SBN - Son Life Broadcasting/the Swaggarts *MERGED*

[Faith&Hope]

Jimmy Swaggart said many years ago when he was preaching a sermon that for us not to take his word for anything that he said but to look it up in the Bible and study on it. I liked what he said--to not take it for granted that every preacher is correct in what they are saying but we are to check it out and study the Word.

[Compatriot G]

I remember reading an interview with the prostitute involved in his first scandal in the late 80's. In the interview, she went into detail about what transpired. Obviously, I won't relate any of that information. However, one thing has stuck in my mind all these years. The prostitute alleges that Jimmy Swaggart wanted her to bring her daughter with her to the motel room. If I remember right, the daughter was around 12 years old. Jimmy Swaggart wanted the girl to be present in the room while he consorted with her mother! Obviously, God can forgive you for such a sin, but that action, if it is true, should disqualify you from ever being a minister of any kind! In my mind, this basically makes one a pedophile.

[shellie08]

I agree that Jimmy Swaggart may have lost his right to be a leader or minister in the church. I personally don't care for him. However, his wife and son are doing a great job with their show Francis and Friends in warning people about how many of the churches are deceiving so many people today. They constantly lead people to read the Bible for themselves. They encourage people to study God's word. I enjoy that show more than most that are broadcast on christian television.

What happened to Jimmy Swaggart was no doubt painful for his family as well as his followers. I don't think it is fair to punish his family who appear to be trying their best to lead people to the Lord. You don't have to watch him but allow yourself to watch some of what his family is doing. It may surprise you. It did me as I couldn't stand Jimmy Swaggart even before he was caught up in his sexual scandal. He was egotistical and that to me is not pleasing to God. Rather he is still like that or not I don't know as I don't watch him. I do watch his wife and family.

[HeIsEnough]

That sounds reasonable Shelly. I don't hate or condemn Mr. Swaggart, he just should not be in a teaching/pastoral position in the church. There are many other things he can do, like executive producer or whatever, just not that one.

[shellie08]

I agree. He should remain in a different position in the church. I haven't watched him except for a few times when he was filling in for one of the people on Francis and Friends. That is the main show I watch on SLB and I don't agree with everything they say. However, I have learned so much about the new age churches as well as other religions from them. They have done quite a bit on Mormons lately and it is amazing how many of them are watching and call in to complain that they are misleading people. They respond by telling them where to find it in their own literature. Many of them have not studied their own books or the Bible. Many Christians are guilty of that as well.

They have had excellent guest speakers on the show. I have learned a great deal and most of all their show has encouraged me to keep reading my Bible and knowing what God's word says.

It is so easy to be deceived and led in the wrong direction today. I won't listen to anyone who is just using phrases from the Bible or giving a motivational speech. The choices of good Christian preachers is growing less and less by the day. I pray for people who are truly seeking God and get caught up in the deception that many of our ministers are preaching.

[BarbT]

Jimmy Swaggart may have lost his right to be a leader or minister in the church. I personally don't care for him. However, his wife and son are doing a great job with their show Francis and Friends in warning people about how many of the churches are deceiving so many people today.

I can't emphasize enough the need to use strong discernment when watching Francis and Friends. The leaven they mix into sound doctrine should be troubling for any Berean.

True, Francis Swaggart, the host of the program, brings in wonderful guests who expertly expose the teachings of cults and the dangers of Rick Warren & other emergent false churches. A person can be blessed by these well-researched teachings.

But I'm bothered when Francis and her panel {Donnie Swaggart and Jim Nations} frequently warn that a believer can lose his salvation if he adopts a sinful lifestyle and that speaking in tongues is a sign we're saved. "Baptized in the Holy Spirit" seems to be an event only a chosen few experience according to them. These false statements can harm new Christians.

Donnie Swaggart, IMO, should not be included in the panel at all. He is consistently defensive and rude when a caller has a different view or they ask a question that challenges his opinion. The man gets agitated very quickly and doesn't appear to have the temperament or maturity necessary for these discussions.

[Soteria]

I can't emphasize enough the need to use strong discernment when watching Francis and Friends. The leaven they mix into sound doctrine should be troubling for any Berean.

True, Francis Swaggart, the host of the program, brings in wonderful guests who expertly expose the teachings of cults and the dangers of Rick Warren & other emergent false churches. A person can be blessed by these well-researched teachings.

But I'm bothered when Francis and her panel {Donnie Swaggart and Jim Nations} frequently warn that a believer can lose his salvation if he adopts a sinful lifestyle and that speaking in tongues is a sign we're saved. "Baptized in the Holy Spirit" seems to be an event only a chosen few experience according to them. These false statements can harm new Christians.


Donnie Swaggart, IMO, should not be included in the panel at all. He is consistently defensive and rude when a caller has a different view or they ask a question that challenges his opinion. The man gets agitated very quickly and doesn't appear to have the temperament or maturity necessary for these discussions.

(If you walk away and stop believing you stand a good chance of not being saved.)
(And you dont have to speak in ttongues to be saved and they dont preach that.... its a sign you are saved.)
(People are human, Donnie is straight forward in answers, looks like some other preachers in this country dont have the courage to give answers and preach the truth, look where that has gotten us)

[BarbT]

You're twisting their words Soteria.

I've heard each of them declare these things as I described. New Christians can be harmed by sloppy statements tossed out by "experts" so these people should be more careful with their words.

As for Donnie, I was speaking about his sour demeanor when addressing people. "Straight forward" isn't the right word for his performances ... not by a long shot.

[iSong6:3]

(If you walk away and stop believing you stand a good chance of not being saved.)
(And you dont have to speak in ttongues to be saved and they dont preach that.... its a sign you are saved.)
(People are human, Donnie is straight forward in answers, looks like some other preachers in this country dont have the courage to give answers and preach the truth, look where that has gotten us)

We do not allow any promotion of a non-OSAS doctrine here, nor promotion of those who do.

Move on to other topics on this board.

[HeIsEnough]

I can't emphasize enough the need to use strong discernment when watching Francis and Friends. The leaven they mix into sound doctrine should be troubling for any Berean.

True, Francis Swaggart, the host of the program, brings in wonderful guests who expertly expose the teachings of cults and the dangers of Rick Warren & other emergent false churches. A person can be blessed by these well-researched teachings.

But I'm bothered when Francis and her panel {Donnie Swaggart and Jim Nations} frequently warn that a believer can lose his salvation if he adopts a sinful lifestyle and that speaking in tongues is a sign we're saved. "Baptized in the Holy Spirit" seems to be an event only a chosen few experience according to them. These false statements can harm new Christians.

Donnie Swaggart, IMO, should not be included in the panel at all. He is consistently defensive and rude when a caller has a different view or they ask a question that challenges his opinion. The man gets agitated very quickly and doesn't appear to have the temperament or maturity necessary for these discussions.

I did not know this. Did they tell the old man Swaggart about that 'sinful lifestyle' thing?

The old 'speaking in tongues is a sign you're saved' turns rather quickly into 'I must not be saved because I don't speak in tongues' for new believers, typical charismania false doctrine. Promoting false doctrine is a 'sign' of something all right.

Don't promote these people here, Soteria. Or that barren doctrine.

[mkelly349]

I want to say in the 80's I was very much not saved. So when Swaggart and the Bakers slipped and fell, I was laughing my butt off while toking on a big joint! Listening to Sam Kinison make fun of them and he did a better job b/c he himself was a former preacher. Again stoned out of my mind and I wish I never heard some of the negative and crazy stuff ole Sam said about Jesus but look what happened to Sam!

Well fast forward to now, I'm off the pot for about 20 years and amazing as it is, I'm saved! Thank you Jesus!! I have grown a little tired of KLOVE and found a little local gospel station that only has a 13 mile radius and I can listen at work. Well they play the same songs around the same time each night and one of them is "Never Been This Homesick Before" That song would get stuck in my head but it is very comforting for these crazy times. Well I was shocked to find out it was a Swaggart song!!! I have been looking him up and found his channel on our Directv.

I guess my point is, I would be the last person in the world to even admit I had anything to do with anything Swaggart and now I think that song is a blessing at work when I surrounded by a non-believing, hostile, lonely work place. But I don't agree with Swaggart on the speaking in tongues and his past but I will say watching Jimmy as an older guy he seems not as arrogant, lower testosterone, but his son is a little out there. Hmmm...

[mkelly349]

I don't know if I should have started a new thread about this b/c I don't want any major arguments. That is why I showed how "bad" I was back in the day. I would not have made it to heaven any more than he would but he would have left more money$$$$ Also with churches becoming so watered down now and the Rob Bell's, Swaggart is actually sounding not to bad, just use discernment, read your Bible.

[Batman]

I would stay clear of anything to do with Swaggart on TV or his books, etc. I can't say anything about his music but I would warn not to let it or the familiarity of it be a bridge to their doctrine and teachings.

[EzyFromNowOn]

I'm new here and was reading the thread. We have SBN and I've been watching a bit. I think the entire Jimmy Swaggart matter was a true tragedy.

Has anyone ever listened to his OLD teaching tapes? I ask because I used to listen to JS all the time and I had several different volumes of his teaching tapes in the mid-'80s. One was on the Holy Spirit. The way he taught was so wonderful. I can still remember parts of it......anyway, it's such a shame that a man who was as annointed as he was, did what he did. I don't listen to him, in any capacity, at all anymore.

But I do miss listening to his tapes. It wouldn't bother me to listen to those now because they were recorded before he destroyed his ministry. I wish I could find some somewhere and I would get them, they were really good.....he had stories about the old-time church and things that went on, years ago....

[Kays]

I was deeply involved in the Swaggart ministry in the '80's and
visited the church many times. In fact, the teaching was what
spurred me to leave the Catholic church.

I believe the foundation of their teaching is Biblical.

Of course, I was disappointed when the scandal broke.

I can only say the teaching and outreach as far as I've heard
so far is biblical but however, it does seem from time to time,
Jimmy Swaggart himself still seems to be justifying
in a veiled sort of way, his own past sins. He constantly preaches
about failing, about this human struggle, etc. etc. I t seems
as if he himself hasn't accepted the fact that God forgives
and forgets. Man cannot always forgives, rarely forgets.
As is evidenced here.

Almost 30 years is a very long time to hold someone's sins against them.
As a Christian, I would not do that. I hope others don't either. God doesn't to us.

[Accepted]

I was deeply involved in the Swaggart ministry in the '80's and
visited the church many times. In fact, the teaching was what
spurred me to leave the Catholic church.

I believe the foundation of their teaching is Biblical.

Of course, I was disappointed when the scandal broke.

I can only say the teaching and outreach as far as I've heard
so far is biblical but however, it does seem from time to time,
Jimmy Swaggart himself still seems to be justifying
in a veiled sort of way, his own past sins. He constantly preaches
about failing, about this human struggle, etc. etc. I t seems
as if he himself hasn't accepted the fact that God forgives
and forgets. Man cannot always forgives, rarely forgets.
As is evidenced here.

Almost 30 years is a very long time to hold someone's sins against them.
As a Christian, I would not do that. I hope others don't either. God doesn't to us.

.




I am typing on a tiny iouch and hope this works... I'd just like to contribute to the discussion by saying that this issue is not about forgiveness. Jesus is all about redemption! But the issue here is that teachers are held to a very high standard, and when trust has been broken so completely, credibility is sometimes irrevocably broken too. A humble repentant believer never insists on remaining in leadership in my opinion.