Open Blogging
Jimmy Swaggart’s 1988 confession has been the object of much derision for almost four decades.
I hadn’t watched it since it originally aired that night in February, 1988.
He broke my heart that night, but it prepared for the life I’ve lived the last 25 years.
I saw it again last night…and whether you believe the man was broken or was just producing crocodile tears, his words stand in stark contrast to what other religious and secular figures say when caught in scandal.
First, while he didn’t detail his sins, he admitted he had blown it…and didn’t blame any other person or factor for his fall.
“I do not plan in any way to whitewash my sin. I do not call it a mistake, a mendacity; I call it sin. I would much rather, if possible — and in my estimation it would not be possible — to make it worse than less than it actually is. I have no one but myself to blame. I do not lay the fault or the blame of the charge at anyone else’s feet. For no one is to blame but Jimmy Swaggart. I take the responsibility. I take the blame. I take the fault.
This is the part that grabbed me. In an era where every accusation is “fake news”, Swaggart commended the press that was ravaging him.
“Many times I have addressed the media in a very stern manner, and I have chastised them for what I thought and believed was error in their reporting or their investigation even. This time I do not. I commend them. I feel that the media, both in print and by television, radio, have been fair and objective and even compassionate. Ted Koppel on “Nightline,” I feel, did everything within his power, in going the second, third, fourth, fifth, tenth mile to make doubly certain that what he reported was at least as fair and as honest as he, the spokesman for this world-famed news program, could make it. And I thank him for his objectivity, his kindness, and his fairness.
And I also want to express appreciation to the entire media everywhere, but especially here in Baton Rouge — Channels 9, 2, and 33, the newspapers, the radio stations. They’ve been hard, but they have been fair. They have been objective and at times, I believe, they have even been compassionate — even my old nemesis, John Camp, that we have disagreed with very strongly. And I love you, John. And in spite of our differences, I think you are one of the finest investigative reporters in the world — and I mean that.”
Say what you will, that is light years from what we hear from the leader of the free world.
Now, talk about whatever is on your mind. It’s all yours today.
The problem is that while 1988 confession and repentance may have been sincere, it is pretty obvious that it had no effect. In 1991 when he was caught with hooker #2, rather than confessing and repenting, he flat out said “God told me it was none of anyone’s business.” So not only did he not confess, but took God’s name in vain and profane to cover his ass. In light of 1991, and the fact he refused the sanction and restoration plan of the AoG, I have to conclude that he was only sorry he got caught, not for the deed itself. So I have to conclude it was self-serving at best and a shallow attempt at manipulation at worst. Sure he manned up and didn’t try to evade in 1988. But in 1991 that was a whole other story.
Michael.
Good words, Michael, especially with all the current controversy surrounding the Epstein case. I keep wondering who doesn’t want to know that their name was on one of E’s special invitation lists?
As a side, I was under a pastor for several years who had a protocol for church discipline cases. The only names mentioned were of those who had sinned. Sinned against were not named unless they really wanted to be made public. Most cases were resolved behind closed doors, but the one that did become a members’ meeting was the elder that refused to step down after he was caught. He was named, a brief summary of the issue was presented (adultery), and he was “remanded” to counseling as he chose to finally accept the consequences. We were asked to pray for him and his counseling process (which the church paid for), and we were also asked to encourage and support his wife and children. We were asked not to discuss the situation outside of church. I never met anyone who did discuss it. The former elder and his wife are still together almost 20 years later.
So name it, confess it,get on with it (whatever the consequences may be) seem better than forget it, bury it, deny it. “Church hurt” is a real thing when people don’t deal with sin in the assembly.
I’m curious if 1991 caused Swaggert to change his behavior at all? He more or less (for me) disappeared from view.
Linn,
Thanks for that story…it’s a textbook on how these matters should be handled.
The reward is that the couple stayed together and the person was able to confess and deal with their issues.
If only that was the standard…
Michael,
I’ve heard of similar things but the church and the person(s) involved really need to be committed to repentance and restoration. And, my church would not have faulted the wife (stated publicly) for leaving her husband because it turned out to be a pattern that had been going on for years. He just hadn’t been caught. He had also been an elder for years.
My personal nightmare was the pastor who preached my “send out” service as a missionary, and then was found to have been in multiple affairs in multiple churches. He would threaten people (pastors know a lot about their parishioners), and the boards always caved. He sowed total chaos everywhere he went. He was finally discovered going after a teen at his last church, and they quickly fired him and sent a note to his ordination denomination. That was the end, but 20 years had gone by before he was finally held responsible. I will confess that I threw away the tape of the sermon he preached to “commission” me because I was so angry at him. He has since passed away, and I’m sure God a had a lot to say to him when he arrived.
Ra’s al Ghul,
I think those are reasonable conclusions for people to draw.
I have been privy to the inside of the Swaggart/Lewis families for a long time and I’m going to be more sympathetic than most.
While unbelievable musical talent runs through the families, so does mental illness and what I can only call generational darkness.
One of his cousins, (who, sadly ,was overlooked when God passed out the talent), told me that Swaggart was sexually abused as a child and forced to live in close proximity to the abuser.
He was messed up from the start, as was his cousin.
The stories and the culture they come from is going to be utterly foreign to anyone outside the deep South of the 20th century.
The thing that I wrestle with is that I have no doubt whatsoever that Jimmy believed what He preached…believed in with every fiber of his being.
So did Jerry Lee.
When those fervent beliefs in a holy God collide with the sexual dysfunctions of abuse, mental illness, immense talent and wealth you create people who live in constant inner turmoil, unable to find peace or “salvation”.
I’ve chronicled a bunch of men who abused people in their congregations and were serial adulterers and sex addicts.
The vast majority didn’t believe the Gospel, they used it as a way to gain power. I have no sympathy for them.
Jimmy desperately needed what his sect didn’t allow…professional counseling.
I don’t know if he ever resolved his issues…I don’t know what the last 25 years looked like as my sources passed on quite a while ago.
The one without the talent led the most normal life and died in peace…forgotten by even her famous family.
Linn,
You hit on something I wrote about in the early days here…the use of information gleaned in private “counseling sessions to silence critics.
This is among the most reprehensible, damaging, and common tactics of serial abusers.
I should probably re write some of those articles…nothings changed since I began 25 years ago.
Michael,
That’s exactly what John MacArthur did recently with the woman currently suing his church. “Reconcile with your husband, or we will share details about you in a service.” And, the church did just that. I hope she wins a gazillion dollars!
Linn,
Amen…I hope she does too!
Michael,
I haven’t thought about this from the perspective you presented here.
Micheal, you said…
“When those fervent beliefs in a holy God collide with the sexual dysfunctions of abuse, mental illness, immense talent and wealth you create people who live in constant inner turmoil, unable to find peace or “salvation”.”
This breaks my heart. Many live in such conflict and turmoil, unable to find peace in this life.
What is the big deal with human sexuality in the many brands of Christianity?
Swaggart was only satisfying a very human need.
I still don’t get it.
Even Rahab knew this, and built a thriving business model on it.
I remember watching Swaggart on TV at times in the early 1980s, just out of curiosity. In one episode of his program, he was sitting on the edge of a desk in what looked to be his personal study, looking straight into the camera and speaking to those who were struggling with sexual sin in a way that was not only truly sincere, empathetic and sympathetic, but even, in a way, desperate. Immediately I thought, “This man sounds like he is struggling with sexual secrets himself.”
At some point after that, I lost interest in and track of him, until the sexual scandal broke in the news. And I wondered how many secrets, how much shame, he had struggled with in his life. Michael, your comments here have helped me to understand and see some of what I had only guessed at.
May he rest in peace.
Dan,
Thanks for listening and being willing to think these things through with me.
We all have some sort of dissonance between our lives and our faith…I know I do…
Robert F,
His was a lifetime struggle…he just got caught twice…
Muff Potter, seriously?!!
I strongly commend this video to your attention…especially the conversation toward the end.
The topic is AI and religion…and I got chills.
Yes, Captain Kevin, seriously.
And Michael, you are completely correct: we’ve never heard anything as irenic, conciliatory, humble, or truthful about himself from the leader of the American regime as this confession and statement from Jimmy Swaggart. Our ruler is only vindictive, hateful, baleful, obscene, vulgar towards those who criticize him, especially in matters that touch him personally; he will not admit he has made mistakes (except, he has said, in being too nice to his adversaries!) or has ever had to ask for forgiveness from God or anyone else; he loves to punch down and humiliate those already down; and he will only fake kindness to you if you grovel for forgiveness at his feet, and only as long as he can use you for his purposes.
On the John Lennox discussion- that is compelling. I’ve always enjoyed Lennox, and I agree, he caught my breath several times in a relatively short section of the 1 hour 23 minute discussion. Wow. I sure think we’ve been primed to surrender bodily and intellectual autonomy. Wow, again. I pre ordered Lennox’s book.
Rob,
Me too…we can compare notes…
“he loves to punch down and humiliate those already down; and he will only fake kindness to you if you grovel for forgiveness at his feet, and only as long as he can use you for his purposes.“
Sounds like a typical mega church pastor.
I remember the preface to Swaggart’s exposure. He was on Ted Koppel’s Nightline calling Jim Bakker a “cancer on the body of Christ that needs to be excised.” Then his hypocrisy was exposed. With that context I’ll admit his words seemed to me like a Shakespearean play (sans the brilliance). It was drama. It does hold up better in the reading/hearing without the noise.
However, it was a moment that the entire tv gospel enterprise was exposed. Since that time we’ve never trusted the wizards behind the curtain. Recently Michael Brown stepped forward to clean some messes and his mess got exposed very reminiscent of Swaggart’s folly.
The carnival huckstering is buckling and people who thirst for reality are discovering that it cannot be easily found in the light of cameras. The ‘show’ goes on but the people now know that it is mostly magic and not to be believed.
My cynicism is constantly justified. My fear of voicing it is that in includes my own soul. “There is none that doeth good- not one!”
Three Ring Dread