Televangelists don’t do all that well in the UK, but in the US they can make millions of dollars spouting spurious claims.
Jim Bakker, a convicted fraudster whose flock-fleecing was exposed after he paid hush money to an employee who accused him of sexual misconduct, is one such media personality, and he’s had a few things to say on the Covid-19 pandemic.
For those new to the teachings of Mr Bakker, here he is in action…
Step 1: give Jim $1000 in faith to literally touch the world and get a free “Miracle Happens” blanket
— Dan (@SwampWatching) August 21, 2021
Step 2: put blanket over mortgage papers
Step 4: Poof! Mortgage paid off
pic.twitter.com/Lg0W3l3e1Y
He recently claimed that God can’t hear prayers through a mask, much to the bemusement of many on social media.
“How can you go to church and pray when you’re wearing a mask? Do you think God can hear your prayers through a mask?”
— Deacon Blues (@DeaconBlues0) August 20, 2021
—- Televangelist Jim Bakker
Thankfully, he was duly lampooned by a brigade of common-sense speakers on Twitter.
Here’s what people had to say:
1.
Apparently a virus can get through a thin layer of fabric but the omnipotent Creator of all things can’t? I’m confused. https://t.co/aVUKPYEGFU
— Bobb (@bobb4jesus) August 22, 2021
2.
Underreported: Jim Bakker actually tried praying with the mask on and the Voice in his head barked, “Speak up, you stupid bastard!”.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) August 21, 2021
3.
Jim Bakker: My omnipotent God is the almighty creator of heaven and earth.
— Jess Schafroth (@JessSchafroth) August 21, 2021
Also Jim Bakker: My God can be stopped by a piece of cotton and two nylon strings. https://t.co/QHqDrIqQBG
4.
Nobody loves telling god what he can and can’t do more than American evangelicals https://t.co/rYbsUTR6de
— Jess Zimmerman (@j_zimms) August 21, 2021
5.
God can hear you from inside a whale but a surgical mask has an incredible muffling effect https://t.co/qGh3VnqDha
— Dylan (@DylPar252) August 21, 2021
6.
If God dont got Earth’s number blocked by now, I dont know what he’s doing https://t.co/Phoy2cXCxo
— And Solo??? (@and1grad) August 21, 2021
7.
What’s Jim Bakker’s latest scam, a microphone so God can hear you through your mask? Only $599 plus shipping, can pay in 5 easy payments? Who prays out loud, anyway? I thought God could hear the prayers from your heart.
— Virginia Loughner (@VirginiaLoughn1) August 20, 2021
8.
I guess omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent don’t mean what I thought they meant.
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) August 21, 2021
9.
Yes, I do…God is of the Spirit, not the Body or the Mask… https://t.co/ZCsxmWSRms
— Morgan Fairchild (@morgfair) August 21, 2021
10.
One way to know you’re not praying to God is he can’t hear through a mask. The cashier at CVS can hear me through my mask. https://t.co/2QWOTwBJsI
— rabia O’chaudry (@rabiasquared) August 22, 2021
11.
I refuse to believe that God doesn’t hear Spider-man’s prayers. https://t.co/KH1IBzEXyz
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 22, 2021
12.
Well, it’s true, God has been a little hard of hearing on occasion.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) August 21, 2021
13.
no worries, anti-vaxxers don’t really start praying to God until they’re on a ventilator https://t.co/CG3gZYYNVr
— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) August 22, 2021
14.
Wait, so praying with a mask on is like ordering food at the Burger King drive-thru? I had no idea audio quality was an issue.
— Gina ???️? (@GinaRooroo8) August 21, 2021
15.
Fou d this meme today, I th I mk it works pic.twitter.com/a0YEQ3JWck
— Rosaria Canale (@Canaletwin1) August 20, 2021
Related: Watch: Anti-vaxxers storm ITN, abuse Channel 4’s Jon Snow