Did you see the Dateline NBC special on Benny Hinn last night?
I did and I invited a friend over to watch it. Some time back The Wittenburg Door did a DVD that has all the Dateline profiles on Hinn from over the years. My friend and I watched that together so this was like a recent update. But here are my thoughts about last night's program:

1. Benny Hinn's problem is not unique. He loves and needs wealth. Doesn't he fit right in with mainstream America then?
2. This latest update is not shocking and will probably do little to hurt Hinn's finances. He already has a reputation, established over the years of shows done on him. But what it does (in my opinion) is justify viewers in their own spending habits. They might say, "Here's this 'man of God' using God to get wealth. If he can have it all why should I be deprived?" That's the gospel Hinn teaches and in our society that's not only acceptable, its laudable.
3. The show appealed to a sense of outrage among decent hardworking God-fearing church going Americans. It expects that their Values will speak to them and say, "This man must be stopped." Well, it assumes too much. Its one thing to report a missing person or a crime in progress. Its quite another to change the minds of a charasmatic gospelinc. subculture of millions who worship the ground someone walks on.
4. Benny Hinn is selling what evangelicals are buying. They need the assurance that wealth is part of godliness. That comfort and charm are what being a Christian is all about. And if they feel a bit guilty he'll give to the Tsunami victims like everyone else.
5. America needs Benny Hinn to be comfortable with itself. God help us all.