Monday, May 15 2006

The impending visit of evangelical pastor Benny Hinn to Trinidad and Tobago has aroused some controversy. Leading the charge was the Maha Sabha, which represents the majority of Hindus here, wanting Mr Hinn to be banned from entering the country.

This proposition was bound to fail but, even if it hadn’t, it would have revealed an unprepossessing mindset on the part of the Maha Sabha leaders. It is only authoritarian institutions, which wish to command loyalty through intimidation and ignorance, that try to prevent people from being exposed to different viewpoints. The Maha Sabha would have done better merely to confine itself to exposing what information it has about Mr Hinn and his ministry.

On that, there is certainly enough to arouse debate. Mr Hinn, as is standard practice amongst those who practice his brand of religion, claims to be able to perform miracles — or, more precisely, claims to be able to channel God’s power to heal the sick. When he was here six years ago, one Marcano Siewsankar believed he was healed by Mr Hinn. But the effect was purely psychosomatic — Mr Siewsankar’s state of health soon worsened and he died a month later. Moreover, there have never been any scientifically documented cases of “miraculous” healings at Mr Hinn’s crusades or, indeed, any other events of this sort. All “evidence” is purely anecdotal. But, since it is hope rather than intelligence which springs eternal in the human heart, this will not prevent people from attending the crusades and giving generously to Mr Hinn’s coffers.

This is their choice, and the authorities can interfere in this process only to the extent of preventing outright fraud from being practised on citizens. But the mere promise of miracles can hardly constitute fraud, especially since money is not demanded but only requested. However, it is known that some evangelists plant confederates in their audiences, either to pretend to be healed or to get information from individuals which is passed on to the pastor so he can seem to have divinely given knowledge. That is deception, but does it constitute fraud? The answer is not clear-cut.

What is certainly clear, however, is the affluent lifestyle which Mr Hinn leads. He travels first-class, and it reported that he has his own jet aircraft, lives in a mansion on several acres of land, and dresses in the most expensive clothes. So the question that believers should ask themselves, when they put their money into Mr Hinn’s collection pails, is what do they expect their money to be used for? Is it for charitable works? Is it for Mr Hinn to pray for them? Or is it for Mr Hinn?

Believers might ask why it is that Mr Hinn, a Christian pastor, finds it necessary to live so extravagantly. After all, the very Bible he will hold in his hand while preaching this coming weekend has several injunctions against profligacy. In Matthew Chapter 10, verses 8-9, Jesus instructs his disciples to “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons,” and adds, “freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses.” In 1Timothy 6:9-10, it says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil.” And there is the famous verse of Matthew 19:24, where Jesus says: “Verily, 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.”

In Biblical times, the “eye of the needle” was a small gateway in city walls. So Jesus meant that it was difficult, not impossible, for a rich man to be saved. But whether believers wish to make Mr Hinn’s entry into Heaven more or less arduous is entirely up to them.