Letter to Stephen Strang
Are You A Christian?
February 25, 2005
Stephen Strang, President & CEO
Charisma Magazine
P: (407) 333-0600
F: (407) 333-7100
Dear Stephen:
Since I did not receive a reply from you or anyone at Charisma concerning my October 10, 2004 Open Letter to Charisma Magazine, I'm not holding my breath for a reply to this one.
Nevertheless, I am simply amazed, disturbed and bewildered that you, as a charismatic pentecostal, and as one who claims to be a Christian, continue to promote and lend credibility to the most prolific false prophet and false teacher of our day, Benny Hinn.
Why all of the concern? In his article, Evangelist brings flash, fervor, Richard Vara of the Houston Chronicle quotes you, stating that you have "...a great deal of respect" for Hinn's ministry, and that Hinn "...has always been arrow straight."
"Respect for Hinn's ministry"? "Arrow straight"? Oh really? Prove to me from the Bible where Christians are to respect false prophets and false teachers. Prove to me from the thousands of pages of documentation, documentaries, books, audio-tapes, videos, DVDs, eyewitness accounts and former Hinn followers that his prophecies, teachings and healing crusades are straight as an arrow.
Prove to me that a person can be a false prophet, false teacher and a Christian at the same time.
In the midst of overwhelming evidence that proves--beyond a shadow of a doubt--the spiritual deception behind Hinn's ministry and so-called "healing crusades," you continue to lead innocent, gullible and impressionable Christians astray by your continued admiration and fellowship with the grievous wolves who have risen up within the body of Christ (Acts 20:27-31).
As a charismatic pentecostal, you believe in the gifts of the spirit. One of those gifts is the discernment of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). I ask you, where is your discernment? If you cannot discern the overwhelming deception in your midst, then you have no discernment.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).
Discernment does not come by way of osmosis, mail-order or by touching our fingers on a TV screen. Discernment comes by a daily, dedicated study of God's inspired word. Once a Christian is well grounded in Scripture he or she will know--beyond a shadow of a doubt--what the Bible says and teaches. Then, when the wolves rise up, the Christian has the ability to discern truth from error, and is prepared to defend the faith, once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
I love you in Christ, Stephen, but I love the Lord and the truth of His word more to tell you the truth. The time has come for you to wake up and smell the heretical coffee that has brewed in Hinn's ministry since the early 1990's. The time has come for you to stop promoting false prophets and false teachers in Charisma magazine and other publications.
Stephen, are you a Christian? If so, repent and cease your fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, then expose them (Revelation 3:19; Ephesians 5:11).
I look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, am I now your enemy because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16).
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
© Christian Research Service 2004, 2005