Mike Warnke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Does anyone remember the comedian, Mike Warnke? Back when I was in high school, I collected everything that guy ever wrote or recorded. I was a huge fan, and probably one of the most disappointed of his fans when his lies all came crashing down around him.
Mike Warnke first came to fame as an evangelist and comedian. He purported to have been a high-ranking member in the satanic church, and wrote a book called The Satan Seller in 1973 that described his rise in the ranks of satanism, becoming a high priest for the organization. He touted various accomplishments such as being a soldier in the Vietnam war, being involved in ritualistic kidnappings and rape, and other weird confessions, that I actually never really believed were completely true.
If you have never heard one of Mr. Warnke’s stand-up performances, I would encourage you to do so. The man seriously can tell a story like nobody’s business. Higher Education was my personal favorite.
But, as so often happens with Christian personalities when they are launched in to fame and fortune, the skeletons in Mr. Warnke’s closet came dancing out, and almost every story he’d told turned out to be a lie. His dates didn’t match, and it was obvious from military records that some of the achievements he’d falsely laid claim to were just self-serving lies. Added to the facts that he changed wives like he changed his underwear, Mr. Warnke’s reputation was completely destroyed, and his credibility would never rise like a phoenix again from the ashes of his lies. His stories were picked apart, and in 1991, 20/20 ran a story exposing all of his lies and exaggerations, with proof, and Mr. Warnke’s ministry was completely abolished.
The only reason I write about Mike Warnke today is that I see something rather sad, but common, in what has happened to this guy. As a storyteller myself, I can completely understand his motivations to “fix” up a story just a little bit, to make it more interesting or effective. It seems to me that all he would have had to do was to add the words, “Imagine if I were a satanic priest..”, thus indicating to the listener that what they were hearing was his imagination..The content would still have been funny and thought-provoking, and no lies would have had to be defended later on.
But Mike didn’t do that, and even when his lies were exposed, instead of humbly acknowledging that the moments of fame and fortune had gotten away from him, he did the very worst thing a Christian can do. He accused everyone and everything else around him, but himself. Somehow, we were supposed to believe against overwhelming proof that his stories were the truth, and everyone else around him was lying.
To me, there is maybe only a trace amount of disappointment felt for a person who has fallen prey to a sneaky attack from satan, but I can’t say that I even care all that much. I think God does His best work with our worst weaknesses, and I have always thought that Mike would have served the Lord twice as beneficially had he owned up to getting carried away, admitted he’d lied, and then let his life showcase just how merciful our God is to us. How many more people would have benefited from that than whether this guy was some sort of satanic priest or not?
The sad thing is that Mike Warnke instead has spent the last twenty years trying to jump-start his dead evangelist career again, but largely without any success. To this day, there seems to be no true honest embracing of his own frailties and shortcomings, and without that, there is no real repentance, at least not to the eyes of the public who he had lied to. I’m sure God and Mike have worked this out between themselves, but I only tell this story to say this: there is no shame in admitting that you’ve fallen short and sinned against God. We all have, in varying degrees, but as God doesn’t bother to rank our sins, all of our sins are equally appalling to Him. The shame comes when we aren’t able to be honest with ourselves and others about our shortcomings and failings.
To me, God’s best and most useful tool in our lives are our sins that we have repented of and found mercy for. Maybe the reason we instinctively try so desperately to hide those sins is because satan knows that there is a lot of power in sharing a common weakness. We should share the depth of our involvement in sin and the accompanying depth of mercy God has shown us when rescuing us, and just watch how your witness becomes so much more powerful! A drug addict is more inclined to listen to and receive a message of healing from a person who has experienced that same struggle, than to hear some bland message from someone who has never been a slave to anything.
Just for fun, I thought I’d get your thoughts on this Mike Warnke thing. My opinion about Mike’s ministry is that he should start out fresh and just confess his frailties and let God use him in a different way now. A way that I believe would be more effective in the Kingdom of God — mercy and forgiveness. What do you think?
– Bird
I love this! One the heights of love is forgiveness and ability to trust again. How wonderful if by the grace of God, he would just things around.
That is my hope for him, too! What a waste of excellent skills like storytelling and humor!
I love Mike…as a teenager in an abusive home, he made me laugh and believe that God could do anything…that part was very true and that is all I needed to make it through that very rough part of my life.
Same here. I was being abused also, and the only laughter I ever had back then was listening to Mike. I guess that is why I feel that I want so badly for him to come back to his ministry without the shame that has cast a shadow over him for so long.
I am praying with you for that to happen…
I remember the name, but don’t remember him, or ever listening to him. I guess my opinion is that if he truly wants to follow God, he should do whatever God tells him to do. I definitely think that you’re right…God has always used the weak, and faulty among us to do his greatest work. Moses had a huge problem with his temper, for example. David knew Bathsheba was a married woman, but saw her and wanted her, so he had her brought to him so he could have his way with her. And we know that in spite of those things, both of those figures were greatly used by God still. And Peter betrayed Christ…as Christ knew he was going to do and told him he was going to do…yet he was still used greatly. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
I think that’s one of the lies of Satan to us when we mess up though. Satan wants us to believe we’ve messed up so badly God can’t use us anymore. He does it to me all the time, and I’ll have those moments…like just this weekend…thinking I’m just too weak and can’t get it right. Nonsense! God uses the weak to show his strength!
So yes, if God wants to use this guy, he can most certainly still do it in a huge way!
My thoughts exactly!
Yes, I remember him. Not as vividly as you however. One of the things we are exhorted to do is to confess our sins one to another. From my own personal experience, I can say that doing so definitely requires an honest humility and remorse. This isn’t easy, for our flesh is proud (as we all know), however, if we earnestly desire to confess and humbly repent and ask for our Lord Jesus strength, He will gives us the grace we need through the Holy Spirit.
Thanks for this post!
Blessings sweetie
~streim~
Thank you, alwayzhis!
My Daddy always told me that your word is your bond and that only you can really ruin your reputation. If Mile were to shift his focus and go from there, think of the opportunities for him to be a true witness of God’s plan of forgiveness and a new start!
You made me really think. AND I’m curious as to how easy doing the poll is. I’ve thought about adding polls to my blog too. Sandy
It was surprisingly easy!!
I remember Mike Warnke! We wore out the tape where he tells of his growing up and eventually getting saved in boot camp. Coming clean is certainly the best thing for him at any time, but I doubt he’d get much of a following at this point. He’s waited too long and too many people don’t remember him. Those of us that do have gone through our mourning process over the guy who we thought was the real deal a long time ago and have since lost interest.
Still, God can do anything through people who humble themselves.
I’m inclined to believe that the longer he waits, the less of an impact he would be able to make. It is just so sad that all that talent is just wasted!!
I remember Mike Warnke very well! My family owned every tape, every book and we even saw him in concert on a couple of occasions. Like you, I was horribly disappointed when Cornerstone opened up their investigation.
I love the tone of your article – about grace and forgiveness. We have all sinned against God…mercy and grace are our only hope. However, to receive that mercy we have to confess our sins. Regardless of how Mike has worked this out with God…he has never worked it out with the public. As Christians, most of us just shake our heads and say a prayer for him. For those in the world who would condemn Christianity – he is the perfect symbol of a greedy, lying hypocrite. That is where the danger lies.
If you do an internet search for Mike Warnke, you will see that his has opened another ministry. He is preaching, teaching and traveling again and he maintains that his testimony as given is true.
One of the great things about our God is that He is not limited, hindered, nor ultimately helped by our backgrounds, failures, or even successes! I’m with you on this one… this man should simply admit he’s human like the rest of us, and that he let pride and arrogance get the better of him. Repent and proclaim the gospel… the mercy and grace available (I voted that way) to all who ask. Thanks for an interesting and reminding post, friend. God bless.
I remember all of this very well. I was fully on the Mike Warnke bandwagon back in the eighties (or whenever that was). I remember when the whole thing came crashing down. The sad thing is that a church that I was attending in the nineties had him come do a “revival” one week. He told the same stories, as if they were true, and never once confessed to any of the lies. I was very disappointed. That could explain why he’s not had a lot of success getting restarted. The guy is FUNNY!! He’s got talent. He just messed up. But, I voted that he should continue to try to make amends…he is forgiven, if he truly has given his life to Christ.
I had never heard of him before your post, but I’m sure the poor guy has suffered tremendously for what he did. I can’t imagine being in the public eye and being brought down that way.
Personally, I’ve never had to embelish any stories about my God or all that He has brought me through– I literally have seen him give sight to the blind and cause the lame to walk– and cured the “uncureable” in my life.
As far as the importance of our testimony goes, Christians should read Revelation 12:10 and 11: And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: FOR THE ACCUSER OF OUR BRETHREN IS CAST DOWN, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY, and they loved not their lives unto the death.
My testimony is that I have been a slave to many things in the past, broken and ready to give up, but delivered from them all by Jesus Christ so I may serve Him and fight beside those who feel like they just can’t do it…hallelujah. Perfect? Nope — but my God IS, and that’s all I need to know. To God be ALL the glory. God bless you and keep you,
Satan Seller – My Mom bought the book back in 73 when it was published, and she really believed it. I was 16 and she gave it to me to read and I did, and I believed it, and it scared the crap out of me, but it didn’t accomplish what my mom had hoped. I became a horrible drug addict and alcoholic, albeit a God fearing one… Today, as I read this, it makes me sick. My mom still believes this garbage and nothing will convince her otherwise. It doesn’t matter, she has dementia and whether the book is true or fase now in her mind means little. I just wish that Warnke would admit his lies, do the right thing, like he preaches.
I saw Mike years ago when he performed in Barrie Ontario. He was funny and really made you think. I cannot and will not throw stones at his troubles….the old glass house philosophy!!!
I agree with what you are saying. He’s got a real gift!!
I was a brand new Christian living in San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene College in Point Loma had him there. I was so excited to see him w/ my Christian roommates. I had read his book, I had gotten saved from MUCH sin, drugs, sex, the like and what a testimony that God was using him after his past. When it came out he was a fraud, I was sad for him. Now, 24 yrs later I am still walking w/ Christ and decided to google him. I was even more sad that he has continued to stand by his story. A verse I read the other day came to mind. Liars will not enter the kingdom of heaven. I hope that like you said in the blog he has come to grips w/ his sin and examined his own heart and asked for forgiveness. I also was a compulsive overeater and I have been delivered. Some of my old behaviors when I was in that sin were lying, (because of my self loathing) controlling and manipulative behaviors, rage and changing relationships often. Perhaps that is his problem. I pray he can be set free and allow the Lord to do that work in his heart and life. I am not saying he isn’t saved or anything, just kind of a sad story.
Remember what Jesus said to the stone throwers who stood before the woman taken in adultery? Remember the “Angry Mob” that surrounded Jesus at his crucifixion? The accusers were all doing the “Truth” ….. ‘This woman was caught in the very act!” “This man said he would destroy the temple and raise it up in three days!” etc. etc. etc. They were all telling the truth yet their accusations did not justify them. I have never met an accuser who didn’t have a guilty conscience. I suggest you all go out and win 2 million souls like Mike did before you hurl another stone.