A series of scandals resulted in the destruction of the reputations of several famous Christian evangelists. Some of the more famous happened in the 1980s with Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.
Some scandalized televangelists continue preaching, though with a far diminished viewership. Despite their respective scandals, they each often retain a core group of "faithful" followers.
Contents [hide]
1 Jim Bakker
2 Darlene Bishop
3 Ted Haggard
4 Kent Hovind
5 Jimmy Swaggart
6 Jim Whittington
7 References
[edit] Jim Bakker
After receiving millions in salary and bonuses from his PTL televangelism network, Jim Bakker was forced to resign in 1987 following threats of the revelation of payoffs to former secretary Jessica Hahn, to whom Bakker's staff members had paid $265,000 to keep secret her sexual services to him. A later investigation into financial irregularities at PTL and its Heritage USA Christian-oriented theme park led to Bakker additionally being indicted on federal charges of fraud, tax evasion, and racketeering. [1]
[edit] Darlene Bishop
Darlene Bishop, a televangelist in Monroe, Ohio was sued by four relatives "over her claim that God cured their father - her brother - of throat cancer. He died of the disease 18 months ago." Her book, Your Life Follows Your Words tells how her brother was cured of cancer, but "there is no mention of his death in the book, which she says is due to the fact that it was published at a time when he had been in remission for more than a year." Bishop was also accused of probate irregularities and of mishandling her brother's estate.[2]
[edit] Ted Haggard
On November 3, 2006, Ted Haggard, who actually was regarded as a pastor rather than as a televangelist, resigned his leadership of the National Association of Evangelicals[3] and temporarily stepped aside as pastor of his church because of allegations by former prostitute[4] and masseur Mike Jones that Haggard engaged in sex with him for three years and used methamphetamine. Haggard at first claimed he did not know his accuser.[5] He later admitted receiving a massage from Jones but denied having sex with him. He also admitted buying methamphetamine but asserted he never kept it and denied ever using it. On November 4th he was dismissed by the church for "sexually immoral conduct." [6]
[edit] Kent Hovind
On November 2, 2006, Kent "Dr. Dino" Hovind and his wife, Jo, were found guilty by a jury in Federal court in Pensacola, Florida of numerous federal tax and tax-related offenses. Hovind is best known as an outspoken "Young Earth" creationist. He is serving a 10-year prison term.[7][8]
[edit] Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Swaggart admitted sinning against God and his wife in 1988 after being caught on film taking a prostitute to a motel. He had prior built his ministry into a $150 million-a-year (£65m) concern.[9] In 1991 it was alleged that he was stopped by police in a car with another prostitute. [10]
[edit] Jim Whittington
Jim Whittington spent 10 years in prison for money laundering, mail fraud, conspiracy, and interstate transportation of stolen property from his evangelist crusades and direct mail business in the 1980s.
On November 2, 2005, U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Howard ordered the Rev. Jim Whittington to pay $5,500 a month. Whittington, who had expensive high-speed boats and a Rolls-Royce, owed wheelchair-bound Valeria Lust $848,532.[11]
[edit] References
^ Ostling, Richard. "Enterprising Evangelism", Time, 1987-8-03. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
^ Ed Pilkington, Ed. "Tele-evangelist sued over 'God can heal' claim", The Guardian, January 2, 2007. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
^ Jeff Sharlet (2005). "Soldiers of Christ: I. Inside America's most powerful megachurch". Harper's 310 (1860): 41-54. p. 42.
^ Harris, Dan. "Evangelical Leader Denies Accusation of Paying Former Gay Prostitute for Sex", ABC News, 2006-11-3. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
^ Banerjee, Neela. "Accused of Gay Liaison, Head of Evangelical Group Resigns", The New York Times, 2006-11-3, pp. 1. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
^ "US pastor admits sex 'immorality'", BBC News, 2006-11-05. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
^ "Dr. Dino, wife guilty", Pensacola News Journal, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
^ "'Dr. Dino' guilty on all counts", Pensacola News Journal, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
^ "On This day: 21st Febuary 1998 TV evangelist quits over sex scandal", BBC World News. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
^ "Swaggart Plans to Step Down", The New York Times, October 15, 1991. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
^ "Preacher ordered to pay Fla. widow", News 14 Carolina, Associated Press, 2005-11-02. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_evangelist_scandals"
2007-02-07 07:03:24 · 16 answers · asked by Mijoecha 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
God is not a puppeteer pulling our strings to behave or not in certain ways. Its the free will of the individual. He's not going to over ride our choices, that's how evil can happen in His name. People do it - not God. Ultimately tho, God uses for good that which man intended for evil. God's glory will be revealed in the worst of things. 9/11 is an example of that. God's grace and love and mercy and compassion was seen throughout that situation despite men doing the evil in His name.
2007-02-07 07:19:37 · answer #1 · answered by Patty R 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's something called free will. Do you believe that there is no such thing as sin, or only for the people you listed here? Why single out Christian sinners? I don't think any of these people professed to be perfect. Also, if you are a christian, and some of these may not be, only Our Lord knows that, if they repent for their sins, there is forgiveness. You don't get your head lopped off. It is better to learn from the mistakes others make, and to not judge too harshly. None of us are perfect, believers and unbelievers alike. Christianity is not televangelism. I would recommend reading the New Testament. Keep an open mind, and enjoy.
2007-02-07 07:14:18 · answer #2 · answered by smatthies65 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have to agree with the fact that this is very judgmental. I am however voting for McCain. There is judgment coming to the earth but right now we are in the age of grace. I believe we will go through a very tough time where people will turn to Christ by record numbers. Some will turn away to eternal damnation. I hope to hear the voice of God that leads me to bring people into the kingdom. This is the day the prophets spoke about...a tough time but a blessed time to be alive because this generation will see the salvation of God.
2016-03-29 09:45:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
simple answer - man has free will.
involved answer - each person has done a mighty work for God's kingdom and as such are big bright targets for Evil to attack. each person is only a man and as such is weak and suceptible to a huge variety of attacks, and even if they, through grace, resist 1000 attacks, that is no guarentee that they would be able to withstand the 1001st attack. that is what the merciful forgiveness of our Lord is for.
everyone is a sinner. it is not possible to live in this world without sinning, in deed or in thought.
God gives us mercy in the form of salvation from our sins via repentance.
God gives us grace when we are able to choose good over evil when faced with the choice to sin.
good and bad people alike use the Lord to further unjust/unChristian/illegal/immoral/etc causes.
Good people are bound to fall/fail eventually, even if it is entirely private and not made public, it does not change the fact that failure is unavoidable. again, it is the mercy of God that allows us to continue, to regain our footing and move forward in His love.
Bad people will use any means they believe necessary, including but not limitted to, manipulating the faith/religion of people. research scientology if you would like to see how a created religion can control people through a variety of means (managing thought patterns, financial control, physical intimidation, legal intimidation, etc)
2007-02-07 07:23:15 · answer #4 · answered by Act D 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God gave us the freedom of choice. (It was explained to me a long time ago like this - would you rather make someone love you & force them to be a part of your life,OR, have them choose to be a part of your life & love you freely, of their own accord? the latter of course. The same is true with God, when he designed man it could've been like a "robotic type" follower, that just follows & obeys b/c that's how it was designed...that isn't loving & respecting & having heart felt desire to please & be a part of. ..which is what God wants us to do, to choose to obey, to turn away from materialistic pursuits & store up treasures in paradise.) So, with this freedom of choice, & temptations are everywhere all the time, many times even those who are "teaching" go astray....*and there are those who simply hide behind a mask of christianity using it & the beliefs of others for their own personal gains.
2007-02-07 07:32:17 · answer #5 · answered by rjsluvbug 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bcoz God give us a freewill and every person has a the right to do whatever he/she wants to do.God gave us two choices life and death but He recommend LIFE sad to say most evil person chose DEATH by doing evil works specially using the name of God.we have a doctrine in our heart and a concience to know and to feel what is good and bad for us not to do evil but it is our will that is always rule coz it's our choice (free will).
choose life to inherit the kingdom of God
2007-02-07 07:20:45 · answer #6 · answered by bugzy 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is called Free Will.
each one of your exhaustive 'edits' are examples of Free will and human weakness.
Do you have any other attacks at Christianity that you wish to thinly veil in the form of a question?
2007-02-07 07:14:49 · answer #7 · answered by Papa Mac DaddyJoe 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps instead of searching for scandals in the church you should try learning a bit about it. God doesn't "allow" things to happen.. men have free will and can only be guided by the principles of right.
2007-02-07 07:08:10 · answer #8 · answered by Goose&Tonic 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Tho' God the Father is in all of us some eat the apple from the tree because we are all still humans. Having named all those that have used the church for their personal gains it would be very hard to name all those that received their personal gains at the gates of Heaven.
2007-02-07 07:11:02 · answer #9 · answered by supressdesires 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Seems to me you have too much free time. Why are you looking for all the negatives? God is true and righteous. and would never lead you down a dark path. You only have to put your trust in him and believe.
2007-02-07 07:13:11 · answer #10 · answered by lavachk1 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋