Book Review: God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel

​“It’s time for Christianity to send the message that the prosperity gospel will not poison our witness and win over the hearts of the hurting.” - from “God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel” by Costi W. Hinn

I watched an interview with Costi W. Hinn on "Wretched Radio" via YouTube. Of course, I was initially drawn in by the title, "Why Benny Hinn's nephew won't donate to his uncle's ministry".
Benny Hinn is a name that just kind of dropped out of the scene for me and I never thought to seek why. My grandparents faithfully watched more televangelist than I could even name. They knew all the who's who in the TV preaching world and they faithfully supported  some of those ministries. 
There are preachers and speakers that I enjoy watching from time to time but I've never felt compelled to send money in. I figured by the look of their church auditoriums they were doing just fine without my money. 
So, when I heard about his book I was interested to see what his insider look would show. 

First of all, this is not an "I hate Benny Hinn and prosperity preachers" book or anything of that nature. In fact, I commend Costi for a few things. He shows things from his perspective. He speaks to the conflicts that he was feeling and how God laid out opportunities for him to find truth among the deception he had known as 'normal'. Also, the book doesn't have a 'what I believe is right' feel to it. Again, it is written as a testimony of a man who's eyes were open to truth.

Second of all, although the book is marketed to expose the deception taught by the prosperity gospel, this is a book I would recommend to any believer. It digs into the truth of the gospel and hits on so many different aspects of deception that have infiltrated the modern church.

Above all else, I appreciate his call for believers to get in their Bibles to find truth out and seek God on their own. This book is a great example of how a testimony should inspire others to seek God as well and discover for themselves who he is and what he stands for rather than take someone's word for it.

“Show mercy to some people who have doubts. Take others out of the fire, and save them. Show mercy mixed with fear to others, hating even their clothes which are dirty from sin.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:22-23‬ ‭NCV