Liberty University denies Benny Hinn partnership

Benny Hinn co-opted Liberty’s good name

The one thing that doesn’t ring consistent in LU’s statement is Provost Ronald Godwin’s presence in the video with Hinn.

http://vimeo.com/90776413

Link to his page at Liberty

https://www.liberty.edu/aboutliberty/?PID=11850

@Greg … yes a mystery indeed!

It sounds like they are not partnering per se but Hinn’s ministry is piggy backing off of Liberty’s institute. I know nothing about Liberty but their credibility is probably going to take a hit after this decision IMO.

I’m a grad student at Liberty. I appreciate their firm stance on a literal, 6 day creation narrative and inerrancy of scripture. I am at odds with them over many cultural aspects of Christian living. It was disconcerting to sit in a classroom a year ago while the professor and the majority of students present discussed what cd’s were in their cars at that moment- secular country, rock and rap were all praised. I think it was unwise to allow their name to go with the program when they let it go, and they are reaping the results of that decision, but aim glad they are taking an immediate and unequivocal stand against a partnership with Hinn. Unfortunately, they are not uniform in this approach. One class I took required reading that endorsed and promoted charismaticism in general and third-wave theology in particular. While I have strong disagreement with some of the people they partner with, like the Blackabys, I have not yet heard of any endoresement of an heretic like Hinn.

I hear from an inside source that LU is investigating legal actions to keep Hinn from doing what he’s doing. This is still not over…

Yes, it is strange that the school’s provost, Ronald Godwin, was on Hinn’s program along with the owner of the curriculum. Perhaps he had gone rogue, but his presence would certainly seem to imply Liberty’s involvement with Hinn. I would think that a high-ranking school official would be smart enough not to get his school involved in such a mess.

Here’s the brochure

http://www.bennyhinn.org/wpbennyhinn/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/WHF_Lib…

Back in 2007 Jonathan Falwell and Ron Godwin (and others not part of Liberty) participated in an event coordinated and hosted by Benny Hinn.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/update-pastor-benny-hinn-and-ch…

http://www.ipsnews.net/2007/07/religion-us-evangelicals-approach-muslim…

I seem to recall Jerry Falwell Sr. being associated with Hinn and Kenneth Hagin back in the mid 90’s. Then there was Eldridge Cleaver. Their friends will look at this as another “oops!’ moment while their enemies will have another headline for their newsletters.

It is strange, because I (am one of many who) teach the basic theology classes for Liberty U Online, and the textbook used for the classes, Theology for Today by Elmer Towns, takes a cessationist position.

how Liberty, one of the most marketing-savvy institutions on the planet, can get itself in cul-de-sacs like this…

I am also increasingly amazed when mega-ministries such as Liberty (which could write its own ticket as to who it would like to work with and could easily afford to sacrifice and take the higher road) choose to become bedfellows with entities that are highly questionable and controversial.

Where is the discernment?

http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=116272

Now they acknowledge the appearance of an administrator, but he was apparently mis-informed.

Me thinks that Mr. Godwin is in big trouble. Their statement says a couple of times that Godwin was mistaken in the things he said on air about the curriculum and its connection to the university, and that after it was over that he asked Hinn to not broadcast the segment until he verified with the university the ownership of the curriculum. Goodness, this is the chief academic officer of a university, and he gets recorded saying things about a curriculum that he after the fact wants to check out before the segment is aired. Did this interview just come up on the spur of the moment? If not, why didn’t Godwin check out the facts about the curriculum before the interview?

Yes, I would encourage people to read the revised statement, included the Q&A.

What is Liberty University’s (and Dr. Godwin’s) opinion of Benny Hinn?

For the record, I’ve been impressed with the growth and influence of LU and am thankful for many of their contributions. That being said, discernment has not been one of their strong points over their history.