Theology
Costi Hinn’s Story
Why Costi Hinn left the “Royal Family meets Mafia” lifestyle of the Prosperity Movement
On an episode of the Table Podcast called “Escaping the Prosperity Gospel,” I spoke with Costi Hinn about the prosperity gospel movement, focusing on what caused him to leave his uncle Benny’s Hinn’s organization. His spiritual journey out of the religious movement is fascinating.
One of the reasons I wanted to record this interview is because I read his book and loved it. It’s called God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies. Another reason I wanted to talk to Costi is that Christian apologists need to be aware of Prosperity Gospel themes (that can show up at any church) and how these reject the hermeneutics of historic Christianity. We also need to be praying for people who are caught up in this movement.
Costi went to Dallas Baptist University, not too far from where I live. His story also has an interesting connecting with Dallas Theological Seminary and a book written by our chancellor, Chuck Swindoll: The Church Awakening.
Here’s an outline of my conversation with Costi Hinn on God, Greed and the Prosperity Gospel
- 00:15 Life as part of the Hinn family
- 04:14 The scheme and start of the prosperity movement
- 10:46 Life within the prosperity movement
- 17:35 Loyalty to the prosperity movement
- 21:37 The sovereignty of God and prosperity theology
- 28:58 Suffering and prosperity theology
- 34:44 Breaking out of the prosperity movement
- 39:01 How the truth of Scripture overwhelms a gospel of lies
- 43:30 When prosperity gospel clutches your loved one
- 50:03 When prosperity gospel creeps into your church
About Costi Hinn
Costi Hinn is the Executive Pastor of Discipleship at Redeemer Bible Church in Gilbert, AZ. He previously propagated “prosperity theology” and held numerous other false beliefs connected with the Word of Faith movement. He is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of God, Greed and the Prosperity Gospel.
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Note: This Table Podcast episode on God, Greed, and the Prosperity Gospel with Costi Hinn was recorded live in our studio at Dallas Theological Seminary before March 2020. The transcript is available here.
Costi Hinn - June 16, 2020
Escaping the Prosperity Gospel
In this episode Mikel Del Rosario and Costi Hinn discuss the prosperity gospel, focusing on Hinn’s spiritual journey out of the religious movement.
From Series: "The Table Podcast"
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See why Costi Hinn left the “Royal Family meets Mafia” lifestyle of his uncle Benny Hinn's organization and how he escaped the Prosperity Gospel Movement in this video.Click To Tweet
About Costi Hinn’s 
Book
God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies
A captivating first-person look at one of the world’s most powerful prosperity dynasties that offers a unique perspective on greed, the Church, and the journey toward Truth.
Millions desperate for hope and solutions are enticed by the promise of the prosperity gospel–that God will do whatever they need with just a little faith and a financial gift. All the while, prosperity preachers exploit the poor and needy to stockpile their riches. What can followers of the true gospel do to combat the deception?
Through a remarkable and fascinating journey, Costi Hinn went from a next-generation prosperity preacher to the first to abandon the family faith and share the true gospel. Nephew of the world-famous televangelist, Benny Hinn, Costi had a front-row seat to the inner workings and theology of the prosperity gospel. But as Costi’s faith deepened, so did his questions about prosperity teaching. As the deceptions in his past were exposed, Costi came face to face with the hypocrisy and devastation caused by his belief system, and the overwhelming truth about the real Jesus Christ.
This captivating look into the daily lives of one of the world’s leading prosperity dynasties offers a thoughtful perspective on the perils of greed, the power of the true gospel, and hope for the future of the global church. Through real-life stories, Costi challenges and equips readers to be living lights pointing the way to the true gospel and the saving grace of Christ. God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel will bolster your faith and encourage your own journey toward the Truth.
