CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY OCTOBER 7, 2026
JIM BAKKER HAS DIED AT AGE 86. BAKKER WAS AMONG THE BEST KNOWN OF WHAT USED TO BE CALLED “TELEVANGELISTS” IN THE 1980S. HE WAS ALSO A PROPONENT OF WHAT IS CALLED THE “PROSPERITY GOSPEL,” THE WRONG IDEA THAT IF YoU SEND THESE TV MINISTERS MONEY, YOU WILL GET MUCH MORE IN RETURN.
THAT IS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES, BUT SO MANY ARE BIBLICALLY ILLITERATE THEY CAN BE SCAMMED BY THE BEST OF SCAMMERS.
WHEN BAKKER GOT OUT OF PRISON – HE HAD DOUBLE AND TRIPLE SOLD CONDOS NEAR HIS THEME PARK – I INVITED HIM TO MY HOME. I ASKED WHEN HE STARTED TO GO WRONG. HE REPLIED: WHEN I SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO TOLD ME ONLY WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.”
THAT’S NOT ONLY A GOOD LESSON FOR PREACHERS, IT’S ALSO GOOD FOR POILITICIANS.
ON A SIDE NOTE, THE MEDIA USE THE WORD “SCANDAL” TO DESCRIBE WHAT BAKKER DID, BUT THEY NEVER TELL YOU THE STANDARD FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES A SCANDAL. THEY PROMOTE LGBTQ, AND SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS, BUT WHEN THEY CAN TRASH SOMETHING ASSOCIATED WITH CHRISTIANS, THEY TROT OUT THE WORD. I’M GOING TO WRITE MORE ABOUT JIM BAKKER IN MY COLUMN. I’M, CAL THOMAS.
