Quote: "Benny Hill = Funny."
In real life.
He was far more funny than anyone could ever imagine.
But this was not part of his gift as a comedian, rather the man himself, his personal life, habits and perfectly human traits that we all have, would leave you rolling on the floor with laughter.
Unfortunately because of the intimate personal details involved, I don't feel able to disclose them here, the thread would explode.
He, along with several old time English comedians, was typically quite unbelievable.
You couldn't make it up, it is simply too fantastical.
With regard to certain areas of his life.
Thanks for this thread.
I was interested in it, because my Mother who watches various satellite T.V. programmes has sometimes spoken about Benny Hinn.
In addition, a few years back I became concerned that certain well known Religious Leaders in the U.K. were becoming heavily influenced by such people.
In point of fact, I conducted some practical experiments without their knowledge at all, to put my doubts about them to the test, and found them somewhat wanting.
In the end, I decided to ensure I put a clear distance between myself and such individuals who were ardent followers and practitioners of the teachings of the people being discussed.
Because some of the English Religious Leaders involved, were members of Traditional Church Movements, I was dealing with a Movement within a Movement, so found it an extremely difficult situation indeed.
Naturally, if you discussed such things as you had observed in what you expected to be a Traditional Church Service, and brought these matters up with others, you got the sense that perhaps people thought you were wrong.
Nobody likes criticising a Minister of the Gospel, but my issue was they now weren't Ministering the Gospel, but had gone way beyond anything The Holy Bible taught, into a realm of what I suppose I would regard, as a kind of self deception.
In fact.
One Minister had a great many, very strange ideas.
I was present at one meeting where he disclosed to the Congregation.
That he could accurately identify the Characteristics of the people in his Congregation by where they sat in the pews.
For instance if you sat on the right hand side three rows from the back, you would be a thief. If you sat in either of the two rear most, central pews you would be mentally ill. And on it went.
I felt so tremendously sorry for the people sat in those areas.
Thankfully, I usually sit in the middle of things.
But you can gauge what I mean.
It was all becoming.
Too Far out.
Decades before.
I would have regarded some of the people I was concerned about as being among the finest Christian Teachers in the land.
So all this was very painful to me in particular, but I soon found that I was not the only person having very great concern, about this time.
Indeed, at a huge, General Church Meeting, it was clear that a massive number of people, had precisely the same concerns and misgivings as I.
Eventually about 500 people left this particular Church, specifically because of the direction in which it was being taken. But what to do about the Minister?
Well in the Movement concerned, they gave him a new title, and moved him somewhere he couldn't do real damage, working beneath another Leader who kept a close eye on him.
It took a time for this to unravel.
And that was a very painful experience for all.
But one tiny, extremely insignificant event in particular encapsulated the problem in a nutshell, for me.
It was early one Morning, and I had been driven (I don't drive at all) into town, to visit a Gospel Bookshop, looking to buy a Bible for a relative.
While I was there, the very Minister concerned, entered the shop, spent a little bit of time intently reading the latest paperbacks, and clearly excited by material written by precisely the type of person being discussed, eventually bought one, and left.
Somehow, I instinctively realised, that he was looking for a subject for his Sermon the next day. That he would pump himself up, full with this new found knowledge, and deliver it, presenting it as The Word of God, for the huge number of young people (students) in his Congregation.
This is the essence of the problem.
People find their 'spiritual resources' in something other than The Holy Bible.
And a deeply abiding relationship, that is steeped in a prayerful life of reflective contemplation.
Rather than dwelling on the Word of God itself, and allowing God by his Spirit to reveal how it applies directly to his life.
It had become easier, to pick up an instant fix, of the thoughts and ideas of other men, and perhaps to some degree or another, a great many Christians could be guilty of this.
Also.
I believe.
That where this man started to go wrong.
Had its basis in fear of man, and as we are taught, such fear is not of God.
I remember him intimating, that when he was advised he was coming here, he was completely scared to death, and wanted to get out of it.
It seemed to be the case, that the very intense intellectual rigour and scrutiny his Ministry would be under, because of the nature of the Academic Audience he would Minister to, was extremely daunting.
And also because the previous Minister he was following, was a true Apostolic Leader, who was extraordinary successful in building the Church and its widespread reputation, and was a very famous Christian Writer to boot, hailed all over the World.
He felt, inwardly challenged. It all seemed too much for him to be able to follow successfully. He felt would always be compared to the former Minister, and could only be seen in a negative light, relatively speaking.
But in his fear.
Instead of privately turning to God.
And humbly looking for the Courageous Leadership and Vision he needed.
He instead, looked toward other Christian Leaders, that were making 'more noise' and commanding 'more attention', than the Minister he replaced.
Now hindsight's a wonderful thing.
Looking back, it's really easy to see how this happened.
But at the time was a period of tremendous confusion and pain for many.
Quote: "I think this fellow is beyond rebuke - or certainly would not accept it from any average joe like you and I. So in this case, yes a patient gentle rebuke is not the point, thought it could be in a general sense denote an overall demeanor we take towards any person in error."
Demeanour is important.
How you say something is everything.
I'm a person that will tend to say, what I believe to be right.
The problem is, such people will walk all over any kind of pussy footing, and treat it with contempt.
This Leader, was totally sure he was right about everything, would not accept advice from anyone, nor brook any criticism at all.
You couldn't even talk to him in a respectful rational way, if you approached him to attempt to discuss your concerns, he would deliberately and crudely avoid the conversation.
And I remain convinced to this day, that when 500 rock solid Members of his Church decided to distance themselves from it, he was sure that this was clear evidence that his critics were in the wrong themselves.
Leadership.
In the Bible always involved a Team.
There's great checks and balances in that approach.
Whoever the Leader was, he was part of a Team, and of course that applied even to Christ Himself.
It seems to me that overtly Charismatic Leaders, (and I'm not against any particular Movement as I care little for denominations), often subtly present themselves, by implication as a form of 'Christ Substitute'.
But there is no substitute in the Christian Life for Jesus.
Everyone, whoever they are, will fall short.
So don't put them on a pedestal.
In the first place.
Quote: "I think this is in line with the topic. A few of you may find this interesting."
Very much so.
I will write to Anne, in the near future, after some reflection.
My son's fianc
