Let Us Be Cautious With Our Words

I would like to first off state, that I in know way support or condone the lavish, excessive lifestyle of preachers. Yet I would like to post a small warning to us all. Yes indeed it appears as if Benny Hinn has misused finances and spent very lavishly. Yet if we were to compare the multi-million dollar lifestyle he lives to our own middle class lifestyles we might find that there is not much difference between the two of us. If Benny Hinns yearly income is in the millions and he spends alot of money he technically might not be being lavish if he has the money to spend. (not that I'm defending him) How about us middle classers on the other hand who make 40,000 + a year and have credit card debt up to our eye balls. Or perhaps we have college loans that drive us mad. Or perhaps our houses are filled with commodities that we do not really need but we must keep up with the Jones's and we spend and spend and spend. Before we criticize anyone let us ALWAYS FIRST look at our own hearts. God will judge all of us by what we have. If Benny Hinn has millions and spends millions he will be judged by that standard. If we make thousands that is how we will be judged. Do not be deceived on the day of judgement God will not look at Benny Hinn and measure you by him. You will be judged alone without God taking any lavish preacher into consideration. Whenever an expose' or any other incident like this crops up, we always take it as our que to get on our soapboxes and throw more stones. Let us instead take this as our que to search OUR hearts and see if there be any wrong way in us. As for me, I know I can say that in many ways I HAVE and AM a bad steward of what the Lord has given me. The measure I use to judge, is the same measure I will be judged with.-Jeff

"Before we criticize anyone let us ALWAYS FIRST look at our own hearts."Trustworthy advice brother. Reminds me of something I heard somewhere before..."Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"Thanks!MC

100% Agreement.Yes indeed it appears as if Benny Hinn has misused finances and spent very lavishly.Just hope that we don't lose sight of where the source of this income is drawn from. The unsuspecting and mislead.As well as the methods for gaining it.Would hope that the issue is what is back of that in the first place.

KrispyKrittr wrote:My issue w/Hinn is not only a financial one, but a doctrinal one. He is a heretic, a false teaching promoting a false gospel. You know Krispy, I get the feeling that you really don't like him. Call me prophetic if you will, but I've just noticed that. :-P

I'll let God deal with Benny and all the other Benny's he doesn't have any patent on that type of ministry, In the meantime I will be trying to get that plank out of my own eye. :-)

In the meantime I will be trying to get that plank out of my own eye.Me too brother !!A reporter once asked the great evangelist D.L. Moody which people gave him the most trouble. He answered immediately, “I’ve had more trouble with D.L. Moody than any man alive.”

In the meantime I will be trying to get that plank out of my own eye.So many times I've heard this scripture misused and abused in order to either shut up or control and manipulate the watchmen of the church. These same scriptures are often misused as a means to judge or misjudge the heart of a watchmen or messenger. We have to honor the second half of these scriptures if we are going to use these scriptures at all...Luke 6:42...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.Scripture plainly shows that the plank CAN be removed from your eye so you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers. And those operating at that level of Godly awareness or anointing should not be pressured, by the misuse of this scripture, to be subdued or kept quiet if they have something that the Lord wants us to see or hear.

Excellent Mark! You rarely hear that Scripture quoted when it's not being misused as you said. "Well we can't help anybody get the speck out of their eye since we have the planks in ours." He was talking to hypocrites. If the great majority of God's people are hypocrites and have PLANKS in their eyes, the few speck-in-the-eye people are in big trouble. :-)

Few observations.... First and foremost, we're all hypocrites. Not one of us can live up to our own high standards, or society's, or God's. Who of you have never exhibited some "road rage?" I have and I'm a Christian. Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Furthermore, before you judge someone else so harshly, look in the mirror, Luke 6:42 is instructive, "How can you say to your brother, Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.We should have pity on those who sin, not judgment. That's certainly counter to human nature, but it's a better way one that I often find difficult to follow.

"First and foremost, we're all hypocrites"If that's true, Mr. Bill, (it isn't), none of us will escape the damnation of Gehenna.If we are hypocrites, then let's obey what He said, quit being hypocrites, (can we really do this?) and then see clearly to get specks out of eyes. Jesus did NOT say...."none of you will ever be able to take a speck out of someone's eye because you all have unremoveable planks in your eyes." :-)

The Gospel - the bible - presents a progressive message. We have all sinned in our past, and we all continue in our battle, but...And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: - Col. 1:19-20Can I legitimately call myself a hypocrite? If I am actively sinning, maybe. "Road rage" is not something I have seen all Christians exhibit, and never was mandatory to get a license in the US, though some would say otherwise. I have to ask the same question that God did of Peter (tho his wasn't really a question) "...What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."Will you call his Church common?Now, can I call myself perfect? Well, thats a whole other thread. :-)

Now, can I call myself perfect? Well, thats a whole other thread. Yes! it is! and here is the thread you are talking about. :-P

And those operating at that level of Godly awareness or anointing should not be pressured, by the misuse of this scripture, to be subdued or kept quiet if they have something that the Lord wants us to see or hear. What is awesome about a true watchman is they understand fully James admonition to be swift to hear, and sloooooow to speak. Maybe in this forum we would read it as swift to read, and slow to respond, reply or (send). The true watchman waits, knowing those living in rebellion to this word will soon expose themselves, for as Christ said “for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh or (writes).” A watchman is in a constant state of examination, cleansing and renewal. A watchman hears ringing in his ear at all times “considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted, and fall.” The watchman speaks nearly reluctantly only after much wrestling in the Spirit in order to have the mind of Christ. The watchman as it has been written is not able to be pressured or subdued by the itching ears of men. First, men who promote mostly a “sweet” Gospel , and secondly men who promote mostly a “rebuking” Gospel. The watchman will not play favorites and will speak to the very heart of both extremes.As it pertains to Luke 6:42, the watchman understands the human eye is the organ which gives us the sense of sight, allowing us to learn more about the surrounding world than any of the other five senses. The watchman understands that just the optic nerve alone consists of about a million fibers and serves as a flexible cable that connects the eyeball to the brain. Also the watchman understands the retina makes up the innermost layer of the wall of the eyeball and is only as strong as a wet piece of tissue paper and contains about 120 million rods and about 6 million cones. And so the true watchman understands that it is NOT possible to just rebuke the mote and beam from the eye!Finally, the watchman according to Luke is merciful, forgiving and giving. And so takes seriously the title of this thread “to be cautious with our words.” He knows that words are not just wind, but often snares. What if all of us were to “sit on” our posts for awhile before hitting the send button? Blessings,tony

God says in Isa. 9:17 for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer.

God says in Isa. 9:17 for everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer.Unfortunately, I must say this is a great example of a verse taken totally out of context. Much like the psalm 51 arguement that we are born with sin... the words just don't say that.Isa 9:16 & 17 - For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have noy joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.It is referring to established leaders, the statement was qualified. It has to be. Blanket prophecy includes everyone, and if this verse includes you, then it also included Jesus. I hate to say it, but I cannot believe that. I wouldn't really look forward to God not having joy in my son.

I personally just passed on what the word of God said, I can say that I feel that scriptures do minister differently to different people, I feel that is why it's called the living word of God. I have never been into scripture interpretation some have those gifts, that is why I do not try to interpret the word of God, but to understand it. My personal view is when man interprets God's word vs. understanding the word, How can one have an understanding? We are flesh, soul and spirit; God is a Spirit; when our spirit and God's Spirit are connected we then learn and understand instead of interpret His word, just my personal view and as long as we agree to disagree well no harm done. We all are at different places in our walk, I have moved on from any debates over the word I just read it and try my best to experience what it's ministering to me and unless we go back to the Greek and Hebrew versions and really have the gifts to understand both there is really no use in my debating the word, so I will stick with just trying to understand the Word the best I can.

I have never been into scripture interpretation some have those gifts, that is why I do not try to interpret the word of God, but to understand itHi Mr. BillI just want to encourage you to always strive to get the correct definition of each word in it's context. This requires the use of your reason and mind. If your careless in your study of scripture you may spend time meditating on verses totally out of context and have an incorrect view of God and His commands. To understand means to first do your homework otherwise your just being lazy. Believe me I am being delivered out of a lazy lifestyle myself. It would be a shame to spend all this time meditating on a verse only to have God tell you in heaven you spent most of your time believing lies.If the bible were a treasure map that could find a treasure worth 1 billion dollars how meticulous would you be in interpreting and decoding it to get that treasure. I bet you just like me would interpret and decode it precisely and find the treasure and in short time at that. Each scripture you understand is like a precious gem that is worth far more then any amount of money. There is power in the Word of God but taking scripture out of context or understanding a word out of it's intended context will not help you at all. It will help your human intellect but like the treasure map will only lead to an empty hole with no comfort or joy to give. Spend the time and use the mind the same way you would use it to find a treasure because God's word is much more then an earthly treasure to be desired far more then rubies, and gems and gold and silver.

Thanks AsliEren I sincerely appreciate your advise we all had to start somewhere in our walk none of us were born out of the womb as we are now in our walk, and what you said in your post is really great! and all a part of my growing and I feel in my spirit because of the way your explained it to me you understood that and God Bless You. We all here regardless of the opinions others post need to remember were all at different levels and we need sweet, kind, words of encouragement and if we in our responses to others posts feel we can't get the message across without hollering,and forcing back opinions maybe we should wait and see if someone like AsliEren might come along and answer there question with a sweet spirit. We all like a good debate or rebuttal "human nature" but we cannot afford to loose even one soul that might come here to grasp hold of God and his word I know this is tough for it's tough not to pull that sword my best friend is a sword puller, I can't do anything right in his eye's well not anything but if my ideas don't line up with his "swish" comes out the sword but I have learned to just let him cut and God do the healing and our friendship has strengthened, God is love and don't we want to be like God?