Last Day in Africa

I had been looking forward to the last day in Africa for a couple of reasons.  One - it was the last day in Africa and I was going to go home and see my family.  Two - we weren't flying out until 10:30 at night and I would finally be able to sleep in and maybe actually enjoy a swim in the hotel pool.  BUT, NO.  Reason two was shattered when we learned that we would have to leave the hotel 13 hours ahead of our flight and cross the city toward the airport because Benny Hinn was in town and would be holding a two day miracle crusade at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.  I like this picture because I imagine the bird perched above the sign to symbolize a vulture.

Much more disturbing than inconveniencing us westerners is the reality that Benny Hinn is running a stinking prosperity gospel sham on the poor people in Africa.  His message is clear - bring an offering to sow a seed of faith... God wants you to be rich and healthy.  This is a crime against humanity.  A huge majority of Africans live on $1 per day and are vulnerable to this un-biblical message.  This is a new form of Colonialism.  God have mercy.  Benny Hinn isn't the only charlatan pulling off this cruel scheme.  Right after we passed the stadium (with thousands of Africans lined up in the rain to get in the stadium a full seven hours before the meeting was scheduled to start) I saw a poster of Dr. Creflow Dollar.  Check the news story below if you don't believe he is up to no good.  Another one of Creflow's billboards said, "Come meet the man whom God has anointed to lead you out of poverty." (something to that effect).

Comments

[Brian Eberly]

Mike I have thoroughly enjoyed reading of all your Africa travels and experiences. What a great opportunity. It was all good until this last post. What a tragedy! As you said..."crime against humanity." Breaks my heart.

[Dan Mayes]

Sorry your trip ended with such a bummer.

I cringe anytime I see one of these guys.

They are the "anti-Christ" of the televised world. Creflo Dollar (I wonder if that's really his name...or if it's just irony) and Benny Hinn among others. What bothers me is how receptive people are to their prosperity gospel. I can understand it's attractiveness to people who are poor. But they must not realize the secondary implications. If you do what God wants, God will make you rich. Therefore, if you're not rich there's something wrong with you, something sinful. Isn't that the type of notion the book of Job discredits?

Jesus spent his ministry opposing the powers of the wealthy who conspired with the Romans. This "prosperity gospel" is pretty close to the exact opposite of Jesus' teachings.

Anyway, hope you got home safe.

[Grant Wood]

Thanks for the trip log Mike. It gave me a lot to think about. I had nightmares last night about being held captive by a prosperity gospel peddler. No kidding.

[Mike King]

Here are a few thoughts that Brian McLaren had on Benny and the Jets... (Jets, my definition -other like minded crazy people)

Benny Hinn posters everywhere. “We like Benny Hinn,” a Ugandan member of parliament told me. “He gives our people hope. They feel that they are locked in poverty, but Benny tells them that God can bless them.” What if their hopes are raised at the crusade and then nothing changes? I ask. “Then they are disillusioned,” he adds, implying that their post-crusade disillusionment is no worse than their pre-crusade despair. I see his point, but still wonder.

A Ugandan man tells us that the ever-present local Benny wannabe’s promise healing from HIV if only the infected will give the “man of God” their car or home or property. When they “sow their seed” and the promised healing or prosperity doesn’t come, a backlog of disillusioned people accumulates. Sometimes they become angry, so the prosperity preachers have to spend some of their own prosperity on armed guards.

[Steven Greene]

I honestley couldnt stomach the whole video. When he began to justify the need for a private jet, I truly became sick! I am glad however that their are voices as loud as Al Sharpton and Jim Wallis who speak against this "hersey". I wonder if the Ebenezer Baptist Church mentioned is the same Martin Luther King Jr. was a part of? Do you know? Miss you mike, thanks for keeping up on the blogs