God, Greed, and the Prosperity Gospel

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. *disclaimer; I don’t always have time to sit and read physical books, but I do quite a bit of my reading through audiobooks these days.*

This month I’d like to talk about God, Greed (and the Prosperity Gospel) by Costi Hinn

I read this book during the summer months as an audiobook while jogging around my neighborhood. It’s a fairly quick read, and like many other books I have read recently – it’s slightly auto-biographical.

Costi Hinn is the nephew of legendary televangelist, internationally renowned faith healer, and prosperity gospel preacher Benny Hinn. Costi grew up in the Pentecostal style worship of prosperity preaching, and this book is his journey away from that false gospel to the actual teachings of Jesus Christ.

For those who don’t know – prosperity gospel is the teaching that God will give health and wealth to people who please him. They assume if good things happen to you – God is happy with you. If bad things happen – then God must be angry with you. It’s a very dangerous teaching that is VERY popular in America, particularly with television pastors. The prosperity gospel preachers are often fabulously wealthy, and their ministries are often full of corruption. Costi gives us a first hand, behind the scenes look at that world.

Costi’s journey towards the true gospel of repentance and salvation through God’s son Jesus is so important. The compelling force of actually reading the scriptures, combined with good teachings from faithful mentors and a few jarring personal experiences brings Costi to abandon the glammer of celebrity church leadership to the humble life of faithfully serving God as a pastor. It’s an vital teaching for anyone who lives in a first world country – where the temptations of riches are so potent.