Controversial televangelist Benny Hinn mentioned his two “greatest regrets” in his decades-long ministry embody selling prophesies he now admits “weren’t correct or from the Lord” and pushing “prosperity theology”.
“The two issues I remorse most in ministry: I used to be not too smart numerous instances with prophecy,” the 71-year-old charismatic preacher instructed Stephen Strang, host of The Strang Report, in a current interview.
“I had company come to the crusades that I feel introduced hurt to not solely individuals’s lives but additionally to my popularity as a result of their prophecies had been probably not prophecy. They went outdoors the borders of redemption.”
“And then there have been instances after I thought God had confirmed me one thing that He wasn’t displaying me. And I spoke it out,” Hinn mentioned. “But in 1 Corinthians 13, we clearly see that all of us prophesy partially. That means we do not see the total image. And sadly — and I want I may return and repair it — however sadly, there have been some prophesies I gave that weren’t correct or from the Lord.”
“But who’s good?” he added.
“And for that, after all, I ask individuals to forgive me,” Hinn mentioned. “I’m simply human and made errors like that. And I’ll in all probability make them once more, I suppose, down the highway, as a result of I’m not good.
“But you recognize, it is unhappy when individuals concentrate on the instances you missed it. But that is simply, you recognize, the way in which it’s. Yet there have been instances when I didn’t miss it,” Hinn claimed.
Hinn mentioned his different biggest remorse in ministry is his teachings on prosperity theology. Since the Eighties, the Israeli-born American-Canadian has been probably the most infamous purveyors of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that God rewards energetic religion and trustworthy funds of tithes and choices with well being and wealth.
“And that is been a really troublesome one for me,” he mentioned. “When I began in ministry, it was easy. And then the ministry grew. … I feel that is when my troubles started. I do not blame anybody, however sadly you get type of in a spot [where] it turns into troublesome. You do not know what to do and learn how to get out of it.
“So I got here to the conclusion in 2019 that I do not need to be a part of the gimmickry of it, and I nonetheless stand by that. But sadly, I let strain get to me, and due to that strain, I mentioned issues and did issues that I mustn’t have finished,” Hinn mentioned. “And for that, actually, I’m sorry, and I ask the expensive individuals watching us to actually forgive me for that. And I’m striving with all my coronary heart to be as biblical as potential with that.”
“Right now, my focus is the Lord and solely the Lord,” Hinn mentioned. “And if, after all, there would be the time after I might have to boost funds for our ministry, I’ll do it as biblically as I understand how — and balanced.”
This isn’t the primary time Hinn has claimed to publicly surrender his previous teachings. In September 2019, he admitted his teachings on prosperity “bought out of hand” and “broken lots of people” and mentioned he needs the remaining years of his ministry to concentrate on evangelism and the Gospel — not the “well being and wealth” theology that made him thousands and thousands.
“How lengthy do I’ve on this Earth? What am I going to do within the subsequent 20 years? That is for me to resolve,” he mentioned on the time. “I need to guarantee that for the subsequent 15-20 years of my life, that my message is the Cross. The actual name on my life.”
“I need to be identified for that,” Hinn continued. “I do not need to be often known as the prosperity teacher. Prosperity is one factor within the Bible, there’s a complete lot extra within the Word of God than prosperity, however it’s turn out to be a serious situation now due to the gimmickry concerned in it. That must cease.”
At the time, Hinn additionally hit again at experiences of his super wealth, together with a web price of $60 million and a number of non-public jets, stating, “If I had that type of cash, I might give it to God. It’s insanity … that is ludicrous. I do not understand how, even, that began.”
Biblical prosperity, he mentioned, is “God blessing His individuals, taking good care of His individuals. Jesus made it very clear, if God cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the sector, will He not look after us? Seek ye first the dominion of God and His righteousness, and all of the belongings you want won’t solely come, however they’re going to even be added to you.”
Hinn’s nephew, Costi Hinn, who has overtly criticised his uncle and the prosperity gospel, instructed Christian News that he hopes for real repentance — not merely regret — on his uncle’s half. However, he mentioned that Hinn has beforehand expressed remorse for his previous teachings solely to renew his habits.
“Genuine repentance within the Bible is at all times accompanied by actions that show that it is actually repentance,” he acknowledged, explaining that repentance would look much like that of the account of Zacchaeus, a corrupt tax collector who returned cash to these he had swindled out of his love for Jesus.
“Jesus saves him and goes to his home that day and is prepared to eat a meal with him and present him love and style within the midst of his previous and his sin,” he recalled. “And Zacchaeus is leaping for pleasure, excited to pay individuals again, excited to do no matter it takes to observe Jesus and present his real repentance by means of his actions.
“My need is that Uncle Benny’s assertion isn’t merely public regret to save lots of face or defend his ministry from decline,” he acknowledged, “however moderately that it’s real repentance and that he can be prepared to forsake every thing if it means gaining Christ and the total Gospel.”
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