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God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies by Costi W. Hinn
lee_hillshire's review against another edition
I didn't grow up inside prosperity gospel, or buying into any of it. I grew up as one of those aforementioned prosperity gospel hating Baptists, and I'm honestly grateful for that. I went through a lot of spiritual and economical weirdness in my day, but at least I never fell into the common prosperity gospel deceptions, because on a personal level I'm not sure what shape my faith would be in if I felt lied to in those ways.
All that to say, I can totally see how this book could be even more special for someone who did grow up like that. But regardless of background, it's a real, honest, and attacks lies without being judgmental of those who have been hurt and manipulated by those lies. I'm sure it's not a comfortable story to write about, and to expose to the Christian world at large, but it's still really special that the author was willing to share his testimony in this way.
All that to say, I can totally see how this book could be even more special for someone who did grow up like that. But regardless of background, it's a real, honest, and attacks lies without being judgmental of those who have been hurt and manipulated by those lies. I'm sure it's not a comfortable story to write about, and to expose to the Christian world at large, but it's still really special that the author was willing to share his testimony in this way.
librarytech4's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a great resource about what the prosperity gospel is from someone who was being groomed to be a major component of it, but was able to break out if it into the true gospel.
tris111's review against another edition
5.0
"What do Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, and Paula White have in common? They all preach an incredibly false gospel. The gospel they preach is commonly known as the prosperity gospel, though it has also been called the health and wealth gospel or the name it and claim it gospel. Essentially, they teach their congregations that if you have enough faith, if you give enough money, you can receive whatever you desire. And they grow rich off of deceiving and lying to the people who trust them.
Maybe you think this description is a little harsh. After all, I don’t know any of these people personally. They seem like nice folks with good hearts who are truly trying to help people. Who am I to judge them? I may not know much about these teachers, but there are many who do and have come to the realization that they do not preach the truth. One of these is Costi Hinn, the nephew of Benny Hinn, and he wrote his book God, Greed, and the Prosperity Gospel to expose the false gospel of prosperity preachers..."
Continue reading my review at https://tristanycorgan.com/blog-godgreedandtheprosperitygospel/ .
Maybe you think this description is a little harsh. After all, I don’t know any of these people personally. They seem like nice folks with good hearts who are truly trying to help people. Who am I to judge them? I may not know much about these teachers, but there are many who do and have come to the realization that they do not preach the truth. One of these is Costi Hinn, the nephew of Benny Hinn, and he wrote his book God, Greed, and the Prosperity Gospel to expose the false gospel of prosperity preachers..."
Continue reading my review at https://tristanycorgan.com/blog-godgreedandtheprosperitygospel/ .
nomer15's review against another edition
5.0
A riveting read. He shares his powerful story of growing up in the prosperity gospel movement and how he left it for the true gospel. Well worth reading.
dashadashahi's review against another edition
3.0
The first 130 pages were really interesting and a great insider look into the money making and corruption that plagues -and is the foundation of- the prosperity gospel. The last section though veers off this insider look and focuses on Costi finding his or as he often refers to “the” truth. It becomes slightly preachy when that was a goal he wished to avoid as stated at the start of the book.
kiwilizzi's review against another edition
5.0
This book is good. Like really good. I honestly want to go back and read it again. Costi Hinn had (and still has to some extent) a front row seat to the prosperity gospel movement. I appreciated his insight and exposure of what he says paves the way to hell.
The most sickening thing for me is how these people profit off of those in desperate need. When they tell people to give more, to give to the point of risk, I want to cry. It is so sick and wrong. You cannot take money promising that God will heal or bless that person. Obviously there is so much to unpack with this movement aside from this, and Costi does a wonderful job documenting his history with his family and how he stepped out of their sin. He provides great steps and recommendations to spot a prosperity preacher as well as how to help someone who has been taken by it.
“The sovereignty of God matters to Christianity, and we could go as far as to say that it is un-Christian to deny the sovereignty of God. The prosperity gospel certainly denies the sovereignty of God to the extent that it demeans God to the position of a puppet and elevates man to the position of a puppet master who makes confessional demands by faith. It does this by considering faith as a force and God as the one who must respond to our faith. This is a heretical twisting of true faith.”
The most sickening thing for me is how these people profit off of those in desperate need. When they tell people to give more, to give to the point of risk, I want to cry. It is so sick and wrong. You cannot take money promising that God will heal or bless that person. Obviously there is so much to unpack with this movement aside from this, and Costi does a wonderful job documenting his history with his family and how he stepped out of their sin. He provides great steps and recommendations to spot a prosperity preacher as well as how to help someone who has been taken by it.
“The sovereignty of God matters to Christianity, and we could go as far as to say that it is un-Christian to deny the sovereignty of God. The prosperity gospel certainly denies the sovereignty of God to the extent that it demeans God to the position of a puppet and elevates man to the position of a puppet master who makes confessional demands by faith. It does this by considering faith as a force and God as the one who must respond to our faith. This is a heretical twisting of true faith.”
agruenbaum's review against another edition
3.0
Gave an insider's look at the prosperity gospel. Once this part of the book was complete, the book was largely a rehashing of many other evangelism books.