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  1. #1
    Frozen Chosen A.J.'s Avatar
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    Benny Hinn Is My Uncle, but ...

    Benny Hinn Is My Uncle, but Prosperity Preaching Isn't for Me
    As part of the family empire, I lived a life of luxury. Then doubts began to surface.
    Costi Hinn| September 20, 2017

    Almost 15 years ago, on a shoreline outside of Athens, Greece, I stood confident in my relationship with the Lord and my ministry trajectory. I was traveling the world on a private Gulfstream jet doing "gospel" ministry and enjoying every luxury money could buy. After a comfortable flight and my favorite meal (lasagna) made by our personal chef, we prepared for a ministry trip by resting at The Grand Resort: Lagonissi. Boasting my very own ocean-view villa, complete with private pool and over 2,000 square feet of living space, I perched on the rocks above the water's edge and rejoiced in the life I was living. After all, I was serving Jesus Christ and living the abundant life he promised.

    Little did I know that this coastline was part of the Aegean Sea—the same body of water the apostle Paul sailed while spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was just one problem: We weren't preaching the same gospel as Paul.
    Lavish Lifestyle

    Growing up in the Hinn family empire was like belonging to some hybrid of the royal family and the mafia. Our lifestyle was lavish, our loyalty was enforced, and our version of the gospel was big business. Though Jesus Christ was still a part of our gospel, he was more of a magic genie than the King of Kings. Rubbing him the right way—by giving money and having enough faith—would unlock your spiritual inheritance. God's goal was not his glory but our gain. His grace was not to set us free from sin but to make us rich. The abundant life he offered wasn't eternal, it was now. We lived the prosperity gospel.

    My father pastored a small church in Vancouver, British Columbia. During my teenage years, he would travel nearly twice a month with my uncle, Benny Hinn. Prosperity theology paid amazingly well. We lived in a 10,000-square-foot mansion guarded by a private gate, drove two Mercedes Benz vehicles, vacationed in exotic destinations, and shopped at the most expensive stores. On top of that, we bought a $2 million ocean-view home in Dana Point, California, where another Benz joined the fleet. We were abundantly blessed.

    Throughout those years we faced countless criticisms from both inside and outside the church. Dateline NBC, The Fifth Estate (a Canadian news program), and other shows did investigative work. Well-known ministry leaders took to the airwaves warning people about our teachings, and local pastors told their congregations to steer clear of pulpits filled by a "Hinn." At the time, I believed we were being persecuted like Jesus and Paul, and that our critics were just jealous of our blessings.

    Within the family, we didn't tolerate criticism. One day I asked my father if we could go heal my friend from school who had lost her hair due to cancer. He replied that we should pray for her at home rather than going to heal her. I thought to myself, Shouldn't we be doing what the apostles did if we have the same gift? At that point, I didn't question our ability to heal, but doubts began to stir about our motives. We only did healings in the crusades, where music created the atmosphere, money changed hands, and people approached us with the "right" amount of faith.

    Other doubts would surface. What about unsuccessful healing attempts? I learned that it was the sick person's fault for doubting God. Why would we speak in tongues without interpretation? "Don't quench the Spirit," I was told. "He can do what he wants." Why did many of our prophecies contradict the Bible? "Don't put God in a box." Despite the questions, I trusted my family because we were so successful. Tens of thousands of people followed us, millions packed stadiums annually to hear my uncle. We healed the sick, performed miracles, rubbed elbows with celebrities, and got incredibly wealthy. God must be on our side!

    Page 2 of 3

    Before going to college, I took a year off and joined Benny's ministry as a "catcher" (someone who catches the people who are "slain in the spirit") and personal assistant. This was a rite of passage in my family, as nearly every nephew worked for him at some point. It was a show of loyalty and gratitude. That year was a whirlwind tour of luxury: $25,000-a-night royal suites in Dubai, seaside resorts in Greece, tours of the Swiss Alps, villas on Lake Como in Italy, basking on the golden coast of Australia, shopping sprees at Harrods in London, and numerous trips to Israel, Hawaii, and everywhere in between. The pay was great, we flew on our own private Gulfstream, and I got to buy custom suits. All I had to do was catch people and look spiritual!
    A Life-Changing Verse

    After graduating college and returning home, I met my wife, Christyne. I had no idea...


    Read more at:
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    Senior Member Valiant Woman's Avatar
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    I was skeptical, but I read the article and discovered I was right to be skeptical...Here's where he began to lose me...

    "Then one day she pointed to a verse I had never seen: 1 Corinthians 12:30 (“Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?”). I was shaken to the core. There it was plain as day—not everybody has to speak in tongues."

    And here...

    "Isn’t it always God’s will to heal? No, Jesus only healed one man out of a multitude."

    The fact that he doesn't even comprehend basic Bible doctrine, causes me to question his accusation against Benny Hinn and his ministry. There may very well be excesses in Hinn's ministry, but I don't trust this young man's account. And that it's in Christianity Today is another strike against my believing his story. IJS
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  4. #3
    Another reason that ministries should not be based or built on spiritual gifts alone.

    The written Word never changes, and never fails.
    This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (futility) of their mind, having the understanding darkened...
    (Ephesians 4:17-18)

    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...
    (Psalm 1)

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    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant Woman View Post
    I was skeptical, but I read the article and discovered I was right to be skeptical...Here's where he began to lose me...

    "Then one day she pointed to a verse I had never seen: 1 Corinthians 12:30 (“Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?”). I was shaken to the core. There it was plain as day—not everybody has to speak in tongues."

    And here...

    "Isn’t it always God’s will to heal? No, Jesus only healed one man out of a multitude."

    The fact that he doesn't even comprehend basic Bible doctrine, causes me to question his accusation against Benny Hinn and his ministry. There may very well be excesses in Hinn's ministry, but I don't trust this young man's account. And that it's in Christianity Today is another strike against my believing his story. IJS
    Yeah, total misinterpretation of that scripture.

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  8. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant Woman View Post
    I was skeptical, but I read the article and discovered I was right to be skeptical...Here's where he began to lose me...

    "Then one day she pointed to a verse I had never seen: 1 Corinthians 12:30 ("Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?"). I was shaken to the core. There it was plain as day—not everybody has to speak in tongues."

    And here...

    "Isn't it always God's will to heal? No, Jesus only healed one man out of a multitude."

    The fact that he doesn't even comprehend basic Bible doctrine, causes me to question his accusation against Benny Hinn and his ministry. There may very well be excesses in Hinn's ministry, but I don't trust this young man's account. And that it's in Christianity Today is another strike against my believing his story. IJS
    My thoughts exactly .. dude may have been around Benny Hinn but clearly wasnt comprehending what was being Taught

    Looks like his Cesassionist wife got him all henpecked and whipped that he cant think straight anymore so much so that he has turned on his uncle with a vengeance ..

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  10. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant Woman View Post
    I was skeptical, but I read the article and discovered I was right to be skeptical...Here's where he began to lose me...

    "Then one day she pointed to a verse I had never seen: 1 Corinthians 12:30 (“Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?”). I was shaken to the core. There it was plain as day—not everybody has to speak in tongues."

    And here...

    "Isn’t it always God’s will to heal? No, Jesus only healed one man out of a multitude."

    The fact that he doesn't even comprehend basic Bible doctrine, causes me to question his accusation against Benny Hinn and his ministry. There may very well be excesses in Hinn's ministry, but I don't trust this young man's account. And that it's in Christianity Today is another strike against my believing his story. IJS
    If he had any legitimate criticism of his uncle then he definitely blew it with that very bad exegesis.

    It reminds me of the early 90s when Hank Hanegraaff was just beginning his tirade against faith teachers. One of Hanegraaff's followers showed me one of those CRI papers and after criticizing a certain group of Pentecostals on their emphasis on divine healing they stated that CRI's beliefs is that it is NOT always God's will to heal. They had the audacity to use James 5:14-15 as a reference, which, incidentally, makes it clear that it is always God's will to heal. That misrepresentation of God's Word and character helped me to see that CRI had no real Biblical basis for their criticism and the rest of their criticism became suspect to me. At this point, Brother Hinn's nephew's criticism of his uncle is suspect.
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  12. #7
    Senior Member Valiant Woman's Avatar
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    Red face

    Looks like his Cesassionist wife got him all henpecked and whipped that he cant think straight anymore so much so that he has turned on his uncle with a vengeance..."
    You said "whipped"...
    When your praise match your prayers, the answer will come.
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    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant Woman View Post
    I was skeptical, but I read the article and discovered I was right to be skeptical...Here's where he began to lose me...

    "Then one day she pointed to a verse I had never seen: 1 Corinthians 12:30 (“Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?”). I was shaken to the core. There it was plain as day—not everybody has to speak in tongues."

    And here...

    "Isn’t it always God’s will to heal? No, Jesus only healed one man out of a multitude."

    The fact that he doesn't even comprehend basic Bible doctrine, causes me to question his accusation against Benny Hinn and his ministry. There may very well be excesses in Hinn's ministry, but I don't trust this young man's account. And that it's in Christianity Today is another strike against my believing his story. IJS
    Yep...seems prosperity was not the only place he wavered...

  14. #9
    Senior Member Valiant Woman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Quest View Post
    Yep...seems prosperity was not the only place he wavered...
    Everything is not always as it seems. I won't take the word of a disgruntled family member whose motives are suspect, and who's proven he doesn't even grasp basic Bible doctrine.
    When your praise match your prayers, the answer will come.
    https://www.facebook.com/Valiant-Wom...1103844642026/

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    Member Laura Grace's Avatar
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    Hmm I went to (attended) Benny Hinns' "School of signs and wonders" I"ve been to one of his meetings, and I've always been fascinated with him. Read a couple of his books too: (Good morning Holy Spirit, and the Anointing) I have to say I just don't have it in me to judge the man. If he beleives God wants to bless him like Solomon what is that to me? I do believe many many souls are healed delivered and brought closer to Jesus at his meetings and their lives changed forever. Lord knows just watching his show changed my heart through the years. I think as Christians we need to stay open to whatever God wants to do while still maintaining our stance that we will not be deceived by the evil one. Any time we get off on a path of speculation it's the wrong thing to do. This guy is kind of Throwing Benny Hinn under the bus and it seems wrong to me. But what do I know? Maybe he felt it was his mission to expose something. To let everyone know Benny Hinn is a man not perfect and not 100 percent like Jesus. Maybe he's only 50 percent like Jesus or 75....who cares? It's between Benny Hinn and God.
    When we stand before Jesus, he is not going to ask what everyone else told you to do....
    He is going to ask "what did I tell you to do?" Press on!

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