Tammy Faye Bakker
I have been out of the loop for the last little while but I just heard that Tammy Faye Bakker passed away after her long battle with cancer.
Think what you may about Bakker, cancer is a horrible disease and nobody deserves to suffer through such pain. I’ve seen it too many times, some of the people I love beating it, others being toyed with by it and others just being crushed by it.
After the PTL scandal and the Jessica Hahn affair, Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker divorced.
Jim went to prison and as God as my witness, he seemed to sort out his demons behind bars. He wrote a book several years ago called “I WAS WRONG”…rarely have I read a book that was as confessional as this was. The guy came out without any pride and didn’t try to justify the fact that he was just living in SIN and that he was relieved to be found out and free. A lot of other televangelists followed his lead by building mega ministries with DEEP DEEP DEEP pockets and very little substance. they would do well to follow his lead after his exit from prison to confess that they have been wrong to preach all the name it claim it nonsense that dominates the airwaves now days.
Tammy while Jim was in prison seemed to rebirth as well. She had the opportunity to show all kinds of people from Porn Stars and Bay Watch Beauties to Mini-Actors and Washed Up MTV Stars the grace, love and joy of Christ while she was part of the cast of “The Surreal Life”. I was not a regular viewer of the show but I would see clip of it on Talk Soup and from time to time I would watch a full episode and I have to say that I was totally humbled by her actions and attitudes. She gave a real and authentic witness of what Christ can do in a life that has been completely broken by sin. She gave a witness that EVERY Christian could give if we would not forget what it is to be without Christ.
I don’t endorse every doctrine that she and her husband preached. I do not agree with everything that ANYONE has said but I can tell you again that her walk convicted me a lot of times. Right now some of you are thinking that is tragic and others are thinking SO WHAT.
Well, the so what factor is that As a believe I am supposed to be challenged to walk the walk and not simply tell folks “Read your bible, go to church or you will burn in hell”…BTW, None of that is true…so if anyone ever tells you that, tell them where to get off!
On Tuesday night we’ll talk a bit about the life and legacy of Tammy Faye Bakker. Be sure to join us Tuesday night at 7:30 PM EDT at http://www.HumbleORadio.com to join the discussion.
I Was Wrong: The Untold Story of the Shocking Journey from PTL Power to Prison and Beyond
