The recent developments concerning evangelist Benny Hinn and his wife Suzanne has got me thinking. My earlier post concerning this situation called for a bit of honesty from Hinn. I am truly praying that God would restore his marriage and that this situation would end happily, but I’m not too sure that will take place.

Benny Hinn released a statement on Thursday concerning the situation. I thought it was somewhat honest, providing that it’s not being spun in his favor. But something about his statement concerned me, and that was the portion in which he explained that he would not be taking a break from his crusades amidst this crisis.

I want you, as my partner in this ministry, to know that I am going to continue preaching the Gospel and praying for the sick as I have for 36 years. I will not allow anything to slow me down or stop me. – Benny Hinn

My concern is simply this; how can you work on your marriage while continuing a grueling ministry schedule? How can someone continue ministry while ignoring a major crisis going on between them and their spouse?

I’m not calling for Benny Hinn to quit the ministry. I hope that when this situation is properly handled and hearts are strong again he will go back to being Benny Hinn. But why not go through this process with the utmost availability to your children and your spouse? Does the world really need Hinn more than his sons and daughters need him right now?

Frankly, I’m not buying the idea that ministry comes before spouse. The marriage covenant binds two people together, making them one person (Mark 10:6-8). If there is a call to do something for Jesus it also involves the person you committed your life to in holy matrimony. Because the two shall become one. It is simply not ok to deem your ministry as more important than your spouse.

Consider what the married Apostle Peter said about marital discord being a hindrance to prayer.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3:7)

He literally meant that when you and your spouse deal with each other in disrespect or discord your prayers are indeed hindered. Prayers are stopped up or blocked by hard-hearted stubbornness.

The ministry of a man or woman to their spouse will always be their primary ministry. I’m going to argue that there is no significant ministry that can take place in your life while you ignore or simply blame your spouse for failure. Healing must take place for the stamp of God’s approval to be placed on the heart of a minister of the gospel.

Again, I’m not bashing Benny Hinn or calling for him to quit the ministry. There probably is significant loss that would take place if he stepped down for any period of time. But am I wrong to think that trying to stay married is worth the break? Maybe even a loss of monetary gains?

Can anybody really expect to be used mightily for God while ignoring or neglecting their spouse? From my perspective, absolutely not.

Earlier this evening, USA Today reported that Suzanne Hinn, wife of Evangelist Benny Hinn, has filed papers for divorce with the Orange County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note that the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.

I felt the importance of writing about this situation, given the many people that I personally know who have experienced Hinn’s ministry. Benny Hinn is one of the best known ministers in pentecostal camps today. His ministry has been far reaching, with miracle crusades spanning all over the world.

I feel its important that we draw our attention to this situation not to mock or gossip, but to observe and pray. First, we ought to pray. No one knows the whole story; it’s always best to pray before casting judgment. Obviously, this is terrible news given the amount of influence Benny Hinn has had on many in the body of Christ. No matter how big, great, lofty, powerful, or anointed a ministry may seem or be, the minister’s marriage commitment is important. Which is why we ought to do one more thing, and that is to observe.

As Christians, we ought to observe this situation, reminding ourselves that no one is exempt. We all need to remember that if a man can’t manage his own household, it is far fetched that he can rightly manage God’s church (1 Tim. 3:5). No one is exempt; when our priorities are wrong, it doesn’t matter who we think we are, our sin will find us out.

Though his ministry has not been without controversy, I have always appreciated the ministry of Benny Hinn. I understand that J. Lee Grady reported on his twitter account that Benny Hinn has indeed requested prayer.

My concern here is with Benny Hinn’s honesty. What will he do with this situation? Will he ignore it by acting as if a failed marriage is not important? Will he continue on doing miracle crusades week after week? Recently, in charismatic movements, we’ve had quite a few prominent ministers divorce and continue on ministering as if nothing happened at all. They disrespected God’s church and trampled on the anointing.

Will Benny Hinn do the same?

I hope for the sake of his integrity and his ministry that he is honest about this situation. I hope that he is open to admitting his mistakes in marriage so they can be used as a point of teaching to all other ministers who are longing to be used by God. I hope we will see him step down for a season; honestly confronting the issue. Is that to much to ask? Is it too much to ask that a preacher of the gospel show remorse over failing to honor his promise to God?

For those ministers who have fallen and then tried to assume that God needed them more than they needed Him, I’ve unfortunately lost respect. But if Benny Hinn, though understandably difficult, meets this situation with open spirited honesty and remorse, for him I believe I would gain respect. Why? Because we need so desperately a dose of honesty in the church, and especially in the charismatic movement.

What do you think about Gayle Haggard?

It’s been a little over 3 years since Gayle’s husband, evangelical leader Ted Haggard, admitted to “sexual immorality”, a confession he made after a Denver male escort claimed he and Haggard had a three-year sexual relationship.

Gayle and her husband went through the most gut wrenching, humbling, and public failures in ministry that we’ve seen in decades. They lost their church, their home, and immediately lost their prominence as the face of evangelicalism. The details of their descent to rock bottom were pictured in the HBO documentary “The Trials of Ted Haggard”, directed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, Alexandra Pelosi.

I remember watching the documentary and thinking to myself, “Did it have to be this hard?” I understand the implications and why he was not to be allowed to immediately go back to New Life, but did this excommunication really have to be permanent?

Did the Haggard’s really deserve to be booted from their home and have to move to a place where they could for the health of the church somehow disappear?

Regardless of the church’s or Haggard’s rights or wrongs I have noticed Gayle Haggard. Although Ted Haggard disappeared from the spot light, it seems that Gayle Haggard appeared. Everyone wanted to see how she and her children would handle this whirlwind of disaster.

I personally think Gayle Haggard has taken the hard, hard road. No option would have been a good one following her husband’s fall, but instead of jumping ship, changing her name, and bailing town, Gayle did something most would find insane – - she stayed.

It’s the title of her new book, “Why I Stayed: The Choices I Made In My Darkest Hour”, which talks about her decision early on in the scandal to stand with her husband.

She said in her interview with Today Show host Meredith Vieira, “I knew I was going to have to make the choice early on . . . and I chose early on that I really do love this man and I’m willing to fight with him for our marriage, and for our family, and everything that I cared about… our church even.”

What do you think about Gayle Haggard?

I think she’s either insane or she is one of the greatest examples we have of the Christian life. In spite of the damage done by Ted’s wrong, Gayle has certainly modeled unconditional love for her husband. She could’ve left him, she could’ve broken down and cursed him in front of the church and the nation. She could’ve gone on a war against cheating husbands, using her influence to weed out other cheaters in today’s society.

But instead she stayed; she stayed with him all the way to rock bottom, to the desert and back. Today, 3 years later, Gayle Haggard has made up her mind that for her husband and her family… it was all worth it.

]]> http://thebainjournal.com/why-she-stayed/feed 0 http://thebainjournal.com/a-theology-of-martyrdom http://thebainjournal.com/a-theology-of-martyrdom#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:41:35 +0000 Roger Bain http://thebainjournal.com/?p=2201

Here in America, the church of Jesus Christ has for the most part enjoyed a peaceful Christendom. But throughout church history we know that Christians have endured some of the most grievous seasons of persecution known to man. Even now in the Middle East, North Korea, China, and India an intense season of persecution is sweeping over the followers of Jesus Christ.

It is hard for us who may have only experienced mere social rejection or embarrassment to understand what it truly means to lay down our lives for the sake of Christ.

Recently, I came across some stories concerning Christian Martyrdom which caused me to look differently at the death of God’s saints. The following believers died for their belief in Jesus Christ; they viewed their life as nothing compared to all that Christ has done. To them dying for Christ is the greatest privilege of the Christian life.

Stephen – the first Martyr

“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:58-60)

Stephen sets the tone as the first of many Christian martyrs. He died not with a last shout of angry words or a hope of revenge falling on his murderers, but with the glory of the risen Christ within view. Stephen’s hope as his life came to an end was to go out like Jesus did, forgiving those who had no idea what they were doing.

I love the way my pastor, Scott Hagan described Stephen’s martyrdom,

“While being stoned, Stephen saw what Caleb and Joshua saw beyond the giants of Canaan. Stephen saw a God whose earth was His footstool. A God so great He made the giants look like grasshoppers. What the people casting the stones could not see were the rose pedals being poured over Stephen. The stones suddenly felt like feathers. He who wept over Stephens hurts… He who bled for his sins and prayed over his weaknesses… was now within clear view.” ¹

After enduring the anger of his persecutors, the Bible says that Stephen simply fell asleep (Acts 7:60).

Polycarp’s Vision

Marc Galli’s book, “131 Christians Everyone Should Know” describes the humble demeanor of Polycarp – Bishop of Smyrna in 116 A.D. – and his vision which called him to lay down his life for Christ.

When Roman officials suddenly decided to arrest him for his faith, he decided it was best to wait for them at his home. His friends pleaded with him to flee, so to calm their nerves he decided to retreat to a small estate outside of town. But while in prayer, Polycarp received a Vision, a Vision which revealed to him that he was to die for Christ.

When his friends urged him to run, Polycarp welcomed the Roman soldiers, saying, “God’s will be done.” He was escorted to the proconsul, Statius Quadratus, who interrogated him and threatened him with death by burning at the stake. Polycarp replied, “While the proconsul’s fire lasts but a little while, the fires of judgment reserved for the ungodly cannot be quenched.” He then concluded, “But why do you delay? Come do what you will.”

Denisa – A sixteen year old Martyr

The Fox’s book of Martyrs tells the story of Denisa a sixteen year old who died boldly for the sake of Christ.

Under the persecution of Decius in A.D. 249, a Christian man named Nichomashus was brought before the proconsul and ordered to sacrifice to the pagan idols. Nichomashus replied, “I cannot pay that respect to devils, which is only due to the Almighty.” The proconsul being enraged by his speech tortured him until he became frail and recanted. Moments after, realizing what he had done, he fell into the greatest of agonies, dropped down on the ground and died immediately.

Denisa, a young woman of only sixteen years of age, who witnessed the recanting of faith by Nichomashus, suddenly shouted, “O unhappy wretch, why would you buy a moment’s ease at the expense of a miserable eternity!” Optimus, hearing this, called to her, and Denisa avowing herself to be a Christian, was beheaded, by the order of the proconsul.

A Theology of Martyrdom

Joseph Tson, a Romanian pastor, survived great persecution during the Communist regime in Romania. He and members of his church became part of the revival God used to break the Soviet grip on his nation.

When Tson was faced with imprisonment and the possibility of death, a fellow believer challenged him with what he calls the “theology of martyrdom.” Tson calls it the “greatest privilege of the Christian life – to give your life for Christ.” But, he adds, “You must be counted worthy to die for Christ!” Despite all of Tson’s personal suffering and that of his family, when freed from danger, he lamented, “We were not worthy!” ²

Tson’s lament could have easily been another man’s jubilation. But Joseph Tson viewed dying for Christ as a great reward.

We all ought to remember our brothers and sisters who hold fast to their faith, even unto death, all over the world. Although we may view death fearfully, they are unafraid to be counted worthy to die for our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)

In Revelation chapter 2 the Apostle John writes to the seven churches in Asia Minor concerning the revelation of Jesus Christ. When addressing the church in Pergamum his message was firm; he rebuked them for their embrace of the false teachings of the Nicolaitans.

“Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” (Revelation 2:15, 16)

The teachings of the Nicolaitans, an obscure sect, taught that in order to enjoy the acceptance of Roman society, the followers of Christ must compromise and adapt to their pagan communities. The Nicolaitans campaigned accommodation to pagan society by eating food sacrificed to idols and by engaging in sexual immorality.¹

The city of Pergamum itself was a famous political city; filled with idolatry and the pursuit of political power. In as early as 29 B.C., it became the site of the first temple for Roman emperial worship, which erected a temple in honor of Augustus Caesar.²

For Christians in Pergamum, the constant temptation was to compromise their Christian beliefs for social and political acceptance. Christians refusing to adapt to pagan society were exposed to harsh ridicule and rejection. This rejection from society set the table for the teachings of the Nicolaitans, a teaching which was the sort of leaven which could destroy the Christian community. Like Balaam (Num. 25:1-3) in the Old Testament, Jesus warned that the Nicolaitans were influencing the church to indulge in practices which were contrary to the flourishing of their Christian faith.

If the church at Pergamum would not repent, they stood in danger of trading in their Christian character and faith for a seat with Satan on his throne of temporal political power (Rev. 2:13-16).

Compromising for Acceptance

Like those in the ancient church of Pergamum, we’ve all at times played the game of compromise in order to enjoy acceptance or approval. We live in an increasingly secular nation, and the glaring temptation for the church today is to compromise our own Christian beliefs in order to enjoy the temporal pleasures of social and political gain.

Compromise in the context of Christian beliefs is more than just making a decision to avoid conflict; it is a decision to choose immediate pleasure over the eternal pleasures offered by our Lord Jesus Christ.

The root of compromise is in our lack of belief in who Christ proclaimed Himself to be. We compromise when we have no idea the eternal treasure we forfeit in an effort to be liked an approved. What Jesus promised the overcomers in the church at Pergamum can still be a source of encouragement for us today when faced with the temptation to compromise.

The Rewards of Uncompromising Faith

Jesus promised those in Pergamum who would overcome, a portion of the hidden manna (Rev. 2:17). Hidden manna represented the supernatural sustenance provided by God. Jesus himself is the true bread of God; the only one who can offer true acceptance and eternal life. For those who crave acceptance, Jesus offered them the supreme level of acceptance; acceptance which was the invitation into His glorious Kingdom forever and ever.

To those who would overcome, Jesus also promised a white stone; a white stone which would have a new name from God written on it. A white stone in ancient Pergamum was commonly used as admission to the great banquets and festivals of the city. The white stone is an equivalent to an invitation into all of the presidential gatherings of Washington in our day. A new name would be on that stone which was a new name or identity given to them by the creator God Himself; giving them the full right to all things in His Kingdom.

As believers we must be so diligent in keeping ourselves pure of opposing gods, idols, people, and things which take a precedence over our worship of the living God. We need the Holy Spirit to help us stand guard against the leaven of the Nicolaitans, a doctrine of compromise which still exists today. Let’s reject the advice of those who will invite us to succumb rather than have courage in standing for our faith in Jesus Christ.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2: 17)

The Harvard Business IdeaCast some weeks ago took up an interesting topic, it was a conversation on how to lead clever people. By “clever people” they didn’t mean intellectually elite, but rather creative individuals who can add a great deal of value to an organization, yet they cannot be tamed (told what to do).

Gareth Jones, coauthor of the book, “Clever: Leading Your Smartest, Most Creative People” said during the interview, “Some of your greatest leaders will say they don’t want to be leaders and they will also say they don’t want to be lead.”

Superiors can often tell people what to do and without questions or remarks subordinates carry out the task. While subordination is needed in any organization, the problem is that often people who simply carry out tasks don’t add as much value as anticipated. In other words, they are so comfortable with following that they don’t press the organization to reach new horizons.

Pastors want people to add value to their ministries, but the problem is that they often want them to do it THEIR WAY. They desire to have the people they work with do things the exact way that they would do it. But the reality is that quality leaders will lead in their own skin.

With the trust of their superiors, strategic parameters, and goals these “clever” leaders can achieve the heights of their potential.

This Harvard Business IdeaCast, though speaking of methods from the business world, I think gave some sound advice senior pastors could use in getting their most creative and ‘clever’ leaders to add value and find a place of significance.

How To Lead Clever People:

* Do explain things and persuade them, but don’t tell them what to do — clever people don’t take a leader’s word at face value; they need to understand why they’re being asked to do something.

* Do tell them what to do but don’t tell them how to do it — clever people enjoy figuring out how to do things and will almost always rise to the challenge.