The ministry of Exposure Pt. II
Backlash of the Exposure Ministry. A sad look at the past.
Sad Blast from the Past
AH, the 1980s. Marked by explosive growth through televangelism, hunger for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and emphasis on worship. The atmosphere was pregnant with optimism and anticipation. Additionally, millions of dollars flowed throughout the Body of Christ in support of what became known as mega ministries. Outwardly, this charismatic outpouring seemed idyllic, but within the hearts of some prominent figures, competition, treachery, and unresolved lust festered. Among them were high-profile figures, Pastor Marvin Gorman, Jim Baker of the PTL Christian television show and founder of the Heritage USA Theme Park, and the world-renowned Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Their public scandals sent shockwaves throughout the movement.
WITH both ministries located in the Baton Rouge, New Orleans area, Swaggart, threatened by Gorman’s ever-expansion, accused him of infidelity in 1986 (and it was true), which quickly brought his mega ministry to ruin. Just a year later, in 1987, Swaggart spearheaded the exposure of Jim Baker’s scandalous affair with an out-of-town church secretary and appeared in numerous interviews referring to Jim Baker as a “cancer that needed to be excised from the body of Christ.” ( My, what men won’t do for power.)
AS this mudslinging brought the church’s dirty laundry into secular view through outlets like CNN, Nightline, Larry King Live, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, and Time magazines, Oral Roberts appeared on television to issue a harrowing rebuke against the divisive actions of Swaggart, stating that his day of judgment was at hand. Swaggart, who was rumored to be visiting prostitutes out of town, had no idea that Gorman hired a private detective to photograph (receipts) him entering a seedy motel with a sex worker, and boom. Busted. Gorman evidently did not read or pay attention to Romans 12:19; consequently, what followed was the shocking confession of the 20th century. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WNwpZe_YI3E
The Aftermath
HAVING lost his Assembly of God license, Marvin Gorman reinvented himself and continued to pastor at a slither of its former glory. Swaggart rejected the disciplinary action from the organization and similarly went independent, incurring a dramatic loss of donations, influence, and popularity; Jim Baker was sentenced to prison for fraud and conspiracy. Fueled by competition, revenge, pride, self-aggrandizement, ego, and gaslighting, these powerful men of God (at least from an earthly viewpoint) took their eyes off the Lord of the work and placed their passion upon the work of Lord. Ministry had become an idol. Apostle John warns us about this little fox (Solomon 2:15) at the end of his epistle to the church, I John 5:21 (Every content creator must tread carefully in this respect. Maintaining a blog post for millions of followers on a consistent basis can become all-consuming. Just ask your spouse and family).
Furthermore, they mistakenly fixed their gaze upon one another in judgment and failed to exercise I Corinthians 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
Why do I mention this sad saga in Christendom?
BECAUSE nothing much has changed. Just the venue. Newspapers and magazines are no longer our primary source of information. Podcasts, online media influencers, and content creators have largely replaced those traditional venues, which have either gone digital, merged, or faded into obscurity. Within seconds, we are inundated with global news coupled with slanderous allegations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S0cwDVBu-k, lousy journalism, unsubstantiated rumors, poorly researched topics, biased opinions, bad English and downright LIES. A mere click of the mouse can devastate a life, and this comes all too often from Christians. I say this with great sorrow. (SMH)
The Law of Reciprocity
ThERE is a Biblical principle called seedtime found in Genesis 8:22, which declares, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest... shall not cease. This eternal principle governs every aspect of life, including how we handle the faults of others. Galatians 6:7-8 echoes this truth: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Based upon these two principles, when we recklessly sow the seeds of public exposure and spread rumors, we set ourselves up to reap the same during our most vulnerable moments. But when we choose mercy, gentleness, and speak the truth in love, we open the door for God’s mercy to meet us in our weakness. The same law that governs the harvest of wheat governs the harvest of our words. What we release into the atmosphere today becomes our meal tomorrow (Proverbs 18:21). May we all sow wisely.
Again, exposure can be necessary, public, and stern when orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, but when done in the flesh, it can become a boomerang. Swaggart experienced this head-on.
Points to ponder:
We are all but dirt, and none of us can fathom what awaits us down the road; hence, may we all tread lightly when it comes to pointing out someone’s frailties
Those who live in glass houses should be cautious about the stones they throw, as I mentioned in another blog concerning TD Jakes. https://www.tonipughministries.org/blog/caughtstones-amp-td-jakes
The Christian Walk is tenuous—full of highs, lows, joys, sorrows, triumphs, failures, and everything in between. It is so personable that it leaves us little time to watch someone else’s walk.
I fully support the exposure and removal of false fivefold (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers). But again, it must be done God’s way, God’s wisdom, God’s timing, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.
Scriptures to meditate and commit to memory and walk out:
· Matthew 18:15–17
· Ezekiel 14:2-4
· Romans 12:19
· Proverbs 18:21
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