I think the biggest one of all, is Pastor Benny Hinn. He claims to do things that only Jesus is supposed to be able to do....oh yeah, and he is a fraud.

First, to call one a True Prophet one must believe there is such a thing.

Assuming there are True Prophets out there, I would hypothesize that the level of Truth is inversely proportionate to their bank accounts.


Edit per OP's request: Modify my hypothesis to state "personal bank account and/or funds directly accessible by the prophet."?

[edit on 12-8-2008 by Phage]

Here's how you tell a false prophet:

A real one isn't going to ask for your money. If a self-styled "holy man" asks for and needs your money, then they worship Greed, not God.

Very simple.

Originally posted by Phage

First, to call one a True Prophet one must believe there is such a thing.

Assuming there are True Prophets out there, I would hypothesize that the level of Truth is inversely proportionate to their bank accounts.

Originally posted by Ambient Sound
Here's how you tell a false prophet:

A real one isn't going to ask for your money. If a self-styled "holy man" asks for and needs your money, then they worship Greed, not God.

Very simple.

That sounds like a good idea, except for the counter-argument that when you're giving it's a part of your tithe.

Originally posted by asmeone2

Originally posted by Phage

First, to call one a True Prophet one must believe there is such a thing.

Assuming there are True Prophets out there, I would hypothesize that the level of Truth is inversely proportionate to their bank accounts.

Originally posted by Ambient Sound
Here's how you tell a false prophet:

A real one isn't going to ask for your money. If a self-styled "holy man" asks for and needs your money, then they worship Greed, not God.

Very simple.

That sounds like a good idea, except for the counter-argument that when you're giving it's a part of your tithe.

I believe that you shouldnt tithe to People or Churches these days because of the greed involved with the people in control of the church accounts. I DO however believe in making a point to "tithe" by giving the same ammount to someone in need who may or may not ask for it. That is God's will and Jesus's number one commandment to the people. To love your brother as you love your self.

~MU

I believe that you shouldnt tithe to People or Churches these days because of the greed involved with the people in control of the church accounts. I DO however believe in making a point to "tithe" by giving the same ammount to someone in need who may or may not ask for it. That is God's will and Jesus's number one commandment to the people. To love your brother as you love your self.

~MU

Oh yes, I agree with you, but for most people in church, they think that giving a tithe is part of their duty to support/expand the churhc. So I don't think the "if he asks for mony" is a good test.

Originally posted by asmeone2

I believe that you shouldnt tithe to People or Churches these days because of the greed involved with the people in control of the church accounts. I DO however believe in making a point to "tithe" by giving the same ammount to someone in need who may or may not ask for it. That is God's will and Jesus's number one commandment to the people. To love your brother as you love your self.

~MU

Oh yes, I agree with you, but for most people in church, they think that giving a tithe is part of their duty to support/expand the churhc. So I don't think the "if he asks for mony" is a good test.

I didnt mean "only give money to those who ask for it" I meant, using the same money to support programs that help people in need. There are many small organisations around my town where you can give donations to less fortunate families for their electric bills, food, etc.

I dont think giving 10% of your money to a church who "needs" a new sports complex or coffee bar is helping to spread God's word. It only increases the amount of people coming to give more money to the church.
There are churches in my town who are small, pass around a collection plate and REALLY help people. They go fix up people's houses on the weekends and give homeless warm meals. THere are also these expansionist Mega-Ultra churches in my town, one in particular (the largest) who MAKES every member sign a CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT to give 10% of your money. AND THEY ASK FOR VERIFICATION OF WAGES!

Meanwhile, they are constantly having church parties and fireworks displays that could very well be food in peoples bellies that couldnt afford them. They also have a STARBUCKS in the church and ATMs in the church.

~MU

THere are also these expansionist Mega-Ultra churches in my town, one in particular (the largest) who MAKES every member sign a CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT to give 10% of your money. AND THEY ASK FOR VERIFICATION OF WAGES!

It's disgusting

My parents go to a megachurch like that.

Until recently they prided themselves on never going into debt for their new buildings. They just built a huge, and I mean stadium-size, new building, and that apparently put them in debt.

I asked why they were going back on what had been one of their fundamental tenants, and they said, "We prayed about it, God told us to."

Here's how Moses was instructed by God to recognize them:

The only bible reference I am aware of related to this is Deut 18.22:

In the New KJ Translation:

"when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."

My Jewish study bible says:

"if the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and the oracle does not come true, that oracle was not spoken by the Lord; the prophet has uttered it presumptuously: do not stand in dread of him."


So, I take it that: 1) a prophet has to predict an event in the future, and 2) that something has to be verifiable and it can't be obvious. Notice that this precludes predicting features of the earth, the sun rising in the morning, or death since that comes to everyone, etc. So, in my mind it has to have an action and time component. For instance, a prophet might predict that Jesus will return on a future Day of Atonement without referencing a specific one. A prophet might predict that the sun will stop in the middle of the sky on such and such a date and we'll all lose 3 hours worldwide, etc.

The flim flam artists dominating religious shows are just that and just about everyone can recognize the difference between a preacher (who isn't necessarily a prophet) and a self-styled prophet. I agree with the consensus that Prophets of God are not concerned with wealth because they would know that it provides a conflict of interest.

My $0.02.

If a prophet claims to speak for Jesus or God then what the prophet says should align with the Word of God in the Bible. If a prophet says something that contradicts the Word of God then you can assume that the prophet is not speaking for God and is, rather, leading people away from the Word of God. A prophet should lead us to the Word of God. If what a prophets says leads us away from the Word of God then we can assume that the prophet is false or antichrist. The Bible is our compass for discerning all things.

I saw Benny Hinn preach once. He spoke about bizarre things that either directly contradicted the Bible or weren't even in the Bible. The Catholic Church and the Church of England along with many other "christian" religions also directly contradict the Bible. We must never depend on men or organizations or institutions of men to interpret the Bible for us. We must read the book ourselves so that we are never deceived.



[edit on 14-8-2008 by checkers]

Originally posted by checkers
If a prophet claims to speak for Jesus or God then what the prophet says should align with the Word of God in the Bible. If a prophet says something that contradicts the Word of God then you can assume that the prophet is not speaking for God and is, rather, leading people away from the Word of God. A prophet should lead us to the Word of God. If what a prophets says leads us away from the Word of God then we can assume that the prophet is false or antichrist. The Bible is our compass for discerning all things.

I saw Benny Hinn preach once. He spoke about bizarre things that either directly contradicted the Bible or weren't even in the Bible. The Catholic Church and the Church of England along with many other "christian" religions also directly contradict the Bible. We must never depend on men or organizations or institutions of men to interpret the Bible for us. We must read the book ourselves so that we are never deceived.



[edit on 14-8-2008 by checkers]

Right, but what about the ones that DO line up with the Bible yet still fail? I've seen that as well.