One Punk Under God
The son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker says that Jesus loves you, tattoos and all.
On a good Sunday, Jay Bakker’s storefront church in Brooklyn may attract as many as 30 worshippers. That’s alright with Bakker, the founder and pastor of Revolution, a nondenominational congregation that might be described as an anti-megachurch. Intimacy trumps grandeur in this “church for people who have given up on church.” It got its start in an Atlanta bar, luring wayward skaters and punks with a gospel of “ultimate grace,” a come-as-you-are theology that holds that God loves you, combat boots, body art, and all. Bakker, a pierced and heavily tatted 31-year-old, takes a casual yet passionate approach to his role, delivering sermons with titles such as “Nobody Likes a Selfish Bastard,” “Jesus: A Friend to Porn Stars,” and “Galatians Baby!”
Revolution’s modest message and alternative aesthetic are a far cry from the glitzy religious empire built by Bakker’s parents, televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. At its height in the early 1980s, their Praise the Lord ministry boasted 13 million viewers, raked in millions in donations, and ran the world’s largest Christian-themed resort. It all came crashing down in 1987, amid a sex scandal and accusations of greed and embezzlement. The Bakkers divorced, Jim went to prison for fraud, and Tammy’s tear-streaked mascara and fake eyelashes became a punch line. Jay Bakker, who was 11 at the time, hit the bottle, dropped out of high school, and felt that God had forsaken him.
Twenty years later, Bakker is a sober, self-taught preacher with a epiphany. “Whenever I went deeper into the Bible and went into the Greek or the Hebrew or the historical background,” he explains, “I was always afraid like, ‘OK, I’m gonna prove that God doesn’t love me.’ But it seemed that every time I studied deeper, it was actually good news. Sometimes it seems too good to be true.” For many mainstream Christians, Bakker's beliefs are too good to be true. Just ask Ted Haggard.
Bakker’s quiet revolution is the subject of “One Punk Under God,” a six-part documentary series that debuts on the Sundance Channel tonight. The series catches Bakker at a crossroads. As the first episode opens, his Atlanta church is humming along nicely, but he wants to officially accept gays and lesbians—a move that threatens his relationship with his financial backers and his co-founder, a conservative Boomer who’s been a father figure. Meanwhile, he’s trying to close the emotional distance between himself and his real dad, who’s remarried and launched “The New Jim Bakker Show.” He’s also tending to his mom, who’s battling colon cancer. And to complicate things, his wife isn’t so hot about his decision to be a preacher, and wants him to move to New York City, where she’s starting grad school.
“One Punk Under God” reveals the human side of a godly man without superhuman aspirations. Bakker has none of the punk-rock bravado suggested by his appearance nor his parents' showbiz chops. Instead, he comes off as unpolished, humble, and painfully honest about his family and his faults. “I don’t have a phone line to God anywhere in my house,” he says. Yet Bakker’s unassuming style is forceful in its own way. In one of “One Punk”’s most touching moments, Bakker reconnects with his father after two years, appearing on his dad’s show to talk about his philosophy (and show off his PTL tattoo). The elder Bakker tearfully declares that his once-estranged son “is what I should be but can not be.”
Jay Bakker spoke with MotherJones.com by phone from Brooklyn.
MotherJones.com: What lessons did you learn from your parents about what to do and what not to do as a preacher?
Jay Bakker: My parents always taught me to love people no matter what. My mom was reaching out to people with AIDS in the early ’80s. My parents always taught me to put other people first. But I saw my parents get in this trap where they created this huge ministry. They created a monster and they had to feed it. They had all these employees and facilities and bills, and all of a sudden they had to raise money all the time to keep all this stuff running. They got themselves between a rock and a hard place and I think that’s why, from a young age, I’ve been taking stands that haven’t been that popular. I didn’t want to have to compromise and I think there were times when my parents had to compromise some of their beliefs and ideas in order to keep their church going. [As a preacher] I just feel like I have to be honest; I couldn’t live with myself if I wasn’t. I think that’s why I’ve been able to reach some people who don’t feel comfortable in churches. I do make mistakes and I can be goofy and quirky sometimes. I’m not the world’s greatest speaker. I don’t try to hide that.
MJ.com: One thing that struck me is how you’ve put yourself in a leadership position where you freely admit you don’t know all the answers. And people literally embrace you for that.
JB: I don’t have all the answers. I grew up around people who told me they did, and then in the long run I found they didn’t. So I figured I better start out honest with people and stay that way. I think there’s pressure when you’re a pastor that you have to have all the answers, and if you don’t, your faith is built on sand. For me, faith is about believing in those things you can’t see and at times can’t understand. I’ve been really blessed to have people who are open to that and stick around. Not everyone does stick around, though.
MJ.com: So people have left Revolution because they realized you didn’t have all the answers?
JB: Well maybe not exactly that, but maybe not the answers they were looking for.
MJ.com: How do you describe Revolution in a nutshell?
JB: We’re really just a small church. We meet in bars. We’re a come-as-you-are-whoever-you-are kind of church. We’re a church about love and grace and acceptance and caring about people and at times agreeing to disagree.
MJ.com: You and [Revolution Atlanta pastor] Stu Damron have a fundamental disagreement on homosexuality but there’s been no split.
JB: I’ve seen churches split on the color of the paint on the walls. With me and Stu, we have a great love for each other and our love is bigger than one particular misunderstanding. I don’t think we can write someone off because they don’t see what I see or we haven’t gotten to the same place yet. Church splitting is ridiculous most of the time.
MJ.com: Have Stu’s views about being a gay-affirming church changed at all?
JB: I definitely think they’ve changed some. I think he’s become more open and sensitive to the issue. I don’t know exactly where he stands at this point. I do know he’s become more open, and that’s pretty cool.
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Jay, do you honestly know a clint royse from fort worth texas. He said he knew you and was going to work for you. Clint has tats all over his body also, so do you know him well...like he said?
Jay rocks. I'm very thankful for him and what he brings to this world.
Hey Man...We're all Praying for your Mom!
There needs to be more people in the world like Jay, loving & caring undconditionally. Maybe this world would be a better place. Give my best to your mother.
Jay, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time. Your mother always had a smile on her face and held her head up high. God is lucky to have her now. I watch your show on Sundance channel and I think it is an awesome and sincere. You are a hero to a lot of people....myself included. God bless you and your family while you go through this difficult time and rejoice in all the hearts your mother touched.
Michael Tyree
Sarona, Wisconsin
questions:
what are your feelings about the state of our country and the world today and
2) your church sounds incredible with a willingness to be so inclusive. How do you feel about people who were involved in so much of your families' history ex. Jessica Hahn? Would she be welcome in Revolution?
thank you
Jay , am glad there is a You in this world! Since we are commanded to:Love the Lord with all our heart,mind, strengh, and money and to Love our neighbor as ourselves I am glad to see you are doing that! God Bless you and your family now,and your church now& always! Keep the Faith, you& Stu!
I am praying for you and your ministry that you reach as many people for the Lord as you can.
Pastor Andrew Dees
I'm a committed agnostic ;) but there's something really likable about Baby Boy Bakker - in his sincerity and his earnest search. Even more poignant is that he seems like a sensitive person that survived a fairly fearsome past.
Though I don't believe in a god w/a face, I really have a lot of respect personally for someone this sincere and intuitively following/expressing love. That is truly divine.
I seen your special last night and felt good about your attitude about churches that don't open their doors for homosexuals. I have stopped going because of this.
Also you are concerned about support.Open the door to Homosexuals you may be supprised what support you might get from them. I know I would just from what I heard on your special .
thanks for supporting homosexuals in a time of Homophobia and gay bashers. I'm not homosexualy active but it is in my heart and i cant to seem to be delivered from it like the churches say to. BUT I DO LOVE THE LORD!
THANKS JAY
J.W.
my prayers and love goes out to you son,your sweet mom in heaven .Jay will not be defeated, and you will not quit
no weapon formed against you will prosper.God bless you
I watched the One Punk Under God series the other night and I could not stop watching, I have been away from the church a long time due to hypocrisy it frightens and I have panic attacks just thinking about going to church, but I never lost my love for Jesus Christ and watching this program has sparked my attention. This ministry is non threatening nor judgemental. Homosexuals, prostitutes, even the common glutten will always have a seat at the feet of Jesus and never be shut out and this ministry is the ground that the common sinners can stand on and the gate is called "Beautiful". You are beautiful!
you should check out our christian clothing line Extreme Jesus at extremejesus.net, I know you'll like it. peace
Jay you are an inspiration as is your church, i t hik its awesome that someone finnaly stepped up loved the people who the church abandons, In the bible it says to love your neighbor as yourself and not to judge others, that is Gods job, and that no sin is worst than the other, and still people in the church choose to so, and dont understand that ( if< being gay,is a sin, im ot arguing that at all)is no worse than lieing or stealing, thanks for reaching out and spreading the love, God bless you
I believe that we are to love everyone and accept them as they are. I also believe that the Lord loves all, but He's also in the business of changing and restoring lives. If you are homosexual, yes God does love you. But He doesn't want you to stay in that state. His Word is clear on that. Just because He doesn't approve of what one
does in our sinful state, and wants to change us, doesn't mean that He doesn't love us. Jay has the idea of love correct, but I believe He's leaving out a key point. We are new creations in Christ Jesus.
Has anyone heard his music?
Can I get it on iTunes?
His Holiness, Dalai Lama XIV , Tenzin Gyatso (born 6 July 1935) is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. As such, he is often referred to in Western media simply as the Dalai Lama, without any qualifiers.
The fifth of sixteen children of a farming family in the Tibetan province of Amdo, he was proclaimed the tulku (rebirth) of the thirteenth Dalai Lama at the age of two. On 17 November 1950, at the age of fifteen, he was enthroned as Tibet's Head of State and most important political ruler, while Tibet faced occupation by the forces of the People's Republic of China.[1]
After the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, Tenzin Gyatso fled to India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan government in exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.[2]
A charismatic figure and noted public speaker, Tenzin Gyatso is the first Dalai Lama to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.[3]
Contents [hide]
1 Early life and background
2 Life as the Dalai Lama
2.1 Exile in India
2.2 Teaching activity
2.3 Foreign relations
3 Social and political stances
3.1 Tibetan independence movement
3.2 Social stances
3.3 Criticism
4 International influence
5 Retirement
6 Writings of the Dalai Lama
7 Awards and honors given to the Dalai Lama
7.1 Nobel Peace Prize
8 Films about the Dalai Lama
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
Sometimes when you are raised in Church, but learn that many in Church go to socialize not worship that church is BS. I feel that I don't need church but I do need God and to worship him. People that need God the most have lived a hard life and turn to manmade happiness and that is only going to get you in trouble.
Jay is so honest and I think that more spiritual people should follow the direction he is going. What is a Christian without expressing love and joy, instead of hate and death.
Love Jennifer
anonymous -May 25, 2007 ^
I know Clint. He's a good friend of mine.
I find it great that you're supporting gays&lesbians. Jay, I remember the high and low points of PtL in NC very well - we lived in Waxhaw back then. I too was raised very very evangelical christian. Have left the church (and the USA, by the way, as well - live in Germany) and am finding something much bigger, deep and wide - a/the universal energy-life-truth = "God". May this energy flow within each of us freely. May we live ever in the "now", open, courageous and loving. All the best.
Didn't Condaleeza Rice, while giving an interview,once refer to, or start to refer to President Bush as "My husb. . . .". I read it in a magazine, and ca, it might have been a year or mor ago. I don't remember which news magazine it was. Anybody have an idea?
I just saw ONE PUNK UNDER GOD for the first time this morning.I just wanted to tell Jay that what he is doing is very noble and critical to enlighten meant of christians.I too am a heavily tatted and strong minded individual with strong beliefs.Everyone should be loved.No exceptions.Keep up the good work and GOD
BLESS!!!macrae-1@hotmail.com
I remember your parents on the PTL show and I had to watch you on yours as well. The apple dosen`t fall far from the tree. You and your parents are so self serving, egomaniacs. You use GOD to push your self serving christiamn rhedoric and it is disgusting. The only reason your dad was sorry was because he had to go to jail. He cheated on his wife and cheated the church and all it stands for. Your mother sought relief from shopping, I saw the program that takes the viewer into her house and I noticed how crammed it was with "things". I am sorry that she died from cancer that was sad and no one should have to suffer like that. But just because you use the name GOD does not always make you close to God or a messenger of his word. I hear you always talking about your feelings about stuff. Your dad talked about his feelings about stuff but I really don`t see the ;ove you claim you have for people. Its all about you, you,you. How much money have you donated for the victums of Katrina? How many hungry people have you fed. How many sick children have you given money to to help with medical bills that are dying of cancer? I really don`t hear what your mmessage is kiddo. You should use the media for that instead of how rough a childhood you had because you were born to herotics.
Nice piece on the "Revolution". Its also good to know that G-d never runs out of GRACE.
Jay is really a Worldchanger with out of the box love for all who are searching for truth.
When you step out in faith, G-d is the only one you need to keep going on.
I can't believe how mean and venomous you are with your words, just cruel!
It certainly would have been catastrophic for Jim Bakker's son. However, he forgets that God is first of all, Holy, and that for His righteousness and mercy to meet, there had to be the redemption provided for by Christ on the cross.
Most churches seem to have shifted from the basics of Christianity so he is not the only one.
One can only feel very sorry for him and hope the Spirit of God can illumine his eyes to the real truths of the gospel.
I think jay bakker is an awsome person. he lets punk teens strugeling with critism from other christians know its okay to where black, have peircings and tattoos!! you rock man!!!
This the kind of 'Christianity' that takes out the side of God that is just and holy. Yes, God does take one as he is, but that person must then repent of their sins and follow Him. This is not what Jay preaches.
You made a comment implying that Pat Robertson and CBN is taking money from "Operation Blessing" We;; it's all the same ministry and they have been a real blessing all over the world. Five things observe with care: Of whom you speak to whom you speak and how and when and where.
God bless,
hello, my name is clayton homewood. And i would like to say that, i am glad that someone other than me is really seeing how we as christians ( followers of christ in my opinion) should be treating other people, no matter what or who they are. even if they are wrong about anything, we should still treat them with respect. we should still tell them about how much christ loves us. because we are comisined to tell others (matthew 28) i do hope that your mother will get better, and i will pray for you, your mother, and the revelution church. GOD BLESS YOU!!!
I'm sorry, but Jay Bakker states that he's a Christian, yet he's pro-gay? It clearly states in the bible that homosexuality is an abomination, yet Jay Bakker agrees with it. The Word tells us not to hate the individual, but to hate the sin!
Hi Readers, It very interesting me to construct home. The message given to us by great Baker was good and great. Some of the people are not fully accepting the fact because he is trying to dominate the western supremacy.But it is never he developed the same from our own Kerala with our old style. Why people are reluctant to build these model house it is branded as 'Low Cost" house. So what they think it is little inferior in the society compare to others. This Eago is very wrong. The Keralite should think about the realit, if abrod employment is decreased tomorrow Keralites financial backbone will broked. So in short it was fantastic job he has done for all of us we should remember him with lot of thanks. priya_kumar342000@yahoo.com
Brother Jay
was a little skeptical about the DVD before I saw it because I wasn't sure what a documentary with the title "One Punk Under God" would be like. The trailers seemed more of a gimmick than an actual story. I originally wanted to see this when it aired on TV, but the Sundance Channel requires an expensive TV package.
Watching the first two episodes where Jay is at the former Heritage USA and visits his dad's television show, I couldn't help but feel bad for the guy. He struggles to have a good relationship with his dad, who seems uncomfortable when he's not on camera. In the later episodes Jay deals with losing his mother, who is a cheerful women battling cancer.
Jay's position on homosexuality becomes a focus of some of the episodes. Particularly, the fallout is that his church loses funding and his speaking engagements disappear. Jay's position is clearly at odds with the rest of mainstream Evangelicals in the country, including his ministry partner Stu.
The production on this documentary was excellent. There was a clear narrative, solid editing, terrific camera angles and I got the impression that the story was being told rather than dictated or constructed.
I do however have some criticism for Jay's message of grace. It feels good because it is warm and inclusive, but Revolution is not associated with any denomination and on the church's website it says, "This grace sets no timeline on personal change or standards for spiritual growth." Basically the message is anyone can be a Christian and you don't have to change or repent.
Even though I disagree with Jay's message, I still feel this video was definitely better than advertised. I think it would be worth at least a rental.
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