Benny Hinn TV Interview, Change of Heart?!!
Has Televangelist Benny Hinn repented from the prosperity gospel? We’ve seen this movie before.
At Trinity Foundation, we welcome Benny Hinn’s recent criticism of the prosperity gospel, but there’s much more to the story.
In the mid 90’s Hinn promised Ole Anthony and reporters that he would begin to verify healings and live a more modest lifestyle, starting with not driving luxury vehicles. Within a few short months he relayed a message indirectly to Ole that he had no intention of trying to verify healings or he would have nothing to air on television. That was the point, Benny!
Now, decades later, are we to believe Hinn’s questionable change of heart? In a podcast recorded with Stephen Strang of Charisma Magazine, Hinn says this change was prompted by reading the Bible rather than criticism from critics. We’re glad Hinn has started to read the Bible after all these years as a minister, but what about his false promises of physical and financial healing to millions of his followers? What about his false teaching—telling people to “plant” their “seed” money into his ministry in order to receive God’s abundant blessings? Instead of feeding the sheep, Benny has been chowing down on mutton all these years.
Talk is cheap. Transparency is expensive.
Hinn might have one huge reason to pretend to do an about face. Almost two and half years ago the IRS and postal inspectors raided Hinn’s headquarters looking for evidence of tax evasion. Could Hinn be facing criminal charges soon? If so, the recent confession could be part of a public relations campaign in preparation for a possible indictment.
Questions for Hinn?
In order to prove he is serious about repenting of past abuses, Hinn could and should answer questions about his extravagant lifestyle—mansions, huge salaries, private jets, $10,000 to $25,000 hotel suites, almost monthly $10,000 outfits and suits (per sources), etc.
He could and should answer questions about various scandals such as drug overdose deaths in his ministry. Hinn could and should make a number of his personal tax returns public—and we’re not talking about the ones from the past couple of years during which he’s been fearing prison time.
For decades, Hinn has refused to provide financial transparency to his donors. He should start by filing an IRS Form 990 that would reveal his ministry’s total revenue, total expenses and Hinn’s total compensation, including from his for-profit companies such as Clarion Call Marketing, Eministries Consulting Inc., and Pink Golf Cart (La Cocina Kramerica).
More Questions for Hinn:
1) Following the April 2017 IRS raid on your Grapevine headquarters, did you enter a pre-trial diversion program to avoid prosecution? If so, what are the terms of the pre-trial diversion program?
2) Your employees are required to sign non-disclosure agreements. Have you used non-disclosure agreements to cover up fraud by silencing employees? Would you be willing to release your current and former employees from these agreements so they can discuss with the press their jobs at Benny Hinn Ministries?
3) During Senator Grassley’s inquiry into allegations of your ministry and five others abusing the tax code as non-profits, you hired former IRS Commissioners Fred T. Goldberg Jr. and Larry Gibbs. Did Goldberg and Gibbs lobby Senator Grassley on your behalf to gain the positive publicity you received from him?
4) Ella Peppard was injured at one of your crusades when a person was “slain in the spirit” and fell on top of her. After Peppard died from the injuries, her family sued. The lawsuit was settled out-of-court. How much money has your ministry spent settling this and other lawsuits over the years?
Fake Prophesies?
What about your many fake “prophetic” statements speaking on God’s behalf? What about this one in particular?
On December 31, 1989 at a New Year’s eve service in Orlando, you said, “The Lord also tells me to tell you, In the mid-90’s–about ’94 or ’95–no later than that, God will destroy the homosexual community of America. But He will not destroy it with what many minds have thought Him to be. He will destroy it with fire. And many will turn and be saved, and many will rebel and be destroyed.”
A “Holy Ghost Machine Gun”?!
During a TBN broadcast you told the viewing audience, “Somebody’s attacking me because of something I’m teaching. Let me tell you something, brother. You watch it… They call it the ministry, my foot. You know I’ve looked for one verse in the Bible, I just can’t seem to find it. One verse that said if you don’t like ’em, kill ’em. I really wish I could find it. But don’t mention peoples’ names on your radio program and TV program thinking you’re doing God a service. You’re not. You stink frankly. That’s the way I think about it. Sometimes I wish God would give me a Holy Ghost machine gun. I’d blow your head off.”
It certainly appears you wanted to murder someone in particular. Have you apologized? Asked for forgiveness? Have you read Jesus’ exhortation yet about loving your enemies? About turning the other cheek?
Lots of unanswered questions, and yet… somehow, we already know the answers.