RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Tammy Faye made some mistakes, but then again don't we all. I believe she loved the Lord. In the end she renewed her faith and died with honor.

Tammy Faye had more love in her heart than all the rest of the "Christian" slicksters on TV put together. May she rest in heavenly peace..

http://www.tammyfaye.com/Articles/SFWeekly_20011114.htm

I almost didn't even look at this topic to "rate". For more reasons than I am going to go into, I had no interest in it. But then I opened it, just for the heck of it - or rather, curiousity sake. ... This lady was truly a wonderful person. If you are from my era and only remember her as the lady with all the makeup on tv, try to put that aside and forget it. In life, she really, really was a wonderful person with a big heart. As much money as she may have spent on any of her own things (but she really did buy Maybelleine, Revlon and that stuff, too) she gave that much and more to charity! That is just the money aspect of it and I mention it because there are those who criticize her for living an "extravagent" lifestyle. In reality, she lived within her own means. And no, she did not steal anything from anyone - ever. ... She was human and SHE never claimed to be anything else, but she bore the brunt of so much unfounded nastiness with so much grace. She embodied what a Christian is supposed to be. But that did not allienate her from being a friend to anyone who was not a Christian. This was truly a lady with Class and Love and Beauty to spare. Don't believe me? Google her. Go to the library and research her. Find people who KNEW her if you can, and ask them. Sorry if this is defensive, but I have seen so much that makes me automatically jump to a defensive mode when it comes to Ms. Tammy. She really was a very good person. And she deserves not only 5 Stars, but all the stars there are.

Tammy was a wonderful woman of God. This is evident by even after her home going, her awesome legacy remains.

As far as those who oppose her remember what she would say to you now, "I love you just the way you are!"

I miss her smile and her vibrant spirit. I will see her again soon for I'm going to heaven. I'm sure Tammy has redecorated at least part of it...lol!

Let's try a little experiment, and it's not hard to do at all. It begins with pointing the index finger. We all know who or what we may be pointing at with that one finger. But take a look at the other three fingers -- where are they pointing?

No matter what Tammy did on this earth, right or wrong, God is the one who knew her heart best. Inspecting fruits is one thing, but we need to be sure we are completely without spot or blame before we look at the faults of others.

Ridicules person ! Her whole family is goofy.

Tammy Bakker was a great "Christian comedian/actress" who loved the limelight. I am sorry she had to suffer, but she was no godly example of a role model of what a Christian woman should be. She "reacted" against her heritage Assembly of God for banning her mother from playing the piano or serving in the church because she got a divorce. So Tammy went in the extreme opposite direction to rub it in their nose when she became famous by wearing the heavy makeup, tons of jewelry and showing cleavage on tv. She reacted the same way when PTL crumbled due to their own pride and arrogance when none of the other famous ministers came to support them. Instead, it was a group of homosexuals, Tammy's "good samaritans" that came to her aid, SO they became her example of real love in action. Well, God loves the homosexual just as much as the adulterer, etc...SINNERS WE ALL ARE!! BUT, we hope we can lead them in the right direction and not see them as God's amabassadors of Truth!! So, when she died, who preached at her funeral...a homosexual pastor from the Open Door Community church....What's that all about?! It was her way of again rubbing her nose at the traditional Christian world who never came to her aid when she was down. In her reactive state of mind, she leaves behind a perversion of the gospel by allowing this homosexual preacher a platform to this "famous Christian celebrity's" final moment on earth!! Not every one who cries Lord, Lord will enter into the Kingdom. You Christians, check it out.... http://www.sherwoodopendoor.org/index2.html

She exposed the Christian religion for what it truly is: a grotesque freak show. What do you expect from a cult that preaches human sacrifice, cannibalism, and holy incest. God impregnated his own mother so he could be his own father so he could sacrifice himself for things his creations could not help doing! Christianity is mental illness, and nothing but.

She preached until hours before her death. What an incredible lady. I met her once at a church and she was so anointed and talented.

This tiny woman, 4'11" tall, was much more attractive in person than on the air. She loved and accepted everyone. EVERYONE.

I'm sure she has made some wrong decisions and some right decisions in her life, as we all have. But in the end, she has but one Judge; we all will give account to that same Judge. Who among us has the right to pick up that first stone?

They're going to bury her makeup separately.

I agree with Flick on this one. Time to forgive and forget. Besides, will holding a grudge forever change the past?

Update: Hopefully she finds the peace that eluded her in life...

I do not wish suffering or premature passing on her; and for that I can say that I am sorry. For me however, that is where it stops. I agree with Flick's review with one exception- the things she did were not "mistakes". In calculated fashion, she took advantage of the aged, the poor, the sick , and the stupid, and she did it all in the name of God. Then, when the spit hit the spam, she couldn't wait to divorce her husband who was jailed for crimes in which she was complicit. Again, sorry for her physical suffering, but the woman is a hypocrite.

As another reviewer has noted, Tammy Faye was recently (7/19/07) on Larry King and it's obvious she does not have much longer to live. At this point she is already a walking corpse and talks in a little more than a whisper. In another review I made a few years ago I came down hard on her (through the use of parody) for her heavy makeup and quest for riches as evidenced by her lifestyle when she and ex husband Jim Bakker were living the high life. I'm not as critical of the Bakkers as I once was because they have paid for their abuses. They lost their empire, it cost them their marriage, Jim did jail time during which Tammy divorced him, and their credibility among the evangelical community as well as the general public would be at best, only partially restored. We have all made mistakes and some reviewers, by their own admission, have even spent time in prison. For people like us, our mistakes may initially make the local papers but they are soon forgotten. None of us would want our mistakes to follow us around forever especially if we paid for them through jail, restitution, or the loss of finances and/or possessions. Like Jim, Tammy has had her mistakes follow her around and her trademark heavy makeup has made her a comedy target for everyone ranging from Flick01 to Jay Leno. I think the time has come for us in the general public to forgive her and those who are persons of faith, pray for her. Knowing your life is ending, and knowing the medical community is helpless as your body deteriorates before your eyes, has to be a terrifying experience. I only hope her years with the PTL club planted a seed so she can reach out to God with a genuine heart during these final days. Those who believe in God knows he forgives sins. It would speak well for us as human beings if for Tammy Faye, we would do the same.

I don't like her; to me, she was, like her husband, a cheap crook and hustler. I'm an agnostic, so I think the people who were taken in by them were poor, pitiful fools, but I do know sincere Christians, good-hearted people, and she and her husband (and other tawdry grifters like Swaggart, Tilton, Popoff, etc.) gave, and still give, the Christianity of worthy people a bad name. Still, she didn't murder anybody, never sold drugs to anybody or robbed a bank at gunpoint, she never lied her followers into a war. I saw her image on TV the other night, and it was shocking indeed. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Out of basic human compassion, I hope she's at peace with herself and can take comfort in whatever version of God she may now believe in. I hope when her end comes, that it's easy for her.

My only simple comment is this; Jesus said let there not be many teaches for they are held to the highest of standards!!

Based on that, she continues to glorify herself more than the Lord she say's she serves. I could never respect a "TEACHER" who lives so pompously and recklessly!!

As a person, all is well!! As a Teacher, she really needs to get out of the phony tbn, word of faith HERESY crowd!!

Yogi

I hope she is able to conquer her cancer.

It is difficult to rate her too highly. I watched as her and her former husband Jim Baker did their thing. I also have felt that she was not modest in her use of makeup. There may have been a reason, but it neither looked good or right to me.

I'll say that I haven't followed her too much in recent years, and that is why I have given her 2 starts instead of only 1. It is my hope that she is blessing believers with her music, and has got her feet firmly on the straight and narrow these days.

people like her and her ex husband really give christians a bad name .
I pray that she has found Jesus.

I love Tammy and all her imperfections, maybe I'm a duped Christian, but I rather be that than someone who spreads gossip about someone even if it is true.

The entire Bakker clan is a disgrace to Christianity.

1 star & only because I have to.

I don't know her heart ...the lord does ...my prayer is that she continues in her faith .... The lord is the judge of us all...

Pitiful. Just plain pitiful!

I have to give her credit for providing more unintentional belly-laughs than almost anyone else on this list.

I'm not sure Tammy every recognized the impropriety of what she and husband Jim did to their flock. Her appearances on "secular" TV, and her lack of spiritual insight on the same, lead one to believe she may never have "gotten it." Was she really so clueless as to the ramifications of her behavior, and its negative affect on others' perception of Christianity? I hope not.

About 25 years ago I was in the Denver Airport. One of the big sellers in the tee shirt shops was Tammy Faye's picture in her hideous makeup smeared on a tee shirt with the logo, I ran into Tammy Faye Bakker in Stapleton Airport!

Poor ol' Tammy Faye, she's been dying for years. Its hard to feel sorry for someone who so squandered the money sent to her and her husband by the faithful. Don't know if she learned anything from that but she's still peddling her schtick on TBN. Anything for a buck.

Tammy is one of the few examples of a true Christian that you will find out there right now!!!

Tammy Faye may have been caught up in the flare of televangelsim and all it's trappings, but in reality, she is just like we all: human. God is an all forgiving God who loves us when we don't love ourselves or when we are not loved by others. His blood has covered our sins and upon our confession to Him, we are totally forgiven.
I would have wanted she and Jim to have stayed together. I see Jim on television his new ministry from Missouri now and it just doesn't seem the same with this new wife. God put them together and as God forgave them they should have forgiven each other and worked it out. I pray for Tammy's healing. Either way, she will be with the Lord, here, or there in heaven.
Bob

Great Christian and has done so much to win souls to the Lord via TV and churches. I think she is fun, yet very serious about her love for God.

No matter what some of you may say, Tammy is a good person. She believes in Jesus (and the Rapture and born-again experience). I know she has worked hard for the Lord and loves people. If God heals her I will rejoice. If He chooses to take her to Heaven, I'll be sad and miss her, but I'll still rejoice that she'll be in Heaven.

Tammy Faye is in need of real prayer, not ridicule. She was on Larry King Live last night via phone. It's not clear if the colon cancer she has had for 9 years and spread to her lungs will take her life in a few days or a few months, yet there is always the possibility of a miracle. At least we can pray for her not to be in pain. None of us are innocent, yet that's why Jesus Christ came to take our sins if we believe. At this holy time of the year, forgiveness and love are in order. Bless ya, Tam.

a sad sad person who really needs God

Tammy Faye has been called of God to serve and she has done the best job she can. I hate to see people judging at all, let alone about makeup or hair styles. I'm not saying she isn't eccentric, but many people are, and at least Tammy has the talents to preach, teach, sing, play music, etc. As many have said, I'm concerned about her and praying for her.

From the little I hear and read, Tammy is desperately ill. I pray for her and feel bad that she is suffering. She is a good preacher and has a heart of gold.

Very sincere person in my opinion. She is not doing well healthwise, but still believing for a healing miracle. After the problems with Jim, it seems Tammy has made her life better and has served God very well even through her sickness.

Praying for her health. I was blessed to actually be at a church where Tammy preached and sang. She was unbelievably talented and extremely spiritual. Her theology is right on. Wish she were well enough to be on TV with her own religious program.

we've got all positive ratings for her yet horrible ratings for Copeland, Dollar, McClendon, Price and Osteen. Have you read about her story? How do we know that she is anymore called than Creflo Dollar? I am not knocking Ms. Faye but I've read so many negative comments on other preachers and Tammy Faye is regularly on TBN (which has controversy too) and she was involved in controversy years ago. What makes her any different from Joyce Meyer or Kathryn Kuhlman? I am not judging, just making a comment. It seems like people have set their religious darts against preachers who preach prosperity, healing and delieverance. It is a shame that Christians are not walking in love.

It's very sad that she has suffered so much from cancer. Hopefully she will be back to serve God soon and we'll see her.

Wish she'd give us an update on how she is. I think she is very talented and works for the Lord Jesus Christ to win souls and help people.

Get well, Miss Tammy, and come back on TV.

Ms. Messner is really a fine person. Underneath the lashes are eyes with love for Christ. She is very talented and has deserved her own TV program.

Sure she's kooky, but who among us doesn't have some faults or strange traits? I think she is a fine person who has tried to do more than her share for God's work. Keep on praying for her.

Tammy's a good soul. We keep praying for her healing, yet it seems like she isn't doing too well. I feel she has done excellent work for God. Bless her.

Shes the only evangelist I would sit in a room with! Not a fake by any means. I sincerly hope she pulls through the cancer. Good people like her don't deserve that!

Tammy Faye is a good person and loves Jesus. Pray for her.

She has been a survivor for so many years, having to deal with Jim and his antics at the time, then even her husband Roe got in trouble. Tammy somehow kept her faith and joy through it all. I'm proud of her for still fighting the cancer and forcing herself to do TV appearances. If one soul got saved due to her efforts, it was worth it all.

Complex personality, but a wonderful preacher, singer, and servant of God. I agree that we shouldn't judge by eyelashes or looks. TammyFaye is in need of your prayers for physical healing - or else we'll see her in heaven - those of us who get there.

Never thought I'd be rating Tammy, but here's my big point. DO NOT LET LOOKS JUDGE EVERYTHING. It is the heart and actions that are what matters. Tammy works for the Lord, even with cancer, and she has always been faithful.

I saw the show yesterday too, MSTV - awesome. God really has a sense of humor to have chose Tammy and Jan as handmaidens!

Tammy Faye just appeared "live" on TBN with Jan Crouch. Tammy helped to found TBN over 30 years ago, but said she had not seen Jan in 30 years so it was quite a reunion. She looked lovely, though extremely thin, and gave beautiful words of encouragement, sang as well as she could and gave it her all. Tammy is very talented and anointed by the Lord. She prayed for everyone at home watching to be healed. Several ministers and people on the set prayed over Tammy and sang to her. I'm so glad I didn't miss this program. As much as I pray that Tammy will be healed, if this should have been her last program to appear on nationally, it was quite a treasure and blessing!

You've got to be kidding me. . .is there an easier target in the world? Okay, let's be gentle- this obvious wh#re is a perversion of everything the prophet allegedly stood for. . .otherwise, she's the poster-child for never, ever, trusting anyone who wears that much makeup who isn't starring in a vampire film. . .

She's great because she loves the Lord Jesus Christ and talks about Him openly. Through her compassion she helps people find the Lord. She has always worked for God and probably did the best she could. I feel so bad about the cancer. Yet if God chooses to heal her, He will -- and if not -- she will joyous in heaven with Him.

Too bad so many of you are fooled by the eyelashes. Tammy Faye is a faithful Christian, filled with love for people and wanting them to believe in Christ. Pray for her health. However, she is in a win/win situation.

Last night I saw Tammy on a rare new TBN interview with Paul, Jr. She looks great although she seems to be months away from heaven. He told everyone to pray for her. Tammy gave some great advice to Christian TV (she helped them start TBN). She said that people are sending in money to have 24-hour-a-day Christian programs, and they want to hear the name of Jesus and how he heals, helps, and saves. They don't want to see people selling vitamins and that was a great statement - LOL! In my book, Tammy has learned what Jesus is all about and knows the truth. Paul and Jan should open up their network to her and let her preach if she's up to it.

Seems like people either love or hate her. I think she's very talented and anointed. She is also charismatic and brings out many emotions in people. I can't help praying for her - I don't like anyone to be in pain and cancer is no fun.

The day Tammy reported she had cancer Maxfactors stock droped 50 points.

Love Tammy Faye and also saw her on the recent Larry King show. She's a good and faithful person.

It was good to see her on Larry King last week. So sorry to hear she now has Stage 4 cancer. I'm even more sorry to hear that Tammy has to use her talents on a cooking show, when any one of the Christian networks should embrace her and give her a show called "You Can Make It" on those networks. God bless you, Tammy. I saw you in person once and may God give you many years with your children and grandchildren and restore your health.

This woman did more to destroy what being a Christian really is than any other woman in Biblical history. She should have served time to.

If someone were rating YOU, would you want them to base it totally on the makeup or hairstyle you have? Look deeper into this woman's soul and personality to see that she has a good heart, and not only does she love our Savior, Jesus - but she has preached about him, talked about him on major TV programs, sang and glorifed God. I did see her in person once doing a service and she was so talented, I was very impressed. Nobody is perfect and we all have differences in theology, but Tammy Faye has had the guts to live the life she knew she wanted to, which included doing God's work. Bless her - well done, Tammy Faye. I pray she gets well.

Amazing how some raters are so kind and others so ruthless. How could anyone say they can't wait to hear of her death? What kind of person would write that? Obviously there are atheists and people who don't believe in prayer, but please have some mercy on human beings. My opinion is that Tammy Faye Bakker Messner started out small and yet was very spiritual; hooked up with Jim and didn't realize what was happening. Later on her own, she did the right thing and tried to get her own ministry going, which she happens to be very talented at. She knows the Bible and can help millions of people come to Christ. Jesus loves her - so let's not criticize so harshly, please.