Truth Magazine

By Donnie V. Rader

I rarely watch the television evangelists. So, when I received my assignment (latter part of February) to examine the work of Jim and Tammy Bakker, my first response was “Who are Jim and Tammy Bakker?” Within three weeks the whole world not only knew who they were but also watched as their empire crumbled.

Who are Jim and Tammy Bakker? What have they accomplished in TV evangelism? What do they teach? What is Heritage USA and how does it relate to their philosophy? What has happened to them recently? We shall attempt to answer these questions in this article.

Heading An Empire

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, identified with the Assemblies of God, headed an empire that they had built over 13 years. Their enterprises include the PTL (for Praise The Lord and People That Love) network that is carried by cable into 13.5 million homes and a daily talk show (“Jim and Tammy”) broadcast over 178 stations. PTL is a 500,000 member (“prayer partners”) ministry. In addition they had the Heritage USA amusement park.

All of this brought in $129 million for the Bakker’s last year. The financial statement that was distributed by PTL’s new head, Jerry Falwell, revealed that PTL has assets of $172 million and total current liabilities of $42.1 million. Another long term debt was $28.2 million. Falwell said that the new board is considering a $50 million loan from an unidentified source in Great Britain to consolidate its debts.

In addition to the above programs Bakker has a Heritage home for unwed mothers, a new home for handicapped children, 819 “People That Love” centers to aid the needy and outreach programs in 52 countries.

Obviously with all of this Bakker’s real job is to beg for more and more money to operate and enlarge his empire. This is very much in contrast to the work of Christ and His apostles. I don’t recall reading a word about anyone of them begging their listeners for large sums (making them “partners”) to service a large empire.

The Bakker’s have obviously lived like people who headed an empire. They have lived in luxury and sanctified the use of diamonds and riches. They own a Spanish-style home near downtown Palm Springs, another home just ten miles away in Palm Desert, CA for which they paid $449,000 a few years ago. They have bought a houseboat, mink coats, sports cars, a $375,000 condominium in Florida and $60,000 worth of gold plumbing fixtures to put in it and matching Rolls-Royces. Tammy Faye also markets her own line of cosmetics and hosiery.

Without a doubt this couple has glamorized wearing flashy clothing and the show of riches (a striking contrast to the attitude of Christ and His apostles). They did not give such emphasis to material wealth (Phil. 4:11; Matt. 19:16-22; 6:19-34).

Their Teaching

If you watch their shows you find very little teaching. Most of the time is spent in singing, giving of testimonies and begging for more money. However, they are basically Pentecostal. They believe and teach that believers today are baptized in the Holy Spirit and thus miracles are performed today. As true of practically all Pentecostals their concept is that the miracles are for the betterment of mankind. To the contrary Jesus stated that the purpose of miracles was to confirm the message (Mk. 16:20). If miracles were merely for the good of man, why were there so many that were not healed (cf. Phil. 2:25-ff; 2 Tim. 4:20)?

Their philosophy goes further than just the belief in miracles today. Like many of the TV evangelists, the Bakker’s teach a “health and wealth” gospel. They believe that those who have faith and are cheerful givers can expect material prosperity as a reward. Jim Bakker has said, “Jesus does not teach poverty.” Part of the theology is that good health is also a reward for faithfulness. Thus, faith not only solves spiritual separation, but also physical disease and financial distress.

The Bakker’s are supposed to be examples of what faith and cheerful giving can accomplish. When their listeners see the affluent lifestyle they have and desire the same, they are promised both health and wealth if they believe and give.

When we look to the Bible, instead of Jim Bakker, we see that faith and salvation does not promise prosperity (Acts 4:34; 11:29). Neither is there any promise that the faithful will not be sick. In fact, there are examples of faithful Christians suffering because of their faith (Heb. 10:35-39; 11; 12:6; 1 Pet. 4:12-16).

The consequences of the “health and wealth” theology would be that if you are either poor or in bad health you either do not have faith or are not giving as you should.

But Bakker takes his philosophy a little further than some of the others in building the Heritage USA amusement park as a work of God.

The Lord’s Amusement Park

What is it? It is a 2,300 acre spread just south of Charlotte, NC that cost about $175 million. It has the luxurious Heritage Grand Hotel. Inside just above the registration desk golden gothic letters proclaim “Jesus Christ is Lord.” Mornings begin with a wake up call that says, “This is the day the Lord has made.” The rooms are decorated with pictures of Jesus and Mary. You can stay three nights for free if you are a Lifetime Partner (one who has donated $1000). Otherwise, a double occupancy room would cost up to $140 per night.

One of the biggest attractions is Heritage Island, a $12 million water park that has the world’s largest wave pool and a 52 foot water slide which sends people sliding at 40 miles per hour. Like other resorts, Heritage offers tennis, horseback riding and camping. In addition they have baptisms every Tuesday night in the hotel swimming pool, a Christian dinner theater, a high-tech Passion play in the Heritage amphitheater and a wafers-and-grape juice communion service at 2 in the morning.

Bakker was not through building. He had plans to build a multimillion dollar theme park and a king size Wendy’s restaurant shaped like a sand castle and a full-scale replica of Jerusalem as it was in the time of Christ.

In 1985 five million people visited Heritage USA. In 1986 there were six million.

Bakker claims God directed him in building Heritage USA. He claims to be doing a work of God in his amusement park adventure. While Jim Bakker may think God told him to do this work, in actuality it was all his own dream. Bakker, a third-generation preacher in the Assemblies of God, spent his summers as a youngster at Pentecostal camps meetings where families vacationed in cabins and swam, among other activities. Bakker told Newsweek magazine, “Many of our campgrounds were built during the touristcabin era and that’s where they stayed. But society went to the Holiday Inn, and our campgrounds didn’t keep up. My dream was to bring the Christian campground up to the 20th century” (Aug. 11, 1986).

Heritage USA has received its criticism. Jimmy Swaggart, also with the Assemblies of God, has been critical of Bakker’s project for some time. Recently when accused of trying to take over the PTL organization Swaggart replied that he was not in the water slide business (700 Club, March 24, 1987). He told the Associated Press, “The Gospel is not entertainment. It is very sober. It has no place for amusement parks” (March 27, 1987).

I talked to one young man whose mother is a lifetime Partner which enabled him to take his family to Heritage for a week last year. He was critical of the high cost of just eating and participating in the activities. That was with his stay at the hotel being free. His comment was interesting and worthy of consideration. He said that if God directed Jim Bakker to build this park it looks like God just left the poor man out. If God wants people to have fun in the name of religion, why charge $140 per night to stay at Heritage? Why not provide it free so all can enjoy and benefit?

Heritage USA ministers to the physical side of man. It is the social gospel concept. While I disagree with much that Swaggart says, I must say amen to his statement that the gospel is sober and is not entertainment. It is directed to man’s spiritual needs. Jesus rebuked some who were following him just for the food he had given them and pointed out that their real need was to labor for the meat that “endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). Jesus also said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (v. 63). His gospel is spiritual in application. He told Pilate that the kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). The gospel calling is an “heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1). The church at Corinth was rebuked for doing social and recreational things in the name of religion (1 Cor. 11). The apostle Paul said that the kingdom “is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17).

While Jim Bakker spends his time building theme parks you will not hear him preaching the kind of sobering sermons you find recorded in the book of Acts. Hotels and water slides don’t do one thing for saving souls. The preaching of the pure gospel will (Rom. 1:16).

To give, visit and buy is doing service to God. Heritage vice president Neil Eskelin said, “Bible-believing, Christ loving people think they’ve found nirvana here.” A visit will bring spiritual renewal. As they plug the park on their TV shows you are made to feel that you are doing a service unto God if you will give $1000 or visit their “holy Disneyland.” I enjoy a visit to places like Kings Island or Opryland as much as anyone. But I never thought of that as a part of my service unto God. If the Bible is to be our standard for determining what we believe and do in religion (as it is Col. 3:17), then a search for anything even similar in the New Testament would be in order. I must confess that I haven’t found anything akin to Heritage USA. I don’t remember anything about Paul’s “Antioch Fun Park.” Can you imagine such? “The Antioch Grand Inn: donate 1000 gold shekels and you can stay three nights free; otherwise it would cost 30 gold shekels a night. Ride the waves and swim in the Mediterranean Sea. Camel rides are also available.”

Recent Shakeups In The Empire

Tammy Faye announced March 9 that she has a drug problem. She became dependent on drugs she had taken for a sore throat and pneumonia. This, she confessed, went back for 17 years. She blamed the doctors who asked her to stay off the TV for one year.

Jim resigned from PTL March 19 over a sex scandal. He said he was “wickedly manipulated by treacherous former friend who “conspired to betray me into sexual encounter.” He confessed that he “succumbed to blackmail.” He referred to an 1980 incident in Florida with 21-year-old Jessica Hahn, a church secretary. Apparently, PTL had paid Hahn $115,000 in 1985 and was paying her another $150,00000 in $800 to $1200 payments to keep the story quiet. It is interesting that Jim blamed his former friends. However, his successor, Jerry Falwell said Bakker’s actions were “wrong, wrong, wrong.” He also told Cable News Network (March 20), “It doesn’t really matter whether someone seduced you or you raped someone. If you’re a man of God, a leader of the flock (and) you yield, as far as I’m concerned, you’ e out of the ministry.”

Because Jimmy Swaggart had asked church officials to investigate Bakker, he was accused by Bakker’s attorney of trying to take over the PTL ministry. Swaggart has denied, but charged that Bakker was “a cancer on the body of Christ” that had to be removed.

Jerry Falwell is now chairman of the PTL board which is interesting because Falwell is a fundamental Baptist. He preaches a more sober gospel and is not carried away with the “health and wealth” and “good-time” gospel that Bakker has preached. Falwell has been uncomfortable with the Pentecostalism that has characterized Bakker, Oral Roberts and others.

What effect will this have? Falwell said that this might create a “backwash that could hurt every Gospel ministry in America, if not the world” (Time Magazine, March 30, 1987). George Gallup Jr. (of Gaft Poll) warned: “There have been extravagances and questionable tactics, and surely this has soured people’s attitudes toward giving, and toward Christianity” (Time Magazine, March 30, 1987). To say the least, the general public will be more skeptical of religion.

(A special thanks to brother Ted Mitchel of Frankfort, KY for supplying some magazine articles which were very helpful.)

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 12, pp. 362-364
June 18, 1987

By Larry Ray Hafley

False ideas of the Holy Spirit’s work are at the bottom of much that is to be regretted in the spiritual culture and movement of our times. This one-sided supernaturalism of Mr. Moody is the most conspicuous feature in his ministry, and the unquestionable source of the greater part of his remarkable power over man. This belief is none the less a source of power in his preaching, because it is only a fanaticism without a corresponding reality.”

The quote above was made over a century ago. In the early part of this century, the names of McPherson, Allen, Coe and Jenkins could have been inserted. Today, Swaggart, Falwell, Robertson, Roberts, Peale, Schuller, Humbard and Angley would fit as well. As you do not recognize the names of Moody or McPherson, so, years from now, a generation will not know Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker or Oral Roberts. However, a later age will have its own corp and coterie of false prophets, priests and erring evangelists to add to the citation noted above. The names change, but the melody is the same. The beat goes on, but the word of the Lord endureth forever.

Falwell’s and Roberts’ revelations are too well known to require documentation. The Holy Spirit, we are told, leads believers to become basic Baptists under Falwell and Graham. He leads Roberts by visions, dreams and direct communication that supercede even that known to Moses or Paul, or so we are told. The Spirit leads Roberts into charismatic, tongue-speaking Pentecostalism, but he denies it to Falwell’s followers. He promises material riches through Bakker and Schuller’s power of positive thinking.

But why tire you with all the tedium and minutiae of the contradictory doctrines of men who presume Spirit guidance, assume Divine prerogatives and consume deluded souls? Let us simply set forth how the Holy Spirit leads us.

When we do that, we will (1) know the truth, (2) be truly led of the Spirit, (3) be “free from the law of sin and death,” and (4) avoid “being led away with the error of the wicked” (2 Pet. 3:17).

Misused Passages

(1) John 14.17,26, 15.26, 16:7-13: Modern TV evangelists base their claims of Divine guidance on the promises of Jesus in the gospel of John. These texts, even if applicable today, cannot include men like Roberts, Swaggart, Robertson and such like.

First, they preach conflicting doctrines. Did the Spirit lead John, Paul and Peter to contradict one another? No (1 Cor. 15:11). Second, they belong to churches unknown to the New Testament. Falwell and Graham are Baptists; Swaggart is of the Assemblies of God; Oral Roberts is a Methodist. The Spirit did not lead James and John into denominationalism. Third, these claimants cannot confirm their alleged revelations “with signs following” (Mk. 16:17-20; 2 Cor. 12:12; 1 Cor. 2:5). Fourth, Swaggart has recently expressed doubt that Oral Roberts has really received revelations from God. Did Peter and Paul question one another’s revelations from the Spirit? No (2 Pet. 3:15,16; Acts 15; Gal. 1; 2). Fifth, “He (the Spirit) shall glorify me (Jesus)” (Jn. 16:14). But the TV evangelists today use their “ministries” to glorify the Spirit (and themselves).

(1) The texts in John’s gospel were promises to “the twelve” apostles (Jn. 13:1; Matt. 26:20; Acts 1:2-8). (2a) The one’s promised the Spirit were to remember what the Lord had taught them while he was with them (Jn. 14:26). (2b) The witnesses of John’s gospel had “been with (Jesus) from the beginning” (John 15:27; cf. Acts 1:21,22). (2c) These were the witnesses “who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 2:32; 10:39-42; Lk. 24:48, 49). These three factors eliminate today’s TV pretenders. (3) The promise of John 16:13 was guidance into “all truth.” That truth was once for all delivered (Jude 3). It is not being fulfilled today (2 Tim. 3:16,17; Jas. 1:25).

(2) Ephesians.3:16. “That he (God) would grant You . . . to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” We are not in the business of answering or explaining away Scripture. The Holy Spirit does strengthen the inner man with might. That is not the issue, the question. How does the Spirit strengthen the inner man? That is the question. Hear the apostle Paul. (A) “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). The word of God builds up, strengthens with might. The Spirit’s sword is the word of God (Eph. 6:47). The word is the Spirit’s agent or instrument. By it, he strengthens the inner man – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2). (B) Further, “the word of God . . . effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13). The Spirit works (that is who) effectually in the believer, in the inner man (that is where), through the word (that is how). (C) The “inward man” is renewed by the “word of God,. . the truth . . . the gospel” (2 Cor. 4:1-16). (D) “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee” (Psa. 119:11). “The law of God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide” (Psa. 37:31).

(3) Ephesians 5:18.- “Be filled with the Spirit.” Being filled with the Spirit is contrasted with being drunk with wine. Note the comparisons of the context in the following chart:

Be Not . . . But Be (Eph. 5:18) Contracts of Context
(1) “Gentiles”	vs.	“Christians” – 4:17-21
(2) “Old Man”	vs.	“New Man” – 4:22-24
(3) “Darkness”	vs.	“Light” – 5:8
(4) “Unfruitful Works”	vs.	“Fruit of Spirit” – 5:9, 11
(5) “Asleep, Dead”	vs.	“Light (Life)” – 5:14
(6) “Fools”	vs.	“Wise” – 5:15
(7) “Drunkenness”	vs.	“Spirit Filled” – 5:18
Excess, Riot, Waste	vs.	Goodness, Truth, Righteousness

Ephesians 5:18 is but one of the numerous contrasts in its context as outlined above. The left side of the chart shows the sinful state of excess, riot, drunkenness. The right side reveals the righteous state of being filled with the Spirit. The Gentile, heathen, the old men, walks in darkness, produces unfruitful works, and is asleep, dead and drunk in riotous living. The new man, on the other hand, walks in the light, has life and produces the fruit of the Spirit in goodness, righteousness and truth. So, rather than be like the old man, be filled with the Spirit, i.e., live like the new man, the child of God.

Compare Titus 2:11, 12. God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously, godly. As such, the text in Titus is parallel with the text and context of Ephesians 5:18.

To be filled with the Spirit is to walk in truth, to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom (cf. Col. 3:16).

Old Testament Passages

Stephen said the Jews did “always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye” (Acts 7:51). First, let us see how the Jewish fathers resisted the Spirit. When we see how they did it, we shall know how those of the first century did so. Second, if they had not resisted the Spirit, they would have received the Spirit. To resist the Spirit is to refuse to be led by the Spirit. To receive the Spirit is to be led by the Spirit. Hence, by revealing the method of resistance, we shall see the means of reception, i.e., how the Spirit leads us.

“Thou gavest thy good spirit to instruct them” (Neh. 9:20). “Yet many years didst thou forbear them and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets, yet they would not give ear” (Neh. 9:30). Remember, Acts 7:5 1. The fathers resisted the Spirit by resisting, by refusing to hear, the words of the prophets. God said, “They refused to hear my words” (Jer. 11:10). “Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his prophets” (Dan. 9:10). “But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets” (2 Chron. 36:16).

God spoke unto the fathers by the prophets (Heb. 1:1). What God said, he said through the prophets. God “spake by the mouth of his holy prophets” (Lk. 1:70). Psalm 95:7 is quoted in both Hebrews 3:7 and 4:7. In Hebrews 3:7, the Psalm is what “the Holy Ghost saith. ” In Hebrews 4:7, the Psalm is what God said “in David.” God spoke “by the mouth of David” (Acts 1:16; 4:24, 25). David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Sam. 23:2). Jesus said, “David himself said by the Holy Ghost,” as he quoted from Psalm 110:1-4 (cf. Mk. 12:36; Acts 2:34). Joel 2:28-32 “was spoken by the prophet Joel,” yet when Peter cited the passage, he said, “saith God” (Acts 2:16,17). “The mouth of the Lord hath spoken” the words of Isaiah 40:1-5; yet, when John the Baptist quoted that text, he said, “as said the prophet Isaiah” (Jn. 1:23).

Separate and apart from the word of God, we could never know “whether there be any Holy Ghost.” However aware we may be of the leading of the Holy Spirit, that guidance is not independent of the word of God, but it is a product of it.

Again, remember Acts 7:51-53. They resisted the Holy Spirit “as” (in the same manner) did their fathers. How did the fathers resist the Holy Spirit? They did so by resisting the preaching of the prophets. So, when the people resisted Stephen’s preaching, they resisted the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, had they heard the prophets, they would have received the Holy Spirit, been led by the Holy Spirit. Thus, when we believe and obey the word of the apostles and prophets, we receive the Spirit and are led by Him.

2 Timothy 3:16, 17

If I had but one text on how the Spirit leads us, it would be this, “Ali scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

Is there something the Holy Spirit can lead us to, separate and apart from the word of God, that will complete, equip, or perfect the man of God? If so, the passage is false. “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar. ” Is there any teaching, any reproof of false doctrine, any correction (straightening up again), or any instruction to proper conduct, or any good work the Spirit can lead us to, separate and apart from the word of God? If so, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 is false.

The word of God, like the Spirit of God, is alive and powerful (Heb. 4:12). The Holy Spirit leads children of God by His instrument, the word of God (Eph. 6:17). The Spirit builds up, strengthens and guides the child of God by the word of God (1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 20:32; 1 Thess. 2:13; Jas. 1:25; Eph. 3:4; 5:17).

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 12, pp. 359-360
June 18, 1987

By Stephen P. Willis

(TV Evangelist): “God loves you, He really does I ” – I had a strong temptation to end this article here, leaving an empty page. When I was young, I saw a 400-page book entitled, Scriptural Arguments in Favor of Instrumental Music. The title was on the book’s spine. AD of the pages were BLANK. (The point: no scriptural arguments.) Most TV ministries go to great lengths to stress God’s love, which is great indeed – but leave the viewer with a big BLANK when it comes to God’s way of saving people.

“Turn your radio on. . . ” used to be the anthem for people to get in touch with God. Now there is another medium, television. We have had more than one generation raised on television. To them it is just as “natural” to watch the television as to listen to the radio. TV is taking over when it comes to communication between people. The use of satellites has given a large number of stations from which to choose attracting many faithful, charitable viewers. Air time is not cheap so “religious networks” are becoming more and more popular. This great expense is also the reason for many, many appeals for money. But wait, those appeals are at the end of the show. Let’s start from the beginning. . .

(Tympani drum-roll, start theme music, roll great computer graphics). An announcer welcomes the viewers, tells of all the guests, news blurbs, and finally introduces the “stars” of the show (applause, end theme music).

At this point there are many formats that the “ministries” follow. Some are: televised worship services, teaching sessions, news and commentary, instrumental music (with or without singing), politics, economics, health, movie/record reviews, cooking and household hints, interviews with politicians, performers, and preachers, and audience participation. Somewhere in all this we’ll see the testimonials (“witnessing”) of events in peoples’ lives bringing them to believe that they were saved or healed at a particular point in their fives.

Some of this can be entertaining or educational. Herein lies the danger, for at this time in the show we are to have had an emotional “connection” to someone or some event. Since we share in the human condition, we might have had similar trials, or even sinned in a similar manner. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is the problem. Sin is the question. At this point we are anxiously waiting for the answer. What shall we do? What do most TV ministries tell us to do in order to be saved?

It is at this point in the show that the “host” will remind us of God’s gracious love. Perhaps, with Bible in hand he will tell of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God, and that there is no other way to be right before God except in Jesus’ name. With Bible in hand he would guide us to say the “Sinner’s Prayer.” With Bible in hand . . . wait a minute! The “Sinner’s Prayer”? With Bible in hand please show us where the “Sinner’s Prayer” is recited by an apostle or one wanting to be a Christian! Here we would find, a big BLANK.

As interesting as the problem might seem, as likable as the host might be, as right as his teaching might be in some areas, how to be saved is a BLANK that needs to be filled with Scripture.

Salvation is based on the love and grace of God the Father and Jesus the Savior (Jn. 3:16; Acts 15:11). The gospel is God’s power for salvation (Rom. 1:16), and after hearing, the gospel, we must believe if we are to be saved (Eph. 1:13). Repentance and turning from sin is necessary also (Acts 3:19). Romans 10:10 says that confession results in salvation. Most ministries claiming to be “Christian” will include these things as needful for one to be saved. Some even have telephone numbers on the TV screen so one can call in to be encouraged to do these things, or so one who thinks himself saved can confess it. (One could also use one of these numbers to pledge financial contributions.) Let me add some “ministries” tell the respondent to find a local church. Some will send literature (with tides like ‘Now that I’m Saved’), or further requests for donations. Perhaps these points begin to fill in the BLANK a little, but if a person has done all these things, what is his condition before God? Where do the TV ministries leave the sinner? The answer: lost in sin! A penitent Saul of Tarsus still needed to “Arise, and be baptized (4mersed in water sw), and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). The same Saul (Paul) would tell the Romans that baptism puts one “into Christ” and that after baptism one begins “newness of life” (6:3,4). Even with God’s grace and the love of Jesus, a believing, repenting, confessing person is in his sins and outside Christ until he washes away his sins and appeals to God for a clean conscience. Peter said baptism saves; it is our appeal (1 Pet. 3:21).

Often the TV preachers will quote Romans 10:13: “for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (NASB). I believe that this is probably their proof-text for the “Sinner’s Prayer,” prayer being our call to God. But let Scripture interpret Scripture. Paul was told that submitting to baptism was “calling on His name” and Peter said that baptism (which saves us) is our legal appeal to God. When the Ethiopian man in Acts 8 said, “Look! Water!. What prevents me from being baptized?”, he was asking, “What keeps me from calling on the name of the Lord?” The answer was based on his belief. Jesus said, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). Only the believer can call. Baptism is how we call.

Whether they believe it or not, the denominational TV evangelists are like Job’s friends: “Sorry comforters are you all” (16:2); “You are all worthless physicians” (13:4). They are saying, “Peace, peace” when there is no peace (cf. Jer. 6:14). Oft times they bring sinners to understand the danger of sin, but teach a different gospel about the forgiveness of sins, leaving many comforted while still lost in their sins. The Bible says that if these preachers continue to teach and practice this “other” gospel they are “accursed” or “cut off” – “anathema” (Gal. 1:8,9); so are those who believe the false gospel. Remember, when the blind 4ead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch!

“Get in touch with God. . .” turn your television off. Open your Bible.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 12, pp. 372-373
June 18, 1987

By Daniel W. Petty

Bakker was born in 1940, the son of a poor Muskegon, Michigan factory worker. In his autobiography, Move That Mountain (1976, 1985), Bakker tells of suffering from an inferiority complex as a child. He attributes his conversion to a tragic experience in high school at the age of eighteen. While playing hooky from school, he accidentally ran over a three-year old boy. The child lived, but because of the experience, Bakker made a commitment and began to take seriously his parents’ Pentecostal Assemblies of God religion.

Bakker entered the Pentecostal North Central Bible College to prepare for the ministry but dropped out during the second year to marry Tammy Fay LaValley. Bakker was ordained in his denomination, and the couple travelled as evangelists for several years. With a successful puppet show for children, they soon caught the attention of Pat Robertson, who asked them to join the staff of the fledgling Christian Broadcasting Network. While at CBN they stared in the “Jim and Tammy Show” and pioneered the 700 Club. After a short stay with the Trinity Broadcasting Company, they went to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1972 and founded the PTL Television Network, beginning in a furniture store building. The “PTL Club” began in 1974, and by 1980 commanded an audience of over 600,000, and was broadcast over more than 300 affiliate stations in 50 nations. Staged in Johnny Carson fashion, the talk show often had the Holy Spirit as its main topic. The show has witnessed tongue-speaking and emotional pleas for financial support.

Jim and Tammy Bakker’s career was often stormy. In 1979 the FCC began an investigation into the Bakker’s use of solicited funds. In March 1987, Jim Bakker stepped down from PTL leadership and withdrew from the denomination, admitting to sexual misconduct and payment of hush money. The fate of PTL and of TV evangelists generally as a result of the scandal have not yet been determined.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 12, p. 363
June 18, 1987