are absolutely absent in Holy Scripture. The only time in the Bible that a person fell on the floor was when God Himself was manifested or an angel appeared to that individual.
To even consider a person having power to knock people on the floor flies in the face of reason and Biblical order. Why would God give a man or woman power to slay people? If He is going to manifest such a demonstration of His presence in His prophets or prophetesses, He is going to do something of meaning, not nonsense. It would disturb my soul for God to use me to slay people by the thousands and then heal them by the handfuls. If it is really God, and He cares about mankind, why would He not heal thousands and slay the handfuls? The God of Holy Scripture does not do foolish and meaningless things. That is Satan’s style, not the Heavenly Fathers.
Benny Hinn And The Catholic Mass: The Mass as celebrated in Catholic churches is a blasphemous event. Nothing moved the reformers to resist the Pope and the doctrines of Catholicism more than this false teaching. The Mass proposes the constant death of Jesus Christ over and over, plus it is a fetish practice that reduces a Believer to a God-eating cannibal. The whole idea is sub-human and represents a religious descent into gory superstition. No wonder the doctrines of Mary were necessary to aid the constant dying Redeemer as His co-redemptrix. If the body and blood of Jesus must be offered by Him as a constant death, then His resurrection is reduced to a helpless idea and the ascended Mary becomes the bridge to their unsure future. Even purgatory is needed because of the weakened Messiah who is still being baptized in His daily death. It’s a confusing and unbiblical picture.
Apparently, Benny Hinn loves this confusion. Let me quote an experience that he recently told on the Paul Crouch (TBN) television show. He shared an experience which should raise a red flag in minds of all thinking Christians. In the course of describing a Catholic communion service in Armarillo in which he took part, he stated that “he suddenly felt numb, then felt someone step in front of him. The sensation became so real that he then reached out and touched a robe which had: ‘…a silky feeling, a beautiful softness to the robe. …’ The next thing I was feeling was actually the form of a body, the shape of a body. And my body…went totally numb. …And God really gave me a revelation that night, that when we partake of communion, it’s not just communion, Paul” [Speaking to Paul Crouch onTBN]. Hinn further stated, “We are partaking Christ Jesus Himself. He did not say, “Take, eat, this represents my body.” He said, “This is my body, broken for you…” When you partake communion, you’re partaking Christ, and that heals your body. When you partake Jesus how can you stay weak?…sick? …And so tonight, as we partake communion, we’re not partaking bread. We’re partaking what He said we would be partaking of: ‘This is my body’.” (The Confusing World Of Benny Hinn, pp. 132-133, quoting from the Praise The Lord Show, Trinity Broadcasting Network)
Benny Hinn is clearly a Catholic mystic invading Charismatic and Evangelical churches with doctrines of demons. The work of the cross is a finished work. The true faith of Bible believers does not and cannot survive mystical religious experiences. “The just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11) Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians of this danger. He called it being “Bewitched,” deceived by the spirit of witchcraft, when we try to aid our faith with the Catholic Mass and unbiblical ritualism.
The Holy Ghost said, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain” (Galatians 3:1-4).
A Believer of The Infallible Bible must reject Benny Hinn as a heretic. Most heretics are just heretics and can do little damage, but Hinn is a world wide phenomenon. His display of mystical powers and entertaining techniques make him a draw for anyone that has an inclination for emotional hype. Saints saturated with the Bible and possessing Spiritual descernment will keep a clear distance from such End Time deception.
Joseph Chambers