Mike Warnke Satan or Satan Seller?

[Littlejoe]

I don't know how many here have ever heard of Mike Warnke. I know when I was a young christian (in the early 1980's) he was a great influence on me. I regretfully admit that I bought his book "The Satan Seller", a few of his tapes (cassette back then) and even went to see him in concert. (His book "The Satan Seller" was the book I was reading the night I experienced the greatest experience in my christian walk!) I hadn't thought of him in a while, and did a google search on him a while ago. The story/expose' in Cornerstone magazine I read saddened and sickened me! I am in shock as I type this; that the man who so deeply moved me as he told in graphic detail the passion of the Christ that brought me to tears, was an immoral, lying scoundrel that made millions from his lies! The article can be read here. It is a long article, but very enlightning about the "christian' entertainment business, that we don't get to see very often. He fooled a lot of people, including some big time christians such as James Dobson of Focus on the Family, among others. I must admit that for God to move through someone as morally and spiritually corrupt, speaks volumes about the greatness of the God we serve!

LJ

[TheAnalogman]

I don't know how many here have ever heard of Mike Warnke. I know when I was a young christian (in the early 1980's) he was a great influence on me. I regretfully admit that I bought his book "The Satan Seller", a few of his tapes (cassette back then) and even went to see him in concert. (His book "The Satan Seller" was the book I was reading the night I experienced the greatest experience in my christian walk!) I hadn't thought of him in a while, and did a google search on him a while ago. The story/expose' in Cornerstone magazine I read saddened and sickened me! I am in shock as I type this; that the man who so deeply moved me as he told in graphic detail the passion of the Christ that brought me to tears, was an immoral, lying scoundrel that made millions from his lies! The article can be read here. It is a long article, but very enlightning about the "christian' entertainment business, that we don't get to see very often. He fooled a lot of people, including some big time christians such as James Dobson of Focus on the Family, among others. I must admit that for God to move through someone as morally and spiritually corrupt, speaks volumes about the greatness of the God we serve!

Another thing we have in common! Yeah, when good ole Mike was busted as a fraud I was bummed as well, but not because of his book, but because he claimed to be a believer. Before I was a believer, Jim Bakker had fallen as had others, I just didn't care. Maybe Mike was and lost his way, who knows? Did you just find out about this? I have heard a few of his tapes, he was a pretty funny guy.

[Littlejoe]

Another thing we have in common! Yeah, when good ole Mike was busted as a fraud I was bummed as well, but not because of his book, but because he claimed to be a believer. Before I was a believer, Jim Bakker had fallen as had others, I just didn't care. Maybe Mike was and lost his way, who knows? Did you just find out about this? I have heard a few of his tapes, he was a pretty funny guy.

Yes, I just read about it last night! I knew you didn't hear about him much anymore, but I had no idea it was as bad as it was. I knew from reading his book, and going to his concert that he must have had a divorce and remarried. That bothered me a little at the time, I must admit. I had no idea the depths of depravity he he went to, and the lies he was telling were so deep! He was definitely a funny guy. So sad that someone that close to the truth, couldn't see it!

LJ

[atomicpoet]

I think his is a cautionary tale if one believes a Christian subculture can reform greater society. Fact of the matter is, we are all woefully corrupt and religion has a way of magnifying our faults even further. For instance, if one is naturally greedy, becoming a religious leader may result in the pilfering of funds from people whose relationship with you is based on trust. This hurts a lot more than simple theft because a thieve does not claim to speak for God.

Fact of the matter is that without God, there is little difference between believer and unbeliever. The true believer does not seek to lead; he seeks to follow and to be a servant to others. I think Warnke's personal ambition eventually led to the pilfering of funds.

[Littlejoe]

I think his is a cautionary tale if one believes a Christian subculture can reform greater society. Fact of the matter is, we are all woefully corrupt and religion has a way of magnifying our faults even further. For instance, if one is naturally greedy, becoming a religious leader may result in the pilfering of funds from people whose relationship with you is based on trust. This hurts a lot more than simple theft because a thieve does not claim to speak for God.

True! And as Christians, we have a natural tendency to trust fellow christians. But Christ did tell us to be as WISE as serpents...

Fact of the matter is that without God, there is little difference between believer and unbeliever. The true believer does not seek to lead; he seeks to follow and to be a servant to others. I think Warnke's personal ambition eventually led to the pilfering of funds.

According to the article, He and his wife Rose believed they deserved the money they were raising illegally.

LJ

[atomicpoet]

Both you and I deserve a million dollars. What makes Warnke thinks he deserves it more than you and I? And since you and I deserve it so much, I'm wondering if he would mind giving us his millions of dollars.

;)

[Littlejoe]

Probably only if we were attractive women!

[Trout]

I saw him in concert too.

He was a very good speaker, too bad it was all lies.

[TheAnalogman]

I saw him in concert too.

He was a very good speaker, too bad it was all lies.

Indeed.

[Littlejoe]

I saw him in concert too.

He was a very good speaker, too bad it was all lies.

He was a very good speaker...and when I heard him, he even presented the Gospel! (I think he also took up an offering for his bogus help center though)

LJ

[Trout]

He was a very good speaker...and when I heard him, he even presented the Gospel! (I think he also took up an offering for his bogus help center though)

LJ

I feel bad for him. He still maintains his story, even in the face of a seeming mountain of documentation.

[Littlejoe]

So, He is going to do the typical preacher caught with his hand in the cookie jar thing and deny, deny, deny huh? Why can they not just come clean, ask for forgiveness and move on?

LJ

[TheAnalogman]

So, He is going to do the typical preacher caught with his hand in the cookie jar thing and deny, deny, deny huh? Why can they not just come clean, ask for forgiveness and move on?

LJ

I think Jim Bakker did.

[Littlejoe]

I think Jim Bakker did.

That's true! In the case of Jim Bakker, I think he was actually less guilty than Mike Warnke. My aunt is married to a man who was on the staff at PTL, he has told me a little of the inside story. According to him, Jim Bakker took the fall for a lot of things he had no involvement with. Don't know how true that is though!

LJ

[Sparko]

i was impressed with Jim Bakker's public letter of repentance.