ISS:Has the media been fair with Jim Bakker?  by Bill Bennett

   "'In the main, the press has been quite fair in presenting PTL and
what ensued,' said Mark DeMoss

   'Dr. Falwell feels that a few are trying to use it as a launching
pad to do credibility damage to television ministries in general.'

   With the new board and Assemblies of God independently looking into
the matter, DeMoss did not have any predictions on the outcome of the
investigations. "One thing is we know for certain is that the press
will be sure the public hears the results."

   Demoss credits the media with focusing on the credibility problem of
all television ministries. 'Its a legitimate concern. That's why Dr.
Falwell is asking for the television ministries to set up a system to
monitor their activities. We have to do something of this nature to
restore public trust." (From Fundamentalist Journal, May pg. 17)

   (Fundamentalist Journal is a publication of Jerry Falwell)

   WHY did John Ankerberg go partial-public with more allegations of
sexual immorality against Jim Bakker and the old PTL board members? The
answer is simple. Bakker threatened a "Holy War" to regain power in PTL
---> GREED. Ankerberg would not have had to say anything if Bakker had
quietly resigned permanently. If Bakker was restored to the helm of
PTL, more damage to the credibility of ALL Christian ministries would
have taken place. Ankerberg had enough evidence to convince the new PTL
board that Jim Bakker has a closet full of skeletons - which the press
would have surely resurrected, given the chance. I can see the wisdom
in releasing enough information to make the public and press realize
Bakker was no longer fit to run PTL, while giving the details to the
new PTL board.

   I hope people realize that it was just a matter of time before we
all suffered more reproach, as more of Bakker's sins are made public.
If Bakker was restored to leadership - and his intentions were clearly
so, the results would have been far worse. We don't need the details,
only the board needed to know. Now, everyone knows that Bakker did not
just "slip" into sin once seven years ago, but both Jim Bakker, Richard
Dorsch and possibly other past PTL board members had an extensive
history of ongoing sexual immorality, covering each others sins and
greed. The whole bunch is unfit to minister publicly again.

   I do not believe John Ankerberg is interested in seeing PTL
destroyed, or the name of Christ blasphemed among the heathen anymore
than the rest of us are. Ankerberg is hardly the person to make
accusations without FIRM evidence. Hopefully, the rest of the details
of the PTL scandal will not ever be known among men, and hopefully, Jim
Bakker will quickly fade from the public eye, so we can begin to focus
on the Lord Jesus Christ again.

   One very sad thing we have all overlooked - restitution. If Bakker,
Dorsch and the rest are repentant about their immorality, coverups, and
greed - maybe some act of restitution on their part would be a better
sign of repentance than empty words? With Jessica Hahn, Dorch & Bakkers
all crying about the money they LOST, can we honestly believe any of
their tears? It was only after figures like $240,000+ and 1.6 million,
extensive real estate holdings, expensive autos, and parties were made
known that Dorsch decided not to collect the rest of his salary and Jim
Bakker was "cut off". Jessica Hahn did not volunteer to return what was
left, nor Bakker offer to sell a couple of houses, cars or boats to
help pay some of PTLs massive debts. I do not believe restitution is
mandatory, but maybe if these wealthy folks took the initiative like
Zaccheus did in Luke 19, Bakker would be more believable. Furthermore,
what a testimony to the rest of the world!

   "JIM BAKKER GIVES UP HALF OF POSESSIONS AS ACT OF RESTITUTION"

   Now that would make a fine headline, instead of ....

   "NEW PTL BOARD SUES BAKKER FOR MILKING MINISTRY"

   Bill Bennett

   This article originated on The Salvation Online Network
