This is my latest article in Christian Today
The example of Jimmy Swaggart
The greatest preacher in modern history died a few days ago – at least according to one Australian pastor who wrote effusively, “In my opinion, he was the greatest preacher in modern history. And he was always very kind to me personally. I have watched hundreds of his messages. He has inspired me to be truly Pentecostal. I will miss him. He was such an inspiration to me.”
He was speaking of Jimmy Swaggart, one of the best-known televangelists – and not just because he was a cousin of Jerry Lee Lewis. In the mid-1980s, Jimmy Swaggart Worldwide Ministries had a television presence in more than 140 countries and took in up to half a million dollars a day from donations and sales of Bible courses, gospel music and merchandise.
He was widely considered to be one of the great speakers of the age – in any format. ‘Hypnotic’ was the description of one secular journalist.
But all was not well. In February 1988, in an extraordinary piece of television, Swaggart made his public confession in front of some 7,000 followers at his World Faith Centre in Baton Rouge. He confessed to his wife and then went on to weepingly confess: “I have sinned against you, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain.”
A repentant preacher?
There are those who argue that this is the same as King David confessing after being confronted by the prophet Nathan and then writing Psalm 51. One is always reluctant to speak ill of the dead, but in this instance such hyperbole is not only nonsensical but dangerous. Mr Swaggart stands as an example to us, not of a repentant sinner returning to the Lord, but of the dangers that money, fame and power bring to any Christian ministry.
The trouble is that the story is far worse than the simplistic narrative I have provided above. Just months before he himself was caught, Swaggart had denounced Jim Bakker, another Assemblies of God minister and leader of the PTL television ministry, as “a cancer that needed to be excised from the body of Christ”. Mr Bakker had also committed sexual indiscretion.
Then Mr Swaggart accused another Assemblies evangelist, Marvin Gorman of New Orleans, of being a serial adulterer. Gorman admitted one immoral act with a woman but denied the other accusations and was awarded $10 million in damages. He got his revenge through hiring a private detective, who followed Mr Swaggart and took the compromising photographs which resulted in the tearful public confession.
Swaggart was then suspended from preaching for a year by the Assemblies of God. It was hardly a great punishment, but nonetheless it was one he refused to obey. He took to the pulpit again after three months and was then defrocked. Why did he do this? No doubt because to have stayed silent for one year would have ruined his TV ministry, and that would have meant no donations coming in.
Three years later Swaggart was pulled over by police in California with a prostitute in his car. She testified that he had become alarmed when he saw a police vehicle behind him. In trying to hide pornographic magazines under his seat, he swerved and this caused the police to stop him.
None of your Business!
Rather than a tearful repentance this time, he told his congregation in Baton Rouge, “The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business.” His son later said he would be seeking spiritual and medical help.
Later on in life Swaggart never specifically confessed to his earlier sins, nor repented of his disobedience to his denomination. While some supporters argue that his continued work in preaching the Gospel was evidence enough of repentance, others point out that the continued work could just as easily be seen as a means of financial enrichment. He had a sprawling house in Baton Rouge, a private jet and ‘his and hers’ luxury cars for himself and his wife. Clearly he saw ‘godliness as a means to financial gain’ (see 1 Timothy 6:5-10).
The absence of any later confession or specific repentance is significant, as true repentance (see 2 Corinthians 7:10-11) involves acknowledging specific wrongs, seeking forgiveness, and demonstrating changed behaviour.
I remember speaking with a man who when in ministry had committed a far lesser sin than Swaggart’s. When I asked him what he felt about returning to public ministry in the church, he said he never would. He felt that though he had been forgiven and was at peace, yet he had destroyed his ministry, and people would never know whether they could really trust him or not. He was right – and wise.
The Wrong Example
Jimmy Swaggart is an example, but not of a godly preacher who fell, confessed and was restored. Instead, he will go down in history as an example of a Christianity which lost its way and became immersed in the unholy trinity of money, sex and power. Swaggart was good at denouncing everyone from Catholics to Calvinists, as sending people to Hell. Sadly, it is the hypocrisy of those who preach the Gospel, but do not live it, who do far more to pave the road to Hell.
Rather than celebrate Jimmy Swaggart, we should mourn that the name of God was undoubtedly blasphemed because of him (Romans 2:24). And those of us who are preachers should take special care lest we also fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). The Church in the West has already had enough scandals this century. We don’t need any more. Repentance, humility and a return to the methodology, theology and ecclesiology of the Bible may help us in that goal.
Quantum 363 – Death, Death to the…..Pascal Robinson-Foster, Thailand and Jimmy Swaggart
We can’t know .
Only God knows Jimmy Swaggart’s heart .
We need to forgive Jmmy Swaggart for misrepresenting Jesus and not gather evidence against him.
It was a let down for us Christians but more for God who already knew what was going to happen yet he used Jimmy Swaggart.
JS said he had a pornographic problem which he didn’t seek help for and in a sermon advised seeking help if you have this problem.
Gillian
We don’t need to forgive Jimmy Swaggart. That is up to God – as only He alone knows Swaggarts heart. I think the devil used Jimmy Swaggart even more. Your last comment just indicates Swaggarts falsehoods – advising people to do something he was not prepared to do himself. I find it really sad that so many Christians facilitated this by playing the ‘grace and forgiveness’ card.
Oh!My! It seems you only reply Robert to folks who write about God’s people being forgiven IE ‘Old Rocker’ the rest who agree with you ,you didn’t comment.
You seem intent to discredit Jimmy Swaggart.Did you know him personally? God did.
Aren’t we all in this together ?Rejoice with a believer or cry with a believer.We are not separate from each ,doesn’t The Bible say :1Peter 5:9 the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings…
God died for all of that list and it’s a choice for us to do the same
My name is David, not Robert. And despite the fact that you don’t know me personally you seem quite happy to make judgements about me! I am quite happy to point out the hypocrisy of Jimmy Swaggart – claiming to be a preacher of Christ, calling out other peoples sins, whilst committing adultery, meeting with prostitues and being a money grabbing, greedy hypocrite. As Paul says we are to judge those in the church – not those outside.
Deeply sickened by some para-Church and mainstream Church scandals emerging. Taking a time of quiet and reflection just now. The business model-of growth and revival-has had some sad repercussions. Sobering, if Church scandals make believers groan, how much they negatively impact agnostics/atheists.
Found a comment earlier on the blog, the one about ‘the name’ of the ministry, absolutely fascinating. Catholics want a cross on the highest architectural point of buildings. Evangelicals, who stick the name of a celebrity on a ministry, are maybe unwise and drifting into trouble.
Use of time-money-energy is a vexed issue. Yet most things we do, or contribute to, have some uncertainty, and unseen or unknown risks. Being young, or young in faith or both!), has excitements. But are there lots of snares one only discovers by stepping in them, and (hopefully) escaping?
And there, but for the grace of God, go you and I.
Lots of men get propositioned but walk away. Just say no!
Sad to hear that Jimmy Lee Swaggart has passed away. It does not seem three years since he officiated at his cousin Jerry’s funeral in Ferriday. His health must have declined rapidly towards the end.
Their last “Boys from Ferriday” compilation of gospel songs, was a moving tribute from two self confessed sinners.
The only comparison I can see with King David is the extent to which God can use even scoundrels to further His kingdom.
Perhaps the last word belongs to his wife Frances, who stood by him for over 70 years, and was probably the one most hurt by his failings. She says he hasn’t died, he has just gone home.
Good to know that Jesus’ seventy times seven rule is still in force.
The seventy times seven applies to us when we have to forgive a brother who has sinned directly against us and sought forgiveness. It does not apply to a false, greedy, lying teacher who never expressed repentance….
Just a side note on the family connections. Years ago I heard Eamon Friel on Radio Ulster remark that Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley were all cousins, from NE Louisiana and the neighbouring bit of Texas, and that their distinctively similar (sounds a bit Irish) piano styles were due to the fact that it was the same aunt who had taught them all. I think this isn’t quite right but it may be right in spirit. Lewis and Swaggart I think were double cousins while Gilley (who died in 2022) was a first cousin once removed. And the teacher may not have been an aunt. But still. Swaggart was obviously a chancer with a very tangential relationship to things like truth and honour, quite apart from his Christian testimony or the lack of it. Maybe he should have tried to make his fortune in the music business instead, where his misdemeanours would at least have been just normal sin and not involved outright hypocrisy and preying on the gullible. As for Jerry Lee Lewis, it seems he was a tortured soul who was convinced he had forfeited any hope of salvation. I’m not sure offhand if he’s still living. If he is he must be quite an age. But I think he may have died a year or two ago.
Yes: Jerry Lee Lewis died in 2022, aged 87.
2 Cor. 7:10-11 is the litmus test for repentance. Too often high profile evangelical preachers get away with a weak tearful apology, or claiming a disorder of some sort. That is worldly sorrow and means nothing. After a brief period they re-emerge somewhere else. I get it. None of us is perfect but some things are disqualifying simply because trust matters. It takes some courage to post what you have so thanks.