One Punk Under God
The son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker says that Jesus loves you, tattoos and all.
MJ.com: “One Punk Under God” catches you right as you make the decision to make Revolution a gay-affirming church. How did you get to that point?
JB: It took me a long time to get there. I had a lot of gay friends and even had some congregation members who were gay, and I just wasn’t sure where I stood. In my heart, I was like, “How can I condemn these people for their love of one another?” I started looking deeper into the Bible and studying and then I went to a [gay-affirming] church. It all came together at one point. One of my friends came out, and I ran into one of my old camp counselors who had come out. I was like, “This is so strange—all these people who have been important parts of my life are all coming out and are being asked to leave their church or not having anything to do with their church anymore.” It kind of took a while because I knew I’d be risking everything. I knew this particular decision would cause me to lose a lot and would cause the church to hurt.
MJ.com: Has the church been just as strong since that decision?
JB: The church is going well, but we haven’t been supported. We lost a lot of financial support and I’ve lost most of my speaking engagements. News traveled fast.
MJ.com: Can you talk more about the founding principle of your church, the idea of grace, and what that means?
JB: I always thought I had to earn God’s love and approval; I always thought I had to please God. I kept trying, but it never seemed like I could do it, and I thought, “Man, what’s wrong with me?” A friend of mine was like, “Man, you’re full of it. You’re trying to do what Christ has already done: You’re trying to earn your salvation and you can’t—it’s a free gift.” It sounded too good to be true. He said, “You need to start reading the Bible for yourself and stop taking everyone else’s word for it.” When I really started to do this, I realized God loved me no matter what. His love for me wasn’t going to change no matter how good I was or how bad I was. There was something very liberating about that. It actually changed my heart and made me want to follow God more. I got into a 12-step program and have been sober for about 10 and a half years now.
MJ.com: So even though there’s this come-as-you-are philosophy, you’re trying to become a better person, just not in the way mainstream churches advocate.
JB: It’s like not having expectations on other peoples lives. It’s like trusting God in other people’s lives, which I think is a very scary thing for people. When it’s grace, it’s all about God. When it’s legalism or man’s religion, it’s more about what we can do to please God or what we can do to perform. It seems to be more about control, because just trusting God is a little bit harder. I try to love my neighbor as myself but I’m not trying to be a people pleaser. Sometimes that’s hard, because my human nature is to want people to be happy with me. But sometimes I feel my convictions are so great that it would be compromising the truth if I didn’t do that. So sometimes it’s a struggle to say, “This is what I think; this is what I believe, and if you don’t agree with me, oh well.” The hardest thing for people to accept is the gay-affirming issue. It’s hard for people to agree to disagree on that one.
MJ.com: Your dad was recently in New York preaching at Revolution. He seems to have adopted the idea of grace. What are the similarities and differences between his and your beliefs?
JB: We have a lot of differences. [Grace] is something that’s pretty new for him. The difference is, I’ve been talking about this for 10 years and he’s been talking about it for not even six months. He’s sitting with me saying, “Jay, God loves us,” and it’s funny, because those are things I was telling him years ago. I usually don’t get places before my dad does. It’s even helped our relationship; we have some more common ground to talk about. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs.
MJ.com: What appeals to you about punk culture and the punk aesthetic? How do you think they overlap with Christianity?
JB: In high school I had a lot of punk friends and have always been attracted to punk rock music. When we first started Revolution, I was a skater and we were reaching out to skateboarders and hippies. I like the loyalty that’s in the punk rock scene, but I don’t really consider myself a punk rocker. I’ve sung in bands; I’ve hung out in tattoo parlors a lot, so I got a lot of tattoos. A lot of my friends were tattoo artists. It was just the culture that I was in and was involved in; it wasn’t a premeditated thing like, “Oh, we’re gonna be a punk-rock church.” If you came to our church you’d realize there are only one or two people who consider themselves punk rock. [Punk’s] loyalty and not conforming to what everyone else is into—that’s definitely something that we are. That’s who Jesus was. He was crucified, in my opinion, because he didn’t conform; he loved everybody. He was inclusive rather than exclusive. And that made a lot of people angry. That’s the way I try to live. I don’t probably live that way all the time, but I try to.
MJ.com: In one episode, you say, “I hate Christian politics.” Were you talking about internal church politics or the church getting into politics?
JB: Probably the internal politics, but I’m not a big fan of the church getting involved in politics, either. I don’t think you can say there is a Christian party.
MJ.com: You preached about Ted Haggard a few weeks ago. What was your response to his scandal?
JB: Well, my response was that we may not see eye-to-eye with this guy, but he deserves to be restored. He deserves to be loved and helped. To me, it was sad because I felt like he was automatically kicked out of the church. Why do we keep doing this, when the church is about forgiveness? Jesus explains that the church is like a hospital. But this hospital doesn’t want to let any sick people in. I feel like people like that have had to lead these secret lives because they’re so afraid of how people will react. I think we have to get to the point where we’re restoring people and caring for them, and when they fall, we pick them up. My thing is that we need to love this guy and pray for him and his family and open our homes to him if need be. I don’t know if he wants to come sleep on my futon here in Brooklyn, but he’s welcome to if he’d like.
MJ.com: How is New York treating Revolution?
JB: It’s the best it’s ever been. I’m really happy here. I love New York. It’s made me realize that God’s a lot bigger than I thought he was. It’s a really interesting crowd. We have an agnostic person who comes on a regular basis, a transgender person who said that they found our church because they we’re looking for a church that wouldn’t hate them. The congregation is really great. My mom is really sick with cancer, so I’ve been gone a lot and members of the congregation have been getting up and speaking. I’m starting to realize that we’ve become a church of people instead of a church with this head guy. There’s something really neat about that because I don’t think it’s fair for them to think that I have this hotline to God. Too often we put these pastors up on pedestals and make it all about the man of God. That’s something I’m really excited to be getting away from.
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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