THREE JIMMIES
During the
20th century decades of the 80’s and 90’s the two most ‘famous’ (or
‘infamous’) ordained ministers of the largest Pentecostal denomination in the
world
…failed
morally, (and failed miserably).
It is not
the purpose of this particular story to spend much time with the moral
indiscretion of the one, Jim Bakker, (as I been given a more personal entre
into the life and failings of the second, Jimmy Swaggart).
Suffice it
to say that the former of the two was sexually involved with a church
secretary, Jessica Hahn, and provided her a payoff from his television ministry
funds; in order to maintain her silence. ‘Jimmy’ was also charged with fraud
for having over-sold partnerships in his Heritage USA theme park vacation
package, and pocketing millions of dollars of the proceeds for himself.
Ultimately, Rev. Bakker was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but served only 5
of the total. Interestingly enough, the much older and the much humbled, now
non-denominational minister has returned to television, and authored a book
entitled, “I Was Wrong.”
As I
previously inferred, the primary focus of my story today involves the ‘second
Jimmy.’ (re. Jimmy Swaggart).
But to
digress a wee bit.
The former
events had come and gone, and the world entered has not only entered a new
century, but a new Millennium. It may have been 2001 or 2002, (the exact year
escapes me now) but as the staff counselor at a local church, I was involved in
a second weekend outreach at another location about 20 miles from the first.
I was
waiting on a counseling client one Saturday, (who apparently was a ‘no show’)
and suddenly there was a knock on the door of the pastor’s office; which I used
in his absence. I stood up from pastor’s desk, looked through the peep hole,
and swung the door open.
Standing
before me was a man of 55 or 60 wearing, as I recall, a conservative business
suit.
He spoke.
“Hello, I’m
Rev. Jim Reintz. Is Pastor Steverson here?”
To which I
responded,
“Well, no
sir. He’s not generally here on Saturdays, …unless perhaps you and he were
scheduled to meet.”
I suppose
the second of my sentences came across more as a question, (than a sentence).
I have long
since forgotten whether he had scheduled with Pastor S., but upon reflection,
it is apparent that his quest was not satisfied, as the good man of God and I
proceeded to while away the next hour together.
I hadn’t
heard this preacher’s name before, or at least I “hadn’t put two and two
together.” It was not long, however, before I realized to whom I was speaking.
Not only was this minister the former pastor of the Best Man at my wedding, and
had performed his nuptial ceremony, but he had later served as the chief
associate of the ‘Jimmy’ of whom the majority of this story is devoted.
Readers,
unless you have been on an extended trip to a distant galaxy, or in a coma the
past thirty years, (or are not yet of legal age) no doubt you are all too
familiar with the misbehavior of the man I have chosen to call here, “the
second Jimmy.”
But to
summarize…
It seems Jimmy
S. was a “loving kind of man” (as Forrest Gump might have put it) and that in
the Year of our Lord 1988, (for lack of a better phrase) he “got caught with
his pants down.” (Almost literally). No doubt, the (less than) devout minister
had been engaged in previous trysts, but it was at this point in time, he was
discovered in the arms of a prostitute. (Strangely enough, the second Jimmy had
previously condemned the first Jimmy on national television for the allegations
against him. Talk about “The Pot calling the Kettle black”)!
As a young
man in the early 70’s, I recall having seen a few of the religious notables of
my day. The flamboyant Kathryn Kuhlman held a one night crusade in Tampa which
I attended. And the second Jimmy did likewise. (As I recall he added a couple
of musical selections to his repertoire that evening; as he was (and is) an
accomplished speaker, pianist and soloist).
But to
return to my guest…
My new-found
acquaintance reminded me of the events which naturally fell together after the
second Jimmy was ‘discovered’ and how that he almost begged Swaggart to seek
counsel after his shenanigans became known.
After having
been “turned in” by another less than faithful pastor, Swaggart rendered a
contrite public apology to his congregation; one which was “chuck full” of
“weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The video can still be viewed on the internet
today. (I admit. It is difficult to watch).
In spite of
Jimmy’s heartfelt display, the (not so) good minister nay-sayed any effort to
tell him what to do, and refused to comply with his denominational board’s
insistence that he step down from the pulpit for an extended period of time.
While Jim Reintz, (a third Jimmy, but of an entirely different caliber) assumed
the senior pastorate for a short time, it wasn’t long before our second Jimmy
reassumed his role in that Louisiana church and television ministry.
Ultimately, the Assemblies of God defrocked ‘Rev.’ Swaggart, and he continued
his ministry in a non-denominational status.
And then,
hardly half a decade transpired before
…he got
caught with his, (well, you know) again.
The cameras
no longer pan the audience in the second Jimmy’s church. Almost thirty years
after this Jimmy’s first moral indiscretion it is apparent that hundreds have
drifted away from his congregation, (and no doubt thousands have left his
television ministry, and subsequently his long distance tithing fold). But like
the first Jimmy, he continues to “reach, teach and keep” a selected genre of
believers. To be fair to my perspectives, I can only wonder why anyone would
invest their trust in and continue to contribute to a ministry in which the
central figure has not only yielded twice to a compromising situation, but who
has refused to submit to the demands of the denomination with which he had
associated himself.
Three
Jimmies. Two who made choices which have followed them throughout the remainder
of their lives. One who followed his moral compass and refused to be deterred
from the path which God had set out before him.
As a
counselor, I share a concept I refer to as “Short Term Satisfaction vs. Long
Term Results,” or what might just as well be referred to as “The Scarlett
O’hara Syndrome.” You may recall the movie, “Gone With The Wind.” As the film
concludes Scarlett is heard to say, “I’ll just have to think about that
tomorrow.”
Too many
Christians and non-believers, alike are prone to make choices based on what
feels good at the time; while all the while ignoring the potential long term
results; not so very different from Scarlett O’hara.
Two Jimmies
who seemed too well acquainted with Scarlett’s manner of thinking and course of
action, and who as a result reaped shame and sorrow when ‘tomorrow’ finally
arrived.
Two Jimmies
on a date with the proverbial Scarlett O’hara.
TWO BILLIES
While
I was born in in Dade County, the most populous of Florida’s counties, at the
age of 5 my parents moved their little family to Polk County; one which vied
for the former’s geographical size, but with a comparatively smaller
population.
The
county seat is located in the 3rd largest, (but original) city. Bartow. It was
in this environment that I grew up, and experienced what I consider to have
been an almost idyllic life. I attended elementary school at one of the two primary
schools in our little town, and went on to attend junior high and high school
at one of its two secondary schools.
I
suppose the most prominent developments of the mid to late 50’s and decade of
the 60’s, during which period I moved through childhood, adolescence and young
adulthood, were the Vietnam War, the inauguration and subsequent assassination
of President Kennedy, and the first manned lunar landing.
I
recall watching a black & white television set in Mr. Ball’s 6th grade
classroom as President John Kennedy took the oath of office, and just two years
later having heard the dreadful news that this same man’s life was snuffed out
by a lone gunman in Dallas. And there was Walter Cronkite and Huntley/Brinkley
who night after night described the awful events at that time transpiring in
South Vietnam; half a world away from the tranquility of my hometown. Who among
us who lived, and breathed and moved at the time will ever forget Neil
Armstrong’s, “One small step for man…?”
And
yet, there were two local events, long since overshadowed by these more recent
national and international ones, which set the spiritual tone for my little
community, and (little known or appreciated by me at the time), as an
individual.
For
you see, exactly 30 years before yours truly was ushered into the world, and
just short of four decades before I slapped the tether ball or ran the bases on
my elementary playground, a momentous gathering occurred on that same dusty
field. In 1919, 8,000 strong, the residents of our sleepy little town gathered
there to listen to a former National League ballplayer turned evangelist. Billy
Sunday. Not having been around at the time, I turned to a few archival videos
to get a flavor for this good man’s preaching style. What I saw and heard did
not disappoint. He could shake his fist and kick his leg with the best of them.
Though born in Iowa, his tenor and accent seems almost southern. More
crucially, of course, his message of sin and salvation.
And
four and a half decades after Rev. Sunday graced our little community with his
presence, another evangelist by the name of ‘Billy’ challenged the people of
Bartow in much the same manner as his predecessor. At the time, I think there
must have been some in the local area who had sat under the ministry of both
Billies.
Interestingly
enough, (at least to me) Rev. Graham had not committed to an Easter sunrise
service that year, and a last minute inquiry by the city mayor was
affirmatively received by the itinerant preacher. And even more interesting,
(at least to me) the event was scheduled for an outdoor amphitheater; almost
within “shouting distance” of my boyhood home. And while my mother attended
that memorable Easter sunrise service, I chose to stay home. (Something I still
regret to this day).
Almost
a century has come and gone since Billy Sunday visited our fair city, and a
full half century since the second Billy retraced his footsteps; both
paradoxically having wound up in an hamlet hardly befitting their respective
national notoriety. The first in a field in which I would ultimately play
kickball and learn to square dance. The second, half a mile from my childhood home.
Who
can know and who can say what sort of spiritual dynamic the two evangelists of
the same name, almost five decades separating them, and the crowds who
accompanied them, set in place in my “little neck of the woods,” and which had
exercised some lingering, ethereal influence over my peers and me? At least in
my mind’s eye, I can imagine the two Billies having prayed not only for those
whom they could see round about them, but for them whom they could presently
not see, but who would come after.
And
in like fashion, I pray for those who are not yet, but who are yet to be; for
my descendants, and those whom God will set along their pathway. For all the
Billies (also, my own name) and Susie’s and Joseph’s and Annie’s which God has
destined to live, and move and breathe, and realize impact on the same good
earth.
ONE RICHARD
I was
listening to my favorite radio/internet 24/7/365 broadcast this morning,
“Nightsounds” with the late Bill Pearce. Interestingly enough, (at least in
terms of the focus of my story) today’s program was titled, “Submission.”
And whereas,
modern critics of scripture are prone to cite one of the best known biblical
texts, “Wives submit yourself to your own husbands” (Ephesians 5:22), the verse which precedes it is rarely
alluded to. (But I will return to that passage shortly).
Given the
subject of my previous blog, (“Two Jimmies”) you might imagine I was more than
a little interested when Mr. Pearce referenced the “PTL Club,” and its founder,
Jim Bakker, and subsequently referred to Rev. B.’s lieutenant, and ministry
president. Richard Dortch.
Of course,
both Bakker and Dortch were indicted for, and determined to be guilty of
federal charges of mail fraud and conspiracy; related to PTL’s fund raising
strategies, including the marketing of oversold (and for all intents and
purposes) non-existent vacation time shares for $1,000 “a pop.”
And perhaps
more hideous and “character-killing” than the foregoing financial scandal,
air-conditioned dog houses, and their exorbitant salaries was “Rev.” Bakker’s
sexual encounter with church secretary, Jessica Hahn, Dortch’s approval of a
quarter million dollar payoff to “keep her quiet,” and her public allegation of
rape.
Ultimately,
both Bakker and Dortch were forced to resign from PTL and deprived of their
ministerial ordination by the Assemblies of God, and were sentenced,
respectively, to 45 years and 8 years in federal prison. (However, both
sentences were later overturned on appeal. The former was released after having
been incarcerated for five years, and the latter after serving three).
Pt. 2
I think it
is relevant to ask, what variables existed in the PTL television empire which
caused it to be susceptible to this kind of behavior? I believe Richard Dortch
enumerated the chief one when he later reflected, (paraphrased)
“Neither the
PTL Television Network, nor the primary persons in this ministry were under
submission to anyone or anything. There was no one to hold us accountable.”
And that
scripture to which I alluded earlier, and which so adequately describes the
good reverend’s perspective in the matter?
“Submit one
to another as unto the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:21)
Richard
Dortch was “called to the ministry” at the age of 15 when Oral Roberts came to
town and he sat under what he would describe as his spell-binding anointing.
Later, he would fulfill that calling as a pastor, and subsequently, District
Superintendent of the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God. Ultimately,
“Richard” labored as a missionary to Belgium, and founded a Bible school there.
Of course, the presumed pinnacle of his success was his appointment as
President of the PTL Television Network.
And then…
“How the
mighty are fallen!”
I have often
shared a concept with my clients and counseling interns.
“Character
is the result of thousands of small decisions made over the course of a
lifetime.”
And while I
am loathe to imply the ultimate character
of someone like Rev. Dortch was forever blackened by his association with, and
his compromises at the PTL Television Network, there can be no doubt, whatever,
that his reputation was forever
sullied.
After the
much maligned Rev. Dortch was released from prison, and having repented for his
indiscretions, he applied for, and was restored to his previous status as an
ordained minister. He went on to host a long-standing broadcast on the
“Christian Television Network” called, “America’s Prayer Meeting.” Dortch also
wrote and published several books on the topic of restoration.
Pt. 3
It is only
recently that I reflected on the irony of having experienced the privilege of
meeting and spending time with Rev. Jim Reintz, Jimmy Swaggart’s associate
minister (and) having once “run into” Rev. Richard Dortch.
After his
release from prison, the latter of the two took up residence in, and
established his television ministry on the west coast of Florida; about 50
miles from my own “neck of the woods.” And given the good minister’s proximity,
it was not altogether improbable that my wife and I momentarily happened to be
in the same place at the same time as he.
Jean and I
occasionally frequented a steak house in Winter Haven; (the former home of the
world famous, “Cypress Gardens”). And on one particular day in the early to mid
90’s, we decided to frequent it again. Walking in, we moved through the serving
line, and finding a table we sat down. Suddenly, I happened to look to my
right, and immediately recognized a familiar figure; sitting alone at a table
within feet of our own.
Rev. Dortch
seemed lost in thought, and almost oblivious to his surroundings. He ate
slowly, and it seemed he stared straight ahead; allowing me to observe him as much,
and as long, as I so chose. He seemed so ‘real’ in person, and though an
historical notable of our time, there was little or nothing about his presence
which impressed me.
The
television makeup was missing, and his hair seemed grayer than I remembered.
Wrinkles lined his forehead. And while it never occurred to me at the time, I
have since surmised that if I “had it to do over again” I might have stepped
over to his table, introduced myself, and asked him to join us for lunch.
Afterward
Rev. Richard
Dortch left us in 2011; just prior to his 80th birthday. There can
be little doubt that the good he accomplished in his lifetime outweighs his
momentary indiscretions. And while, (as I believe) at the end he possessed a
sterling character, his reputation will be forever sullied, (as
will that of his associate, Jim Bakker); as the result of their tenure at that
infamous broadcast ministry.
A good man
who, (unlike an associate of the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, who refused to
compromise, but challenged the immoral and unacceptable) made some very bad
choices, and paid dearly for his momentary lapse in character. A man when faced
with the decision to stand for the right, or fall for anything…fell for
anything.
A man who,
when given the choice to choose well…did not. A man who, when presented with
the decision to submit to the authority of almighty God,… bowed down to the
gods of arrogance, compromise and financial gain.
And yet
another man, (to whom I have previously alluded) whom, when faced with similar
choices, chose well…and came forth as gold.
William McDonald, PhD. Copyright 2017.
Pt. 3
It is only
recently that I reflected on the irony of having experienced the privilege of
meeting and spending time with Rev. Jim Reintz, Jimmy Swaggart’s associate
minister (and) having once “run into” Rev. Richard Dortch.
After his
release from prison, the latter of the two took up residence in, and
established his television ministry on the west coast of Florida; about 50
miles from my own “neck of the woods.” And given the good minister’s proximity,
it was not altogether improbable that my wife and I momentarily happened to be
in the same place at the same time as he.
Jean and I
occasionally frequented a steak house in Winter Haven; (the former home of the
world famous, “Cypress Gardens”). And on one particular day in the early to mid
90’s, we decided to frequent it again. Walking in, we moved through the serving
line, and finding a table we sat down. Suddenly, I happened to look to my
right, and immediately recognized a familiar figure; sitting alone at a table
within feet of our own.
Rev. Dortch
seemed lost in thought, and almost oblivious to his surroundings. He ate
slowly, and it seemed he stared straight ahead; allowing me to observe him as much,
and as long, as I so chose. He seemed so ‘real’ in person, and though an
historical notable of our time, there was little or nothing about his presence
which impressed me.
The
television makeup was missing, and his hair seemed grayer than I remembered.
Wrinkles lined his forehead. And while it never occurred to me at the time, I
have since surmised that if I “had it to do over again” I might have stepped
over to his table, introduced myself, and asked him to join us for lunch.
Afterward
Rev. Richard
Dortch left us in 2011; just prior to his 80th birthday. There can
be little doubt that the good he accomplished in his lifetime outweighs his
momentary indiscretions. And while, (as I believe) at the end he possessed a
sterling character, his reputation will be forever sullied, (as
will that of his associate, Jim Bakker); as the result of their tenure at that
infamous broadcast ministry.
A good man
who, (unlike an associate of the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, who refused to
compromise, but challenged the immoral and unacceptable) made some very bad
choices, and paid dearly for his momentary lapse in character. A man when faced
with the decision to stand for the right, or fall for anything…fell for
anything.
A man who,
when given the choice to choose well…did not. A man who, when presented with
the decision to submit to the authority of almighty God,… bowed down to the
gods of arrogance, compromise and financial gain.
And yet
another man, (to whom I have previously alluded) whom, when faced with similar
choices, chose well…and came forth as gold.
