Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart on This Day in History

 

This day in history: American Pentecostal televangelist Jimmy Swaggart was born on this day in 1935. At the height of his popularity in the 1980s, his telecast was transmitted in excess of 3,000 stations and cable systems each week. His “Crusades” enabled him to travel throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, and South America. 

Swaggart has written about 50 Christian books offered through his ministry. He is the author of the Expositor's Study Bible, 13 study guides and 38 commentaries on the Bible.

Swaggart is also the cousin of Rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis and country music star Mickey Gilley.

However, despite all this, he, like other televangelists are better known for their sex scandals, and perhaps that's what they should be known for. [Matthew 7:16-21] In 1988, Swaggart was accused of a sex scandal involving a prostitute which resulted in his suspension, and ultimately defrocking by the Assemblies of God. Three years later Swaggart was implicated in another scandal with a prostitute. This time, instead of tearfully confessing to his congregation, Swaggart told those at Family Worship Center, "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business."

What is ironic about this is that Swaggart helped blow the whistle on Jim Bakker, an Assembly of God televangelist in Charlotte, N.C., for an extramarital affair with a church secretary. Swaggart also went after Rev. Marvin Gorman for adultery. 

"In response, Rev. Gorman circulated photographs of Swaggart and a prostitute at an Airline Highway motel in Metairie, leading to Swaggart's downfall, and he sued Swaggart for defamation. He won a $10 million award, although the parties later settled out of court at $1.85 million. By this time all three men's ministries were in ruins. Rev. Gorman declared bankruptcy, Bakker went to prison and Swaggart's empire collapsed." Source

See also 200 Books on DVDrom on the Dark Side of Christianity
https://thebookshelf2015.blogspot.com/2015/10/200-books-on-dvdrom-on-dark-side-of.html