Jim Bakker To Christians: You Must Love Trump To Prove You're 'Saved'
Disgraced TV evangelist Jim Bakker says President Donald Trump is a test of faith and that Christians can pass by loving him.
“You know what? Trump is a test whether you’re even saved,” he said in a clip going viral on Twitter. “Only saved people can love Trump.”
That line seemed to go too far for some in his audience, who laughed out loud:
Here is Jim Bakker saying that Trump is a test to determine whether or not people are "saved."
The comments section below is here for you, twitter-have at it. pic.twitter.com/LTlYmA5ZlV
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) January 6, 2020
But Bakker, a staunch Trump supporter who previously said impeachment would lead to a civil war, said it was no joke.
“No, you gotta be really saved,” he said. “You gotta forgive. You gotta be able to forgive. You forgive when you’re saved.”
Video: Trump Tells Evangelicals That God Is 'On Our Side'
Trump himself once famously asserted that he has never asked God for forgiveness.
Bakker was a ubiquitous presence in the 1980s as he built his ministry into a TV network and resort, but he resigned amid a sex scandal and served four years in prison for fraud.
In recent years he’s returned to TV to make doomsday predictions while selling his supporters buckets of freeze-dried food and other supplies to use during the end times.
Bakker’s latest comments on Trump didn’t go over well on social media:
The "Reverend" Jim Bakker was found guilty of 24 counts of fraud & conspiracy, and went to prison for it.
While his expertise on grift might make him empathize & connect with the president, he has no credibility - religious or otherwise. https://t.co/jppn5Au5pL
— Steve Hall (@being_steve) January 6, 2020
Jim Bakker is a false prophet. Same guy went to prison many years ago. pic.twitter.com/Vo35cA5REw
— Don Salmon (@dijoni) January 7, 2020
This false prophet was found guilty of 24 counts of fraud & conspiracy. Next. https://t.co/sfwBLlL6nC
— kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) January 7, 2020
... and countless counts of being straight-up bonkers.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) January 7, 2020
I am Christian. I oppose Trump. I am not worried.
✝️ 🍑
P.S. - Is this the same Jim Bakker, who along with his wife Tammy, fleeced America using the name of Jesus to cheat people? And to personally profit monetarily via the PTL club? THAT Jim Bakker???
— T Taylor (@teetay10061) January 6, 2020
I know some think that Jim Bakker comment was bad because it was about Trump, but I want to tell you that it's always bad, morally oppressive & manipulative to suggest anyone's faith is vindicated based on their vote alone--regardless of who is the subject of the sentiment.
— Michael Wear (@MichaelRWear) January 7, 2020
Holy bleep! He's still around? Oh, Lord. I think that #JimBakker is just God testing us to see how much shit we'll put up with.
— John Miller (@johnmiller) January 7, 2020
This is the Jim Bakker I know. pic.twitter.com/vKrC69sEE2
— Beel (@tomservo10) January 6, 2020
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
