Hinn adds, “I believe the Bible from beginning to end. I cannot take [away] the fact that God wants to bless his people. It’s in the Bible—Old and New Testaments. But the Lord we love has made it very clear to us that he will meet our needs, wherever we live. He will take care of us.”
The preacher reiterates that he believes prosperity means “no lack.” The book of Acts, for example, shows how the early Christians’ needs were met. “I believe God wants to bless his people,” Hinn says. “I believe he wants us to succeed in life. Absolutely. But the focus must be him.”
Since Monday’s announcement, Hinn says many people have reached out to thank and encourage him.
Critics Take a “wait-and-see” Approach
Because Hinn has a pattern of renouncing the prosperity gospel but then falling back into its practices, critics say they want proof of genuine change and real repentance. Church history professor Charles Self says he’s “taking a wait-and-see perspective, because we’ve been down this road before.” He adds, “I think time will tell whether this is a minor correction, something for publicity, or the beginning of a new trajectory toward greater maturity.”
Costi Hinn, author of God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel, says his Uncle Benny “always wants to control the narrative.” Costi Hinn says he saw “showmanship” and sensationalism in his uncle’s September 2 broadcast. “When we’re repenting, we’re humble,” says Costi Hinn. “We’re very low. We’re not being sensational when we repent. We’re being broken. We’re being contrite.” If the repentance is true, he says he’ll throw a parade for his uncle. But for now, he’s waiting for evidence.
The lack of accountability is concerning, says Ministry Watch founder Rusty Leonard, because Hinn’s ministry is an independent entity. “It would be nice if [Hinn] sat down with John Piper or someone like that, and someone like that said, ‘He’s repented,’” says Leonard. For now, “cautiously optimistic” is “too strong” a term to describe Leonard’s stance. “I’m whatever the opposite of that is,” he says. “Maybe I’m hopefully pessimistic.”
