This week in Christian history: Samaritan’s Purse founded, Swaggart admits sin, Eric Liddell dies
Jimmy Swaggart gives 'I have sinned' sermon – February 21, 1988
This week marks the anniversary of when popular televangelist Jimmy Swaggart delivered his famous and often parodied “I have sinned” sermon.
At one point the leader of a ministry valued at around $150 million, Swaggart had been caught in a scandal revealing that he had a secretive affair with a prostitute.
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In response, Swaggart took to the pulpit that Sunday and tearfully confessed before his congregation. He emotionally declared: “I have sinned." He apologized to various people, including his family, the Assemblies of God denomination that he belonged to and others.
“I have no one but myself to blame. I do not lay the fault or the blame of the charge at anyone else's feet. For no one is to blame but Jimmy Swaggart. I take the responsibility. I take the blame. I take the fault,” he said.
“To my fellow television ministers and evangelists, you that are already bearing an almost unbearable load, to continue to say and tell the great story of Jesus' love, I have made your load heavier and I have hurt you. Please forgive me for sinning against you.”
Swaggart’s sex scandal led to him being defrocked by the Assemblies of God denomination, which led to him becoming an independent Pentecostal pastor. Swaggart was caught in another prostitution scandal three years later.
