Letters to the Editor

Dear Ed

Re/. Benny Hinn April: I was saddened and disappointed that
you did nothing to defend the reputation of Benny Hinn. When I showed the letter
to Christian friends they were appalled. Had you taken the time to do a little
research you would have found that all that was written by the former occultist
was inaccurate and incorrect. Again, if you had done a little research you would
have found that Benny Hinn has a team of qualified medical doctors to check out
and verify the healings. You also speak of him asking for donations, well how
many TV Ministries do you know that can continue without money? Or for that
matter, how long could Omega Times keep going without subscriptions? Doreen
Woels

Dear Doreen

Thanks for your views re/. Benny Hinn. My purpose is not to
tow any party line in this matter! I know little about Benny other than reading
one of his books and hearing lots of views about him...my comments re/. money
was also very general and I stand by it. Years ago (before Benny developed an
international presence) I heard him speak a number of times and some of his
theology was questionable... The same could be said for many ministries! We are
not God, and at times make human judgements which are wrong -– leading to wrong
statements. If every critic of ministries would keep this in mind, their public
criticism columns would no doubt be a lot shorter. We are told to keep an eye
out for deception in the last days! The management of what we ''find, or feel,
or believe" is the question. The last few times I have seen Hinn speak, his
messages were sound, simple and encouraging. His style is very professional, his
image has been described as 'slick'. Neither of these characteristics is
ground to dismiss the man or his ministry... Neither should anybody who dislikes
the public profile of the man feel obligated to 'watch the show'. I do agree
Doreen, that one area we Christians could really improve is with regard to the
integrity of our claims -– backing statements with solid research...I have not
researched Hinn, because I'm not interested in spending hours reading people's
comments - based on what they read in someone else's book, misquoting and
requoting the misquotes...this is a hobby for some Christians who appear to
simply suffer from tall poppy syndrome. I am the son of an evangelist. My Dad
cops flak from some corners no matter what he does! He is loved and respected by
some and 'disliked' by others...this is life. May we learn to judge the
fruit of any ministry and put aside our biases. All of our efforts will be
tested by fire in a day to come and we'll see what's left... Ed.

Dear Editor

Very frequently it is that "silence is golden". Always we
know that our Father knows and sees all, and our Lord Jesus will judge. So it
behoves us to be careful of what we say of others who appear to be working for
the Lord God who says: 1 Chronicles 16:22, Psalm 105:15, 1 Corinthians 14:32. The
infallible Word of God. He is not to be mocked. His Word is pure and true.
Ephesians 4:10-32, 2 Timothy 4:1,5. Prophets and evangelists who lead many to repent and be
born again in to the family of God. Would that there were more 'lively stones'
1 Peter 2:5 rather than being complacent and lukewarm...the healing ministry
previously referred to never claims to heal but gives all the glory to Jesus
Christ who is the healer through our faith in Him...the labourer is worthy of
his hire...there is no cost to me if I watch about 12 hours a week of Christian
TV...it has opened up His Word in recent years...would those Christians in many
countries where they are persecuted for their faith and do not even have God's
Word to sustain them have our opportunities. Praise God for those who do strive
to spread the faith.

Dear Friend

I read through the Scripture references you have presented
-– wonderful! Your letter was gracious, I pray that over time God would grant
His grace to me in this way. It is a dilemma to have so many strong views re/.
deception versus valid ministries. I wholeheartedly agree with your personal
note to me, that perhaps if we STOPPED, LOOKED, LISTENED and ASKED we would gain
more clarity. Thank you for your comments. Ed

Dear Ed

Pearl Harbour was a great film but it also has a warning for
both America and Aust/NZ about complacency. To date I've studied about ten
revelations given by the Lord to mostly Christian ministers here in Australia,
that speak about an invader as far south as Byron Bay, NSW (this decade) and
another five major revelations to American pastors about America getting nuked
maybe as early as Sept/Oct 2002. Something the Lord will allow because of both
Nations, Christian revival failing to occur. Without Christian revival and with
America severely damaged, who's to look after this part of the Pacific? Lets
never be complacent about the Lord and what He wants, National Defence or the
nations to the North. Yours Faithfully Graeme Gibson NSW

Dear Graeme

Interesting! Scripture does tell us that destruction will
come, judgement from God for ignoring 'Him'. The timing is the challenge for
us. Amos 3:7 says that the Lord will do nothing except He reveal it to His
servants the prophets...so it is food for thought when we hear insights from
prophetic voices. Re/. Christian Revival -– I think the best description I've
read of what revival brings about is "A fresh wave of obedience to the Word of
God". Nothing produces this response quite like suffering and pain...desperation.
We'll have to watch and see which comes first! With regard to 'who will look
after us if America is taken out of the picture' -– keep watching the Middle
East for a case study of this scenario. God will not have America fight His
battles...therefore we can assume that somehow Israel will be left to fight
alone in a day to come Ed.

Dear Ed

...many thanks rather belatedly to John Koutsimanis for his
work in establishing Omega Times, and also for yours Andrew Smith...I was
greatly encouraged and lifted up when I read GE Andersons "Send In The Cavalry"
(Nov 2000 O.Times). What a thrilling encounter as God supernaturally intervenes
in history...On the negative side I was quite troubled to read G&E Andersons
(January 2001) "Perhaps We're Crazy" reference to 'drinking alcohol'
(whisper it) -– peach schnapps. I wish that in a moment of time they and you
could see the wrecked and destroyed lives and relationships of people throughout
history because of drinking...and oh how innocent and fun and sophisticated it
starts out, what about holiness and putting a stumbling-block in your brothers
path?... An excellent book is Bible Wines by William Patten "Eye Opener
Publishes" PO Box 7944 Eugene Oregon 97401...drink "in moderation", why
not smoke a little grass, God said herbs were good...Holiness, now there's a
topic subject I would like to hear about from the Omega Times... seeing so much
of the God fearing Pentecostal Church in America being so liberal and not caring
that the God-like, Christ- like influence should be turning the world upside
down is more like "Do what you want to do -– everything is middle of the road".
Born again church leaders and teachers should all the more in these last days be
examples and proclaim with all that is in them "straight is the gate and
narrow the way" -– that is the objective... The church of today has followed
the influence of worldly philosophies -– everything shades of grey, no
absolutes...Robert & Jean Beck Oklahoma

Dear Robert and Jean

Thanks for your letter -– and passion for the faith. The
objective is 'that we may know God' - relationship. When God deliberately
left certain areas open-ended He presented 'free will'. Problem being, there's
a risk with free will -– some will disagree with how others 'choose' to use
it. The good guys bad guys mentality is difficult to perform with a God who says
that 'your works are as filthy rags to me' -– that getting it all right on
a performance level is not where it's at...that we are to live our lives unto
Him (discerning between right and wrong) and that it is appointed unto man once
to die, after which, will be the judgement, being the time we give account. I
believe in a conscious repentance from things which are wrong before God -– and
an unconscious holiness. I've seen too many people try to 'put on
holiness' and it couldn't be further from reality -– it's ugly and
condemning! If we put on righteousness -– it becomes self righteousness. Paul's
teaching on food offered to idols is the closest we get to 'what's right and
acceptable and what's not'. Taking care not to stumble people is an issue
which God will take note of at the judgement... On one side we have those
shouting for holiness, who generally no longer have any friends outside of the
faith to convert, and on the other side we have those who use liberty as licence
-– and challenge nobody with regard to a God-less existence. Nothing new under
the sun...just the challenge to find a balance - 'that we might know God'.
Sincerely in Christ Ed.