Comments on: The Trials of Ted Haggard

By: Jermayn

Jermayn — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is imo the best write up of the whole Ted situation...

I get sick and tired of Christians who just focus on the sin and not the family, both sides of the story and tells it from a totally unbias pov. Well done...

By: Postscript

Postscript — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

While I haven't seen the Trials of Ted Haggard, I think your statement about Friends of God being "an agenda-driven and rather inept attempt to explore the Christian 'sub-culture' in America" is a bit unrepresentative.

Having worked with Alexandra during the filming of the documentary, I think she was very interested in not being agenda-driven and was really seeking to find out what the church and Christianity are all about. Most of the documentary was redone when Ted Haggard's news broke and I think she felt betrayed and lied to.

And that is sad as well. To all but mature Christians, the sinful nature of every leader tends to undo all of the good work and true ministry they have done over the years.

And I would agree that most leaders don't understand the media and do even more damage when they think they can just "handle" the media openly. Leaders, if you ever mess up, call a pro!

By: bygracenotmerit

bygracenotmerit — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

For me personally, I had 2 issues with this difficult situation. One was “where was the church accountability?” I know I have said that before but it appears to me the bigger the church/ministry, the less accountability. After enduring the aftermath at ORU I have come to see accountability as a necessity in our time. Of course it needs to be done with love and grace but it does need to be done. There are so many distractions in our world now days and we are moving so fast..it surprises me that more of our leaders aren’t falling.

Secondly, I am really troubled that one sin still appears more appalling than other sins. Sin is sin. My sin of bouncing a check is no less or no greater than Ted’s sin of homosexuality, lying or whatever. There seems to be this arrogance and pride within the body that if I have a “little” sin and you commit a “bit” sin, I am some how better. That is just not true.

I, too, agree with you Phil, in hoping that Ted finds his way with the help of the Lord and that this segment of his journey is one that will become a platform for a newer, deeper and richer relationship with God.

On my blog today, I write about how I am in my own segment of my journey trying to figure out what it is that God wants me to do and to learn. Just because I am not dealing with the same issues as Ted, doesn’t mean we don’t all have our own journeys and learning to do.

Thanks for writing such a compassionate post on this “touchy” subject. God bless.
Remaining Steadfast,
Dominique
http://anunlikelyperspective2.squarespace.com

By: Wackadoo

Wackadoo — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Very well written and thought provoking. I think this is one of the more balanced articles I have read on the Haggard situation. Thank you for writing though the filters of grace and truth.

Blessings on ya!

By: breaklight

breaklight — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think the fact that the ‘Church’ in the world today has become a such an institutional structure and system and nothing like what the new testament Church was in the books of Acts and the Epistles, is what is producing this type of disastrous effects because we keep missing the heart connection to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. Somewhere along the line we become more driven by running people and building church corporations (all in the name of evangelism – but really it is just corporate marketing of Jesus) that we just completely lose sight of our ever growing relationship and friendship with Jesus Christ until we are so far away from Him and completely in the dark, caught up in the very same thing we were delivered from in the first place. I pray that we will return to loving Jesus Christ and growing in Him and letting Him lead us – but we are too smart and we know all things. Sometimes if the truth is known many Christians today are using Jesus to fulfill their own needs and desires without ever truly knowing Him. Jesus is just an add-on and not the real thing – just another means to an end (just which end it is).

By: Scott Shuford

Scott Shuford — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Wow… What a great take on situation. Compassionate. I think I would have been more prone to be judgmental. What a powerful statement: "As a result, they have thousands of “fans” – but no real disciples." That should be a question everyone working in the church and Christian industry should soak in.

By: Fred Applegate

Fred Applegate — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Another good post, and interesting perspective, Phil. It is an interesting point that sexual sins are considered so much greater a failing than other sins. (I am speaking of adult involvement: as a Roman Catholic I am acutely sensitive to the subject of child abuse, and find it to be the single greatest sin imaginable.) "Infidelity" doesn't even make the Top 10: "Covetousness" does, however. Murder, of course… but one of the greatest is lying: significantly, and more precisely, "bearing a false witness", which seems to be what really is the issues with so many fallen pastors and Christian leaders. The depth of their sin is magnified by their false witness to God, whatever the sin may be.

By: Craig Forrest

Craig Forrest — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Your comment, Phil, about church leaders in the 70s & 80s closing their door on the media (out of suspicion) is dead on. But, no matter what, the media are going to write a story about you, whether you participate or not.

A couple years ago Foursquare Church knew that E! Entertainment was going to do a tv special about their founder, Aimee Semple MacPherson. Instead of shunning them, Foursquare actually helped E! Entertainment with their research by providing biographies, photos and interviews. The special was actually shot in front of Angelus Temple in Echo Park hosted by DJ Benza. Foursquare Church was available to set the record straight with a number of details about Sis MacPherson's life that the general public hadn't known, including her scandalous disappearance to Mexico.

By helping E!, Foursquare got a much better (and fairer) presentation of both their ministry and their founder than if they had refused to cooperate with the network.

By: Craig Brewer

Craig Brewer — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Don't have HBO so didn't see the documentary, but did see the interviews on Oprah and Larry King. Very sad story and yes it would be hard not to feel compassion for him, but don't feel we have heard the whole story, especially from the people who he supposedly reached out to for help before this became public.

Have been in pastoral ministry in the past and have on many occasions had people come for prayer and counseling that were very distraught and disturbed over their sin and wanted some kind of relief. That relief comes from confession and repentance, acknowledging the sin and turning from it.

In his counseling he didn't go that far and later it became public. Then he lied and denied it and only admitted it when he figured covering it up was futile. A lot of people then make apology not because they are truly sorry enough to turn from their sin but because they are sorry they got caught and know their lives are going to be destroyed. Don't know if that is the case with him, only God knows and time will tell.

But I am concerned about his statement that his sexuality is, "Complex and confusing." It was if he didn't want to admit homosexuality was wrong and said several times that his sin was more about his unfaithfulness to his marriage vows. Well yes, that was certainly a big issue but he just seemed to dance around the question of homosexuality and what the Bible says about it.

His sin was not, "Complex and confusing" as he described his situation. He like all of us fell short of the mark and we have no one to blame but ourselves. James said...

James 1:13-15

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

I hope and pray this story turns out with a happy ending. Satan will surely keep tempting him, and hope that he can make a mockery of God and His people. Hope he can find good Christian fellowship that will pray for him and hold him up and accountable during this time of restoration.

By: Dan Shepherd

Dan Shepherd — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

While all sin is indeed equal in an eternal perspective, bouncing a check can hardly be considered sin in the same way as marital infidelity or homosexuality. Bouncing a check is a mistake, if it was done purposefully, then it is fraud and obviously considered sin. That being said, speeding is illegal and purposeful speeding is therefore a sin as it is breaking the laws we are to obey as citizens, however the punishment for this is paying a fine, this is not the same thing as willful use of controlled substances which merit much stricter penalties and are a greater moral failing. In the same way sexual immorality is a much bigger deal. To God all sin is simply a matter of rebellion and disobedience against His will, but while taking God's name in vain is a sin only against God and perhaps yourself, Sexual immorality regardless of type has multiple offended parties, God, yourself, the partner/s, if married your spouse/children and in a minister's case his flock. There is a greater standard for those who would lead the church. It does not make me better if I "merely" fool around with small sins or even "lesser" forms of the same (i.e. thought life, pornography, sexual immorality). But the leadership of the church cannot be allowed to remain while engaged in such open defiance of Biblical principle as it will spread throughout the body. Further in Haggard's case he makes the church look foolish and contributes to some rejecting Christ's offer of forgiveness because of perceived hypocrisy. He may have good intentions but I believe he is making matters worse.