Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Pam Spaulding reports on Benny Hinn's latest scam, a brand new Gulfstream G4SP jet that he, of course, says will allow him to take the gospel of Christ all over the world. Given that he already holds revivals all over the world, that claim is more than a little farfetched. You can see the letter he sent to his followers begging for help. He needs 6000 of them to each pony up a grand each to cover the down payment. Yes, that's $6 million; the total cost of the plane is over $30 million. Here's the first paragraph:
I am writing you, as one of mymost credulous and sheeplike followersclosest and most faithful partners, to let you know about areally great scam to make my life even more luxurious at your expensetremendous and historic opportunity for the Gospel of our wonderful Lord Jesus, and I am praying thatyou'll hear voices telling you to send even more money to a man who has gotten filthy rich at your expensethe Holy Spirit will speak to you as I share this glorious news!
As Rick Overton said many years ago, televangelists are the pro wrestlers of religion.
Comments
But, but... these people are "sowing a seed" that God will repay to them, duh! David Cerullo said so. These people wouldn't lie to us, would they?
Posted by: Will | December 6, 2006 10:11 AM
I would like to see more detail on this vital topic:
WWF Smackdown - Duelling Tellevangelists.
"This Time It's For All Eternity - And YOUR Immortal Soul!
Pat Robertson, leg-pressing maniac vs. Benny Himm, Global Crusader For Christ!
Sinners, send all your money now, and you WILL be forgiven.
Yes! Even you Ted Haggard! YES! Even you Mark Foley!
Call 1-800-463-7226. That's 1-800-GOD-SCAM! Call NOW!
Posted by: J-Dog | December 6, 2006 10:47 AM
Oh, come on! Don't crucify the man just because he craves a little luxury in his old age. Benny Hinn has strived tirelessly for decades to cultivate a cadre of loyal constituents of which he can ask for a little something once in a long while.
You try pretending to heal hundreds of people, night after night, in front of thousands of people all over the world. And just think of the colossal laundry bill for all those white suits he has to wear. And the air travel. First class isn't what it's cracked up to be. Did you know that you have to endure up to seven courses during a meal on those flights -- and you try eating them all with a plastic knife. It's enough to make one shudder.
No, give the man a break. After all, his donors would only throw their money away on some other unworthy cause, like funding a month's supply of food for a refugee camp in Darfur. Just think, with his new jet, Hinn could fly out there himself and heal everyone's malnutrition in one day!
Posted by: tacitus | December 6, 2006 11:24 AM
That's kind of an insult to pro wrestlers. Even they admit that their matches are staged now.
Posted by: Rob H. | December 6, 2006 12:13 PM
I think whoever does not believe in God should leave the people of God ALONE. I believe Benny Hinn is a man of God. Just the comments made, reveals that Ed Brayton is not a believer of God. The fact that he wrote for the Skeptic and The Panda's Thumb lets you know that. In Matt 15:18..."But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man".
We had better consider the source when we read and listen to opinions of men.
Posted by: Janice Strickland | December 6, 2006 12:42 PM
"I think whoever does not believe in God should leave the people of God ALONE."
If only they would consent to return the favor.
"the comments made, reveals that Ed Brayton is not a believer of God."
You're not exactly a regular here, are you?
Posted by: MJ Memphis | December 6, 2006 12:49 PM
Once the so-called "Men of God" start leaving the rest of us alone, you have a deal, Janice. Until then they're fair game. Hypocrisy, of course, is always fair game.
As for whether Benny Hinn is truly a Man of God, well, I highly doubt that. Trying to sell to gullible folks the idea that a ludicrously expensive personal luxury is needed to spread the good word is not what I'd consider the behavior expected of such a man.
Posted by: G Barnett | December 6, 2006 12:52 PM
Janice,
What if I, as a believer in Christ, agree wholeheartedly with Ed's judgement of Benny Hinn? What if I'm disgusted by the fact that with so many important works waiting to be done out there that only need a little funding to get off the ground (see tacitus' remark about Darfur refugee camps) he is contemplating purchasing a private jet? I mean, where on earth can you get by private jet that you can't get in a much less expensive fashion waiting a few hours and travelling first class (or even better economy, saving money for good causes).
Benny Hinn is not a man of God, he's a man with a heardened heart who preys on the hopes of the weak and the ill for his own personal gain. He's been doing it so long that the odds of him being able to become anything else are faint and fading.
Getting up on a high horse because you believe in God and Ed does not makes no sense. His arguments are still valid, whether he believes that Christ, Allah, Yaweh or his own big toe is God.
(side question, what happens if 999 people send him the money for the downpayment... it's obviously not the 1000 he asked for, so does he pocket the money and walk off whistling?)
Posted by: Kate | December 6, 2006 12:54 PM
Benny Hinn has a long history of being a fraud preying on the weak and credulous. Even Reverend Ike is less sleazy.
Posted by: mark | December 6, 2006 12:58 PM
Um Janice, the Bible was written by men so by your logic, it should be discounted and every lesson is circumspect. That conclusion contradicts the fundamentalist opinion that the Bible is true.
Posted by: James Taylor | December 6, 2006 1:10 PM
I have to second the comment that your remark is insulting to pro wrestlers. The performances they put on require who knows how many hours in the gym, unknown amounts of steroids, 150+ days a year away from home, and the very real threat of being severely injured every other night. Is pro wrestling "fake?" Only in the sense that ballet or the theatre is fake.
Posted by: Shawn Smith | December 6, 2006 1:17 PM
Janice-
You caught me. I'm not a believer in God. But that has nothing at all to do with whether Benny Hinn is a fraud. If I believed in 20 gods, that would make him no less a fraud.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | December 6, 2006 1:36 PM
Ok, I'm going to take this thread as a nice excuse to post some of my favorite Benny Hinn quotes gathered over the years. (No, I don't remember where I picked them up, so I can't guarantee their accuracy.) There are plenty of Christians who consider this man either an extremist or a heretic ... for good reason, I think:
"I'm sick and tired of hearing about streets of gold. I don't need gold in Heaven, I gotta have it now!" --Benny Hinn
"Let me say something else to you, and I really don't care if you like this or not! You have attacked me, your children will pay for it!" (Benny Hinn, televangelist)
"When I stand in Christ- I am one with Him; united to Him; one spirit with Him. I am not, hear me, I AM NOT PART OF HIM, I AM HIM! THE WORD HAS BECOME FLESH IN ME!. When my hand touches someone, it's the hand of Jesus touching somebody" (Benny Hinn)
"Here's what I see for TBN. You're going to have people raised from the dead watching this network. You're going to have people raised from the dead watching TBN... people around the world who will lose loved ones, will say to undertakers, "Not yet. I want to take my dead loved one and place him in front of that TV set for 24 hours..." (Benny Hinn)
"... the Scriptures declare clearly that (Adam) had dominion over the fowls of the air, the fish of the sea-which means he used to fly. Of course, how can he have dominion over the birds and not be able to do what they do? ... I'll prove it further. Adam not only flew,he flew to space. He was-with one thought he would be on the moon." (Benny Hinn)
"You need a holy ghost enema right up your rear end!" --Suzanne Hinn, wife of televangelist Benny
Posted by: Sastra | December 6, 2006 2:20 PM
Could you people please stop exporting your crazies? Britney Spears is bad enough.
Google search for "Benny Hinn", probably...
Posted by: Greco | December 6, 2006 2:57 PM
After the down payment comes the remaining USD26Million. Then there are probably the fit-out costs. But even this amount pales to insignificance compared to the operating costs over the lifetime of the plane.
Consider:
o Pilot's salary (either part-time or more often full-time).
o Co-Pilot's salary (same as above)
o Fuel
o Airport Taxes (such as berthing, parking etc)
o Insurance
o Maintenance
o the inevitable refit when he decides he wants gold bathroom fittings instead of just plain stainless steel
Posted by: Andrew | December 6, 2006 8:49 PM
You can buy 6000 JFK to Capetown forst class round trip tickets for $30 million ($10k each on Orbits). I'd love to see him justify this to any of his followers that have a brain.
Posted by: Sam Lewis | December 6, 2006 9:47 PM
I think that comparison is a little unfair to pro wrestlers. I mean, at least they put on a good show.
Posted by: Evil Bender | December 7, 2006 10:41 AM
Evil Bender (IIRC that's a redundancy, isn't it?):
More than that. Pro wrestling is probably rather more demanding than your average acting gig -- I mean, even actors who do their own stunts don't try to intentionally make themselves bleed.
Benny Hinn is a jackass, as are most of the ones that preach a prosperity gospel. Ah, the eternal appeal of Something For Nothing...
Posted by: Brian X | December 7, 2006 12:24 PM
"You can buy 6000 JFK to Capetown forst class round trip tickets for $30 million ($10k each on Orbits). I'd love to see him justify this to any of his followers that have a brain."
The fact that they watch his bullshit and believe it already proves they don't have a brain.
Posted by: Soup | December 9, 2006 9:06 AM
Wow! What some of us ministries that work with the homeless and other so called social outcasts could do with just the cost of one first class ticket. What our ministry could do with just a couple of thousand dollars.
In Ghana right now there are thousands of Christian and yes non-Christian liberian refugees that could totally rebuild their lives with a tiny, tiny fraction of just the down payment for this jet. I pray that not a single soul will give a dime for this jet and that the Lord will speak to these people to give their money to the homeless shelters - even the thousands here in our own country.
My heart breaks and is even made ill when I see this kind of abuse in the name of Jesus. I AM a follower of Jesus Christ and am very often angered and made ashamed by people around the world who claim to do this or that in His name. I saw a bumber sticker once that read:
"Lord, save me from your followers."
I can see why so many non-Christians frown at and are made ill when they think of the church today. If Jesus were here I think that he would turn over the product tables at some of these tele-evengelist's events.
In my opinion, a TRUE man of God would take economy and spend every dime he could on taking care of as many hungry children as possible. THAT is what Jesus would do.
Just my little non-important opninion.
Posted by: Smith Family | December 13, 2006 8:52 AM
I grew up in a holy rolling home. I watched mom send money to Jim Baker. I have even sent money to some of these morons. My best buddy worked a Benny Hinn Caper in Florida. He was told to hand out crutches and wheel chairs to those waiting to go on stage. Janice might want to peek back stage at the next Henny Binn-Fest. I am so glad I have seen the light. You know it's ironic how ALL the really religeous people I know are mentally weak, broke and they ALL are Circling The Drain. Benny is the only really super-rich jesus-pimp I know of and he is not even a real christian, just some little taliban with charisma.
Posted by: Tizzle Schmizzle | December 19, 2006 1:23 PM
My buddy worked a Henny Binn Caper in Florida this year. He was instructed to hand out crutches and wheel chairs to those mouth breathers awaiting thier miracle.
Except for Ben, All the really religeous people I know are mentally weak, broke and circling the drain ? I need to be quite or Benny will cut me off of his payroll ( I wash that little Taliban's Lamborghini )
Posted by: tizzle schmizzle | December 19, 2006 1:35 PM
No one's prefect that why God's grace is available to us. Alot of great men in the bible fell at some point in their lives by satan's hand, Saul, David, Solomon etc and God alone had the right to judge and deal with them. God's children can only pray for these men of God asking God to guide and keep them in his will and free from evil paths in Jesus's name.
I dont think Benny Hinn will be the last man of God to fall in the eyes of man and/or God, the devil's going to be working till Jesus comes.
God bless you all
Posted by: Adelaide | February 7, 2007 9:46 PM
"I dont think Benny Hinn will be the last man of God to fall in the eyes of man and/or God, the devil's going to be working till Jesus comes."
I'll admit it, i've been to his meeting last November and found the praise quite good but reading up on him recently has left me in absolutely no doubt of his dubious ministry.
I don't believe he was ever a man that was risen in the first place so how could there be a fall. In 1989 he 'prophesied' castro would die in the 90's and lo behold it never happened. If a prophet says something that does not come to past then you should open your eyes to this dreadful mistake.
Posted by: John Henry | February 9, 2007 8:56 AM
Behhy is BIG SCAMMER! Hi is NOT TRULY RELIGION!!!!Open your eyes!!!Every rich person thinking about MONEY> Mat.19:23,24 : :" Than said Jesus unto his disciples, Verity Isay unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God". For Benny freligion is MONEY. He is REligion MOMEYMAKER!!!
Posted by: Itala | May 25, 2008 3:07 PM
Benny is a BIG SCAMMER! Hi is NOT TRULY RELIGION!!!!Open your eyes!!!Every rich person thinking about MONEY> Mat.19:23,24 : :" Than said Jesus unto his disciples, Verity Isay unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven." And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God". For Benny religion is MONEY. He is Religion MONEYMAKER!!!
Posted by: Itala | May 25, 2008 3:09 PM
Benny is BIG SCAMMER!! People open your eyes!!!
Hi is RELIGION MOMEYMAKER!!!Every rich thinking about money ONLY!!.Religion amd money it is two different ways!
Mat.20:23,24: "Than said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you,That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven". "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go throught the eye of a needle,than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." Reeadin Bible!!!!An thinking at God's words!
Posted by: Itala | May 25, 2008 3:18 PM
Benny Hinn..on wether He is of Christ or not..will soon be tested for Eternal Judgment..for If is of God..the desire would be different for the Biblical Preachers were instructed even not to carry money or provission when the True Son of God commissioned them to Preach the True Gospel of Salvation..not teh Unruly losing of Consciousness.Jeus said that in the Judgment Day,many will reasoned out that they have Preached,exorcised Demons,done good BUT They will be Rejected like chaffs They will be disowned by God-Christ.I have doubts on the likes of Benny,Copeland,Cerullo etc.. read Matthew 24-25 two chapters in All
Posted by: Felix Englis Adlawan Jr.. | November 24, 2009 10:00 PM
Why should rejoice when others are in problems - Benny Hinn needs encouragement from friends and partners he is human being like you and me needing love and care. People who think and feel for others should not tease our brother - condemn not in order for you not to be condemned
Posted by: Mutale Nkonde | February 25, 2010 5:33 AM
Tiger Wood was at one time a celebrated hero for his skills in Golf but from the time it was reported that he had issues in marriage not even one good word has the man received from the media. Guys call a spade a spade but be careful what you say about others when it will be your turn you will receive the same measure that you gave. Let us help mend up broken lives we do justice to them rather than what we are doing our own heroes today. Stop think before you write any thing about any one
Posted by: Mutale Nkonde | February 25, 2010 5:41 AM
He doesn't need encouragement in his current course of action; he needs to be stopped. He's bilking gullible people for his own gain, and in case you weren't aware, that's wrong.
Except that I am not a con artist.
I fully expect to be held accountable for my actions. That's a terrible argument as to why we should not hold Benny Hinn accountable for his.
Hinn is not a hero. He is a con artist.
Unless of course you're an aspiring con artist, in which case I can see how you would consider him a personal hero.
In the form of a Gulfstream jet?
Posted by: DaveL | February 25, 2010 6:42 AM
God Bless You all in jesus christ Holy Name.
Posted by: balaji naidu | May 11, 2010 6:03 AM
Yes , it is true beeny hinn, and his God meracles showing they have true, but preaching the Gospel Benny want's money so he is asking us becasue who could give him money only people like us (Belivers)
Posted by: balaji naidu | May 11, 2010 6:06 AM
If I recall correctly, the guy who held god's cash when Jesus was alive was called Judas Iscariot.
The more things change... ;) - Dingo
Posted by: DingoJack | May 11, 2010 7:16 AM