Who is the real Benny Hinn?
After 50 years in ministry, Benny Hinn has become one of the largest voices in the Pentecostal/charismatic movement. He has been in the throes of controversy many times, especially when it comes to the prosperity gospel and healing.
In an exclusive interview with Stephen Strang on the Strang Report podcast, Hinn opened up about his years in ministry, the regrets he has, the mistakes and victories he’s had and what the power of the gospel means to him.
“The real Benny Hinn wants to finish better than when I began,” Hinn says. “The real Benny Hinn wants to know the Bible better than I’ve ever known known it. And the real Benny Hinn wants Jesus to intensify His love in me for Him with His fire.”
Hinn says it is his ultimate cry that on the day when he comes face-to-face with God, he will be accepted by the Lord.
Hinn acknowledges the fact that many do not know the real him because of what they’ve seen about him out in the media.
“I don’t talk about it much. They see the clips from crusades, they see the clips from TV programs, and they see the old clips from ‘This is Your Day’…and they make up their own conclusion,” Hinn says.
However, despite the misunderstanding others have about him, Hinn says his eyes are on the finish line.
“When I started in ministry, it was a very simple beginning. And I want to finish with a simple finish,” Hinn says.
For Hinn, what matters is sharing the truth of the gospel to the world around him.
“The gospel is simple. God so loved the world, He sent His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have life eternal,” Hinn says. “To live, to believe in means trusting Him with your life, trusting Him with your soul, trusting Him to save you.”
Hinn says it is trusting in Christ with a total surrender transforms a person’s relationship with God. He says there’s a difference of being in Christ instead of just knowing about Him.
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“And today the message that you hear is ‘that’ not ‘in,’” Hinn says. “It’s giving a lot of people false, not the real hope of salvation. Jesus is our salvation. And we have to trust Him.”
Hinn believes the gift of salvation alone is where we find the greatest gift of all in Christ. He says it is spending eternity in heaven with Jesus that he is after above all things.
“I just want to see Him smile because He is my reward,” Hinn says.
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Abby Trivett is a marketing copywriter and coordinator for Charisma Media.
Abby Trivett is copywriter for Charisma and an editorial intern.
