Godspeed, Sweet Lady

SixofNine

(I guess I'm posting the following blog I came across because I spent plenty of time in the past holding contempt for the caricature of a human that was Tammy Faye Baker. I like being shown another pov. I also like being surprised by Christians... it's such a rare occurance). Sometimes the most surprising reaction to a tragic event is your own. You don’t realize how much impact someone had on your life until they are absent; you don’t realize how much you will miss someone until they are gone.

And so it was that upon hearing of the passing of Tammy-Faye Bakker-Messner, the depth of my own feelings for this woman took me totally unawares.

Back in the eighties, I used to tune-in to the PTL Club every night between eleven and eleven-thirty, anxious to enjoy thirty minutes of faux Christian entertainment before Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show”. I laughed at Tammy-Faye’s ridiculous outfits and outlandish makeup; I cringed as she warbled her latest Christian single; I yelled at Jim for shaking down pensioners for money to build yet another theme park, hotel, or Christian golf course – and wondered how a “Christian golf course” differed from an ordinary golf course, but figured that divine intervention on the 18th hole might have something to do with it.

Years after Jim went to prison and Tammy-Faye faded from the public eye, I read several books about the two, ever curious as to how they became the purse-snatching parasites I’d come to loathe over the years. These books were far from apologetic or complimentary; in fact, they were quite scathing in their assessment of the Bakkers.

And yet there was something between the lines that gave a glimpse of the young, idealistic couple who started out doing “the Lord’s work” and ended up being ensnared in the “Big Business” of TV evangelical work, a business aimed not at attracting souls but ratings, an enterprise more about emptying pockets than filling the soul with the spirit of the Lord. While Jim became obsessed with collecting pledges to fund an ever-growing number of ill-conceived projects that went over-budget and ended in half-completion, Tammy-Faye – his one time partner, advisor and confidante – was told to go shopping so as not to be ‘in the way’. The rest, as they say, is history.

In later years, as Tammy-Faye reappeared on TV talk shows and in cameo appearances on “The Drew Carey Show”, I began to reassess this feisty lil’ lady who seemed to know the punchline to every joke ever told at her expense. Not only did she delight in repeating them, she laughed at them more than anyone else ever could.

But what really set me straight about Tammy-Faye’s true Christian spirit was her response to a viewer on a call-in show. The caller was perplexed as to how to deal with her gay son, who she was about to disown due to his sinful lifestyle. Tammy-Faye’s answer: “I can’t think of a single sin that Jesus would find harder to forgive than a parent who chooses not to love and support their own child.”

It certainly wasn’t the popular answer among the holier-than-thou Christians who once worshiped at Tammy-Faye’s feet – but it was the comment that made me realize that in judging Tammy-Faye all those years ago, perhaps it was my own arrogant blindness that caused me not to see the lovely, self-deprecating woman whose true heart was more Christ-like than I had been able – or willing – to appreciate.

The last time I saw Jim Bakker, it was in one of those where-are-they-now interviews several years ago. He is remarried to a fellow preacher, and was working with drug addicts in a small church somewhere in Nowhere, USA. He was serene, and happy to be back doing “the Lord’s work” on a one-to-one basis, finally free of endless fundraising and PR appearances.

Asked about his ex-wife, Tammy-Faye, Jim lost no time in expressing his appreciation for the woman who shared his dreams, shared his prayers, and stood by his side when most women would have walked away.

Tammy-Faye, you were one in a million, and the world is a lonelier place for your having left it. I personally thank you for teaching me an invaluable lesson: never judge another until you have walked a mile in their shoes, and never judge another’s soul until you have seen how much they care for their fellow man as they walk that mile.

Godspeed, Tammy-Faye. May you rest in sweet dreams for eternity, wrapped in the warm embrace of the Lord whose message you shared with all of us.

Your grace and style will never be forgotten by those of us whose lives were touched by your own. Good golly, Miss Molly, why'd you have to go - when you still had so much to teach, and I still have so much to learn?

Nance Rants

horrible life

The caller was perplexed as to how to deal with her gay son, who she was about to disown due to his sinful lifestyle. Tammy-Faye’s answer: “I can’t think of a single sin that Jesus would find harder to forgive than a parent who chooses not to love and support their own child.”

What a powerful statement. I will remember this for the rest of my life.

Like I said in the other thread, I think she got a raw deal. She was such a positive person. Never felt sorry for herself. I never was a big fan of hers, but I liked her very much.

from me also: Godspeed Sweet Lady

Double Edge

But what really set me straight about Tammy-Faye’s true Christian spirit was her response to a viewer on a call-in show. The caller was perplexed as to how to deal with her gay son, who she was about to disown due to his sinful lifestyle. Tammy-Faye’s answer: “I can’t think of a single sin that Jesus would find harder to forgive than a parent who chooses not to love and support their own child.”

That speaks volumns about her character.... God speed Tammy... would that we would all be so non-judgemental.

Junction-Guy

She really was a sweet lady, it's such a shame to lose her.

I shamefully admit that I ,like alot of JW's back in the 80's, loved to poke fun of Jim and Tammy and all of the supposed wrongs of Christendom. I remember watching those Saturday Night Live skits about Tammy and they showed all of that mascara running down her cheeks, I thought it was hilarious.

She was a really good woman and she will be missed by all.

Dragonlady76

“I can’t think of a single sin that Jesus would find harder to forgive than a parent who chooses not to love and support their own child.”

This brought tears to my eyes.

RAF

I didn't know the gal but this surely talks a lot for her :
But what really set me straight about Tammy-Faye’s true Christian spirit was her response to a viewer on a call-in show. The caller was perplexed as to how to deal with her gay son, who she was about to disown due to his sinful lifestyle. Tammy-Faye’s answer: “I can’t think of a single sin that Jesus would find harder to forgive than a parent who chooses not to love and support their own child.”

mrsjones5

I just listened to an interview that she gave on Terry Gross' program "Fresh Air" and she was exactly what you just posted. She was a fighter to the end.

sammielee24

I really liked her - not for any other reason than that I thought she was kind and with such a strong faith. People made fun of her style and look for so long - kind of like Dolly Parton, but I always looked forward to her interviews because she was so sweet. She always had a laugh even when there were times in her life she probably didn't feel like laughing. I never watched her before all the scandal in her ministry - I just thought she was a pretty cool lady. sammieswife.

TMS

Thank you, Six, for posting this.

tms

Godspeed, Sweet Lady

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