***This post was upadated as of 11/09/09****
Hello. My post is basically about something that I can relate to as a Christian......the fact that, like Jimmy Swaggart, I too have struggled with pornography. I can't say that I have had promiscuous sex with a woman. I am thankful to the Lord that throughout these 18 years of my vice, that I am still a virgin and have never deflowered a woman. I have gotten some help with a prayer ministry that is giving me breakthroughs, and I can only say for myself that my involvement with porn has not been as severe. Glory be to God for that. In all things I will give thanks to the Lord.
Jimmy (and probably Donnie) Swaggart have preached against psychology over the past years, which would include counseling. It is very intriguing that when Donnie Swaggart held a press conference in October of 1991 after his dad's second exposure, he stated that his father would be taking an undetermined period of time off from the ministry for "professional counseling." There is nothing inherently wrong with counseling generally, if it is based on Biblical grounds. However, I have determined that conventional counseling does not really help the hurting in the long run, because most of the therapists out there can only offer coping mechanisms to people who come for help. One perfect example of someone, out of all due respect, who is known to only have given these mechanisms is Dr. James Dobson of Focus On The Family.
I see Jimmy and his entire immediate family as hurting individuals, who may or may not be in touch with their own pain. I have submitted myself to a counseling-type of prayer ministry that essentially states in a nutshell that much of what we do to sin is rooted in pain, which is rooted in trauma and lie-based thinking. Though I understand that even though sin causes pain, if we get to the real root problem, and have it uprooted, we will be made whole.
Is Jimmy Swaggart whole? Well, it's hard to determine. He has made some strides, but the saddest fact of history is that his painful history repeated itself, with some known moral failures....dating in 1988, 1991, (and 1995? = not determined) He could have made an earlier comeback had he submitted to mature, godly authority figures who would have been spiritual enough to restore him. It is a shame how he had lost a lot of credibility.
For Jimmy Swaggart to come up to his church audience in October 1991 after his second moral failure and say "The Lord said it's flat none of your business" is only a reflection of deep insecurity and hurt that Swaggart was unwilling to deal with and face head-on. It is to my understanding that when Donnie Swaggart was questioned about why he had gotten divorced, he had echoed the same words as his father.
In her defense, for Frances Swaggart to "stand by her man" after these numerous unravelings, it would merit her to be given a medal of honor for not filing for divorce. Maybe some of you out there would say that she might have had scriptural grounds for divorcing him, but I do praise God that she decided to stay with Jimmy. Praise be to God for that.
It is sad that ministries like JSM have not thrived as much as what it could, and the reason lies more than likely with the Body of Christ-at-large.....we have been a sleeping, prayerless church.
I grew up listening to Swaggart's music in the 80s and taped him off of television. I still enjoy watching vintage videos of his on Youtube and Tangle.com.
Some of you may vent your venom in this room. The one poignant thing I can say to you is this: if Jimmy Swaggart walked into an outlet mall in your home town where you happened to be shopping, would you have enough humility to give him at least a handshake or a hug, or would you be triggered? I pose this other question to you all as well: Are you praying, and are you praying without ceasing?
My last thoughts: There are many Jimmy Swaggarts out there who have never gone beyond the outer court and into the secret place with God to discover intimacy with Him. I can't say that I'm an authority on what I'm talking about; because of what I posted earlier, I still have a ways to go. I will forever keep the good memories of what God did through Jimmy Swaggart. If God could use a donkey to speak to Balaam, and He could use Swaggart, then I have assurance that He can use a speck of dust like me. I have traveled along further in my spiritual development since I had originally made this post. I have repented before God for things I said in this room which was nothing short of gossip. I believe that the effectual prayer of a righteous man or woman avails much.
There but for the grace of God go I.................
