God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies

Hinn (Defining Deception), the nephew of Israeli Christian televangelist Benny Hinn, rails in this convincing, vociferous work against the “health and wealth” theology of prosperity gospel preachers as anti-Christian, exploitative, and abusive. Part memoir, part critique of prosperity gospel theology, Hinn’s candid work delves into his childhood and young adulthood within the family’s ministry. He then explores his first inklings of doubt at Dallas Baptist University and his subsequent rejection of his role as “the next great anointed healer” when he is forced to choose between his family and his fiancée, who feels she must hide her asthma because Hinn’s family made her feel as if “sickness is not allowed in [his] home.” Hinn rebuilds his spiritual life and ministry within a more mainstream, conservative evangelical faith and, in the book’s final chapters, offers a theological critique of prosperity gospel practices, suggestions for a moderated understanding of God’s role in human well-being, and thoughts on how to reach out to family and friends who believe the prosperity gospel message. Hinn’s testimony will be most meaningful to Christians who have grown up in but are skeptical of the prosperity tradition. (July)