Under pressure from a critical documentary, televangelist Benny Hinn has offered a nonspecific apology for returning to the fundraising “gimmickry” he swore off years ago.
On Tuesday, Stephen Strang, CEO of Charisma Media, which has published several books by Hinn, habló to Hinn in what Strang billed as an “exclusive” interview. Strang’s interview only lightly touched on recent controversy prompted by a YouTube documentary about Hinn by minister Mike Winger, as previamente reportado por The Roys Report (TRR).
“It’s sad when people focus on the times you missed it, but that’s just the way it is,” Hinn told Strang. “Yet there were times when I did not miss it.”
The four-hour video exposé from Winger, a Calvary Chapel-trained pastor, covers how Hinn repented in 2019 of past fundraising tactics, like promising wealth and healings to people who donate. Yet Hinn returned to that approach as recently as last September, according to clips in the documentary.
In his Tuesday interview, Strang asked Hinn if he had any regrets from his 50 years of ministry. “Absolutely,” Hinn replied. “I’m a human being, I’ve made mistakes.”
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Regarding the prosperity message, the televangelist said his troubles began when he was invited to appear on “praise-a-thons” with televised offerings. “I came to the conclusion in 2019 that I did not want to be a part of the gimmickry of it, and I still stand by that,” said Hinn.
He continued: “But, sadly, I let pressure get to me. Because of that pressure, I said things and did things I should not have done—and for that, really I am sorry. And I ask the dear people watching us to really forgive me for that.”
In comments to TRR, Winger said it’s a red flag how Hinn “repents vaguely for non-specific events” and questioned that Hinn has “turned away from gimmickry.”
Winger pointed to a Benny Hinn message titled “How To Be Free From Religious Spirits,” al corriente by Hinn’s ministry yesterday. “In that video, Hinn told his followers to give financially to his ministry so that God would give them money in return,” said Winger. “If that’s not ‘gimmickry’ to Hinn then what is he apologizing for?”
In the interview with Strang, Hinn said he is “striving with all (his) heart to be as biblical as possible” regarding fundraising. “Of course, there will be a time when I may have to raise funds for our ministry, (and) I will do it as biblically as I know how and balanced.”
He added: “Frankly, I’m kind of at the end of my road anyways. I don’t see myself needing to do a whole lot of that down the road. Right now, my focus is the Lord and only the Lord.”
Strang did not press the Charisma author regarding questions of restitution for past donors, financial accountability, or governance standards.
TRR reached out to Strang and to Hinn’s ministry regarding these questions but did not receive a response.
In a social correo a decade ago, Strang noted that he and Hinn have been friends for 35 years, since 1979. Hinn wrote the foreword to Strang’s book Spirit-Led Living in An Upside-Down World published last fall. In March, Strang’s publishing house released Hinn’s latest book, The Blood (Revised Edition).
Winger observed that Hinn has granted Strang exclusive interviews “multiple times now. (It’s) seemingly because he is favorable and gives softball interviews to Hinn.”
Reactions to Hinn’s ‘damage control’ interview
Winger’s documentary, which has 862,000 views as of publication time, chronicled numerous recent false prophecies given by Hinn – including regarding COVID-19 and the October attacks last year in Israel.
In his interview with Strang, the televangelist admitted some past errors in prophecies but gave no specifics.
“There were times when I thought God had showed me something that he wasn’t showing me, and I spoke it out,” said Hinn. “. . . I wish I could go back and fix it. But, sadly, there were some prophecies I gave that were not accurate or from the Lord. But who’s perfect?”
Today, Winger shared this clip from the interview and commented, “Benny Hinn doesn’t repent. Benny Hinn does damage control.”
Us: “You prophesied falsely over and over again in the name of God.”
Benny Hinn: “Pobody’s nerfect.”
This is Hinn’s response to my video. Or so it seems. He just did this interview with Charisma Magazine.
Benny Hinn doesn’t repent. Benny Hinn does damage control. pic.twitter.com/jVNA5JbHFL
— Mike Winger (@MikeWingerii) May 9, 2024
Pastor and culture commentator Shane Idleman shared the clip from Winger and called Hinn’s statement “Unbelievable.” Idleman dijo to Winger: “The only reason (Hinn) is saying anything is because you called him out. Great job. Glad someone did.”
And popular evangelical YouTuber Ruslan KD respondió to Hinn’s interview, pointing to another clip of Hinn apologizing.
“I ask people to forgive me,” said Hinn. “I’m just human and made mistakes like that. And I’ll probably make them again, I suppose, down the road (because) I’m not perfect.”
Ruslan responded, noting that Hinn needs better coaching: “That’s the most whimsical, half-hearted apology I’ve ever heard in my life . . . No one decided to tell him, ‘Hey, maybe we should edit this a bit and make it a little bit more sincere’?”
In recent weeks, Hinn’s ministry has repeatedly sought to takedown the documentary exposé produced by Winger. Thus far, YouTube has defended Winger’s use of video clips as following fair use guidelines.
Winger previously told TRR that he is prepared to defend the video in court if neccesary and has engaged an attorney who will respond to Benny Hinn Ministries “if they escalate this in any way.”
The pastor, who heads up nonprofit minstry Bible Thinker, dicho TRR today that his intent focusing on Hinn is to “guard the body of Christ” and to preserve the witness of the Gospel.
“Hinn uses tactics of deception, manipulation, and spiritual fakery in ways that are entirely reproducible,” said Winger. He added that Hinn and people who copy him leave “countless victims in their wake.”
According to Winger, the outcome from a watching world is people who “scoff at the name of Christ, convinced that these charlatans are proof of their skepticism.”
Strang, who noted a second part of his interview would be forthcoming, listened intently as Hinn depicted himself a changed man.
“The real Benny Hinn wants to finish better than when I began,” said Hinn. “This is the real Benny Hinn today.”
Periodista independiente Josh Shepherd escribe sobre fe, cultura y políticas públicas para varios medios outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
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17 Respuestas
“Of course, there will be a time when I may have to raise funds for our ministry, (and) I will do it as biblically as I know how and balanced.”
So, Hinn apparently has not made enough money thus far that he still needs to raise funds. What does he need more money for seeing he is on his last few mileages on earth? He ought to be giving back in restitution OR just to make it right with HaShem before his soul gets required of him tonight.
Hinn and his cohorts of their gospel of Mammon according to scriptures has ” gone in the way Balaam who loved wages of unrighteousness”- that is merchandizing the gospel message in the Name of YHVH.
HaShem is wroth with ALL them wealth, health and prosperity P.I.M.P.s And ALL of these televangelists, big name ministers and even the small name ones.
Do NOT be fooled. There’s no such thing as ‘once saved, always saved’. You must live holy, live righteously, abide in Yeshua, Keep HIS commandments, work out your salvation with trembling and fear, AND endure to the END = Salvation.
“The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him that dies in unrighteousness. His past righteousness shall be forgotten in that day. Ezekiel 18:26-27; Ezekiel 33:11-12.
Meaning Hinn may have at one time being “used” of YHVH. But, if he and his cohorts do not repent while they still draw breath, on their last breathe, they are not welcomed in heaven. THAT goes for all “once saved” believers who die in their various sins.
I am sorry my friend, but the apostle Paul says we are saved by faith alone and not by works.
Which biblical passage in Paul’s writings has “faith” and “alone” together?
You are right Paul does not have a passage of faith and alone together ,but . I am taking my points off scriptures such as Eph 2:8,9 and John 3:16 ,Romans 10:8-13, Romans 3:21-28 .and there are many more.
Paul says many things. Live the whole gospel. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
He’s a false prophet and a liar. I believe they stoned false prophets during the time Christ was here on earth. Obviously, the Spirit of the Lord is not with this man.
If you just keep talking, keep going, keep moving, keep at it, keep cranking the crank, it’s all going to be fine, right? Throw in an exclusive interview here and there. Wear your heart and your sleeve. Complain that people just want to pick on the “times you missed it”. Remind everyone that you’re “just human”. And you’ll probably make more mistakes down the road. It’s all for The Ministry. That’s what matters. The Ministry. Benny Hinn is just one example of what happens when you run The Ministry that ends up running you. The Prophetic Legacy. The worldwide outreach. The Image. The Anointing. Everything has to service these elements. Sure, it makes one angry to see and hear it go on and on. But it also makes you shake your head and feel a tinge or sadness. People like this can’t stop pedaling now or the whole bike disintegrates. And then what do you tell yourself?
Cuenta,
That sure sounds like a specific presidential candidate I am familiar with…and so many in the religious community just keep buying the same old song and dance regardless who does the entertaining…
Somewhere this has to raise some very fundamental red flags….
greg
While it’s horrific how badly he has used deception to cheat the poorest of the poor, this Trainwreck was Tragic to Watch.
He’s So Far Gone Believing His Decades of Lies that He Can’t Truly Recognize How Contradictory that Entire Interview Came Across.
And Unfortunately it Proves How Badly Deceived Stephen Strang Has Become. 😭😖💔
Strang and Hinn have not always been on good terms. There was litigation by Charisma against Hinn after his affair with Paula White was exposed more than a decade ago.
But that was JUST business. Which is why Strang and Hinn are back to being BFFs. Both are grifters and con artists, and frauds running the same racket. This interview is nothing more than attempt of PR and damage control to keep the gravy train running and the suckers giving.
While it’s horrific how badly he has used deception to cheat the poorest of the poor, this Videoed Interview was Tragic to Watch.
He’s So Far Gone Believing His Decades of Lies that He Can’t Truly Recognize How Contradictory that Entire Interview Came Across.
And Unfortunately it Proves How Badly Deceived Stephen Strang Has Become. 😭😖💔
Benny was notorious for a lot of ‘gimmickry’. And in the past when his critics came forward he said he wished he had a Holy Ghost machine gun to blow his enemies away. Scary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-llUtFxrJI
Isn’t Hinn the guy who was once caught on video waving his arm across a swath of believers in one section of a revival stadium, who (the attendees in that section) then, in almost totality, were thrown backwards and collapsed as if they were “slain in the spirit”?
Question: If it really happened, does that mean it was real?
could be due to hypnotic suggestion
He even bowled them over and slayed them with his jacket:
No it’s not real. The front rows of his events are reserved for Hinn’s biggest fans and supporters (he said this himself), so they are already primed to go along with any “slaying” Hinn decides to do.
And when he wafts his arm or jacket over you, are you going to be the one who just stands there like a lemon while everyone else around you is falling over and being “slain”?
Of course not. Not only would you not want to be seen as the only one not to receive the Holy Spirit, you wouldn’t want to show up Benny Hinn either and earn his anger. So you just go along with it regardless of whether you feel anything.