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The Scandal
- 11/06/06
- 148
By now you have heard of the scandal involving Ted Haggard. Reaction to the news has ranged from sympathy to disgust, from support to condemnation. The media has dedicated a lot of attention to this story, though they seem to be writing about it as just another news story rather than something that is somehow bigger or more significant than any other story. Watchbloggers are out in force, like homeschool moms at a book sale, swarming and trampling. To this point I have refrained from mentioning the issue for reasons related primarily to my own lack of sanctification. But I feel now that I can speak out with some legitimacy.
Until this week I knew very little about Ted Haggard. I had heard his name a few times and even received a book of his from a publisher not too long ago (though I chose not to read it). Here in Canada we receive little news coverage of evangelical churches and leaders and I'm quite sure that, until this week, his name has never been mentioned in the Canadian media. Even now, the main pages of Canadian news sites have no mention of the story. And yet I realize that he is obviously an important individual who founded what has become a huge and important church and led an organization representing millions of Americans. Of greatest consequence, Haggard is a brother in Christ.
Like many of you, when I first heard the news of this scandal I wanted to know more. I wanted to know details and to have the whole story of his immorality printed before me. I wanted the lurid and gossipy details. Some sick and depraved part of me wanted to know it all, no doubt so I could compare myself to him and account myself somehow superior to him. Thankfully, this was but my first instinct and was obviously the desires of the "old man," the part of me that delights in all that is evil and contrary to God. God was good to show me that I should not long after such things.
What I felt next was little better. I felt pity. This was not true sympathy, but pity that Haggard could be such a sinner; such a depraved individual. I felt sorry for a guy who could desire something so base, so sinful. Who would want to use meth? Who could feel that type of homosexual desire? I don't understand such urges! I felt comfortable in my moral superiority and in my greater sanctification. I felt proud that I was not one of those guys whose life was such a far cry from his profession of faith.
And then I watched the video of Haggard being interviewed in front of his home. I'd encourage you to watch the video too, focusing on Haggard, watching his eyes, watching his face. You can find the link here. Remember as you watch that this is not a film and he is not an actor. This is a real man with a real life, a real soul, and real emotions. And now watch it again, but this time watch his wife, sitting immediately beside him. And not only that, but consider that sitting behind him are three of his children. The children sit silently while the reporter asks dad if he has done meth and if he has ever had sex with a man.
And then realize that, as we explored earlier this week in a discussion about total depravity, there is really no difference between you and Haggard or between myself and Haggard. We are all totally depraved with our sin extending to every aspect of our being. There but for the grace of God go I. There but for the grace of God go you. While I would not expect a reporter to approach me if I were to fall into similar sin, I can only imagine the pain of having to sit in front of my children, my wife, and answer questions about whether or not I have had sex with a man or admitting that I purchased illegal drugs. It's horrible. It's terrifying. That could be my wife, wondering how I could do this to her, wondering if she can ever trust me again, wondering if she can ever love me again. Those could be my kids, hearing the lurid details of dad's depravity. Those could be my kids, trying bravely not to cry as they walk into school on Monday morning, knowing that everyone knows, knowing that life will never be the same.
I went from wanting to know details, to feeling pity to feeling terror to pleading with God to continue to extend His grace to me that I would not fall. Jonathan Edwards, in his most famous sermon, spoke about God's sovereignty and how, at any given moment, it is only the sovereign grace of God that keeps Him from ending a person's life. Marsden writes, "The subject of the sermon is that at this very moment God is holding sinners in his hands, delaying the awful destruction that their rebellion deserves." Edwards said, "You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his price: and yet 'tis nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment: 'tis to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night...but that God's hand has held you up: there is no other reason to be given why you han't gone to hell since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship: yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you don't this very moment drop down into hell. Oh sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in." What is true of eternity, is equally true of the temporal. Just as nothing but God's hand keeps both Christian and non-Christian from death at any given moment, the same hand is all that restrains any of us from falling into sin as dreadful as Haggard's, or sin that is far worse.
Paul's exhortation of 1 Corinthians 10:12 has been much on my mind this weekend. "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." Oh, that God would keep me from relying more on my effort and less on His grace. I pray and beg and plead that His grace would continue to extended to me that I would take heed, that I would continue to fill my heart with His Words of life.
There are some who are seeking to make this issue into something almost prophetic, as if it is indicative of the state of evangelicalism. "The Reformed Gadfly," whose post was endorsed by Slice of Laodicea writes, "I'm sick and tired of being associated with a 'Christianity' that does not seem to care one whit about holiness or obedience to God's Word. Let me say this as perfectly clear as I can: I believe that 'Christianity' in America is nearly totally apostate. Why? We have abandoned the vision of the Holiness and Fear of God. We've built a false god that will cater to our flesh and meet our 'felt needs'. Our real need? Repentance. But we don't want to go there. We live in Laodicea. No apologies. Cut and dried. Stuff like this can only happen because contemporary Christianity is rotten to the core."
No, no, no! Stuff like this happens because we are rotten to the core! Stuff like this happens because I am rotten to the core. Oh, that we would all take heed! How can we be sick and tired of being associated with other sinners? I am the greatest sinner I know and can only delight to be in the presence of other sinners, others with whom I can share God's grace and from whom I can learn more about God's grace. The Christian I am most sick and tired of being associated with me, for my sin is before me always! Every day I have to peer into my dark heart and beg God for forgiveness. Every day I see again how my heart is dark and black and awful and filled with emnity towards God. Every day I see in my heart that I am no different than Ted Haggard. But for the grace of God I would do so much more and so much worse. Take heed. I sit here and weep for Haggard and his family and his church, but selfishly, I weep even more for myself, knowing that I, too, could be in such a situation. What is in Haggard is in me. What is in me is in you. But for the grace of God...
Despite all the darkness and the grief, this situation gives me some hope and some cause to rejoice. New Life Church seems to have handled this situation very well. I know nothing of the church beyond what has appeared in the news and what Phillip Ryken wrote of it at the Reformation21 blog. "I visited New Life Church when it was in its popular ascendancy about a decade ago. The strongest impression I had on that particular Sunday was a palpable absence of the gospel -- lots of feel-good worship and moralistic exhortation to lead a good life, but little in the way of a biblical message of repentance for sin and grace in Christ. Yet this is the only gospel that can save any of us who are guilty of scandalous sins." They have certainly moved quickly and decisively in this situation, examining the evidence and taking swift action in removing Haggard from his position of authority. This seems like the right thing to do based on their conclusion that "Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct." This was good to see and bodes well for the church. I hope this situation strengthens the church, causing its members to look long and hard at their own lives.
But there is more reason to hope. Bill Kinnon pointed out to me the subject of Haggard's sermon just one week ago. Haggard preached "from 1 Samuel 16 on God's preparation for the removal of one King, Saul, with his replacement, David. An interesting passage to cover in a church where the leadership model more closely resembled Kings and Chronicles, than that of New Testament leadership. The preacher was speaking about the forthcoming US midterm elections. Talking about how God removes some leaders and replaces them with others. One might see the preaching as prophetic for the events in the last week." Mere seconds into the sermon, Haggard prayed that lies and deception would be exposed. "Father, we pray that lies would be exposed. We pray that deception would be exposed." I can but hope that Haggard's prayer was sincere and that God took him at his word, answering his prayer. I can only hope that Haggard realizes this and turns to God in full repentance.
And I can only hope that, when you and I ask God to answer our prayers and to save us from our sin, to unmask the sin that haunts us, that He will be so swift to answer. I sometimes hesitate to ask God that he will deal with the sin in my life in whatever way He deems necessary to get me to actually change my ways. And yet, in my best moments, I ask Him to do anything necessary, no matter how difficult, no matter how humiliating, to draw me closer to Him and to mold me ever more into His image. If I've been intimidated before, I will be even more so now. And yet I see that He can and will answer.
If we look to Ted Haggard as a representative of all that is wrong in Evangelicalism, I think we miss the most important lesson. The lesson we need to learn is that we are every bit as sinful and fallible and willful and depraved as Haggard; perhaps more so. It is only the grace of God that, like a spider being held over the flame by a nearly-invisible web, prevents me from giving in to all the sin that is in me and being dragged down by it. Oh, that He would continue to extend this grace! And oh, that I would take heed lest I, too, fall, for what is in Haggard is in me.
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Comments (148)
Ok Tim, this comment is directly for you. Wow! I woke up this morning and considered writing about this topic but God gave me something else. After reading your message, I know why. God bless you brother and you have earned your place at the top of the God Blogosphere!
Stuff like this happens because I am rotten to the core.
Thank you.
Your comment on this situation reminds me of Sufjan Stevens song about John Wayne Gacy.
And in my best behaviorI am really just like himLook beneath the floorboardsFor the secrets I have hid
Wow... thanks, Tim.
The lesson we need to learn is that we are every bit as sinful and fallible and willful and depraved as Haggard; perhaps more so.
Indeed...
In church yesterday, someone stated that the Gospel might be harmed by the Ted Haggards of the world. If we are preaching a "Try Harder! Moral Perfection!" gospel, I suppose that's true.
Of course, that isn't really much of a gospel at all. Praise God that His grace is greater than our sin, and that His Spirit is working to conform us to Christ.
Tim,
Thank you for this wonderful post. Ever since I first learned of the then very unclear scandal of Ted Haggard last Thursday, I have been simply heartsick, and nearly obsessed with this story. I ache for Haggard, knowing full well the lure of sin and darkness in my own heart, and pleading with God for grace to keep me from following sin's enticement to a similar place. I ache for Haggard's family, terrified for what his wife and children will face in the coming days, months, and years. I tremble for the bride of Christ, and agonize over the laughably imperfect reflection of the Savior we offer the world.
But I had not come across a blog or article who seemed to share the same compassion. Most of what I have read has been very harsh and condemnatory, railing Haggard as a phony and a fraud - until just now. I believe the heart of our Lord is evident in your words, Tim.
Thank you. And may God's grace preserve us all, and sustain the Haggard family in these unimaginably difficult days.
Kyle
And who and what are ministers themselves? Frail men, fallible, sinning men, exposed to every snare, to temptation in every form; and, from the very post of observation they occupy, they are an easier target for the fiery darts of the foe. They are not trite victims the great Adversary is seeking, when he would wound and cripple Christ's ministers. One such victim is worth more to the kingdom of darkness than a number of common men; and for this very reason their temptations are probably more subtle and severe than those encountered by ordinary Christians. If this subtle Deceiver fails to destroy them, he cunningly aims at neutralizing their influence by quenching the fervor of their piety, lulling them into negligence, and doing all in his power to render their work burdensome. How perilous is the condition of that minister then, whose heart is not encouraged, whose hands are not strengthened, and who is not upheld by the prayers of his people! It is not in his own closet and on his own knees alone, that he finds security and comfort, and ennobling, humbling, and purifying thoughts and joys; but it is when they also seek them in his behalf, that he becomes a better and happier man, and a more useful minister of the everlasting Gospel! --Gardiner Spring
What should we do about all of this? PRAY FOR OUR PASTORS!!!
Yes/but
This particularly resonates with me: The Christian I am most sick and tired of being associated with me
Indeed. I've come to feel intensely that the one thing about the world that I'll miss the least, in the presence of God, is ME, as I am now.
Having said that, is it possible to go too much in the there-but-for-the-grace-of-God direction? Does rotten theology not have rotten consequences? I would disagree.
...um, tears are the first reaction to your post. Not for Mr. Haggard, but for me. I can search a dark heart as well my brother. I'm sickened as your are, and over joyed at the reality that my destiny (and Haggards) depends on the Holiness of another! Praise God! Thank you for sharing your heart today. And praise God for this line in your post, "that I would continue to fill my heart with His Words of life". Oh that news like this would only drive us all harder into the word.
This guy was the one evangelical that Barbara Walters interviewed for the CTV presentation on Heaven that was on early in the year.
Tim,
This article is simply outstanding! I pray that it will be widely read and applied, especially in my own heart and life.
Tim,
One of your better posts, for sure. I agree with everything you wrote.
I fear for the people who take a "Laodicea" position on this, setting themselves apart. It's that kind of kingmaker mentality that creates the very problem those folks complain against. There's no humility in saying, "We would never do something like that!"
While it may be true that you or I might be relatively immune to one kind of temptation, another might be waiting to take us down. Sure, drug abuse and perverted sexuality are great for the headlines, but the Lord hates pride more than anything else, and some of us Christians are towing along a barge full of it.
I blogged about the Haggard issue, tying it into the series I just completed on community. Many of the sin issues we see in the lives of Christian leaders reach epic proportions because the Body of Christ is not practicing true community. Real community recognizes that pastors are no different from the rest of the people within the local church community. They are fellow brothers and subject to the same temptations we are. But while we may allow ourselves the grace of confession to others in the community, we don't allow pastors the same grace. Pastors know that in most cases, even confessing the slightest sin will get them removed from their role as pastor. I fear that's a double standard: we hold pastors to too stringent a standard. They feel the need to cover up any and all things in order to preserve their jobs. I've known pastors blackballed from a denomination for sinning in ways that the ordinary guy in the pew does without even thinking. That kind of bombastic knee-jerk reaction perpetuates the problem.
A real community would allow pastors to confess those sins without fear of life-destroying consequences. Yes, all sin has consequences, but if we don't give the grace to nip "small" things in the bud before they blossom into monstrosities, then we're only setting the pastorate up for major falls.
Almost every pastoral fall begins because the pastor knows that people will overreact. Our congregations treat him as a person apart and not one of us, so why should he think any different? This problem lies at the core of almost every noted pastoral failure of the last century.
We must allow our pastors to be human. We must include them in our community and bear their burdens just like we would each others'. We must not be surprised our pastors sin. We must extend them the same grace we are willing to extend to our "ordinary" brothers and sisters. Only then will we stop the relentless pastoral tragedies that can afflict your church or mine.
Tim, With all due respect, I think you've missed an important point. You call Mr. Haggard "a brother in CHRIST". From my reading of 1John, I have serious doubts that he is a brother. I believe our prayer for him should be for God to save him. In Grace alone! Bob
Thanks, Tim. I think this is the most sensible blog post I've read on the matter.
Tim,
I appreciate this post and am thankful for such a response. I think we can all agree with it. This is a sharp reminder that we are no different than the "worst" sinner.
I do have one problem with it though. This is not our usual response to unbelievers. We are quick to demonstrate mercy and grace towards others, as long as they are believers. Unbelievers, however, are another story. Let's crucify them for even the slightest infraction (I can't help but to be reminded of Bill Clinton's similar situation). This backwards response seem completely contrary to the regular pattern of Scripture (1Cor. 5:9-13).
Peace,
Jeremy
Thank you Tim! You hit the nail on the head. This post is worth passing on to everyone I know and worth saving to read again and again and again.
from the chief of sinners,diane
Tim, I agree with your empathy, but not with your doctrine. Ted Haggard, as a born-again Christian, does not possess an evil heart nor is he a sinner. As a born-again believer, however, he must deal with what the Word calls death-doomed flesh. Paul speaks of keeping his body under with its lusts and appetites. The Word also demonstates to us that unclean (evil) spirits work to influence believers to their destruction. Nothing in the Word says or even implies that they have discontinued this work.
Bobs,Having just finished re-reading 1 John, after reading your comment, what specifically do you have in mind when you doubt if Haggard is a brother? Is it that he sinned or the type of sin or is it something else?
Tim, thanks. >>tears
Awesome post. Its great to see how you thought through this and examined your heart. There is nothing between us and hell but air. Good theology doesn't keep me up. Good theology recognizes that God keeps me up, my brain is subject to God. And I do believe that Haggard is a brother in Christ, he's already displaying repentance.Thanks again tim!
Thank God for this post. Truly, it is an answer to prayer. I have prayed that Christ would be exalted even through the blatant ugliness of this whole affair, and I am sure others have as well.
I would like to just add one further level of thought. Yes, Ted is a sinner. Yes, we are too. And oh, we should let it sink in just how horrible we all really are. And yes, too, despite the assurances to the contrary by postmodern and liberal theologians, God's wrath is suspended over us, and naught but grace stays His Holy Hand. And we are thus beckoned forcefully to thank God unceasingly for that grace.
But let us not forget Christ as the Reason for that grace. Let us be sure to lift Him up. And let us be sure to trumpet the Gospel as the unmistakably jaw-dropping truth that it is. That because of God giving up His only Son Jesus--the most Worthy and Holy Individual there is--He thereby offers to us--the most wicked and despicable, undeserving creatures there are--infinite and priceless grace. He places all of Ted's black sins, and all the as yet unseen or unappreciated black sins of my own heart, and yours, on His Spotless Son--the Lamb of God--and then provides for people like Ted and you and me infinite Righteousness and Holiness. So that He not only restores us, even as Ted's wife has been willing to restore her guilty husband, but that He raises us up to an unspeakable level of honor. We become joint heirs with Christ! By means of Jesus' very blood, we inherit all of Jesus' wealth!
Let us be shocked anew at the wonder of such an incredible message. Let us be amazed at the wonder of grace, as measured not only by the depths of our own sin but by the heights of the Glory of that Perfect Lamb Who was sacrificed on our behalf!
Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb! Glory be to our Great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Bobs - See this article regarding "the ultimate human judgment."
Dan Phillips wrote: "Having said that, is it possible to go too much in the there-but-for-the-grace-of-God direction? Does rotten theology not have rotten consequences? I would disagree."
I thought immediately of Luke 13:4: "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?" It is entirely possible that rotten theology has rotten consequences but I don't know that we can state that this situation is the consequence of that kind of sin.
"Ted Haggard, as a born-again Christian, does not possess an evil heart nor is he a sinner."
Oh boy.
thanks, tim. it's refreshing to read someone edifyingly, tactfully, truthfully, and 'Christlike-ly' approaching a scandal. keep this up. 'things like this happen because we/i am rotten to the core.' amen. amen!
I've heard the name "Haggard" but I wasn't familiar with him or his ministry. Neither had I heard anything regarding this scandal until I read your article this morning.Your sentiments expressed what I love most about the reformed men of old. They were mindful of their own corrupt nature and often prayed, "Lord, deliver me from myself."I believe what you've expressed is the attitude and way of thinking that we as individual Christians should possess. I think the role of this man's church is a little different. It falls on them to bind or to loosen. As individuals they should be reminded of the things you have written but as a church their task is different. It falls on them to discipline and to seek to restore to fellowship. However, if the accusations are true I personally don't believe he can return to ministry.
Our Sunday School class, two weeks ago, was in Genesis 20 where Abimalech took Sarah, Abraham's wife, and God said to him, "I kept you from sinning against me." God does indeed hold us in His hand.
Tim,
Thanks for expressing so well what I have been feeling and thinking about this situation. You stated it so much more clearly than I could have.
Jason
I have no desire to jump on Haggard for sinning, etc. The problem I have is with the utter disconnect he must have functioned under to preach that Jesus saves and delivers while he was living this kind of lifestyle. He knew the Bible well enough to know that he had disqualified himself from ministry long ago - and yet chose to stay until God exposed his sin.
I pray that God would put a hedge about our evangelical leaders and keep them from darkening the light that our world so desperately needs to see and hear from the church.
Tim your thoughts come at a crucial time. As I write I'm resisting the overwhelming temptation to respond to Peter Smythe's comment, cuz' it's like chewing tin foil.
I don't like Haggard's doctrine any more than I like most charismatic perspective. But I'm reminded of Luke 18:10 and following. Over at Fide-O it even turned into a rather heated and superfluous debate of Arminianism vs. Calvinism. I couldn't believe it. Is that what we're talking about? Certainly not. If nothing else, this sad escapade is to serve as a burning landmark of our own inability to serve God. It is only by his grace that we are called the Sons of God.
Thank you for your tempered and timely article.
-Jonah
Incredible article! Were it not for grace, where would we all be but wallowing in a mire of self-deception and sin!
The only thing I can say in response to your post is "Amen". I'm glad you waited some days before writing. It was a blessing to read what you had to say.
I would also add, I agree with DLE when he writes that pastors "are fellow brothers and subject to the same temptations we are. But while we may allow ourselves the grace of confession to others in the community, we don't allow pastors the same grace. Pastors know that in most cases, even confessing the slightest sin will get them removed from their role as pastor."
That's true. Too many of us are too quick to condemn without ever considering that the only thing that keeps us from falling head-long into the sins we condemn in others is God's grace.
Thank you for your post.
Wyeth Duncan
Thanks for your transparency Tim. That's the best assesment I've read or heard on all of this. I really appreciate what you do.
Tim,Interesting post. I have commented on this whole thing from a little different perspective. Not one that poors more condemnation upon the man or sets me apart from Haggard, necessarily, but from a perspective that asks questions such as:
1. How long would this have continued to go on if someone other than Haggard hadn't revealed it?2. Where was/is the accountability that could have helped to prevent this kind of ongoing, blatant sin?3. How many other churches right now have little to no accountability or checks and balances for their leadership...and how many other leaders right now are hiding such egregious sin because they can...because no one is really calling them to account for their life and actions?4. Does this incident reveal anything about the apparent apathy within the church toward holding one another accountable?
I agree that the Haggard's church seems to have acted swiftly and appropriately...but unfortunately, AFTER the fact.
What needs to be done within the visible church to prevent these types of things BEFORE they ever begin?
Thanks.
Jerry wrote: He knew the Bible well enough to know that he had disqualified himself from ministry long ago - and yet chose to stay until God exposed his sin. >>
This really is key to all of this and what really scares me. Yes, we are all sinners but not all of us are teachers or shepherds. And as James says, not all of us should be.
This came up while studying Hebrews 10:26-31 at Bible Study. A ministers wife (not senior minister) brought up that we should not judge him and that she willfully sins everyday as a gossip and has for years. There is a disconnect somewhere with sanctification if we are 'willfully' sinning when we have the knowledge of truth.
Lest anyone misunderstand, I am a horrible sinner. But are we teaching the full truth about sin? If someone loves me, they will point out my sin and rebuke me. With serious accountability as a pastor, he could not have gotten by with this for 3 years. We are creating celebrity preachers we dare not rebuke.
His church has handled this very well after the facts and I praise God for that. I cannot stand to think of his wife and children. It makes me sick for them.
Amen
i also thought much about that sufjan stevens song this morning.
look beneath the floorboards...
Tim, Thanks for your referral to the earlier post. It was most helpful. My conviction in this present scandal is based on the continuing sin which the Apostle warns is evidence of unbelief. But I am appreciative of your caution. Im CHRIST alone. Bob
Everything you say is true, Mr. Challies. And I agree wholeheartedly with your very biblical and truthful telling of what we ALL are like to the core. I spent 25 years as an unbeliever doing things and making decisions that were heinous and an offense to God. I can honestly say that almost every day I am aware and inexpressably thankful that God forgave me for all I did and pulled me out of the mire for no other reason than because of His Son.
However, (I'm sure you could sense this coming) isn't anyone tired of the offense and reproach that is brought to the name of Christ when a prominent member of our Body falls? I just get a little angry when I hear of these kind of stories. I wonder, what kind of life was this person living that allowed entry of this kind of sin? Weren't they accountable to someone? I can think of three stories recently (two in my state) where prominent people have had to step down from ministry. And I'm starting to get a little mad.
I wonder if part of the problem is that we really don't believe the bible when it says "If you live according to the flesh YOU WILL DIE." Do we somehow think those warnings don't apply to our pristine Christian lives? I think we need some real hellfire and brimstone preachers in this country to stop the cream puff sermons on having a purpose driven life and start preaching that a Judgement is coming and it will START with the House of God. I think we should all have a healthy "fear" of offending the God who saved us. We should live accountable lives toward our brothers and sisters and do our best not to allow our wrong desires to give birth to sin. And we need to take seriously the dire warnings in scripture of living with sin. The children of Israel were saved out of bondage in Egypt, yet most of them did not inherit the promised land because of their disobedience and lack of faith. That should be an example to us.
Marla
I left the following comment at Jim Martin's post earlier today; his post is a thoughtful and insightful one, much like yours.
___________
Haggard’s sin is a sad but all-too familiar story for those of us old enough to remember Bakker and Swaggart, or to have read Elmer Gantry.
[Jim] noted the importance of being "faithful in the ‘little things.’" In the language of sexual addictions, this is known as SUDs: Seemingly Unimportant Decisions. [Jim is] quite right: if sin were to present itself blatantly, most of us would reject it immediately; boil us like a frog, however, and we wind up immersed in hot water and realize it too late.
I do not doubt Haggard’s repentance but am concerned about whether or not he realizes the depth of the problem. In his statement (read to New Life Church; available as a .pdf file - his wife’s statement is also available) he spoke of his regret and remorse, but also (in what appears at first to be merely peculiar):
"I have an overwhelming, all-consuming sadness in my heart for the pain that you and I and my family have experienced over the past few days."
"and I"? This is the leakage of a narcissistic personality, something quite often found to be foundational to addictions, including sexual ones. He says, too, that
"Through the years, I’ve sought assistance in a variety of ways, with none of them proving to be effective in me."
We all need to think through what we believe "recovery" from any addiction actually is. It is not merely the arrest of sinful behavior, as important as that is as a starting point; recovery is the transformation accomplished through the renewing of our mind and the development of Christ-like character in us. Addictions are symptomatic of deep characterologic flaws. They must be managed first but then treated deeply.
Sadly, Haggard also says,
"The public person I was wasn’t a lie; it was just incomplete."
This should alert and frighten us. His life was, without question, a lie; the statement above is no less a lie. He was a consumate hypocrite and hypocrites are behavioral (rather than verbal) liars. That does not seem to have changed as of yet.
To his credit, he has repented as best he knows how. We need to pray for him, of course, but we also need to pray for our own pastors.
Driscoll’s comments on this matter have some merit regardless of what one might think of him. We need to listen to the message and ignore the messenger: Mark has some very good advice for any Christian, engaged in vocational ministry or not.
Haggard prayed that lies and deception would be exposed. "Father, we pray that lies would be exposed. We pray that deception would be exposed." I can but hope that Haggard's prayer was sincere and that God took him at his word, answering his prayer. I can only hope that Haggard realizes this and turns to God in full repentance.
Well said. I take heed. This is a wake up call to the 'good' folks. Might we 'smite our breasts and pray, God have mercy on me, a sinner'. No room for self pride here. Thanks
Tim,
Thank you for this post.
...The irony is that with an intensely charged anti-homosexual atmosphere among the Christian and political right, no one condemns the homosexual behavior of Mike Jones. I do not say that to mean we ought to be gay bashing, but rather to expose the hypocrisy in this supposedly high moral ground on which conservative religious and political folks seem to stand on almost all the time. In other words, I have not heard one conservative say anything about Jones’ potentially dangerous homosexual lifestyle at least from a health perspective, let alone the ethical dimension since those are the normal conservative talking points on homosexual relationships. And the silence is just it! Because even the church has grossly failed to take advantage of this great gospel opportunity to speak boldly and lovingly to the homosexual community by coming along side of Jones who also may be hurt from this terrible situation. If I was a homosexual (and I am not) looking at how the church has largely neglected to love one of their major public figures who has been found to be participating in homosexual activities, why would I ever want to step foot inside a church or even talk to a Christian? But what would it mean for the broadly evangelical church that is known for its vastly anti-homosexual rhetoric to actually love the very same homosexual man who had an intimate relationship with their very own – the former president of National Evangelical Association? I don’t pretend to know all of what that would mean, but I’m sure national redemption couldn’t be too far behind. So until then, unfortunately, this incident not only speaks to Haggard’s scandal, but also to the evangelical church’s scandal. (For more, see - “Which Scandal: Haggard’s or The Evangelical Church’s?”)
This may just be the best post I have ever read.
Superb, Tim!
I've linked your grace-filled reflections on on my site here.
Tom Doctrine Matters
Tim, you went right to the point! It is sin; sin in you, in me, in everyone. The symptom of that sin is wide-spread sexual immorality within the Church. Haggard wasn't the only pastor in Colorado Springs guilty of sexual immorality and exposed in our local newspaper last week, he was just the one with the bigger name. There are thousands more across the US and Canada, and there are 100s of 1000s of every day people with hidden sexual sin in their lives. It is time to apply Heb. 12:15, 16, "See to it . . . that no one is sexual immoral . . ." We have a responsibility for one another. We, the church, failed Ted Haggard, but we are all failing those around us.
Tim, I think you misread me; sorry if I was unclear.
When I asked whether rotten theology has rotten consequences, I didn't mean bad external situations, except those situations caused by the attitudes and behavior caused by the sin.
What I meant was that ideas have consequences, that the springs of life flow from the heart (Proverbs 4:23). To re-word my point, isn't it to be expected that a rot in the theology will result in rot in the life? It really has no connection whatever with Luke 13. We aren't talking about something bad that happened to a nice person. We're talking about something bad that someone did. When we look at his theology, we have concerns. Is it really wrong to ask if there's a connection?
We strive to understand the Word truly not only because we want to know God, know the truth, and know the truth about God -- but because our lives flow from our convictions.
Hope I've rephrased myself sufficiently.
Tim, regarding your comments to my statement, what of Romans 5:5 that says, "and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through [the] Holy Ghost which was given to us?" Or, Ephesians 3:17 that says, "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith?" Or, Galatians 4:6 that says, "And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father?" How are those verses meshed with your premise that a born-again Christian is still a sinner at heart?
excellent post. the problem wasn't ecclesiastical structures, or correct theology, or enough piety, the problem was sin and the solution is Jesus and he is the only solution to our clay feet and corrupt flesh and hearts in need of sanctification.God is goodjpu
Perfect! Thank you Tim.
Dan Phillips said
"We're talking about something bad that someone did. When we look at his theology, we have concerns. Is it really wrong to ask if there's a connection?"
My thought would be that if there was no connection between our doctrine and our actions, doctrine wouldn't mean very much, would it? On the other hand, sound doctrine doesn't make one immune to heinous sin. David is the obvious one who comes to mind.
With all due respect to John Umland (#45), ecclesiastical structures and the other things he mentions absolutely DO make a difference. They put structures and systems in place that magnify the likelihood of sin causing problems or else they diminish it.
Systems and structures that allow temptation to be magnified cause failure. Everyone reading this now knows of at least one story where a local pastor ran off with the church secretary. A male and female working closely in a spiritually-charged atmosphere breeds that sort of behavior. If the pastor's assistant were another heterosexual male, then obviously that problem would be greatly diminished.
That's just one of thousands of structures/systems that can be modified to reduce the likelihood of moral failure.
Yes, sin is the problem. But that doesn't mean we don't take practical steps to reduce our chances to fall prey to it.
"the problem was sin and the solution is Jesus"
Unfortunately, this is an oversimplification that doesn't really address anything pertinent to any specific problem within the church, including Haggard. Yes, we know the root of the problem is sin. But, the root to every problem is sin, isn't it?
I think the Haggard mess (and others) should be evaluated beyond saying that he was a sinner like you and me, and there but by the grace of God go I. We know that already, don't we?. But does saying that solve anything? am Surely we can and should look at how the visible church is structured and holds its members accountable, for one thing. But I think there are probably many other areas that could and should be critiqued as well.
For one, the church has got no sense of what it means to be the church anymore. And I think we are going to have to get our hands a little more dirty than just saying 'sin is the problem and Jesus is the answer, and thank God I have not fallen to the same degree of that Ted Haggard over there...'
this was a very heartfelt post, very moving thank you!
God Blessing to you and your's