Is Benny Hinn’s Repentance Genuine or is it just Another Publicity Stunt?

For a week or so now, the news has been abuzz with the information of pastor Benny Hinn’s confession. Hinn who has been a prosperity preacher for all his life came out refuting some of the beliefs and practices he had heretofore held on to. It’s worth noticing that pastor has for very many years been the poster boy for the word of faith and prosperity gospel movement making hundreds of millions of dollars yearly from gifts and donations, travelling around the world in a private aircraft, putting up in expensive hotels, wearing expensive clothing and dining at expensive restaurants.
Pastor Benny has severally threatened those who opposed his prosperity preaching and luxurious lifestyle with death. He once told his television audience that he wished there was a bible verse that authorized him to kill his detractors. He further said that he had looked for such a verse but couldn’t find it. Hence it came as a surprise that Uncle Benny, as he’s affectionately called by his nephew Costi, would come out and kick at the very teachings that have made him who he is today.
Declaring that the “Holy Ghost is just fed up with it,” controversial televangelist Benny Hinn, formerly one of the most aggressive proponents of the prosperity gospel, has for the first time in his career, delivered a full-throated rejection of the practice that made him and his family millions.
The prosperity gospel teaches, among other things, that believers have a right to the blessings of health and wealth, and they can obtain these blessings through positive confessions of faith and the "sowing of seeds" through the faithful payments of tithes and offerings.
Speaking to his followers during a Facebook Live broadcast on Monday night (which was first highlighted by Larry Reid Live), Hinn, who has long been a lightning rod for criticism for his support of the theology, declared the Gospel “is not for sale.”
“I’m sorry to say that prosperity has gone a little crazy and I’m correcting my own theology and you need to all know it. Because when I read the Bible now, I don’t see the Bible in the same eyes I saw 20 years ago,” Hinn said as his followers rejoiced.
“I think it’s an offense to the Lord, it’s an offense to say give $1,000. I think it’s an offense to the Holy Spirit to place a price on the Gospel. I’m done with it. I will never again ask you to give $1,000 or whatever amount, because I think the Holy Ghost is just fed up with it.
“Did you hear me?” Hinn asked as his audience responded affirmatively in high spirits.
“I think it hurts the Gospel, so I’m making this statement for the first time in my life and frankly, I don’t care what people think about me anymore,” he continued.
A lot of people on social have been celebrating and thanking God for the miracle. Am I saying they shouldn’t thank God? Far from it. I really pray and wish his repentance is real. Actually this is not the first time Benny Hinn comes out to state his disgust of the funny tactics he and his fellow prosperity preachers have been using to fleece the flock of God. But after a while, he would fall back and continue preaching the very things he initially condemned.
But this time, I really hope that it is not just another publicity stun he intend to cash on. I hope his repentance and confession will be followed by fruits.