As we continue to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, we are dealing with many new realities as both Christians and Americans. It seems that we are in uncharted territory.
To be honest, it almost seems right out of what the Bible said would be coming in the latter days. We’re all adjusting to new terms, such as “social distancing,” a rapidly changing and volatile economy and an uncertain future in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us have battled with feeling scared or worried and are facing a loss of a job or income.
Is this the new normal? Or will this just be a season? These are questions even some of America’s top faith leaders are praying about and asking the Lord right now.
During the lockdown I wrote a sequel to my new book God, Trump and the 2020 Election about how the pandemic is Affecting Christians, the World and America’s 2020 Election. It’s titled God, Trump and COVID-19. It’s important information I want to get out and I decided I’ll serialize it in my Strang Report newsletter and podcasts. I hope it draws attention to the issues from a spiritual perspective.
In a recent episode of my God, Trump and the 2020 Election podcast, I share an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on our overall health. I also make a special point of giving the facts behind the swirl of controversy that has surrounded Jim Bakker and even, Jim’s wife, Lori, believes, contributed to the stroke he suffered this spring.
One of the few times I went grocery shopping after the pandemic began, I noticed that most grocery stores were out of many staple items, thanks to the virus. I had never seen anything like that before except for when I endured a few hurricanes down here in Florida. This is different. This is all over the nation—all over the world. We have all had a hard time finding toilet paper, fresh meat, canned goods, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, rice and flour as this panic has continued to grow.
At this time more than ever, the importance of living out biblical faith while also taking the findings of those in the medical field seriously has become increasingly clear. Jim Bakker must have felt the same because on Feb. 6, 2020, just days before the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus spread a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” and a month before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, he talked about it on his show. Some of Bakker’s critics, who never miss an opportunity to bash him, have done so again, mainly online, over COVID-19.
His guest on The Jim Bakker Show on Feb. 12 (just as everyone was beginning to talk about this new Chinese virus) was Dr. Sherrill Sellman, a board-certified integrative naturopathic doctor. They had recorded the show six days earlier and talked about Silver Solution, a product Bakker has offered for more than 10 years.
After his humiliation with the collapse of the PTL Network, Bakker has supported his ministry not only through donations but by offering Christian books and resources he believes in. Silver Solution is known to boost immunity, and I’ve used it myself. Bakker and Sellman began the program that day by saying the product had not yet been tested on this new coronavirus, yet the implication was that it would strengthen your immune system. Somehow that was twisted into accusations that Bakker was selling a cure for coronavirus, and the fake news media went crazy. People suddenly remembered Bakker went to prison in the 1980s, and now they were saying this “huckster” was at it again.
In hindsight it would have been better for Bakker and his guest not to have mentioned the word “coronavirus” on the same show as a health product. But the virus was new, and I assume Bakker thought he was being helpful. The attorney general of Missouri issued a cease and desist order. Bakker complied and even offered to refund money, but that didn’t satisfy his critics. The internet suddenly exploded with condemnations of Bakker. Finally I decided to write an op-ed on Charisma News setting the record straight.
I opined that from my perspective of covering him for four decades, I believe Jim Bakker is a sincere man who merely wants to spread the gospel and help people. Has he made mistakes? He’s the first to admit it. And he’s paid a high price for those mistakes. I believe the Lord has humbled him.
This controversy over Silver Solution is just one account of how the media have targeted Christians and ministries during this time to continue their anti-God narrative and secular, progressive attacks.
Eventually the COVID-19 pandemic will end, this controversy will finally be settled, and I believe Jim Bakker will also be fully vindicated, I also believe he’s right to emphasize how a strong immune system contributes to good health. This is a point made by my friend Dr. Don Colbert, a Spirit-filled medical doctor and Charisma House author, whom I quote in my book. I’ll share what he said in a later Strang Report.
For now, I’ll add that in late June, I was with a close friend for several hours who the next day developed COVID-19 symptoms. Six days later he called to say he tested positive for the virus. I immediately had a test to see if I had it too. Because I had no symptoms and six days had passed, I didn’t think I did. But to be safe, I was quarantined for four days until the test results showed I was negative. I’m thankful that even though I was exposed to the virus, I didn’t get sick. I speculate it’s because I have a strong immune system. I’m also glad my friend’s symptoms were mild and he has now fully recovered.
This article has been adapted from Chapter 7 of God, Trump and COVID-19, published by FrontLine, an imprint of Charisma House. To read the rest of this chapter along with Chapter 8, click here for a free sample.
Of course, I hope you’ll visit stevestrangbooks.com where you can purchase God, Trump and COVID-19 in print and digital form along with the bestselling book President Trump brandished at the 2018 World Economic Forum, God and Donald Trump; its sequel, Trump Aftershock; and the book that gives the spiritual and prophetic background for this year’s election, God, Trump and the 2020 Election.
As always, if you like what you read and hear, please share this article and this episode of my podcast with your friends and family members. This fall’s election is critical to our nation’s future, and it’s time for the church to take a stand for the biblical values Trump has stood behind again and again. {eoa}
Stephen Strang