Swaggartism: What Harm?

By Mark W. Swarbrick

Swaggartism, Jimmy Swaggart Prostitute, Jimmy Swaggart House, Swaggart false prophet, false teacher, Jimmy Swaggart Net WorthFor the complete story on Jimmy Swaggart, get my book, Swaggartism: The Strange Doctrines of Jimmy Swaggart Ministriesavailable now on Amazon for only $6.99. For information click HERE.

Available in Paperback and Kindle eBook – 266 pages of documented facts! 

So Swaggart is off on some things. What does it hurt? Is he not still preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are not people being saved through his ministry? What are the effects upon a person who becomes a follower and fan of Swaggart? What is the harm to someone who is caught up in Swaggartism?

Having a close family member caught up into Swaggartism and having studied the doctrine and reviewed testimonies of those coming out of Swaggartism, I believe I have identified five areas that are adversely affected in a person’s life if they embrace Swaggart’s teaching.

Fanaticism

They become a fanatic. Not for Jesus. That would be Ok. They become a fanatic for Jimmy Swaggart and his teaching; for his “Message of the Cross.” The level of fanaticism will vary depending upon one’s personality, but typically you will find that they harangue others over Swaggart’s “Crosstianity,” trying to get Christian friends and family to “convert” and “come to the cross.”

Consider the words of Swaggart and you can see how they will affect an impressionable mind. Swaggart says:

“The answer which you seek is found in the Cross! The solution which you seek is found only in the Cross! And that’s the problem with the modern Church; it is building doctrines on other foundations. You must come to the Cross! You must constantly make the Cross the object of your faith. The Cross will set you free. There is nothing before the cross and nothing after because there doesn’t need to be. The churches are in darkness because they don’t understand the cross like I do. I am of God.”

These are the words of Swaggart. Consequently you find Swaggarites saying things like: “The Cross has made all the difference in my life. The Cross has saved me and set me free. I love the Cross.” Instead of being fanatically in love with Jesus it’s all about the cross, with a capital C. The love and enthusiasm that they should have placed in Jesus, is placed in the cross. And by “cross,” they claim to mean the act of what Jesus did on the cross, not the wooden cross itself. That being the case, they are putting their faith in an action that was done, rather than in the one (Jesus) who did the act.

If you confront them on this, they deny it, saying that by the cross they simply mean Jesus and what he did on the cross. A pretty weak excuse for misplaced love. Words mean things, whether they like it or not. For you see Swaggart claims his message of the cross is different from what the average Christian believes and is different than what all the churches teach, thus, it is not possible for it to mean simply “Jesus and what he did on the cross.” The Church has always understood what Christ did on the cross, so they must mean something entirely different.

What they really mean is what Swaggart says, “The believer is ever to make the Cross the object of his faith,” and “There is nothing before the Cross and nothing after because there doesn’t need to be.” So in practice, they put an unhealthy and unbalanced emphasis on the cross which detracts from Christ and the resurrection and they want every Christian they meet to become a cookie-cutter copy of Swaggart like they are. Confront them with the emphasis on the “cross alone” and they will deny it and try to say they simply mean Jesus. Clearly that is not the case or they would not be trying to convert Christians.

Arrogance

Integral to Swaggart’s teaching of the cross is his insistence that all (or nearly all) churches are wrong and he alone has the truth. His Commentary is full of attacks upon the Church, saying it is evil, of the devil and reprobate while at the same time lifting up his ministry as the only one truly anointed of God. Rev. Swaggart writes:

“This Ministry is of God. Accordingly, we have a mandate from the Lord. That mandate is World Evangelism and, as well, the proclamation of the True Gospel, the “Message of the Cross.” In other words, the Church must be brought back to the Cross. The Lord has mandated this Ministry to help carry this out. In fact, that’s at least one of the reasons that the Lord gave me this great Revelation of the Cross in 1997.”

“This generation of Christians knows almost nothing about the cross…these Christians can be set free only by the Cross being preached to them.”[1]

“The answer which you seek is found in the Cross! The solution which you seek is found only in the Cross! And that’s the problem with the modern Church; it is building doctrines on other foundations.”

So you see the mindset: Swaggarites have the truth and all other Christians are miserable dupes drowning in sin and need to be delivered by Swaggart’s gospel. Watch their television program and you can see that daily they viciously attack and malign other ministries. They ooze with arrogance.

This arrogance and cultic mentality is empowered by demonic hatred for the Church and Swaggarites become infected with it as they lecture every Christian they can about their supposed need to come to the cross. This of course leads to alienation and kills any effective witness they may have otherwise had to unbelievers.

The natural result is a backlash and rejection of the perverted Swaggart gospel, and this is interpreted for them by Swaggart, who tells them that it is hate for the cross, the offense of the cross and they go on and on about how all the ministers and Christians today reject the cross. Of course, they do not. They simply reject Swaggart’s perversion of the Bible’s true teaching of the cross.

So the result: Arrogance, resulting in sinful disrespectful behavior that can separate friends and family.

Stunted Spiritual Growth

Swaggarites are fond of quoting 1 Corinthians 2:2 where the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians,

“I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified,”

This is their proof text and excuse for magnifying the importance of the cross beyond its scriptural place. However by so doing they totally ignore the context of the passage and the reason Paul says that. And that reason is that they were too immature for anything more. The Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians,

I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly.”

The doctrine of substitutionary atonement is milk. That’s what the Apostle Paul said. It is what a baby Christian needs. When you get saved, either just before or just after someone accepts Christ, then they are taught that Jesus’ shed blood washes away their sins. This is basic first teaching, what the apostle calls “milk, not solid food.” Paul explained he had to give them milk for a little longer than normal because they were behaving as immature Christians, but he was eager for them to grow and move on to solid food. The writer of Hebrews explains the same thing. Look here what he says:

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

So the Bible’s preaching of the cross is milk. Milk is great you when you are baby. You die without it. The Bible’s preaching of the cross is the power of God unto salvation. Please note: I speak of the Bible’s preaching of the cross, not Swaggart’s “message of the cross,” which (by Swaggart’s own words) is different from what Paul understood and what the Church has taught for two thousand years. The Bible’s preaching of the cross tells us that we can’t earn our salvation by works of the law, but rather it is a free gift, purchased by Christ’s shed blood on the cross at Calvary.

The Bible’s cross is what you teach baby Christians or people you are leading to Christ. It is important for them to know what Jesus did for them. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the foundation and chief cornerstone (not the cross, but Jesus) and the Bible’s teaching on the cross is basic doctrine which you are first taught. It is milk. The writer of Hebrews chided them saying, “you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.” He was not commending them, but scolding them! He was saying, “You have to go back to grade school again!”

Milk is powerful. It gives life to a baby. But what would happen if you fed a baby nothing but milk all of its life and never ever gave him solid food?  He would be a sickly child. His growth would be stunted. He could die early. You have to proceed to solid food. You might extend the milk for a little while, but at some point you have to move on. Swaggartism teaches that all you ever need is milk. That’s’ what Swaggart says – “nothing before the cross, nothing after because there doesn’t have to be anything after.” That is his exact quote.

So his followers don’t mature. They stay on milk. Doctrine alone does not give life. Only Jesus can do that. Dead dry dogmatic doctrine alone does not save anyone. Swaggart takes a peculiar doctrine he found in some old dusty book, twists it into something different, then lies and  says his new revelation is from God and is the real foundation, instead of Jesus Christ, and then he teaches his followers to “constantly make the cross the object of your faith.” Nowhere does the Bible say that. It teaches Jesus is the foundation and object of our faith. Swaggart’s message is a deceitful doctrine, so close to the truth to be undetected by the unsuspecting, but wrong nevertheless.

Swaggart’s twisted message is not even real milk; its spoiled milk. Constantly thinking about the cross, the cross, the cross is not going to make anyone more kind and loving. Swaggart’s twisted theology does not give anyone victory over sin. It will only delude and blind to one’s real self, so that the log in thine own eye is unseen, only the splinter in someone else’s.

And no matter what one does, without love, even if you suffer for Christ and deliver your body up to be burned – it amounts to nothing if you have not love. That is what the Bible says. Love from a pure heart. That is the aim of the Bible’s teaching.

The Bible’s real teaching on the cross is a beautiful and magnificent thing that center’s on Jesus and the love of the Father for us in sending his only unique son to die and shed his blood for us, and that precious sinless blood washes away our sins. The cross exemplifies Jesus self-denial and sacrifice of Himself because He loves us. But an overemphasis on the cross, to the exclusion of Christ’s loving reality in our lives, detracts from devotion to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. We mature in Christ only as we grow in closeness to our Savior. Anything that detracts from that emphasis will impede spiritual growth.

The result: Swaggart’s teaching will leave a Christian weak and anemic.

Sanctification Slowed

Swaggart teaches that by thinking the cross, the cross, the cross, that somehow a person is magically set free from temptation and sin and one rises above it all, operating on a higher Christian plane. Of course this is nothing but brainwashing and mental gymnastics. But because they are told repeatedly that this works and this delivers them, they come to believe it. Instead of seeing their sin and dealing with it. They are numbed into thinking their sin doesn’t exist at all. It is all washed away by the cross. They become blind to their own shortcomings.

Sanctification is the process of a believer gradually and continually growing in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and more and more overcoming old habits and defeating the temptations of the deeds of the flesh and ever more producing the fruit of the Spirit in their life; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control, etc.

This is a process. It is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our old nature is dealt a death blow when we get saved, but the old man keeps trying to come back. That is why Paul called it fighting the good fight. He said he pummeled his body and brought it into subjection. The Bible clearly teaches that though it is God who sanctifies us, we must cooperate in that process.

God will use many things to sanctify us. The Word of God, for one. Jesus said, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3) David said, “I have hid Thy word in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.” God uses many things to work out our sanctification: Other Christians, our church fellowship, the counsel of others, prayer, fasting, and sometimes, he uses pain: “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” As we make an effort to draw near to God he draws near to us and sin begins to evaporate from our lives, burned away by the presence of the Son of God.

There is much that can and should be said about sanctification, how it works and how we can take steps to become more sanctified. But the point to be made here is that Swaggart’s teaching short circuits all of these vital things which God wants to use to sanctify us. By focusing entirely upon the mental trickery of meditating on the cross alone perpetually, the important teaching of how sanctification really works is ignored.

So the result: Swaggarites do not grow in grace and in sanctification as they should.

Church Dropout

Swaggart emphasizes strongly that nearly all churches are of the devil, teach false doctrine, and that Christians should leave those churches and only go where Swaggart’s message of the cross is taught. Since places (fortunately) are few and far between that teach Swaggartism, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries (JSM) has launched an online church. You can sign up and send your tithes to JSM.

Once Swaggartism has run its course, the individual may leave their local church and just watch Swaggart on TV and send their tithe to him. This is of course the main goal of JSM, for in the end, they are about money, not ministry. Swaggart’s fleet of Mercedes, his multi-million dollar mansions, and his $30,000 Rolex watch speak for that, but for more evidence see John Camp’s Video on our video page.

So the result: A Swaggarite loses the vital contacts with other believers in a local church, misses out on working together with others and the resultant growth that comes from rubbing elbows with other Christians. The local church is God’s plan for the believer and Swaggartism may ultimately lead one out of the church.

Conclusion

The effects of Swaggartism are that a person becomes fanatical over a false doctrine, rather than in love with Jesus. They become arrogant and mean-spirited towards other Christians. They are stunted in their spiritual growth, being immature in their knowledge of God, taking in only milk, and not solid spiritual food. Their sanctification is slowed as they become anemic in their growth, failing to practice those things necessary to overcome sin. Finally, they drop out of church all together, imaging they are above all that and have come to the one true church.

 Strange Doctrines of the Jimmy Swaggart Expositors Bible, The Expositors Study Bible, Jimmy Swaggart Study Bibles, The Expositor's Study BibleIf you found this article interesting, you would enjoy my book, Swaggartism: The Strange Doctrines of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, available now on Amazon for only $6.99. For information click HERE.

Available in Paperback and Kindle eBook – 266 pages of documented facts! 

 

 

 

 

 

Other books by Pastor Mark Swarbrick, click the image below…

The Expositors Study Bible, Jimmy Swaggart Study Bibles, The Expositor's Study BibleThe Expositors Study Bible, Jimmy Swaggart Study Bibles, The Expositor's Study BibleThe Expositors Study Bible, Jimmy Swaggart Study Bibles, The Expositor's Study Bible

Footnotes:

[1] The Evangelist, January 2004, From Me to You

60 Comments

  1. I found this site when I was looking to see if anyone had written anything negative about Jimmy Swaggart. Because I made a donation for bibles ( because I want everyone to have a bible),to be sent overseas and I ordered one of his expository bibles. I thought it was gonna be like some of the commentaries I look at, but it didn’t take me but a few chapters of reading to find out that he was changing Gods word in the bible. I didn’t listen to his preaching just like the singing. I didn’t realize the bibles he was sending was his and now his false doctrine is all over the world. I prayed and ask God/ Jesus to forgive me as I was ignorant of what his bible said. My question now is what do I do with this bible. I put it away, but it still has God and Jesus teaching in it so I don’t feel I could just throw it away or destroy it. What are your thoughts. I have throughly enjoyed reading your site. Thanks for some inside I didn’t think about. Thanks Debra

    Reply

    1. Hi Debra and thank you for your comment. I believe you are liberty to do whatever you want with the Swaggart Bible. We are under grace and not law, so if you toss it out so no one can be influenced by the false teaching, I believe that is Ok. What matters is what your conscience says. If in doubt, don’t. Thats a good rule of thumb. I have a suggestion. You might take a highlighter and mark some of the blatant false teachings in it. You can find them quickly if you read my article on this site called, The Swaggart Bible. Then if anyone tries to tell you that Swaggart doesn’t teach such and so, then you can pull out his Bible and prove it to them. Thanks again for you writing. God Bless!

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

      1. This is what I was needing, spiritual awakening not for myself but for my mother…I pray she will be loosed from such abomination of this curse.

        Reply

        1. Hi Matt, I’m so glad this site has been a help to you. My prayers are with you that you can use this information to help your mother get free from the cult of Swaggartism. It has deceived so very many people and blinded them to the truth. God bless and let me know if I can help in any way.

          …Pastor Mark

          Reply

  2. Yes, thank you Pastor Mark. But I can’t believe the church in that form… It’s revelation of clear scripture. The help I have gained in prayers has been revealed by my mother not listening or watching Jimmy because it’s lies. Also I need to get my other brother and his wife Sharrie to understand the message of the cross and becoming in Christ and to grow beyond the cross. I also have seen many hand signs from these also in audience. Devil signatures in that church is far too deviant and sad…

    Reply

  3. I look at it this way. If you start to button a shirt wrong, the rest of the shirt is off. That’s also true with doctrine. If it starts wrong in the beginning, it’s not straight at the end. His extra biblical knowledge starting with Genesis ( or the other world he talks about before Genesis) is nothing more than his opinion and closely resembles other cults. When I see some of the comments, I realize they have not ” escaped the error ” as the Bible points out. To many people feel that God has gray areas in everything. Not so, he is very black or white. Life or death. Blessing or cursing. I could go on and on with many of his words. Swaggert is either 100% right or 100% wrong. God does not accept mixture., especially from someone who claims to be a teacher.

    Reply

  4. Thank you Pastor Mark. Very astute! I thought it was nearly Pentecostal. Now I see it’s doctrine is more devisive than that. This article totally defines a friend that I was unable to unprogram. Swaggartism destroyed her marriage and then she turned on me for trying to help her.

    Reply

    1. Hi Chris, Wow, Swaggartism destroyed their marriage! I am not surprised. I am always amazed at the number of people who comment that Swaggartism caused a rift in family relations. You will know them by their fruit. Thanks for your comment. God Bless,

      Pastor Mark

      Reply

  5. I’ve been watching SBN off and on for about 6 months now. We just started getting SBN in my area and I wanted to know what Jimmy was teaching these days. I haven’t heard about him since he had his fall in the late 80’s.

    I’ve noticed that Jimmy rarely preaches anything new or different. It’s all about the cross. His show Message of the Cross is the same ole same ole day after day. Plus, the people who are on his show rarely, if ever disagree with him. After reading what Mishel McCumber had to say about his ministry I’ve decided that the whole family is phony. I suspected it but now there’s facts backing it up.

    I remember listening to Frances talk about how sinful gambling and drinking is yet it seems they allow some of the insiders liberty to do those things. At least the drinking. When Jimmy said no booze had ever touched his lips I suspected he was lying too. I’ve also noticed he gets Loren Larsen to talk about all his past sins yet Jimmy has never talked about his days with hookers. Could it be he’s still involved with hookers? Or, maybe just porn? I don’t know. I just know there’s a spirit of deception about this whole ministry. I’ve never given a dime to these phonies and never will. The twice a month beg-a-thon turns me off. Plus all the selling of books, tapes, videos etc. is no different from regular TV with scores of commercials.

    Thanks again for all your hard work in showing us what really goes on in this wolves in sheeps clothing ministry

    Reply

    1. Hi Debra, Thanks for your reply and your encouraging words. You are certainly correct – a spirit of deception is in their ministry. Your point about how the preach almost exclusively “the cross,” is an interesting point, for it shows another way that the ministry is so bad – Christians don’t get a balanced diet from the Scripture. There is so much other great stuff in God’s word that people need to hear. God Bless,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  6. Does anyone know what happened between Donnie Swaggart and Johnny Lee Cleary? One day it was like he disappeared. When people called in on Francis and friends and asked about him Donnie said ” you will never see him on here again” it was like Johnny was swept under the rug. No one ever spoke his name again. Then one day on Francis she said Johnny Lee passed away and that was all that was said. I thought he was such a good friend of the Swaggarts, but I Guess they don’t put to much into friends. I am done with the Swaggarts for good. All my materials and books are going in the trash. I heard Jimmy one day say that if there were any widows out there that want to leave their money toSBN to let them know. I thought that was horrible.

    Reply

    1. Hy Lynn, I have seen this before with the Swaggarts, where they seem to just suddenly cut people off, even family members. If you watch the Swaggart Seduction Video on this site, there is a clip that talks about the time when the Swaggarts used its ministry print shop to print CD covers for Hip-Hop Bands and area night clubs using non-profit equipment and employees. Around this time there was a falling out between the Swaggarts and other family members…a brother, or brother in law, I think it was…He says on the video that there is no contact with them any more after how the Swaggarts falsely accused them. Here is more info from another site on the print ship scandal: http://deceptionbytes.com/jimmy-swaggart-printing-scandal/ Take note of the comments on that site about the van with scantily dressed women on it, that was often in the church parking lot. Concerning people disappearing, one of the prostitutes called Sexy Suzi which Swaggart consorted with disappeared, to never be seen again. Here is a link to info on that: http://deceptionbytes.com/unfinished-business-swaggart-and-a-prostitute-named-sexy-suzi/ In view of Swaggart’s past history of threatening murder (see seduction video) it gives one pause to wonder what happened to these prostitutes.

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  7. One of the main scriptures Swaggart uses is “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
    ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬
    http://bible.com/1/1co.1.18.kjv

    Can you explain this verse? What do you say when they use it as key verse?
    Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Donny, That is a great question. We can easily tell what the Apostle Paul means by the “preaching of the cross” by simply reading all he says in the New Testament, which in a nutshell is: Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the Father and suffered death on the cross so that his shed blood would atone for our sins. Furthermore, that Jesus rose from the dead, sent the Holy Spirit to us and Jesus lives to make intercession for us.

      When we repent of our sins, put our faith in Jesus and determine to follow him, we are born again to a new life, our sins are washed away by his atonement on the cross. Christ promises to continue his sanctifying work in us through the Holy Spirit as we continue to seek him and walk in his light. That is Paul’s “Preaching of the cross.”

      This teaching was in direct conflict with what the Jews were looking for. They wanted a conquering glorious Messiah to deliver them from the Romans. They did not understand that first Christ came to serve and to suffer and die on a cross. They did not understand that animal blood atonement was merely a foreshadow of Christ’s atonement on the cross. Thus, the idea of a suffering messiah was nonsense to the Jews. We are told in Philippians 2:5-8, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who…humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” This just wasn’t what the world thinks is cool. The Jews (and many Gentiles) rejected the whole idea of a suffering Messiah, which is what Paul had in mind when he says that “the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that are perishing.”

      Swaggart’s preaching of the cross is easily determined by what he says in his writings. (He is more cautious on TV, since big money is at stake). Basically he reiterates the following points, ad nauseam: His preaching, which he calls the message of the cross, is the gospel according to him. According to Swaggart’s own words, what he teaches is different from what the church today teaches. In other words, Swaggart admits that he has a different gospel from what the Church has.

      Specifically what Swaggart teaches is this, and this is what he means by the message of the cross: The church is in error. Jimmy Swaggart is an end-time apostle appointed by God to restore the true gospel to the church. Only churches that follow Swaggart’s teaching are true churches. The others are all devilish churches. Swaggart’s preaching of the cross is a new revelation that the church did not have before, or did not have in its fullness. Swaggart’s new revelation sheds more light than what any of the apostles or anyone in church history has ever understood before and that by mentally thinking “the cross” and by imagining and continually performing mental gymnastics about the cross and what happened there you will be delivered from sin and then walk an overcoming life, and that nothing else is needed or used to sanctify us.

      The Church, on the other hand, teaches what the Bible says: That Christ miraculously works in us through His Spirit to sanctify us as we walk with Him and cooperate with his work in us. God uses The Word of God, Christian Fellowship, Prayer, Self-Discipline, and Suffering to purify us. I expound further on this in my article, The Message of the Cross. It is here: https://christiananswerman.com/message-of-the-cross/ Thanks Donny for the excellent question!

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  8. Pastor mark is it wrong to donate to the share a thon if this is where we are fed.I agree there most likely is error in the teaching but nobody else on tv i find any better when it comes to preaching the word even going back to the 1980s Crusaders are still some amazing sermons and spiritual music and people were there so my question is am i wrong to give to sbn if this is my church.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kyle, Thank you for your question. You mentioned that Swaggart is “where we are fed.” The New Testament is clear that a Christian should belong to a local church and to not “forsake the assembling of yourselves together.” Only by being part of a local church can you be in an environment where you can use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and be of service to others. You can do nothing for the body of Christ sitting at home watching TV. God wants us to work together, to forgive one another, to love one another. In order to grow in Christ you must be part of a local body of believers that have organized themselves according to Biblical principles. To do otherwise is to be walking in disobedience to the Word of God.

      So the local church is where you should be getting fed and where you need to be to be feeding others. Your tithes and offerings rightfully should be going to that local church. If after that you still have money left over that you want to give somewhere else, that is fine. But you want to make sure that the “somewhere else” is a Christian ministry that handles money responsibly and is doing the work of God.

      In this regard, the Swaggarts fail miserably. If you give to them, the money will go to continue their lavish lifestyle. Does Jimmy really need a $30,000 Rolex watch purchased with donations from Christians? Does he need the expensive country club membership that costs $45,000 annually?. In 1995 the Swaggart’s personal income was in excess of 300,000 a year. Donnie Swaggart’s was a quarter of a million dollars. Today it would be much more. They have used donations from Christians to build a real estate empire that was bringing in 2 million dollars a year in the 90’s.

      I recommend you read through the comments on this site and read the comments from people that have had their families torn apart because some family member became a Swaggarite and thus became as obnoxious as the Swaggarts. Do you really want to be giving money to an organization that destroys families and encourages people to abandon their churches? Then there is the false doctrine being spewed forth by the Swaggarts. Do you really think Jesus wants you to be giving money that promotes teaching that is contrary to Scripture?

      You mentioned that you cannot find anyone else better on TV that preaches the word. First of all, many of the things the Swaggarts say are not the true teaching of scripture. Some of it is, but not all. Many people today are fooled into thinking that being eloquent and speaking with conviction and charisma is the same thing as anointing from God. It is not the same. Even Hitler could speak with charisma and move the masses into believing his lies. Remember, the word says that Satan will appear as an angel of light in order to try to deceive the elect.

      And finally, it is not on TV that you should be looking for an anointed preacher of the Word. Anyone with money can preach on TV. Go to the local church, where the preacher is accountable to the people, where he is a man who lives and works among you. A TV preacher can live a sinful lifestyle and you would never know it. Swaggart admitted that he went to prostitutes for 20 years while preaching the gospel. Even after he was finally caught and then confessed on public TV and cried tears of supposed repentance, he went out and got caught two more times after that with prostitutes and pornography.

      So, to answer your question, consider what I say here, pray about it, and ask God to show you what to do. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. God bless,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

      1. Thank you pastor mark for your input ive watched jimmy since 2011 and i can see what your saying to be true at times.The bible does say not to forsake the assembly and i heard jimmy telling people in the 1980s Crusaders to get out of the church if its dead and the preacher is preaching dead sermons but he also said to find a church somewhere where the preacher is full of the Holy Ghost and preaches without fear or favor. And i belive your right about that belonging to a church ive had some bad experiences with some of the local ones here in North West Arkansas i hope god willing i can find one the Holy Spirit shows me i belive the devil is in the churches though but we should have discernment to see it and like u say no the word if god so we can tell what is false doctrine i would love to hear you preach if you have any u tube videos please send them to me. Thank pastor Mark for takeing the time to share insight on this even though i was inspired by jimmys preaching over the years and i can see what your saying to beware but ive even heard swaggart say back in 1987 i dont care whose preaching it if im preaching it Jerry Falwell if what the preacher saying does not line up with the word of god he is not preaching the word of god.

        Reply

        1. HI Kyle, What Swaggart said in the 80s about if your church is dead, find a church where the pastor is full of the Holy Spirit…that is all fine. Good advice. However, what he teaches today is entirely different. The Swaggarts now teach that all the churches in America that don’t accept his peculiar doctrinal twist which they call the Message of the Cross, that if they don’t accept that, then that church is of the devil. They very clearly state that most churches are now of the devil. This of course is wrong and is a clear mark of a cult.

          Since you requested to hear me preach, I dug up a sermon I preached, digitized it, and put on this website. Click the link below:

          Scroll to the bottom of the videos and look for “Sermon – Pastor Mark Preaching at Phoenix Dream Center.” I hope you enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed hearing from you. God bless, and don’t hesitate to write.

          …Pastor Mark

          Reply

          1. Hello Mark enjoyed your sermon on the man u minsterd too in the hot tub being used by god to speak and the testing of Christian life and how we all fail god at times and not to let the the sun nature bring it ugly head back up great sermon some true experiences I’ve also encountered. I have a video on u tube I posted it’s called preaching on cults just type that in utube you will find this amusing Jimmy was preaching the same message you are preaching now in this sermon about cults of course this was years ago but still it’s very interesting please watch and let me know God bless.

          2. Hi Kyle, I’m glad you enjoyed my sermon. I watched the video clip you posted of Swaggart preaching about cults. That was good preaching. What is so interesting about it is how in that old video he emphasized we don’t need any writings but the Bible, that the scripture is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice. And that is true. However, look at what he says now – He claims that the most important thing for a Christian to know can only be found in his writings and his ministry! Look at this video and see how he has changed. Here is the link:

            /

              The video is toward the bottom of the article.

              …Pastor Mark

          3. I think Jimmy sufferd a nervous breakdown after all the stuff came out on him on the lust problem,and I think maybe that’s why he came to this conclusion of what he’s preaching today because if u look at his preaching in the 1980s it was way more biblical teaching but we should all pray for Jimmy that god will show him the correction and if he is in errors to turn from teaching them prayer does work and true Christians prayer can be affective please pray for Jimmy swaggart and his ministry.

          4. Hi Kyle, You are absolutely correct. The extreme stress caused by his sin has had a terrible effect upon him. Have you noticed the facial tick that he has? He jerks his head in a downward motion every few seconds while speaking. This is no doubt stress induced.

            His essay on the cross does not begin with scripture but begins with his own sin and pain. The opening sentence begins, “Public humiliation, especially on a worldwide basis is trauma that many people never get over. When one has failed…” This is telling. His revelation springs from his trauma, rather than from God.

            When the Assemblies of God mercifully said he could keep his ministerial credentials if he would step down from ministry for one year and receive counseling, he refused, told them that he “heard directly from God” and that they were “too dumb and stupid.” Rather than humbly falling on Jesus’ mercy and putting all his hope in the mercy and forgiveness of God, as a defense mechanism his mind came up with this supposed revelation and now he says the reason he sinned is because the Church didn’t have this special revelation.

            So now, instead of humbly rejoicing in God’s forgiveness for his failure, he puts the blame off of himself and onto the supposed ignorance of the Church, pridefully claiming that now God has raised him up as the only man in all the earth and in all of history to have been given this great revelation.

            I agree totally about praying for Jimmy. I pray for him regularly. I consider it my duty. Since I have went to the effort to expose his false teaching, I think it equally important that I pray for him that he would repent of this nonsense. I really sincerely hope that he does. That would be so wonderful. I would be most eager to throw my arms around him in a Christian hug and welcome into the family of God as a totally forgiven brother in Christ. I mean that most sincerely.

            Unfortunately his riches, fame and notoriety have him in their evil grasp and I pray that before he dies he comes to his senses. Not only for himself, but for the countless others who have had their families destroyed by his ministry. Every week I hear from people whose families are ripped apart by Swaggartism. I just heard of someone who quit their church to join a Swaggarite church and the week before from someone whose mother won’t speak to them anymore because they won’t become Swaggarites also. Swaggart’s delusion has caused untold suffering and heartache in the Church.

            I want to thank you for letting me know about that clip of Swaggart’s preaching on cults that you had posted. I have used that clip in a new clip I have made that compares what he said then to what he says now. Take a look, I think you’ll find it interesting. Just click the link below. It is here: https://youtu.be/nSAyR0xFLBQ

            …Pastor Mark

  9. I just wanna say to every body who may read this unthinkable Jimmy swaggert is the best charismatic television preacher I’ve ever seen And I find his music comforting and nice. I’ve seen some amazing sermons preached by Brother Swaggart that were truly helpful to me. But Mark us right we gave to be able to discern what’s scripture and sound doctrine andvtge true word of god.Hear me all people when I say this to you no man is going to get me or you to heaven and what that man says is the way.Only what Jesus Christ says is what will get u truly saved and able to discern between what’s right and deception if we’ve truly love Jimmy Swaggart as true brothers and sisters in Christ we will show reproof and speak the truth and not twist the word ofgod to cover are sinful doings we must all give account for every idle word Jesus says that’s means what is not said for he’s good we can not endorse man over Jesus Christ but we must endorse The authority of Christ Jesus and his words over any man’s interpretation of the word of god and not follow a man but follow Jesus do are best to live for Jesus Christ not use the cross for are excuse to keep the evil but go to the cross to truly leave it there and move forward in Christ even though that’s not easy please think about what is being said here don’t follow a man follow the word of Jesus Christ the true Savior who died on the cross so we may have life and gave it more abundantly.

    Reply

  10. Dear Mark,
    My question is about tithing. I know that it is scriptural and biblical. When i was giving to the swaggarts ministry, I did get blessed in my life. Today, I still send an offering and I know people would call me stupid for doing it, but I adhered to the word. To be honest I am afraid.to.stop. I heard both Jimmy and Donnie say that if you don’t give, the Lord will find away to take it anyway. They said that many times. I don’t know what to do I want to be obedient to my Saviour and be a good steward of what he blessed me with.

    Thanks

    Reply

    1. Some of what mark is saying is correct.But we can find fault with any Christian who has been brought to the light for the world to see.But mark i have to disagree with you on some of this!Jimmy Swaggart s gospel music has been a true blessing to the oppressed dying and humble and lost generation.I agree swaggart is not always right but?Hes point is clear for every christian who has a faliure where is the Lamb and he makes it clear Jesus Christ and what christ did on Calavary.If we go beyond the cross we will eventually go back to it when faliure comes!Thats why Paul said the Message Of The Cross is Foolish to those who are Perishing but us who are being saved it is The Power of God!

      Reply

      1. Hi Kyle, Consider these scriptures:

        “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

        “God so loved the world that He gave his only son…” (John 3:16)

        Jimmy Swaggart coined the phrase, “The Message of the Cross.” It isn’t in the Bible. It is something he made up, as is the entire Swaggart cross revelation. The phrase “preaching of the cross” is in the Bible, so let’s explore the biblical teaching of the cross.

        Jesus willingly became a man, suffered and died and shed his blood in order to purchase our salvation. It was something that had to be done to wash away our sins. It is called the doctrine of substitutionary atonement. The wages of sin is death, but our Lord died in our stead, saving us from that spiritual death. The following verse says it succinctly:

        “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20.)

        Note who the subject is, who the object of our faith is in that passage. It is Jesus who loved us, who gave himself for us. How do we live? By faith in the Son of God.

        Not faith in the cross. Faith in Jesus. The Bible never says to put faith in the cross. Swaggart has taken some heat for this lately so he tries to soften it up and walk it back for the television audience by saying, “faith in Jesus Christ and the cross.” That is so close to truth but it still isn’t right.

        The Bible never says it like that. Not once does is it ever say to put faith in the cross. And when you read Swaggart’s books, he often drops the Jesus part. He just says to put your faith in the cross. He says it with a capitol C on cross, as though the cross were some sort of deity.

        The cross is not a person. The cross does not think, feel, love or care. The cross cannot answer your prayers. The cross is not some sort of extra person in the godhead. God is not a quadrinity, he is a trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

        The cross is an action. It is what Jesus did. The cross is not God. The cross is a doctrine. Putting your faith in the cross is idolatry. Don’t put your faith in doctrine, put your faith in Jesus.
        Jesus has died on the cross, been raised from the dead, and ascended on high and sent the Holy Spirit to us, and he even now intercedes with the Father on our behalf. We can put our faith in Jesus and believe what He and the apostles taught about the wondrous sacred thing that happened at the cross. Christ did what he did at the cross so that we could put our faith in Him, so that he would live in us. He didn’t do it so we could put our faith in a doctrine.

        We need to understand the historical context of the apostle’s time to fully understand what they meant when the talked about the preaching of the cross. The Jews concept of salvation was that, first of all, you had to be a Jew. Secondly, you had to keep the law.

        Jesus fulfilled the law and died on the cross as the propitiation for our sins. When he died the veil in the temple that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was rent in two, from top to bottom, signifying that God has now, through the shed blood of Jesus, made it possible for all people, Jews and Gentiles, to come into the presence of God through faith in Jesus, because of his sacrifice for us.

        That great event happened because of what Jesus did at Calvary. But that was all strange news to the Jews and many of them thought that the idea of a suffering messiah was nonsense. They were looking for a conquering king who would come and free them by force from Roman rule. The suggestion that their great messiah was someone who suffered and died the death of a criminal on a cross, where the lowest of the low were crucified, was unfathomable to them. They thought that was just absurd. To them it was foolishness.

        That’s why Paul says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness…” Paul said that with the Jews in mind. The Jews would not accept Christ because he died on a cross instead of delivering them from the Romans. And since they didn’t put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Messiah, they perished.

        When the apostles spoke of the preaching of the cross, they were talking about the entire New Covenant. They were talking about the gospel message itself. They were talking about repenting and believing in Jesus, they were referring to the Jesus who died on the cross and three days later came back to life, the Jesus who will live in men’s hearts if they repent and put their faith in Him. The preaching of the cross is this:

        “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

        The apostles were not talking about what Jimmy Swaggart was talking about – putting faith in a doctrine. Faith belongs in the person of Jesus Christ. Correct doctrine is good and we should study to show ourselves approved, but the kind of faith the Bible talks about belongs to Jesus and to no one else.

        When we fail, as we all sometimes do, the Bible tells us that Jesus is alive and is right now interceding for us before the Father. Consider the word of God:

        “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:3)

        Jesus dying for us was a great thing, but the Bible says “more than that,” he came to life and is interceding for us! It is wonderful he died for us, but even more wonderful he came back to life and lives in us! That is the real preaching of the cross.

        “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

        Have you failed? Have you sinned? Don’t give up because Jesus hasn’t given up on you. “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8). The Holy Spirit is within you to help you walk with God in holiness.

        Scripture says that it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) It is the reality of Christ in us that saves us, our real living relationship with Him, not some magical way of thinking about a doctrine.

        Swaggart’s perversion of the beautiful biblical truth of what Jesus did for us on the cross is a subtle twisting of the truth. The new private revelation promulgated by JSM is designed to draw attention and money to Jimmy Swaggart. It detracts from Jesus Christ and anything that does that is an abomination.

        Reply

    2. Hi C., Look at it this way: If you were going to invest in some stocks, you would want to do some research to make sure the companies you were investing in were going to do well and make the best use of your money. If they don’t do well the value of the stock would go down. You could end up losing your money. So it behooves you to look into Jimmy Swaggart Ministries to see if your money is being wisely used to further the kingdom of God. As you read the articles on this website you will see that much of his money goes to lawyers and to pay off judgments against him and to pay his increasing insurance payments to cover his liabilities for slander. For example: At one time he was ordered by the court to pay ten million dollars to Marvin Gorman for defamation of character. And then there are the mansions and the luxury cars and their opulent lifestyle. JSM recently just lost another law suit for breaking their contract on a land deal. Do you want your money to go for winning souls or do you want it to go towards paying for court costs, attorney’s fees and a new fleet of Mercedes?

      Another way to look at it, is consider that God has made you a steward over the money you have. As you give a portion of your money for God’s work, you want to put it where it will do the most good. There are ministries that are preaching the truth of the gospel. Swaggart is teaching false doctrines. You don’t want to be supporting that. You don’t want to be partner in spreading false teaching.

      Another viewpoint is to realize that God’s word has made it clear that you are to be part of a local church. You are to be involved with a group of believers, so you can help them, they can help you, so that you have some accountability. You should not forsake the assembly, as the Bible teaches. You should be supporting that local ministry, your local church, with your tithes.
      The Bible does teach that you will be blessed when you are generous and I am glad you are doing that. But the Bible does not say that you will only be blessed by giving to the Swaggarts. It sounds to me like they are trying to use fear tactics to extort money out of you. Don’t be intimidated and manipulated by their false teaching. Find another ministry to give your money to and I promise you God is not going to get you for not giving to the Swaggarts. Don’t let them fool you.

      One final word. Don’t just give to get blessed. Give because you love, because you want to make a sacrifice unto the Lord. Do it to help others. Don’t worry about the blessings for yourself. Let Jesus take care of that. Just ask Jesus what to do and trust Him. He loves you.

      God Bless,
      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  11. 2 things There is a interpretation of international that says the Message of the cross is foolish.So swaggart did not make that up it was in a international interpretation of the scripture.2nd the word of faith doctrine preaching in the modern church today saying we can have all we desire in this life cause jesus paid it all for me.Little is preached about heaven but about prosperity greed.I havent heard any other preachers like swaggart rebuke the modern churches preaching false doctrine like swaggart which is scripture.Im not saying swaggart is always right but.He is not preaching false doctrine he may have some errors but,A preacher who is winning souls is wise.And the Message of the cross is the milk the unsaved need not the Ones who dont need milk but the ones who do thats who christ died for.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kyle, You are correct that the New International Version does use the phrase, “message of the cross.” It uses it without capitalization. Jimmy capitalizes it for some reason. The King James Version says “preaching of the cross.” The KJV is the version that Jimmy uses exclusively. He doesn’t use modern translations. It is interesting that Swaggart uses the NIV phraseology. Jimmy rails against modern versions, especially against ones that are not word-for-word translations like the NIV. Yet, where it pleases him to do so, he picks this phrase out of a modern translation instead of his favorite translation, the KJV. Interestingly inconsistent.

      Now as to the word of faith teaching. You are misinformed. The word of faith heresy is not a teaching of the “modern church.” It is a teaching of the word of faith churches. Practically all of Christendom has pointed out the errors of the “faith” teachers. I was preaching against it in the 1980s while Swaggart was running around with prostitutes. The Assemblies of God issued a position statement on the matter back in the 80s as well, labeling it as false teaching.

      Incidentally “modern church” is Swaggart-speak for any church that isn’t his. He thinks his cult is the only one preaching the true gospel.

      You say, “He is not preaching false doctrine he may have some errors…” If some one is preaching errors, as you admit, then they are preaching false doctrine. You also say, “a preacher who is winning souls is wise.” So by that logic, we should go to a cult like Seventh Day Adventism. They win souls. They lead people to Jesus. But they are also a cult. When a church leads people to Jesus but also leads them into serious error and bondage, that is a church to flee from. The passage in proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.” This passage does not teach that anyone who preaches salvation in Jesus is not a cult or not at least a bad ministry teaching false doctrines. It simply means that it is wise to lead people to God. It does not condone leading people into error.

      It is best that the the milk of the gospel go forth from a ministry that will nourish, not damage. A bad mother can give milk, but if she abuses the child and gives spoiled milk, what will happen? He may one day run away. Many people fall away from Christ because of Swaggart’s spoiled milk and bad fruit. Better to let the soul winners be those who ministries that will teach the truth and will nurture Christians to maturity, not an outfit like Swaggart’s which will turn them into argumentative Pharisees.

      There are numerous cult-watch groups that have written extensively about Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. Among them are:

      Deception Bytes – http://deceptionbytes.com/category/jsm/
      Christian Research Institute – Equip.org
      Liberty Advocate – LibertyAdvocate.com
      Spirit Watch Ministries – SpiritWatch.org
      Cobblestone Road Ministry – CobbleStoneRoadMinistry.org

      Christian Research Institute (CRI) was founded by the late Dr. Walter Martin who wrote the classic and definitive work, The Kingdom of the Cults. CRI has issued a positional paper on Jimmy Swaggart Ministries that discusses some of the heresies promulgated by Swaggart. While they stop short of calling his ministry a cult, they do say this:

      “Swaggart has made unbiblical and unguarded assertions about a variety of issues, and has behaved with questionable integrity…Swaggart’s explanation of the Trinity is convoluted…there is nothing in the scriptures that teach God the Father and God the Spirit possess bodies. Swaggart affirms the Trinity, but his explanation of the Godhead compromises, confuses, and contradicts the biblical teaching on the subject…Such a view is more similar to the god of Mormonism than Christianity.

      Swaggart did not appropriately deal with his moral failures, which came to light in 1988. He was subsequently defrocked by the Assemblies of God denomination after refusing to submit to disciplinary action…He further distanced himself from the authority of his former denomination by referring to it as a cult, alleging that some of its officials were “in league with pornographers.” Because of the above-mentioned errors and concerns, we do not recommend Swaggart’s ministry.”

      Jimmy Swaggart is a ministry you should flee from. His most basic teaching, which is to put your “faith in the cross,” is an abomination. It is not in the Bible. Put your faith in Jesus where it belongs, not in dead dry doctrine cooked up by a false teacher who lived a lie for thirty years and bears the evidence of a false prophet: “You shall know them by their fruits.”

      May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to the wicked deception of the Swaggart cult. God bless you my friend,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

      1. Mark I understand your resentment at Jimmy Swaggart.He let alot of people down by his son is that was in secret came to light.This made a lot of legalistic Christian’s abandon swaggart.But Running down Jimmy Swaggart because he’s preaching Christ and him Crufied is not the answer.I have investigated jsm for several years and threw experience I can honestly say.Jimmy Swaggart is preaching sound doctrine he has is mistakes which we all do but the message he has endorsed and preaching is not the cross itself but Jesus Christ and what he there did listen to the message of the cross in the morning on sbn and take notes on where there saying the cross itself Swaggart is saying Faith in Christ and what he there did!I understand your angry with Jimmy but mark you have to let it go and stop destroying this man.Yes he was in great error but Jimmy Swaggart is a man of God who has been used by God threw spiritual music and mighty holy spirit crusade s the evidence is there Mark.Please tell me who you endorse as sound doctrine because I don’t see the creflo dollars Jesse duplantis Joel olsteens Rick Warren gospel which is the modern gospel Sound Doctrine and neather does the word of God. Is Jimmy Swaggart always right No!Is Swaggart perfect no!But Jimmy Swaggart is Saved and converterting many people to Christ threw the preaching of Christ and the cross.If your gonna go after a false prophets go after the ones who are robbing God and his people like popoff and the others I mentioned those are evidently preachers who message does not line up with God’s word.Jimmy Swaggart is being used by God mark he’s not a false Prophet if he was he wouldn’t be speaking against what the Bible says the false prophets will endorse.Please forgive Jimmy Swaggart Mark you got to let go of that resentment towards him from what happened 28 31 years ago.God Bless I love you and want to stay in touch will be praying for you to forgive Jimmy.

        Reply

        1. Hi Kyle, You are mistaken in thinking that I am resentful towards Swaggart. Not at all. I pray for him. In fact, when he was caught the first time with a prostitute, I asked my congregation to pray for him. But I pray more for those he has led astray and for the widows he has cheated out of their money and the people who have had to sue him because of the crooked deals he has done. I pray for the prostitutes he slept with and the married women he committed adultery with and the husbands of the same he has injured.

          And I am sad for him that he is so self-deceived. My main concern is for you and those like who he has deceived into becoming Swaggarites. Once a person is caught up in a cult it is very difficult to get them to see the light. If all of the cult-watch groups and the ministries that warn about his errors does not give you pause to think, then you are beyond helping. I do hope that is not the case, for your sake. I do hope you will read all the articles on my website about Swaggart and pray sincerely for God to show you the truth.

          “Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 1:23)

          I have a confession to make. I like Jimmy Swaggart. I don’t like what he does and teaches, but I do like the person God intended him to be.

          Jimmy’s early days of preaching are fun to watch. He could preach like nobody’s business! Truly a silver-tongued orator and a dramatic actor, both intelligent and talented. He could put on a show and move people for God like no one I’ve ever seen, except for perhaps Billy Graham.

          In his younger years Jimmy appeared to be a happy likeable fellow. Many people who have worked for him say that it was really hard not to like him. He was affable and smiled a lot.

          But when you see him today, he has a permanent scowl on his face. He appears bitter and unhappy. His sins have had their effect. Jerking his head with a nervous tic, he rails against all the churches. Any ministries of any consequence are liable to be found in his crosshairs. He has gone from rags to riches to rebellion.

          Such works as these will be burned up at the judgement seat of Christ. That alone is sad enough, but what of his soul? Is he in danger of hellfire? We must have compassion. Who is to say what sort of temptations we ourselves might have fallen into if we had been given his talent, popularity and riches?

          It is heartbreaking what has become of him. But nothing is too hard for God. Please join me in a prayer for Jimmy.

          Oh God, we know that you love Jimmy Swaggart. We pray that he would turn from his false teaching. His riches have deceived him and his popularity has fooled him. Nothing is too hard for you Lord. We pray you would open his eyes. Free him from his spiritual pride that he may humble himself. May he repent of his stubborn deceitful ways and come back to the simple word of God and abandon his heretical imaginings. Jesus, your shed blood is sufficient to wash away his sins. Help him see that he doesn’t need to make up doctrines to excuse himself. Your blood alone will cleanse him. Let him know that the Church will accept him as a brother in Christ if he will only let go of his deceptions. Help him see that he needs the Church to help him reform. May he abandon his need to be someone special, someone important. May he find joy in being a simple child of God, no longer striving to be preeminent. May he see that his way of hate for the church is not your way Lord, may he be touched by your love and repent of his animosity towards others in the Church. We pray for him and his entire family that the Holy Spirit would enlighten them to the waywardness of their path. We pray also for all those whom his teachings have deceived. May the eyes of their hearts be enlightened and set free by the truth of your word. Amen.

          Reply

  12. Kyle

    What interpretation is this and where. It says for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness not the message of the cross, where did you get that information

    Reply

    1. Look under New International Version it clearly says The message of the Cross is Foolish to those who are Perishing.The king james says the foolish but it basically means the same thing.But Swaggart did not make that up its in the international version worded that way goggle it on goggle to see the other interpretation.The New International the English standard rewords it.But swaggart is preaching what paul preached it is lineing up with the word of god.

      Reply

  13. Listen Mark i love you Brother in christ very much enough to tell you the truth as well.Judaizers as well as gentiles are saved under the new covenant.Christ died for all one thing i notice about your message mark is that it lines up with what the judaizers did is exactly your attack on the gentiles or the fallen preachers caught in adultery like Swaggart or others who havent been caught in a faliure for the world to see.Jimmy Swaggart confessed his errors and tried to rebuild his ministry just like you or any one else would do if you were on top and had to go down.Once again you seemed pre destiny to destroy swaggart and to lead others away from this message preaching of the understanding the new covenant which is the preaching of the cross.Many allegations you have made against this man and you have described him as the worst of sin.But regardless mark. The bible says many things on your assignment to lead others away from the preaching of the cross and who god choose as the Messager.The bible says With there words.the godless destroy neighbours. But threw knowledge the righteousness escape.Pro 11:9 If Jimmy Swaggart is as bad as you allegate than why is swaggart moving people to christ with his gospel preaching Piano talent singing and people truly testified other wise.Mark i love you in christ and belive you love god but your demonized by the judeistic outlook which is a form of religion not a form of Gods Power.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kyle, I am trying to understand what you wrote but it is not making much sense. You seem to say that I said Gentiles can’t be saved. I never said that. I don’t know where you came up with that from.

      You said Jimmy confessed his errors. No, he did not. In his public repentance show in 1988 he merely said “I have sinned.” He didn’t confess anything else. And then he went on seeing prostitutes and was caught again in 1991 and 1995 and then he told his church, “God told me it is none of your business.” He then declared his own denomination a cult. That is not repentance. So no, he did not confess his errors.

      The New Covenant is not Jimmy’s Message of the Cross, as you claim. The New Covenant is not Jimmy’s twisted “Faith in the Cross” teaching. And the passage you quote about the godless man destroying his neighbors with his mouth, This does not apply. That scripture is a teaching not to viciously malign your neighbor without cause. It is not talking about false prophets who’s deeds and teachings show them to be false. The Bible says to expose them. Ephesians 5:11 – “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” You are twisting the scriptures unto your own destruction.

      The fact that some people come to Christ through JSM does not exonerate him. That does not prove he is of God. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Some…are preaching Christ even from envy and strife…out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives.” (Philippians 1:15) This describes Jimmy Swaggart to a T. We rejoice, as did the Apostle Paul, that people get saved regardless, but in no way did Paul or the scriptures encourage anyone to sit under the ministry of false teachers.

      I have not “described him as the worst of sin,” as you say. What I have done is relate the historical facts, which you can check from the references I have included, so that you can exercise the command of scripture to avoid such false teachers. Facts are facts.

      So you still think Jimmy Swaggart is a prophet? Seriously? You still think Jimmy is a great man of God? Jimmy Swaggart consorted with prostitutes and slept with married women for thirty-five years while he was going around preaching, all the while pretending to be a great evangelist for God.

      Sexual scandals spread like wildfire in his church. Jimmy’s son Donnie has an affair. Donnie’s wife has an affair. Jimmy threatens to murder his daughters-in-law’s lover. The next day he threatens again, saying this time that he will have him murdered. One of Jimmy’s lovers starts getting phone calls, threatening her life, saying they will burn her up in her house if she tells what her and Jimmy have been doing behind her husband’s back.

      Jimmy would worm his way into the good graces of old rich ladies and bilk them of all their money, cheating the children out of their inheritance. Those poor elderly people, giving all their riches to Jimmy, thinking they were doing something for God, when in fact they where giving their money to a man who was then having sex with prostitutes. They gave their money to an adulterer, to a phony, to a hypocrite, convinced by him into thinking they were doing something for God. What wickedness.

      He was caught with a prostitute in 1988 and did a made-for-tv production of his supposed repentance. He was the star actor complete with tears and background music. He fooled a lot of people. But he kept right on going to prostitutes after that, getting caught again in 1991 and 1995.

      He rebelled against his own denomination. Just shortly before getting caught, Jimmy wrote an article about the importance of discipline in the church and that he agrees with ministers going through a time of discipline and rehabilitation before being restored to ministry. But when he gets caught, he rebels and refuses to submit and accept their help. Instead he calls the Assemblies of God a cult and says he doesn’t need them because he hears directly from God. What arrogant evil pride! He is a defrocked minister, no longer worthy to minister the gospel.

      More recently, his print company made sinful posters for nightclubs that have gang signs, devilish pictures and say things like “Liquor! Party! Action!” They made CD covers for rap music bands with filthy words in the music. The CD covers say things like “Includes the hot single – U Nasty!” Jimmy Swaggart Ministries made these. They did this after his supposed revelation from God.

      His youth leaders dress provocatively and pose for pictures in a bar, throwing gang signs, standing indecently, holding wine bottles. For shame. They call it just having fun.

      Swaggart couldn’t seem to obey the law. He plagiarized from the Dake’s Bible. He was sued and he lost. The court found Jimmy guilty of plagiarism. He slandered another evangelist and told lies about him. He was sued, and lost again. The jury found Jimmy guilty of defamation of character and ordered him to pay ten million dollars. All that money given by hard-working Christians going to waste. And they thought it was going to save souls. Jimmy’s real-estate business partner went to prison. Jimmy was sued over land deals. In 2016 Jimmy stopped a hospital from being built by backing out on his contract to sell the land. The court found him guilty of breach of contract. Jimmy collected money for starving kids and missionaries, but then used it for himself and when employees notice this, he fires them.

      He preaches false doctrines, twists the concept of the Trinity, teaches Mormon heresies, saying God has a body, the Holy Spirit has a body, God’s body is not omnipresent but lives on a planet called heaven in the direction of north. He claims he alone has the gospel, that he alone is called to evangelize the world, that all the churches are evil except his. He has set himself up as a pope of the one true church, just like the Catholics. He manufactures a doctrine about putting faith in the cross, instead of in Jesus. Nearly every cult-watch group in the country warns people about him and his evil teachings. He teaches that any Christian who takes communion with real wine is going to hell, basically saying unless you agree with Jimmy and do what he says you aren’t saved.

      He maligns many good preachers and ministries. His preaching is full of hateful attacks against others. He has gotten many of his followers to be as hateful as he is, getting them to attack others verbally and convincing them to quit their local church and stay home and watch him on TV and sent their money to him.

      His son Donnie, the co-pastor of Family Worship Center and minister of JSM, he has an affair with a 5-time divorcee in the church. Jimmy’s twisted Message of the Cross couldn’t stop his own son from sinning. So Donnie divorces his wife, married the divorcee, then divorces her and remarries his first wife, all the while, Jimmy has Donnie still pastoring at Family Worship Center, all the while, preaching on TV and pretending to be a great man of God while he jumps back and forth from one woman’s bed to another. What evil! The acorn did not fall far from the tree.

      So let me ask this: Who do you love more – Jimmy Swaggart or Jesus Christ? Who will you follow? Who will you obey? Jesus said,

      “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20)

      Jesus said you can recognize a false teacher by the bad fruit. How much bad fruit does Jimmy Swaggart need to have before you recognize him as a false prophet? If this is not enough wickedness, how much more debauchery must you see before you will open your eyes?

      The Bible says to “mark them which cause divisions…avoid them.” (Mark 16:17) Jimmy causes division, in fact, he has divided himself away from the entire Church, saying that he only has the truth. What poppycock! Don’t fall for this nonsense!

      To the church in Ephesus Jesus said, “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.” (Revelation 2:2)

      Jesus commends those who cannot bear those who are evil and who falsely claim to be apostles. This is Swaggart. He false claims to be an apostle, he teaches error and he does evil. And you bear with him wonderfully! How have you become so deceived? Who has bewitched you? Jesus says that you should not bear with those who are evil, let you do this in complete disregard of the command of the Lord Jesus Christ! So who do you love? Jimmy or Jesus? “If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15)

      If you think Jimmy Swaggart is a great man of God after seeing all of this, and you still intend to disobey the Lord Jesus Christ and follow this divisive false prophet, then there can only be one conclusion, which is that the powerful demonic spirit that spews forth from Swaggart’s mouth has poisoned your soul and deceived your mind such that you can not think on your own.
      We come against that evil spirit in the name of Jesus and ask the Holy Spirit to break its power over you. We pray that you will turn off the TV and open your Bible. Let God open your eyes to his truth. Be part of a local church and learn from real pastors and teachers. Be seriously deceived no longer.

      Praying for you,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

      1. Mark its obvious to understand you are twisting what i wrote i never said the new covenant is jimmy swaggart i said the Message of the cross i belive god is using him threw that message which paul wrote.Please understand if i hired a private investagator to follow you see every move you make and had dirt on you in what ever that would be.Would you then still cotinue to be judeistic towards Jimmy Swaggart if something came out on you that you had a problem .No you would then have that understanding and humble wisdom.And would be preaching the cross not some Judeistic message which is not working.I understand you will have it for swaggart till the lord takes him home it obviously to see your goal is to stop anyone from listening to jimmy swaggart or the preaching of the cross that he preaching.Which if you feel your right on that evidently but be sure of this.He who digs a pit for a man.will eventually fall into it that my brother is scripture god bless you and may you come to the cross and kneel and forgive and be lead by the holy spirit not be lead by false doctrine God Bless you mark i will stay in Touch.

        Reply

        1. Hey mark ps I love you Brother. And do believe you are saved and a Christian but i just disagree with you on swaggart if everything your saying is true about him man hes got the devil as his father not god.But mark i dont believe that and what your saying may have some truth but not all truth some is just gossip.But hey if you have any sermons of you preaching on u tube i would love to here you preach and discern what is being said from your view point.God Bless you

          Reply

          1. Hi Kyle, I have a sermon I preached recently in the Philippines I think you will enjoy. I need to get it uploaded. I will send you the link soon as I have it uploaded.

            I recommend you watch these investigation videos of Jimmy Swaggart. You will find them interesting.

            This link is Part 1 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UZAhTlzSHk

            This link is Part 2 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiqBStjBufU

            All the things I mentioned are documented and I have the footnotes on my website showing you where to look it up. I’m 64 now and I remember well when he did all these things in the 80’s and 90’s. It was common knowledge and was on all the news channels. Its a fact of history.

            God bless. I will let you know when I have a sermon uploaded for you.

            …Pastor Mark

  14. Thank you I Will Most Definitely listen.And ps those John camp videos I’ve seen.He and others were after him in the 80s as well trying to find dirt and destroy him even back then before the 1988 confession but anyway I will definitely be watching the u tube sermon Thank you God Bless.

    Reply

    1. Hy Kyle, it wasn’t that they “were after him,” in the sense that they just had it in for him for no reason. There were the facts that he went to prostitutes and was continuing to do so even after his big made-for-television apology. He was begging money for “starving children” and then not giving the money to the children, and many other unethical things. If you watch part 2, you see that was made after 1995, when he was caught the last time, as it covers that. Yes, they were investigating in the 80’s as well, but that is because Swaggart had been “chasing prostitutes in every city where he held revivals” (his own admission) and there were enough rumors that things needed to be checked out. They were dong a public service. Their goal was not to destroy him, but to enlighten the public to the truth about this charlatan. Scripture warns us about people like Jimmy Swaggart:

      1 Corinthians 11:13-14 –

      “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”

      God Bless,
      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

      1. John camp made a news segment in 1983 about swaggart using the same negative Pharisee attacks back then before swaggart sin was revealed its on utube check it out john camp 1983 investigates Jimmy Swaggart.The media and Pharisees that were among many were always against this man.But because of his rapid growing popularity they had to concede till the sin scandal came to light .

        Reply

  15. Rember mark satan dont come against satan.If your saying the liberal media the head of the church were all right to literally crucifiy this man i have to disagree.You forget jimmy swaggart brought millons to christ saved and baptized in the holy spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tounges.He just like any other man who had glory had sin and could not keep godliness and holiness with the fame you are right on that but.That doesn’t mean the holy spirit wasn’t and still is using jimmy to bring the lost the poor the hurt ing the sinful to christ threw the preaching of the cross and gospel music.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kyle, So what if John Camp did an investigative documentary about Swaggart before his whoremongering was discovered? Swaggart had been visiting prostitutes for over 20 years before that. The media and Pharisees? What is that? Pharisees? You are not making sense. Are you trying to say the media are Pharisees? That is silly. Pharisees were Jewish religious legalists. The media, for the most part is secular. So I don’t know what you are trying to say.

      As far as the media being “always against this man.” No, not true. The media is not against famous preachers. The media did not “go after” Billy Graham. Why? Because he lived a decent life and practiced what he preached. Swaggart, on the other hand, has not led a decent life. He has been a crook and a phony from the get-go. And when someone that famous lives a lie, you bet the media will expose them, as they should. The media had information that things weren’t right, but they could not come forward with it until they had proof beyond a shadow of a doubt. And before they had the evidence on the sexual sins, they had the goods on him concerning his misappropriation of funds.

      The media did not “crucify this man” as you say. Jimmy crucified himself with his own sins. The Bible says, “Your sin will surely find you out.” The media just reported some of the wickedness that Swaggart was doing, and even continued to do after he was caught. And the number saved through his ministry does not justify his actions.

      Whenever the gospel is preached, people will get saved. But that doesn’t justify Swaggart’s wickedness. The Bible says: “Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (1 Corinthians 11:13-14). So Swaggart’s end will be according to his deeds. You see, the Bible doesn’t say, “Oh, go ahead and follow wicked preachers because some people get saved through their ministry.” Indeed not! The Bible says, “Mark them,” and “avoid them.” A command which you are disobeying.

      Today, most of the people being saved are not being led to the Lord by the Swaggarts. It is the churches and ministries around the world – the real church – that are bringing people to Christ. And the number of people that fall away from God because of Swaggart is staggering. The number of families that are destroyed because of Swaggart is sickening.

      You have become so enamored with Swaggart, so brainwashed and deceived by the evil spirit spewing from his mouth, that you cannot see the truth. You pay more attention to him than to the word of God. It is a sad thing. I wish I could help you but it seems you are too far gone. Yet, I pray that is not the case.

      Jimmy Swaggart is a false apostle, a deceitful worker, disguising himself as an apostle of Christ. God’s word says: “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17) By following Swaggart, you are in disobedience to God’s word.

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

      1. Theres a 1991 hardcopy edition of swaggart caught the 2nd time hes being interviewed and comes clean about the situation ill send you the email with u tube link.And yes jimmy was guilty but he was humbled for his wrong.Watch the 1991 hardcopy utube october clip of jimmy being interviewed he was coming clean.Pharisees are in the modern church and have always been among belivers.Thinking they are better more rightfully and running down those who have been in sin obviously.Jesus came to save the sinful not beat them but restore them.Swaggart always had a message that was going to Calvary even if you look back in the 80s so i rest my case that jimmy swaggart is not a false teacher.Bible says he thst is of the world the world will love be he that is born of god the world shall hate.

        Reply

        1. Hi Kyle, No hope for you. You are a full-blown Swaggarite and are now too brainwashed for anyone to help you. This website is here to help those who are still teachable. You have absorbed too much of Swaggart’s false teaching and demeanor to be delivered. I feel sorry for you. It is really sad that you will follow Swaggart instead of the Holy Scriptures. I would imagine he has already got you to quit your church. Sad, sad, sad. I can’t spend anymore time trying to help someone who doesn’t want help.

          …Pastor Mark

          Reply

  16. I happened to catch Frances and Friends today and a caller mentioned your website to the panel. She said she was a baby Christian and had friends and family warn her about the cult-like ministry (the caller said she was warned it was a cult) by sharing your articles. She seemed unsure of what to think, but wanted more information.

    Frances said she never heard of you or your website. Carl Brown said it was obvious that Satan was trying to interfere with her Christian walk. The caller listed a few things about the ministry that she was told were suspect – the expositors bible and Christ’s words in red – to which Frances simply laughed. Then Mike Muzzerall said Christ’s words appearing in red in bibles was simply a ‘turn of the century sales gimmick’ and it was basically meaningless. Another issue the caller brought up was the channel selling only their products – to which Mike Muzzerall said – ‘Well if we were Roman Catholics, we would only sell Catholic material, and no one would think anything of it’, which I found quite telling, because Catholicism is a religion.

    I had hoped I could use this as an opening to confront my mom about some of the strange teachings and attitude of ‘Swaggartism’ – but when I merely mentioned being familiar with your work – she shot me a very angry look and told me it was ‘idiocy’…it was clear we couldn’t even have a dialogue about it. My mother lives on a fixed income and has given (and continues to give) literally thousand of dollars (that she doesn’t really have) to this ministry, which I have a problem with, but I am scared to bring it up because she becomes hostile if anyone says anything contrary to the Swaggarts and their teachings. She’s very programmed. She finds great joy and comfort in their music too (I like a lot of the music and some of the preaching too, but don’t count myself as a Swaggarite), and I would feel awful ‘ruining’ it for her. I’m not sure how to approach it.

    This ministry brought her to Christ (and me too), so a part of me feels bad saying anything negative, but I do take issue with some of their teachings, divisiveness, hypocrisy, their love of money etc. (in their most recent share-a-thon, Donnie said ‘what would you do if Jesus was asking you to give money to this ministry? I’m not saying I’m Jesus, but –’ It was really outrageous. Then Mike Muzzerall said ’well, I bet they’d do anything to get the money, they’d sell their car’. He tried passing it off as a joke, but it was really strange).

    I started reading ‘The Purpose Filled Life’ and find no issue with it whatsoever so far. I shouldn’t feel like I’m doing something ‘wrong’ by just reading it (I have a feeling my mother would judge me very harshly for giving it a chance…the Swaggarts really have a hold on her).

    Anyway, I don’t always watch Frances, but got a kick out of seeing your name mentioned. You have a great website and I enjoy your articles.

    Reply

    1. Hi Sharon, Thank you so much for giving me a heads up about that! I found that show in their archive and watched that portion of it. I found it interesting that Frances Swaggart responded with:

      “You’re listening to people that will destroy you. You can lose your soul by following and listening to people that don’t know what they’re talking about.”

      Wow. Listening to a concerned Christian like myself will cause you to lose your soul? So much for being saved by grace. I also noted that one of the ministers on the panel counseled this new Christian on how to discern truth. He says:

      “How you know the difference…the Spirit of God in you will confirm to you what is right and what is wrong. So be very careful about who you listen to, but be more attentive to the Holy Spirit within you who will lead and guide into all truth. Satan wants to hinder your walk and so he’ll use people to do that, so be very very careful.”

      That is actually very similar to what Mormons teach. Mormons will tell you to pray about the Book of Mormon and ask the Holy Spirit to show you if it is true or not. They say the Spirit will give you a witness, a feeling, that the book is true. This device has deceived many people. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” We can not trust our heart alone about what is true or false. There is only one way to know if a teaching is true, and it not by a feeling, it is by the Holy Scriptures.

      What they should have told this new Christian is to compare every teaching to the Bible and to get into a good Bible preaching local church. It is noteworthy that they did not tell her these two essential things. They didn’t because they don’t want her going to a church or comparing their teachings to the Bible. They don’t want her listening to anyone or anything but Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. The impression given is that they think falling away from JSM is the same as falling away from God.

      I have a new article I recently put up and I put a link to that portion of this video in it. It is here:

      https://christiananswerman.com/salvation-only-in-jimmy-swaggart/

      Thank you again. I really appreciate you letting me know about that. If you see anything more of interest in their broadcasts, let me know!

      God Bless,

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

    2. Like many older and maybe few younger , Likes the music I’m sure it sounds good but in the sense it has to be aimed more than that. I think we say if there’s music sounds and feels right it’s ok to follow these cult like heathens. I’m not for this , if you’re truly a hypocrite like the swaggarts you bring others to this cult, not even sure what you are following. I have studied the Swaggarts enough to warn my mother and her ignorance. I’ve questioned it and pointed it all out. She stopped for a moment but went back to it and I believe she was not doing Gods work while in this cult following. I’ve watched donnie and seen his dark aggressive attitude while preaching. Something that is not to be done. Ann’s speaking I’ll of the Assemblies of Gid basically wish hi nh then to go to hell for abominishing them due to the Fathers sins, many sins while preaching back in the day..its sad they are just a business but try to fool those weak minded in Christ.

      Reply

  17. Thanks for your great work exposing false teaching and cult groups, I was a media member and have been watching Sonlife tv for a few years now but you have helped me to see I am following a man instead of the Lord Jesus Himself, God bless you Mark.

    Reply

    1. Hi Michael, Thank you for your encouraging comment. It makes me joyous when my efforts have been able to help people get closer to Jesus. My prayers are with you. I hope you can find a good Bible believing church to be a part of. Don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

      God Bless,

      Pastor Mark

      Reply

  18. Pastor Mark,

    I want to let you know that I know longer listen to SBN. I have found a local church that is less than five minutes away from me. It is a COGIC church and the Lord is lifted up. Every Sunday, the Spirit of the Lord moves and it is.wonderful to see the Saints dance and speak in tongues. This is what I was missing. Now I get excited about going to church, I can’t wait until Sunday because I know I will be blessed by the preaching the singing and the praise. Thank you Mark

    C. Johnson

    Reply

    1. Hi C. Praise God! I’m so glad to hear that you are plugged into a good local church. I think you see clearly now what Swaggartism was stealing from you. God bless you my brother.

      …Pastor Mark

      Reply

  19. Hi Pastor Mark, my name is Mary and I have been watching SBN broadcasting for about eleven years, as for the cross that you say is being the main focus from him, yes He speaks of the cross, but he mentions often that, and these are his words “by the cross I’m not taking about a wooden beam, I’m talking about what our Savior Jesus Christ did there”, he is talking about that without the cross there would not be a bible, it conquers sin and death, our sin was paid for and the devil conquered, it is sustitutionary and inaugurates a new covenant, I could go on. When you speak about Swaggartism your taking about Jimmy Swaggart, His son Donny, his grandson Gabriel and many anointed men including, Loren Larson, who by the way has three of his anointed children singing in the choir, Mike Muzzerall, jim Nations, John and Josh Rosernstern, who do the show Insight on SBN and it speaks of truthful current events, and there are more men who were led to his ministry to talk of the Bible. In fact His wife Francis has a show called Francis and Friends, in which people can call in and ask questions or inquire or interrogate, in fact you yourself can call in and declare your own conflict’s. As for me, after watching his show for eleven years, I must say there have been many times I watch the worship and the presence of God just shows up and lasts in my home, the words God speaks through the Pastors has brought peace, reconciliation, conviction, unity and Love. I do not worship any one there, except for my loving Lord Jesus Christ. The people on that show are my sisters and brothers in Christ as you are Pastor Mike, yes imperfect Christians like myself who God has blessed and anointed. There are many television evangelists who with dicernment I do not and cannot watch, SBN is not one of them. pray Pator Mike ask God if your grieving the Holy Spirit, if so you know what to do.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mary, I appreciate your comment. Usually when Swaggart followers comment, they are seething with vitriol and hate and pronounce that God’s fiery judgment will fall on me for daring to critically examine the utterances of their infallible prophet, Jimmy Swaggart. Your tone shows a much calmer and more reasonable mind.

      Although you mention eleven years of watching Swaggart, you don’t mention your local church. God’s word commands us to be part of a Church. I pray that you find a good Bible believing church and become a part of it. One of the dangerous things about Swaggartism is that it deceives people into thinking they don’t need to attend church.

      I agree that much truth of the Gospel is preached by the Swaggarts, and that many people who follow him are born again. Their music is top notch. Nevertheless, there are a number of dangerous and bizarre doctrines that he teaches. We are warned that in the last days deception would abound and that there would be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Wonderful music and silver-tongued oratory is part of the wolf’s sheep-like attire. I highly recommend that you get my book on Jimmy Swaggart and get all the facts before you make up your mind on what I am saying. You can order from here:

      …Pastor Mark

      P.S. Here is an excerpt from that book:

      A Prayer for Jimmy Swaggart

      “Save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 1:23)

      I have a confession to make. I like Jimmy Swaggart. I don’t like what he does and teaches, but I do like the person God intended him to be. Jimmy’s early days of preaching are fun to watch. He could preach like nobody’s business! Truly a silver-tongued orator and a dramatic actor, both intelligent and talented. He could put on a show and move people for God like no one I’ve ever seen, except for perhaps Billy Graham.
      In his younger years Jimmy appeared to be a happy and likeable fellow. Many people who have worked for him say that it was really hard not to like him. He was affable and smiled a lot. But when you see him today, he has a permanent scowl on his face. He appears bitter and unhappy. His sins have had their effect. Jerking his head with a nervous tic, he rails against all the churches. He calls his former denomination a cult, still seething with anger over being defrocked. Any ministries of any consequence are liable to be found in his crosshairs. He has gone from rags to riches to rebellion.

      Such works as these will be burned up at the judgment seat of Christ. That alone is sad enough, but what of his soul? Is he in danger of hellfire? We must have compassion. Who is to say what sort of temptations we ourselves might have fallen into if we had been given his talent, popularity and riches? It is heartbreaking what has become of him. But nothing is too hard for God. Please join me in a sincere prayer for Jimmy.

      Oh God, we know that you love Jimmy Swaggart. We pray that he would turn from his false teaching. His riches have deceived him and his popularity has fooled him. Nothing is too hard for you, Lord. We pray you would open his eyes. Free him from his spiritual pride that he may humble himself.

      May he repent of his stubborn, deceitful ways and come back to the simple word of God and abandon his heretical imaginings. Jesus, your shed blood is sufficient to wash away his sins. Help him see that he doesn’t need to make up doctrines to excuse himself. Your blood alone will cleanse him.

      Let him know that the Church will accept him as a brother in Christ if he will only let go of his deceptions. Help him see that he needs the Church to help him reform. May he abandon his need to be someone special, someone important.

      May he find joy in being a simple child of God, no longer striving to be preeminent. May he see that his way of hate for the Church is not your way, Lord. May he be touched by your love and repent of his animosity towards others in the Church. We pray that he would turn to elders in the Church that can give him counseling and the accountability he needs. We pray for him and his entire family that the Holy Spirit would enlighten them to the waywardness of their path.

      We pray also for all those whom his teachings have deceived. May the eyes of their hearts be enlightened and set free by the truth of Thy Word. We pray for each of them, that every individual deceived by Jimmy Swaggart will join a Bible-preaching local church, where they can grow in grace in the company of other believers.

      Amen.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Pastor Mark Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge