What is the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)?

Answer

The Trinity Broadcasting Network, also known as TBN, was founded by an Assemblies of God minister, Paul Crouch, and his wife, Jan, in 1973. The couple initially purchased airtime on a local TV station and later acquired a low-power TV station in the Los Angeles area in 1974. They created their own shows and offered airtime to other Christian ministries. In 1977, the station was renamed KTBN. Over time, they expanded their broadcasting hours, began satellite transmissions and local cable distribution, and the network flourished.

Today, as stated on TBN’s website, the Trinity Broadcasting Network stands as the largest and most viewed “faith network” globally. The website states: “TBN has evolved into a family of over thirty twenty-four-hour global networks reaching every inhabited continent with engaging, uplifting, and transformative content suitable for all family members and demographics.”

The stated mission of the Trinity Broadcasting Network is “To utilize all available means to reach as many individuals and families as possible with the transformative Gospel of Jesus Christ.” This goal appears commendable. However, one would struggle to find a clear statement of faith or a precise explanation of the transformative message. The website does provide a gospel presentation quoting Romans 10:9–10 and includes the following:

“If you read the simple prayer below sincerely from your heart, we believe you will be saved!

“Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus, I come before You.

I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Lord, I repent of my sins.

I invite Jesus into my heart to be the Lord of my life.

I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth

that Jesus is Your Son, the Living God,

and that You raised Him from the dead.

At this very moment, I declare Him as the Lord of my life.

All that I

I am… and all that I ever will be.

I believe this moment right now, that I am saved and I am born again.

I am a child of the Almighty God. Thank You, Jesus. Amen

“If you prayed this prayer, then we welcome you to the family of God!”

While the above statement is good as far as it goes, it leaves many things unexplained and seems to reduce becoming a Christian to repeating a prayer, which leads to the next problem. It appears that anyone who claims to be a Christian or who uses the name of Jesus is welcome on TBN. While the Trinity Broadcasting Network provides some programming from mainstream evangelicals, there is also programming from Charismatics, faith healers, self-proclaimed prophets, and prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, T. D. Jakes (who, ironically, denies the Trinity), and Creflo Dollar. Some of the programming is original with TBN, and some of it is simply purchased by ministries who want to get access to TBN’s viewers—much the same way many ministries purchase airtime on a variety of stations. From TBN’s original programming, it would be accurate to describe the network as brazenly promoting the heretical prosperity theology, seed faith offerings, and the Word of Faith Movement.

A well-known apologist once said the most dangerous place for a Christian is a Christian bookstore because most Christian bookstores will sell anything that claims to be Christian, leaving the buyer to sort out the good from the bad. The same is true of TBN. There is some beneficial programming on TBN, but extreme discernment is required. One must sift through a lot of heresy, bad theology, greed, superstition, and just plain foolishness to get to anything biblical. Because it is billed as “Christian” fare, the unsuspecting or undiscerning viewer may be misled into simply trusting everything featured on TBN and may be enticed to support the network financially. The Trinity Broadcasting receives millions of dollars in donations every year.

In supporting TBN, donors are empowering one of the biggest promoters of false teachings globally.