“Gott im Himmel” Doesn’t Need Your Cash
Sunday, July 22nd, 2007Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, with her overdone, theatrical make-up (her trademark), has died. She passed away on Friday, bringing an end to the curious mix of public messages and media sound bites that comprised her life. Married to James Bakker for thirty years, together they built a mega-empire, complete with a Christian theme park, provided by the goodwill of their followers. Their “PTL” or “Praise the Lord” ministry raised millions of dollars during its 1980s’ telecasts.
Convicted of fraud and “swindling” folks out of millions of dollars, Bakker was sent to federal prison. Tammy remarried Mr. Messner, the chief builder of the theme park, who was also sent to prison, on other charges.
Some people have the mistaken notion that giving money to churches is either buying a ticket to heaven, or at least beating a path in that direction. My point is this: God in heaven is self-sufficient. He does not need your money or mine. Just as “money won’t buy you love,” according to the Beatles, money will not buy you heaven.
Recently, someone mentioned to me that she viewed “church” as little more than a social club. “Church” is also a way to exclude those who are not of the same religious persuasion. To me, there is an extremely vast difference between having faith, and adhering to a specific religion.
Religions can be dangerous because they breed fanatics, and we know all too well that fanatics can be lethal (witness 9-11?). They don’t care who they “take out” with them, because they are so convinced that they are going straight to heaven themselves.
God bless, Tammy Faye. I hope that she will find a peace unknown to man. I hope that God welcomes her home, and rocks her gently in His arms for all of eternity. She has suffered in this life, as do all who struggle for fame and fortune.
Each of us faces our own life issues and our own mortality, knowing that there will be a terminal point. Just remember that what we do today counts more than what we botched yesterday, or last week, or twenty years ago. We all need to live in the moment, for this moment is all we really have.
Talk is cheap. Good deeds speak for themselves.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Patricia

