The Genuine Article

Written by Steve Barnes Sunday, 17 February 2008 02:07

How can we tell the genuine article? Have you ever had someone offer you a Rolex watch for a dirt cheap price? Have you ever had someone offer you a service,and you think there may be an ulterior motive? Sometimes things appear to be one thing, but are in fact an imitation, or a sham. It's not nice, but it's true.

This unfortunately applies in Christendom too. Remember the sons of Sceva? They were trying to cast out demons in Jesus' name. They knew Jesus, they'd seen enough to imitate His moves, or at least His disciples, but the real power was not there! I guess that's one way of telling a phony; it just doesn't work like the real thing.

What about clever imitations? What about forged bank notes? They seem to be right. They seem to work OK. You may even trade with them, but eventually they will get someone in trouble. Trading using a counterfeit is not a good idea!

I have heard it preached that bank tellers will tell you they are trained to know the real notes so well that they can pick a phony instantly. They don't train by looking at varieties of imitation; they train by constantly handling the real thing and building up an intimate knowledge of the real thing. The knowledge of the real thing is what immediately alerts them to a counterfeit.

So what would it be like if they sat every day during their training and listened to someone describing the real thing, but not handling it themselves?

They would be working on a few assumptions:

• that the person instructing them knew the real thing intimately themselves
• that that person was able to communicate the most vital aspects of the reality to them in a way that helped them discern real vs counterfeit
• that they would gain sufficient exposure to the real thing by this technique of learning that they could easily pick a counterfeit

How do you rate their chances? I don't rate them very well! Yet this is what the majority of church-goers do perpetually. They sit and listen to someone they deem (and hope) is reliable as they tell them about the “real thing” (relationship with Jesus and the Father via the Holy Spirit). They really have no idea the person telling them is genuine; they just run on trust. Why? Because they have no discerning if they don't intimately know the “real Jesus” themselves!

So where am I leading in all this? We have major “ministries” visit Australia on a fairly regular basis. Some run enormous crusades. Independent authorities prove these “ministries” receive hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Australian people, and the average Australian Christian really seems to trust them. Are they worthy of our trust? They certainly look good. They are shiny, successful and charismatic.

At this point in writing, and quote comes back to my mind from a brother who visited us from Asia some twenty or so years ago. He said something significant, “you in the west pick your leaders by charisma, we in the east pick them by character”.

Back to the Rolex! Can you be sure a shiny, new watch is a Rolex? No, you can't. It must be put to certain tests to establish it's character. One the other hand, what about an older or less attractive watch, maybe one that's dirty or scratched. It may not be as impressive. It may not be as desirable or attract as much attention; but it just may be the genuine article!

Christian life is the same. Judging people and ministries by their appearance, by their charisma, by their appearance of success is a hazardous pastime! Looking for evidence of genuine character on the other hand is a far more valid and reliable way of establishing true identity and motivation.

So what triggered all this talk? Some friends have recently asked me about Benny Hinn. Many like him, some are really quite devoted to him. People become involved in supporting his ministry. Churches and ministries become Benny Hinn Ministries partners. I won't comment directly on Mr Hinn in this article, but have published another one that is just a few links to other sites I deem significant in this respect. How do I evaluate Benny Hinn or anyone else when someone comes to me concerned that they may not be all they pretend to be? Simple, I look for the proof of character. I discard charisma, wealth, superficial appearance and hype. I instead look for the fruit of the Spirit.

Gifts of the Spirit are given, and without taking them back. That's why they are called “gifts”.

Rom 11:29 For the free gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Fruit, on the other hand, is grown.

Oh yes, another thing, ministry gifts are for the whole body. That's right, ALL Christians.

Eph 4:11 And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit. But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

 

Don't be fooled by the words of their mouth. Look deeper into the things of the heart. Look at character issues. Be carefully here though, because no one is perfect. Don't look for tiny flaws, but real blemishes.

Did I go to see Benny Hinn? No. Why? He puts on a good show and reportedly has healings at his meetings. That's not the issue. The issue is one of character. I won't support a ministry that milks people of money so freely, and spends it hand over fist. I'd rather support a really genuine minister that functions in the same stream, but not a hireling!

Do we really need big crusades? Do those gifted in healing need to own their own jets, stay at expensive hotels, book huge, expensive venues have a big band and flowers everywhere. No. Humility and servanthood are the marks of a man used of God and not making gain of the Body of Christ. So will you find me amidst the thousands at Benny Hinn? Don't look for me! You may however find me in the company of other Christians who I esteem as being of sound character and lifestyle. These are the ones I believe the bible instructs me to let them speak into my life.