Paul Crouch
TBN's Official Response To Allegations That Paul Crouch Is A Homosexual:
"In a recent article in the Los Angeles Times reporting a story that Dr. Paul Crouch, the founder and president of Trinity Broadcasting Network, was allegedly involved in a wrongful termination and sexual harassment case in 1997 is deplorable and the scandalous claims leveled against him are false...
The accuser is a convicted felon and longtime drug abuser who has been imprisoned for years for serious crimes ranging from child sexual molestation to using illegal drugs such as crack cocaine...It is a reprehensible fact of modern life that public persons like Dr. Crouch are targets of such dishonest, false and scandalous claims."
Note: Jesus told us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) concerning personal insults and Jesus even tells us to rejoice when men say evil things about us:
"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you," Matthew 5:11-12.
"I am devastated; I am confronted with having to face the fact that my father is a homosexual."
"Despite TBN's efforts to keep Ford's charges secret, they surfaced in an unrelated 1998 lawsuit. A former bodyguard for TBN personality Benny Hinn testified in a deposition that during a European bus tour that year, Hinn had told a group of associates about 'a sexual relationship that Paul Crouch had with his chauffeur.' The witness, Mario C. Licciardello, quoted Hinn as saying: 'Paul's defense was that he was drunk.' Hinn and six others mentioned by Licciardello, who died in 2000, told The Times that Hinn never made such remarks. However, Rick Jones, a retired police officer and ordained minister who worked for Hinn, said he heard Hinn talk about Crouch's alleged homosexual relationship on that bus. Jones said he was disgusted by the talk and 'got up and walked away. I didn't want to hear gossip.'"
"After Ford threatened to sue TBN in 1998, claiming that he had been unjustly fired, Crouch reached a $425,000 settlement with him. In return, Ford agreed, among other things, not to discuss his claim about a sexual encounter with the TV preacher."
"A third friend of Ford's said that in October 1996, about the time of the alleged Arrowhead encounter, ministry officials [TBN] gave her a $12,000 check to pay back money Ford owed her. The woman spoke on condition that she not be named, saying she feared retaliation. TBN officials acknowledged that the ministry paid some of Ford's debts. They said the network commonly extends such generosity to employees in financial trouble."
"Ministry officials learned of the book in April 2003, when Ford walked onto the set of TBN's Costa Mesa broadcast studio and handed a copy of the manuscript to Crouch. Ford's attorney, Eugene Zech, said that Brewer, the TBN lawyer, called him the next business day. In court papers, Zech said that Brewer asked 'if Ford might be willing to accept $1 million in exchange for the manuscript.'"
"Ministry [tbn] attorneys went to Orange County Superior Court on Tuesday in an unsuccessful attempt to stop publication of this story, claiming that a Times reporter "aided and abetted" Ford in violating an April 2003 court order that barred him from discussing his allegations. Judge John M. Watson declined to issue a restraining order against The Times but suggested Ford could later face a contempt-of-court hearing."
"After visiting the nightclub, Ford said Crouch took him to dinner at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Shortly after that, in October 1996, Ford said he and Crouch spent two nights at the same hotel in separate rooms. During that time, Ford said they worked out together at the hotel gym and ate expensive meals with bottles of wine and after-dinner drinks. "I knew what he was doing," Ford said. "He was seducing me." After checking out of the hotel, Ford said, Crouch took him to a TBN-owned cabin near Lake Arrowhead. It was there, Ford said, that Crouch first had sex with him. "I did it because I didn't know if this man is going to throw me straight out of that cabin," Ford said. "And I didn't want to lose my job. I was going to be in trouble if I said no." The next morning, Ford said, Crouch read a Bible passage to him in an attempt to reassure him about the night before. The passage, Proverbs 6:16-19, details seven "detestable" attitudes and acts in God's eyes. Ford said Crouch told him that because homosexuality wasn't listed, the Lord wasn't worried about what they had done. Still, Ford said, Crouch warned him to keep the encounter quiet "because people wouldn't understand." Ford said Crouch told him the ministry would pay his debts — about $17,000 — and offered a rent-free apartment at TBN's Tustin studios."
"Ministry officials confirmed that TBN paid at least some of Ford's debts around that time. They said it was an act of Christian charity that TBN performs regularly for employees."
"On Tuesday, TBN attorneys asked Judge Watson to keep The Times from publishing this story. Ministry lawyer John Casoria said it could cause "irreparable harm." Watson agreed with The Times' attorney, Kelli L. Sager, that the 1st Amendment prevents the court from barring publication of an article. After the hearing, Casoria said TBN may ask the judge to hold Ford in contempt of court for speaking publicly about the case."
"Pastor Paul Crouch looked into the camera and told his flock that Trinity Broadcasting Network needed $8 million to spread the Gospel throughout India and save 1 billion souls from damnation. Crouch, head of the world's largest Christian broadcasting network, said even viewers who couldn't afford a $1,000 pledge should take a "step of faith" and make one anyway. The Lord would repay them many times over, he said. 'Do you think God would have any trouble getting $1,000 extra to you somehow?' He asked during a "Praise-a-thon" broadcast from Trinity's studios in Costa Mesa."
"TBN was not short on cash. In fact, it could have paid for the India expansion out of the interest on its investment portfolio. But at TBN, the appeals for money never stop. Nor does the flow of contributions."
"But that is just one element in their success. Another is a doctrine called the 'prosperity gospel,' which promises worshipers that God will shower them with material blessings if they sacrifice to spread His word. This theme — that viewers will be rewarded, even enriched, for donating — pervades TBN programming. 'When you give to God,' Crouch said during a typical appeal for funds, 'you're simply loaning to the Lord and He gives it right on back.'"
"Paul, 70, collects a $403,700 salary as TBN's chairman and president. Jan, 67, is paid $361,000 as vice president and director of programming."
"In 1995, an FCC judge ruled that National Minority TV was not minority-controlled but rather was a 'sham' by which Crouch had tried to sidestep the ownership limit. Crouch appealed to the five-member FCC board. He also began negotiating with the advocacy groups, offering them a monetary settlement to drop their challenge. Crouch turned to TBN viewers for money. A five-night telethon elicited $65 million in pledges. Crouch offered that sum as a settlement, and the advocacy groups agreed to accept it. In 1999, however, the FCC rejected the settlement and refused to renew National Minority TV's license for the Miami station."
"The Crouches travel the world in a $7.2-million, 19-seat Canadair Turbojet owned by TBN. They drive luxury cars. They have charged expensive dinners and furniture to TBN credit cards. Thirty ministry-owned homes are at their disposal — including a pair of Newport Beach mansions, a mountain retreat near Lake Arrowhead and a ranch in Texas."
"Pastor Paul Crouch calls it 'God's economy of giving,' and here is how it works: People who donate to Crouch's Trinity Broadcasting Network will reap financial blessings from a grateful God. The more they give TBN, the more He will give them. Being broke or in debt is no excuse not to write a check. In fact, it's an ideal opportunity. For God is especially generous to those who give when they can least afford it. 'He'll give you thousands, hundreds of thousands,' Crouch told his viewers during a telethon last November. 'He'll give millions and billions of dollars.'"
"TBN viewers are told that if they don't reap a windfall despite their donations, they must be doing something to 'block God's blessing' — most likely, not giving enough. Crouch has particularly stern words for those who are not giving at all. 'If you have been healed or saved or blessed through TBN and have not contributed ... you are robbing God and will lose your reward in heaven,' he said during a 1997 telecast."
Paul Crouch pronounces death to his adversaries:
"Take authority over the principalities and powers that dare to threaten this ministry. I have raised it up from infancy for My own purposes, saith the Lord. Just as I commanded Ezekiel to prophesy life to dry bones, and they took on life, so I am commanding you to prophesy death to the threats, challenges, and bondage's the enemy has placed on TBN. Command them to cease and desist, and you will see this dilemma die and disappear before your eyes. God, we proclaim death to anything or anyone that will lift a hand against this network and this ministry that belongs to You, God. It is Your work, it is Your idea, it is Your property, it is Your airwaves, it is Your world, and we proclaim death to anything that would stand in the way of God's great voice of proclamation to the whole world. In the Name of Jesus, and all the people said Amen!"
"I have been disturbed by a bunch of, oh I’m just going to say it, a bunch of crap....Go ahead and tape it, put it on your slime-ball radio broadcast. You’ll have to pray it through Pastor Phil, but this old German, I’d say sue the bastards."
(Paul Crouch on the Praise the Lord show, October 1994, Auiuo-clip, Hank Hanegraaff "Christianity in Crisis")
"I think God's given up on a lot of that old rotten Sanhedrin religious crowd, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. I think they're damned and on their way to hell and I don't think there's any redemption for them...The heresy hunters that want to find a little mote of illegal doctrine in some Christian's eye and pluck that little mote out of their eye when they've got the whole forest in their own lives and in their own eyes. I say to hell with you! Oh hallelujah. Get out of God's way, quit blocking God's bridges or God's gonna shoot you if I don't! I refuse to argue any longer with any of you out there. Don't even call me. If you want to argue doctrine, if you want to straighten out somebody over here, if you want to criticize Ken Copeland for his preaching on faith, or Dad Hagin. Get out of my life! I don't even want to talk to you or hear you. I don't want to see your ugly face! Get out of my face in Jesus' name."
(Paul Crouch, "Praise-a-thon" on TBN, 4/2/91. Audio-Clip, "Christianity In Crisis," Hank Hanegraaff)
"I have a word of blessing, a word of admonition, and a word of rebuke to many in the body of Christ today! You had better buckle-up because some are going to love this word and some are going to hate it! But before we are done, hell will be thrown into further disarray and satan will be exposed for the filthy liar that he is!...But the one that really got my goat (pardon the "Missouri" in me), was a dear brother on Praise the Lord a few weeks ago. Yes, on our TBN! I was down in Florida and the program was on tape. If it had been "LIVE" I would have called the engineer to take it off the air...This ’dear brother’ was waxing eloquent on the ‘error’ of giving to God, expecting ANYTHING in return! In about 15 minutes, he totally trashed everything Oral Roberts has taught us on ‘Seed Faith’ for over 40 years! The great messages by R.W. Schambach, John Avanzini, Dad Hagin, Benny Hinn, John Hagee, Rod Parsley, T.D. Jakes, and a host of others, flushed right down the drain!' ...So why do the heretic hunters and other critics trash the ‘seed faith’ message? I’ll tell you why — and here is the bottom-line for this whole letter. They are either ignorant of the Word, or bound by their traditions, or — and this is frightening — some are, I believe, of their father the devil!...He will inspire the heretic hunters to use their traditions to keep us poor, sick, discouraged, and deceived!…The mask is off. We see clearly the subtle deceptive tactics of the evil one! Let’s keep taking the wealth of the world."
"The Holy Spirit spoke in my spirit He said, 'I want you took look at the people tonight,' there are some of you, you have been wrestling with debt on your credit card unable to pay it off. Hear me, I did not think of about this I had no idea, I was praying this afternoon and God said, 'do this tonight and tell the people what I will do.' The spirit of God spoke in my spirit, He said, 'To take the credit card they are believing to pay off,' we take Visa, American Express, all that don't we? The spirit of the Lord spoke expressly in my spirit, he said, 'tell the people that if they have been dealing with debt on credit cards to get on the phone, and make, sow a seed on the credit card that they are believing me to move on, to pay off. No you are not hearing me, He said, 'tell them, to go to the phone,' you have used it for everything else, you put everything else on it. God said, 'let me touch that situation,' 'let me get involved in that situation.' I am telling you as surely as I am standing here and the Holy Ghost is going all over me right now. As surely as I am standing here, He said, 'put it on the card their believing for me to help pay off.' And He said, 'tell them if they do it,' He said, 'tell them in 30 days there will be such a windfall in that area that they will literally be able to deal with the debt, pay it off if they'll move."
(Bishop Clarence Mcclendon, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 29, 2004)
A note from me: Bishop Clarence Mcclendon claimed numerous times that God told him etc., yet when he was done Paul Crouch told the audience that what he said was true about giving money on a over extended credit card, but that they could not use the phone because it was not secure, they had to go on the internet. Shouldn't God have known this? This proves two things, that Bishop Clarence Mcclendon is a false prophet and God was not speaking to him. It also proves that Paul Crouch endorses this type of blatant fleecing!
After Bishop Clarence Mcclendon finished his preaching for the night, Paul Crouch said this, "Oh! Thank you pastor Mcclendon, This was a Rhema word...This is a Rhema word from the Lord." Not only does Paul Crouch endorse this type of heresy and fleecing, he attributes it to God!
"Quit this old cop out prayer, 'if it be thy will' it's bunk!"
(Paul Crouch, Christianity In Crisis, audio-tape, Christian Research Institute)
"He [God] doesn't even draw a distinction between Himself and us. . . . You know what else that's settled, then, tonight? This hue and cry and controversy that has been spawned by the Devil to try and bring dissension within the body of Christ that we are gods. I am a little god! . . . I have His name. I'm one with Him. I'm in covenant relation. I am a little god! Critics, be gone!"
(Paul Crouch, Praise the Lord, TBN July 7, 1986. Audio-Clip, "Christianity In Crisis," Hank Hanegraaff)
"To hell with you! Get out of my life! Get out of the way!…I say get out of God's way! Quit blocking God's bridges or God's going to shoot you if I don't…I don't even want to even talk to you or hear you! I don't want to see your ugly face!"
(Paul Crouch, Praise-a-thon, TBN April 2, 1991. Audio-Clip, "Christianity In Crisis," Hank Hanegraaff)
"God draws no distinction between Himself and us. God opens up the union of the very godhead (Trinity), and brings us into it."
(Paul Crouch, Praise-a-thon, TBN November 1990)
"I think they're damned and on their way to hell; and I don't think there's any redemption for them." [Heretic Hunters]
(Paul Crouch, Praise-a-thon, TBN April 2, 1991)
Crouch refers to the Word Faith message as a "revival of truth that comes comes alone in the Word of God, restored by a few precious men, Hagin, Kenyon, Copeland, and Savelle."
(Paul Crouch, Praise the Lord, TBN, 18 February 1986)
"TBN robs widows and orphans and takes widow's mites and takes welfare checks and pension money. So did the prophet of God in the Old Testament Elijah, and it saved the widow's life and her sons life as they gave the last bit of food they had to the prophet. That will preach won't it Scambach? That will preach! Oh Lord, I don't have time to enlarge on that and I'm not the preacher, Schambach is going to preach tonight. We'll turn him loose in a little bit! But if you're in trouble, if you need something, if you're broke, if you're at your wits end, if you're out of a job, out of work...You can be saved yourself by planting seed in this fertile soil called TBN!"
(Paul Crouch, Audio-Clip "Bible Answer Man Show," September 21, 2004)
"Those who oppose the [Word] Faith message have reached me too late!"
(Paul Crouch, Audio-Clip "Bible Answer Man Show," Friday, April 2, 2004)
In a conversation with Benny Hinn, Paul Crouch states what happened to Jesus in hell:
Benny Hinn: "Jesus Christ destroyed the power of Satan on earth, but destroyed Satan in the under world, the Holy Ghost wasn’t there. Think about that."
Paul Crouch: "That’s when His [Jesus’] divinity returned."
(Paul Crouch, Praise-a-Thon program on TBN, November 6, 1990)
Paul Crouch told of two testimonies of people who gave to God in order to receive a blessing. One woman gace $250 during the Spring Share-A-Thon of 2004 and got $412,000 a month later. Another woman gace $7,193 to TBN during 2003 then received $80,000 a short time later. Paul Crouch then said, "You see! It pays to give to God."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Behind The Scenes, May 3, 2004)
"I often ask, "Have you received anything good from TBN? Teaching, comfort, healing, salvation, answered prayer, 100-fold?" I am amazed and grieved that while millions watch TBN only a very few, comparatively, respond with a love gift of support. No wonder that some are sick, busted, and disgusted—YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN GOD ANY SEED—SO GUESS WHAT? YOU GET NO HARVEST!"
"As I have said a thousand times or more: "The heretic hunters have reached Jan and me too late."
"Well, Jan and I still own that little home in Newport Beach, and our model is selling for up to one million dollars! Wow, it just hit me—that's what we paid for Channel 40! Not a bad return on our $38,500, wouldn't you say? That's more than 100-fold!...Do you have a need? I've given you the KEY! Put it in the lock and turn it! GIVE GOD SOMETHING TO WORK WITH."
"I am sick and tired of getting beat up by the heresy hunters on this question: Should we GIVE, expecting to RECEIVE from God? How they rant and rage against this so-called "prosperity gospel."
"So, let me ask you and them one eternal question: DID GOD GIVE HIS SON TO DIE, EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN? Well, the answer is so obvious it really does not need an answer! GOD HAD A NEED—so what did He do? HE GAVE! Yes, He gave and He gave the very thing He needed. His first family had sinned and betrayed Him—He lost his first son and daughter. Yes, "GOD SO LOVED…THAT HE GAVE." So, what did God RECEIVE? As we have shared many times—God received millions, no, billions of sons and daughters and you, dear Partner, are one of them! Praise the Lord! WE are God's reward for HIS GIVING! God lives by His own law—you HAVE TO GIVE to receive! Yes"
Jan Crouch, approvingly recited the following words from Paul Billheimer's book during a live communion service aired on TBN:
"It was not sufficient ffor Christ to offer up only his physical life on the cross. His pure human spirit had to descend into hell ...His spirit must not only descend into hell, but into the lowest hell....The Father turned Him over, not only to the agony and death of Calvary, but to the satanic torturers of His pure spirit as part of the just dessert of the sin of all the race. As long as Christ was 'the essence of sin' he was at Satan's mercy in that place of torment. . . While Christ identified with sin, Satan and the hosts of hell ruled over Him as over any lost sinner. During that seemingly endless age in the nether abyss of death, Satan did with Him as he would, and all hell was 'in carnival."
"Let Him (God) sort out all this doctrinal doo-doo, I don’t care about it."
(Paul Crouch, Christianity In Crisis, audio-tape, Christian Research Institute.)
"If you have been healed or saved or blessed through TBN and have not contributed to (the) station, you are robbing God and will lose your reward in heaven."
(Paul Crouch, Praise the Lord, TBN August 4, 1997)
"If you give a gift to God with a cry in your heart, He will not let heaven and earth rest until He grants you that desire."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, April 1, 2004)
"How many of you [Studio Audience] have a need? Pastor, send out donation slips."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, April 1, 2004)
"When you give to God He will overtake you with a blessing, He has to! Because, if He didn't, you would outgive Him and He won't let you do that."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, April 1, 2004)
"God spoke to me clearly and said, 'Did I give my son Jesus on the cross expecting nothing in return?' God bankrupted heaven and gave the best gift he could give. He gave the best offering he could give. What did God need? He needed sons and daughters, he gave the very thing he needed. You can bring God a gift fully expecting something in return. Get to the phone!"
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 31, 2004)
"Some of you old tightwads need to get to the phones. This is tightwad night! Some of you old stingy people get to the phone and make a pledge."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 31, 2004)
"Have you got something that you have been praying about 10, 15, 20 years? You have been praying for it and haven't gotten it...It could be that you haven't gotten it because you are a tightwad and you haven't given your 10%."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 31, 2004)
"If you have been praying 10, 15, 20 years for a secret desire of your heart, get to the phone right now!"
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 31, 2004)
"If You don't have faith for $1,000 give the tithe of $100. You can't claim God's promises if you don't keep your part of the contract."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 31, 2004)
"People ask me sometimes, 'I have been asking from God and not receiving anything.' I have to ask them some hard questions, 'Are you giving anything?'"
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 29, 2004)
"You can't outgive God, the time of visitation is now! Get to the phone right now."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 29, 2004)
"Jesus wept over Jerusalem because the did not recognize their visitation. Tonight, this is a visitation...the waters are troubled right now, the first one to call, get to the phone."
(Paul Crouch, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 29, 2004)
Are Christians Gods?
Paul Crouch: "He doesn’t ever draw a distinction between himself." (Jan Crouch agrees in the background.)
Kenneth Copeland: "Never, never. You never can do that in a covenant relationship."
Paul Crouch: "You know what else that settles then tonight. This hue and cry and controversy that has been spawned by the devil to try and bring dissent within the body of Christ that we are gods. I am a little god."
Kenneth Copeland: "Yes, yes!"
Paul Crouch: "I have His name. I’m one with Him. I’m in a covenant relationship. I am a little god."
Kenneth Copeland: "Critic, you are anything that He is."
Paul Crouch (heard under the words of Kenneth Copeland): "Critic, be gone."
Paul Crouch: "Yes!"
(Paul Crouch, Praise the Lord, TBN July 7, 1986)
Is Faith a Force?
Guest: "The force of faith is in the spiritual realm a great deal like certain forces in the natural realm. It is a spiritual force, like gravity is a natural force, and electricity is a natural force of power."
Paul Crouch: "A measurable natural force."
Guest: "It’s a measurable force, it’s conductible, it’s perceptible to the touch . . . Faith is a spiritual force, it’s perceptible, . . . it is a tangible force, it’s an invisible force, so is gravity, but it is there."
Paul Crouch: "So is electricity . . . Does God use faith?"
Guest: "Surely."
Paul Crouch: ". . . See, here is the sore spot. There are those who say . . ."
Jan Crouch: "Not with him."
Paul Crouch: "Not with you."
Jan Crouch: "Not with God."
Guest: ". . . the fact. No, I’m not sore at God at all and I don’t think He’s sore at me . . . I haven’t done anything to Him."
Paul Crouch: ". . . The critics say God is God, He doesn’t have to have faith; He doesn’t exercise faith. He doesn’t use faith. He’s God. He’s the object of faith."
Guest: " . . . Wait a minute, what does that mean? Object of faith. I don’t know what that means."
Jan Crouch: "I don’t either."
(Paul Crouch, Audio-clip, Christianity In Crisis, Hank Hanegraaff)
Is God The Biggest Failure?
Kenneth Copeland: "I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible actually is."
Paul Crouch: "Okay."
Kenneth Copeland: "You know everybody you ask, you say, ‘Who’s the biggest failure?’ They say, ‘Judas.’ Somebody else will say, ‘No, I believe it was Adam.’ Well, how about the devil?"
Paul Crouch: (Sound of amazement)
Kenneth Copeland: "He’s the most consistent failure . . . but he’s not the biggest in terms of material failure and so forth. The biggest in the whole Bible is God. . . . Wait, wait. Don’t you turn that set off. You listen to us. I told you. . . . Now, you sit still a minute. You know me well enough to know I wouldn’t tell something I can’t prove by the Bible. He lost His top ranking of most anointed angel, the first man He ever created, the first woman He ever created, the whole earth and all the fullness therein, a third of the angels at least. That’s a big loss, man! I mean you figure up all of that, that’s a lot of real estate, gone down the drain. Now, the reason you don’t think of God as a failure, He never said He’s a failure. (Paul Crouch and others laughing on the set.) And you are not a failure until you say you are one."
(Kenneth Copeland, Audio-clip, Christianity In Crisis, Hank Hanegraaff)
Benny Hinn And Paul Crouch Endorse Cursing Christians:
"Hinn: In that service [Denver, Colorado] the Lord had me place blessings and cursing - you remember that.
Paul Crouch: I was there.
Benny Hinn: You know, these kinds of things I just don't like to do. I frankly don't enjoy hearing anybody do it. But Paul, there are people who want to destroy ministries, who would love to destroy TBN, destroy our ministry, destroy any ministry and every ministry they can.....We had certain people at one time after our ministry who would harass us and do all kinds of crazy things - went on for probably a year and a half - I was preaching in South Africa one day and Fred Roberts, who's an apostle, said "Why don't you speak judgment?" he said. I said "What are you talking about?" He said, "You are entitled now - because they blasphemed the Holy Spirit - to tell God what you want to see done.
Paul Crouch: Because they were attributing your works to the devil.
Benny Hinn: To the devil, exactly.
Paul Crouch: Just like they did Jesus.
Benny Hinn: You see, the second they attribute the work of God to Satan, we as believers step into - legally step into a place where we can ask God to stop them.
Paul Crouch: Amen, amen.
Benny Hinn: Yes, Lord, I'll do it. I place a curse on every man and every woman that will stretch his hand against this anointing. I curse that man who dares to speak a word against this ministry. But any man and any woman that raises his or her hand in blessing towards this ministry, I bless that man. I bless that home! I bless that family.
Benny Hinn: Under this anointing, the words I speak cannot fall to the ground. Under this anointing, everything I say, happens.
(Praise The Lord, Trinity Broadcasting Network, September 10, 1999)
"So please tell me why—“I AM SICK, BUSTED, AND DISGUSTED?!”...Well, yes, BUT—back to the subject of our discussion: “Why am I still broke, sick, sorry, and in need?”...Now hear this, since it just may be the KEY to your problem or need. One of those 600 commandments was that we GIVE to establish HIS HOUSE—HIS TEMPLE. To keep it open for all. In fact, in Exodus, God says: “AND NO ONE SHALL APPEAR BEFORE ME WITHOUT A GIFT.” Exodus 34:20 (TLB)...Dear Partners—do you really love God and your neighbor? If you do, you have to give offerings of love to bring those lost and dying neighbors home. And, as we do, the miracle of His great provision begins. You will have that new job; that loved one will be saved; your health will be restored; those “desires of your heart” will suddenly come! Yes."
"Do you need something NEW? Most everyone does — a new job, a new home, new friends — maybe a spouse? I need a new healing — whatever the need may be, the big question is, "How do I receive it from the Lord?" We know God loves to give us GOOD THINGS — from this NEW OUTPOURING of His precious Holy Spirit upon all flesh, down to the smallest needs of our lives.We know and have spoken many times about Jesus' promise: "IF YE ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU" (Jn. 15:7).
So why are some still in NEED of that NEW THING? Well, one reason is that this promise is ONLY for "fruit bearers"! Read the whole passage from John, chapter 15. Are you bearing fruit for the Kingdom? To bear fruit we all have to give something! You don't have to give to TBN, but you HAVE TO GIVE something that brings fruit (souls) into God's Kingdom. One thing I know for sure — TBN is GOOD GROUND and souls are pouring into the Kingdom because of this great family and network!
Make or renew your pledge on the enclosed envelope—become a TBN "FRUIT BEARER" and see God give YOU that NEW THING!"
"If EVERYTHING God has belongs to us, as Galatians 4:7 proves, the BIG QUESTION is—“How do I claim it?”
Do you need healing—a loved one saved—a home—a new job—anything? Remember, God even wants to give you those secret desires of your heart!
Dear Partner, from God’s perspective YOU ALREADY HAVE IT! But, just like your salvation, you have to do something. You had to GIVE Him your heart.
To claim your other blessings, i.e., the covenant blessings of Abraham, you have to GIVE to establish His Kingdom here on earth. And what is His Kingdom? The precious SOULS of men and women. And your TBN is the most powerful Voice I know of to build God’s temples! Jesus said it:
“THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU.” Luke 17:21
Your pledge card is enclosed. Pray and ask God what you should give. If you have little or nothing, make a FAITH PLEDGE, and PROVE the covenant promises of God. Jan and I love you more and more, and will join you in GIVING our best this Praise-a-Thon."
"Wow! God has a PAYCHECK for all of us who will help thrust in that great sickle called Christian Television! Oh, the critics will attack again and call us all heretics, but what’s new? I think all of us are mature enough in the Lord to know that we give first and foremost because we want to save lost souls from an eternal hell. But, if that is the ONLY reason, why did Jesus promise WAGES to those who REAP?
Of course, the heresy hunters will contend that those wages will only be received as our reward in heaven, but as I showed you last month, Jesus made it clear that anyone who has given for the sake of the Gospel—
SHALL RECEIVE…NOW IN THIS TIME, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers…and lands," etc., etc. (Mark 10:29:30).
So, dear Partners, do you have a need? Then help TBN reap this great harvest in these twilight hours just before Jesus returns, and watch Him fulfill His promise—your wages, your paycheck is coming! Praise the Lord!"
"But then comes this awesome promise from the Lord—tell this to the critics who say we cannot give to God expecting to receive a blessing—yes, even the "desires of our hearts," as the scriptures declare!
"AND HE THAT REAPETH RECEIVETH WAGES: THAT BOTH HE THAT SOWETH AND HE THAT REAPETH MAY REJOICE TOGETHER." John 4:36
And then, just to make sure that no one is left out, Jesus gave a whole list of rewards in Matthew 10:40-42
"AND WHOSOEVER SHALL GIVE TO DRINK UNTO ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES A CUP OF COLD WATER ONLY…HE SHALL IN NO WISE LOSE HIS REWARD!" Matthew 10:42
And finally, to utterly destroy the heresy hunters' argument that this means only the rewards we will receive in Heaven, Jesus said:
"NO MAN THAT HATH LEFT HOUSE, OR BRETHREN…OR LANDS, FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL'S BUT HE SHALL RECEIVE AN HUNDREDFOLD, NOW IN THIS TIME, HOUSES, AND LANDS…." Mark 10:29, 30
Yes, as I have said a thousand times, "The heresy hunters have reached me too late!" Most of we TBN Partners have proved God's laws of giving and receiving!"
"If you have or know a youth that needs Jesus, sow a seed gift for this new network and claim that one for Christ. Whatever your need may be, remember God’s great covenant of GIVING AND RECEIVING. You give to God, EXPECTING to receive what you need."
"Yes, pledge the amount you would love to have and expect a miracle!"
(Paul Crouch "TBN Newsletter," October 2004)
"While studying the Gospel of John, chapter 15, I saw a new truth that could be the KEY to your receiving that need—that miracle—in your life. In John 15:5, Jesus declared that He is "the vine" and we are the "branches." Then, he goes on to say that as we "abide" in Him, we are to bear fruit—even "MUCH FRUIT." Now, here is the KEY, and may be the reason some are NOT receiving the things they are asking God for! Jesus went on to say that if we (the "branches") abide in Him (the "vine), and BRING FORTH FRUIT, then and ONLY then—"YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU" (John 15:7). One way to bear much fruit is to invest in YOUR TBN! Pray and ask the Father what YOU should plant as seed! Then ask God to ANSWER that need in your life that you have been waiting for so long! Fill out your pledge envelope enclosed with this newsletter, and mail it in this month.
"Do you have a need? God’s law is simple and clear: Plant a seed — just like God did when He had a need. God needed sons and daughters, so He planted His very best — His only begotten Son — God could not have given more! As we have taught often, what did He receive? You know: MILLIONS of sons and daughters. Give God a seed — your best — and watch Him meet your need, great or small."
"EVERYTHING BEGINS WITH A SEED!...Are you a part of this great harvest? If not, you need to do what God did — PLANT YOUR SEED! Not only is it the KEY to meet your need, it also fulfills Christ's command to bear fruit if you are a branch in Him, the Vine of God...Your pledge card is enclosed—plant YOUR SEED and expect your harvest."
"Join us next month for Praise-A-Thon REVIVAL—become our Partners in GIVING and RECEIVING! You hold the KEY to receiving God's miracle blessings in your life, as you move in FAITH and give for SOULS!"
"So what was the key to David's healing and the healing of Israel? The Lord sent the prophet Gad to tell David to go and build an altar to and to make an offering unto the Lord.
Now, once again, I can hear the howls of the critics and all the heresy hunters! "Crouch is teaching, once again, that we can buy our healing, or our blessings, or our desires from the Lord!" Oh, that for once they would shut their mouths and hear a word from the Lord!...Here it is — when you want someone's attention you offer a gift...Even you businessmen know that when you want to close the deal — a gift is often the key.
...As we have taught often from Exodus 34, God actually commanded His people every time they entered the Temple:
"AND NO ONE SHALL APPEAR BEFORE ME WITHOUT A GIFT." Ex. 34:20 TLB
Here is the bottom line: When we bring a gift it simply gets the attention of God, or whomever the gift is presented to, and says: "I AM SERIOUS ABOUT THIS REQUEST!"
Of course, as I said, the Bible teaches about many different kinds of gifts and for many different purposes: the tithe; peace offerings; trespass offerings, as in David's case; thank you offerings, and on and on. But in some cases there was simply — "GOD I HAVE A NEED OFFERING."...Ah, dear Partners — are there "GIFTS FOR HEALING"? I believe more and more that every good thing we receive begins with a gift — EXCEPT OUR SALVATION!"
"Through the years we have tried to give you the KEY — many keys that would open the door to your need, whatever it may be. In many of the Bible stories, bringing a gift to God began the process of receiving.
In King David's case, sin had to be repented of. In the case of the man born blind, Jesus answered the disciples saying, "Neither did this man sin or his parents, but that the glory of God might be revealed." When Jesus healed the leper, he told him to go and present an offering to the priest as commanded by Moses.
No, as I have said often, "You cannot buy anything from God, but a gift says, "Lord I need your attention. I am serious about this need I have!"
As you make or renew your love gifts for Christian TV, write your need or prayer request on the envelope. All of us at TBN will join you in the prayer of agreement (Matt. 18:19) until YOUR VICTORY COMES! Jan and I will join you in giving our very best this Praise-a-Thon!"
"March is pre- Praise-a-Thon month. Please make or renew your pledge — your monthly commitment to keep 5,717 stations, fed by 34 great satellites, covering our world!
Remember, to get your needs met — to reap YOUR HARVEST, you have to plant your seed — we all have to do this! God planted HIS BEST SEED — His only Son Jesus! And, as we have preached often — what did God receive? You know — millions of sons and daughters! Praise the Lord, I am one of them — so are you!"
"I am sick and tired of getting beat up by the heresy hunters on this question: Should we GIVE, expecting to RECEIVE from God? How they rant and rage against this so-called "prosperity gospel." After all, Jesus was poor and we should be like Jesus! We should give out of pure love for God in obedience to His word, never expecting anything but the barest of necessities until we get to heaven! They chew us up and spit us out on their radio programs, books, and newsletters.
So, let me ask you and them one eternal question: DID GOD GIVE HIS SON TO DIE, EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN? Well, the answer is so obvious it really does not need an answer!
GOD HAD A NEED—so what did He do? HE GAVE!
Yes, He gave and He gave the very thing He needed. His first family had sinned and betrayed Him—He lost his first son and daughter. Yes, "GOD SO LOVED…THAT HE GAVE." So, what did God RECEIVE? As we have shared many times—God received millions, no, billions of sons and daughters and you, dear Partner, are one of them! Praise the Lord! WE are God's reward for HIS GIVING! God lives by His own law—you HAVE TO GIVE to receive! Yes—
"FOR IT BECAME HIM [GOD]…IN BRINGING MANY SONS UNTO GLORY, TO MAKE THE CAPTAIN OF THEIR SALVATION PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING." (Heb. 2:10)
In the old covenant, they gave to God simply because God said so—it was the law. In Exodus 34, God told Moses to command the people that:
"NO ONE SHALL APPEAR BEFORE ME WITHOUT A GIFT." (Ex. 34:20 TLB)
I have teased pastors by asking what their members would think if they stood at the front door of the church and required the tithe and offerings before letting the congregation in to worship! Well, in the Old Testament you did not even think about entering the temple of God without a gift.
Right here I think we ought to begin praising the Lord that now, under the NEW COVENANT, God's plan is to REWARD us in obedience to giving! I know, we'll have to scrape the heretic hunters off the ceiling, but I dare you to read on.
First, let me say MOTIVE has to enter here. I think we are all mature enough to know that we give first and foremost because we love the Lord and are saying "THANK YOU" for our salvation. Secondly, our motive must be our love for a lost world on their way to hell. But, thirdly, I will prove from God's word that it is perfectly RIGHT to give to God and His work, with a need, fully EXPECTING God to meet that need and to REWARD you for your giving!
Jan remarked one day that if we are all poor, sick, and broke how in heaven's name are we supposed to obey Jesus' command to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners, care for the widows and orphans, etc., etc.?
Actually, Jesus said it best of all—I love the Living Bible account:
"FOR IF YOU GIVE, YOU WILL GET! YOUR GIFT WILL RETURN TO YOU IN FULL AND OVERFLOWING MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER TO MAKE ROOM FOR MORE AND RUNNING OVER." (Luke 6:38)
Jesus even goes on to make it clear just how much to give:
"WHATEVER MEASURE YOU USE TO GIVE—LARGE OR SMALL—WILL BE USED TO MEASURE WHAT IS GIVEN BACK TO YOU." (Luke 6:38b)
Oh, I know, even the promises of God can be abused. I've heard stories of those who gave sort of like buying a lotto ticket! When their 100-fold did not come immediately, they wanted their gift back! If that's your motive, DON'T GIVE! It is dangerous to give to God and then ask for it back!
Ah, dear Partner, it is all through the Word—Jesus also said that if we will give to reap a harvest of souls that there would, indeed, be a reward.
"AND HE THAT REAPETH, RECEIVETH WAGES AND GATHERETH FRUIT ETERNAL…." (Matt. 4:35, 36)
As I have said before—WAGES means a paycheck! God is an equal opportunity employer—He pays GOOD WAGES! Of course, here come the heretic hunters again! According to them, the rewards are all relegated to the "sweet by and by." But, let's all read it again:
"NO MAN HATH LEFT HOUSE OR BRETHREN OR SISTERS OR FATHER, OR MOTHER OR WIFE OR CHILDREN OR LANDS, FOR MY SAKE…"
Okay, here it is heretic hunters—
"BUT SHALL RECEIVE AN HUNDREDFOLD NOW IN THIS TIME, HOUSES, BRETHREN…AND LANDS…" (Mark 10:29, 30)
How about the Apostle Paul? First he says:
"LET HIM THAT IS TAUGHT…COMMUNICATE [GIVE] UNTO HIM THAT TEACHETH…ALL GOOD THINGS." (Gal. 6:6)
I often ask, "Have you received anything good from TBN? Teaching, comfort, healing, salvation, answered prayer, 100-fold?" I am amazed and grieved that while millions watch TBN only a very few, comparatively, respond with a love gift of support. No wonder that some are sick, busted, and disgusted—YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN GOD ANY SEED—SO GUESS WHAT? YOU GET NO HARVEST!
Finally, Paul the apostle says—
"AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING [GIVING] FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP A REWARD IF WE FAINT NOT." (Gal. 6:9)
As I have said a thousand times or more: "The heretic hunters have reached Jan and me too late." Let me tell you why with a final, little story.
In 1973, when TBN first began, the day came when we could buy our first TV station—Channel 40 here in southern California. The owner not only demanded a $100,000 down payment which God provided by a miracle (read my book), but also he demanded a personal guarantee from Jan and me. All we had was a little equity in our home for which we had paid $38,500. I can clearly remember my sweaty palms as I signed—everything we owned—on the dotted line. Jan had more faith than I—she says she had no fear at all. She was resigned to moving into the back of the TV studio as we pioneered Christian television. What a "personal guarantee" meant was simply this: if TBN was not successful the creditor had the right to come and take our house, car, furniture, and virtually all personal possessions! I remember leaving that meeting knowing that it was "all on the line." It was sink or swim, baby! And, yet, there was an inner peace and joy knowing we were in God's will.
Actually, I did not realize it at the time, but we had just put into motion Jesus' own promise from Luke chapter 10: "No one hath left house or…." As the work of TBN progressed, it was "touch and go"—good days and bad, many days when the bank account was empty, but I can tell you, nearly thirty years later, we never missed a payroll and, better yet, we never missed a payment on Channel 40! By the way, it was $9,333.33 a month till the full million was paid! Praise the Lord!
So, what did Paul and Jan RECEIVE for the gift of our home? Let me hasten to say that we did not, in fact, ever have to give up our home or possessions. I liken it to an Abraham-Isaac sacrifice. God provided a substitute. But, like Abraham, we were willing to give it all to God! So does "Luke 10" work? Well, Jan and I still own that little home in Newport Beach, and our model is selling for up to one million dollars! Wow, it just hit me—that's what we paid for Channel 40! Not a bad return on our $38,500, wouldn't you say? That's more than 100-fold!
And, now, since we travel so much, we get to stay in lovely guest houses from coast-to-coast visiting the many TV stations. But, guess what—God has also given us thousands of new fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers, and I KNOW every one of you would give us a room and a dinner if we knocked on your door! We gave ONE HOUSE—God has given us a million houses or more—so ask Jan and me if God's promises are true. Yes, yes, yes—a million times yes!
Do you have a need? I've given you the KEY! Put it in the lock and turn it! GIVE GOD SOMETHING TO WORK WITH."
"Do we want the BLESSINGS of God as promised in the Word? Of course we do! And we CAN HAVE THEM -- IF we will seek them God's way. Many of us have learned these great truths from R.W. Schambach, Benny Hinn, Mark Chironna and many others. Many have come out of debt, and many are living in a whole new world of God's miraculous provision and abundance! Praise the Lord! But they did it by GIVING to support the Temple of God. One of those great temples, today, is YOUR TBN! For those of you that have PROVED this law of God, I need say no more -- your pledge card is on the way!
For those who have not yet seen the abundance and the overflow, let me challenge you to TRY IT GOD'S WAY! Remember, Jesus said: "GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN" Luke 6:38"
"PLEASE ask the Lord what you should give. Many of us have RECEIVED God's blessings so we HAVE the JOY of giving back to Him! If you have not received your financial blessings, then you NEED TO GIVE so that God's LAW OF PROSPERITY can begin for you! Remember Jesus' own words: "IF YOU GIVE, YOU WILL GET!" Luke 6:38 TLB."
"The widow of Zarephath sowed in TEARS. She gave her last morsel of food to the prophet of God. But -- you know the story -- she and her son and the Prophet Elijah survived that awful famine as the meal barrel and cruse of oil miraculously never ran dry! (1 Kings 17:8-24) Jesus Himself reminded His generation that the other widows starved to death (Luke 4:24-26), only the widow who gave survived. She and her son REAPED WITH JOY every day at meal time!
Prove God this Praise-A-Thon -- some of us already have! We know the JOY of reaping the 100-fold increase! We will sow again! But some have never known the JOY of seeing the hand of God provide in times of famine and need.
DO IT TODAY -- fill out the ENCLOSED PLEDGE CARD. Mail it this month of MARCH -- YOU WILL REAP IN JOY, just as the Word of God promises.
Stretch your FAITH! Remember, Jesus said: "Whatever MEASURE you use in GIVING -- large or small -- it will be."
"The more I read and study the Word of God, the more I see that every good thing in our lives starts with GIVING, even our salvation begins when we GIVE our hearts to God! From Abraham, all the way down to Jesus, GIVING was the KEY that put God’s LAW of PROVISION into MOTION!
The children of Israel GAVE their gold and silver to build God a tabernacle in the wilderness. GOD GAVE THEM: Manna every day; water from a rock; a cloud and fire to lead them; and, finally, a land to live in!
Whatever YOUR need is – GIVE GOD SOMETHING, and watch HIS LAW go into effect to supply that need!
Pray and ask God what you should give. If you have little or nothing, make a FAITH PLEDGE, and PROVE the promises of God. Jan and I love you with all our hearts, and will join you in GIVING our best this Praise-A-Thon.
"“GOD SO LOVED…THAT HE GAVE…” So, SHOULD WE GIVE? And if so, WHAT, and TO WHOM? Well, first of all, most of us have given Him our HEARTS and our LIVES. In return, He has given us: “So great a SALVATION.” I could just end this letter right here, and we could all go home shouting, “Glory, Hallelujah!” But there is more – much more.
When we give, should we expect anything in return? Well, let me ask, “Did God expect anything in return when He gave the greatest GIFT in all of Heaven?” You bet He did! He needed sons and daughters – satan had stolen His first family, Adam and Eve. So, God GAVE what He wanted – HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON – His very best! Think of it – God didn’t just give us something; He gave us HIMSELF – the very GOD who created all things. He could not have given us anything greater than the second Person of the very Godhead – Jesus Christ!
So, what did He receive? Yes, SONS and DAUGHTERS – MILLIONS of them, and YOU are one of them! Praise the Lord God Most High!
Ah, dear Partners, do you want or need something this Christmas? Then, give away whatever you NEED! If you are lonely, give some friendship. My Jan was in deep depression years ago, when God asked her to minister healing to a depressed young girl; and God gave Jan the healing she desperately needed. Do you need a loved one saved? Go witness to another’s loved one and expect God to send a laborer to win your loved one. Are you broke – need a job, a home, a car? Bring a gift, as the Wise Men did, and know that God will meet your need. Help your TBN build precious human temples, from EVERY TRIBE, TONGUE and NATION!
The more I study the Word of God, the more I understand that every good thing we receive from God BEGINS WITH OUR GIVING TO HIM! We love to quote Luke 6:38—“GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN….” But read it all—
“FOR WITH THE SAME MEASURE YOU GIVE, IT SHALL BE MEASURED TO YOU AGAIN.”
More Heresy On TBN:
Joseph Good: "Yeshua (Jesus), we do not see as being God when He walked here on earth. We see Him as a man."
Guest: "A man anointed by God."
Joseph Good: "A man anointed by God, sent by God to perform a function. Now, in his resurrection . . ."
Guest: "He’s not God."
Joseph Good: "We do not see Him as God. We see Him as a man anointed by God. And that has been restored. There is nothing in the statements of Yeshua, in the statements of the disciples that would cause one to believe that they were proclaiming that He was deity."
(Audio-clip, Christianity In Crisis, Hank Hanegraaff)
