Book Review: Good Morning, Holy Spirit by Benny Hinn

Benny Hinn is a controversial figure to many, with opinions spread far and wide on his character, credibility, theology and methodology. However there is no denying his profile or the influence and impact of his ministry.

His book, entitled 'Good Morning, Holy Spirit' is Hinn sharing his insights and views on intimacy with the Holy Spirit. The book is partly theological, partly testimonial. Hinn interweaves his life story, conversion and filling with the Spirit with his insights on what it means to live a Spirit-empowered Christian life. The book is shamelessly Charismatic, and due to the part-autobiographical content is often an unpacking and explanation of Hinn's personal experiences. This for me opened up an interesting question - how much of his scriptural interpretation is exegesis, and how much is eisegesis? Meaning, are his experiences shaped by his scriptural views or are his scriptural views shaped by experiences? This is is more of an observation that a criticism but is something I held in the back of my mind as I read the book.

Naturally, this lead me onto another question - because the book is testimonial, it is as much about Benny Hinn as it is about the Holy Spirit. Therefore, is his story the 'norm' for the Christian life? Or is Hinn blessed with an unusual level of anointing to empower him for his calling as a healing evangelist? Its important to understand that only one of us is called to be Benny Hinn - and that's Benny Hinn. However, there are many principles, insights and lessons that are present in this book that I believe are to be part of the Christian life 'norm.'

Nailing my colours to the wall, I can't say I struggled with anything I read - in fact, quite the opposite: I was challenged and inspired to get to know the Holy Spirit more. In John 16:7 Jesus - the incarnate God-man - said it is better he goes so he can send the Spirit! So the Holy Spirit is a key person in our friendship with God - Hinn basically spends the book investigating this.

Hinn does have some interesting views he shares, especially on the differences in role and function within the Godhead. Many would not agree with him but I leave you to read the book and make your own mind up!

Looking at each chapter, the points that made me think the most are as follows:

1. The Holy Spirit has come to bring revelation of all God has given us (1Corinthians 2:12).

2 and 3. Testimony

4. The Holy Spirit is a person. He is the the power of God, the contact person of the Trinity (Eph 2:18)

5. God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit - often using scripture, but not exclusively. The Spirit wants to be with us, fellowship with us, share together, partner with us, be intimate with us, befriend us and lead us.

6. 'Walking in the Spirit' means 'in unison with'; 'one with'; 'connected to'; 'fellowship with'.

7. 'Be filled with the Spirit' (Eph 5:18) is in a present, ongoing Greek tense - we are to keep on being filled.

8. The Holy Spirit brings authority and power from God into our lives.

9. Anointing comes to us as we make room for the Spirit in our lives.

10. Trinitarian roles (1 Cor 12:4-6) - The Father operates; The Son administrates; The Spirit manifests.

11. Blasphemy against the Spirit is a wilful act that can only be committed by the unsaved.

12. The Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance - God dwells with us on earth, just as we will dwell with God on the new earth eternally.

As well as being inspired walk more in step with the Spirit, the book led me to contemplate 'power' ministries like Benny Hinn's. Even if the healing's and power are at the level his supporters say, historically he has come out with some controversial theological statements. Question marks over the finance and fruit of his ministry also reign. With such a high profile 'marketplace' ministry, both issues are huge clouds that hang over his work, both in the eyes of Christendom and more importantly the world. It firmed my already existing conviction that ministries like his must be not only covered by the authority of apostolic ministries, but work out of and into local churches.

Biblically I see this in Acts 8:4-8 Philip the Evangelist in Samaria preaches the gospel and sees many cases of healing, deliverance and salvation. But Acts 8:14-17 shows us Philip worked alongside the Apostles to ensure the harvest he saw continued and bore fruit. I have no doubt that the new converts, saved and filled with the Spirit and taught the apostles doctrine, would have formed a new church that would carry on evangelising Samaria after Philip had moved on.

I don't know how Hinn's crusades work with existing churches. But for his ministry, and others like him, there has to be some apostolic authority and interaction so that all the good things that happen can be measured fruit, as opposed to one-off responses that take place in a highly charged meeting, detached from the possibility of proper pastoral follow-up by a local church once Hinn has moved on.

Anyhow, irrespective of your personal opinion on Benny Hinn - or even if you don't have one - I think this book has some interesting insights into what it means to be intimate with the Holy Spirit that make it worth reading.