Have you been following the story of Ted Haggard? He was the president of the National Association of Evangelicals and the pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church. He has admitted to sexual immoral conduct. All of this came to light after a gay prostitute went public with accusations against him.
We are all complex mixtures of both good and evil. When we look at ourselves and others, we should somehow keep both realities in mind. Yet, when we talk of others, we often speak of them unilaterally in terms of the good or the bad. The assessment of someone's life is complicated business. Maybe, that's why God says to leave it to him.
Ted Haggard is an effective and accomplished leader. Ted Haggard is guilty of abominable sins. Those two truths are not mutually exclusive. To overlook the sin because of the good is to offend the holiness and righteousness of the gospel message. To condemn the man because of the sin is to offend the grace and mercy of the gospel message.
I know we like to keep the issues of life in the realms of black or white, but so much it won't fit in either category. Check out Ted Haggard letter to his former congregation on Mike Cope's blog -> here.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Black or White?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
Jason -
I think this really shows how important it is that we support and encourage one another. When we don't have many close relationships it makes it so much easier for the evil one to quietly drag us away.
But if we are able - with God's help, of course - to build close, safe, and honest relationships, then God can work through these to keep us growing in the right direction.
We actually touched on some of these thoughts in our home group last night - not the Ted Haggard story - just the struggles we have in some of these areas.
I agree, we need to be open and honest with one another.
I heard about this just this morning and to me it is scary. He sounded like a very spiritual person who started a church that is now at 14,000 people. So you would think or at least hope that he has several people around him for support.
To me it is scary, because on the outside he would seem like he would be the last person to fall in such a pit of sin. As a christian we tend to put these people on a pedestal, with the thoughts that they are untouchable and then when they fall, it would make you second guess. This is why it is very important that we are not putting our faith in people or churches, because they will eventually die of fall. But when our faith is in Jesus we know that his power will live for ever.
When I first heard this story it makes me think, well if this seemingly great spiritual person fell, then how am I to stand against satan. But again that is when I pray and put my faith in God and not in man.
Sorry a little wordy and not really the question you intended, so I will leave you with this: I personally like the color gray, I have a pair of pants that are gray and they fit very nice.
Aaron
You look good in gray!
Initially I would conclude that Ted Haggard is weaker than me, because I am sure I would never get involved in something like that. But, then again, maybe the good in him (which God used in dramatic ways) brought about intense attacks from Satan. Could I withstand, that is, if Satan hit me with everything he's got.
It makes me think a little different about the whole situation.
C.S. Lewis warned against pride in the areas in which we are not tempted. He said that sin the excess of the good thing God has given.
It's sad when this kind of thing happens. Very reminicent of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart's problems several years back. When a scandal of this magnitude hits the national media it damages the credibility of every Christian and makes it that much harder to win lost souls for Christ.
Yes, we are all sinners and it's hard to look at Ted Haggard and say "shame on you" when we all struggle with sins of one sort or another. Yet, he was in a leadership position and looked up to by many folks who mistakenly think people in authority are "better" than folks who are subject to their authority.
If he had problems such as has been insinuated, he should not have accepted the leadership position or have had the courage to step down before it got to this point. Spiritual leaders have a grave responsibility to those they are leading. While nobody can be expected to be totally spotless, someone who can't control themselves and knowingly commits sins of such a magnitude should seriously consider removing themselves from their office of trust.
His wife Gayle's letter is admirable - she is sticking by him and will not break her marital covenant.
God bless
Maria in the UK
www.inhishands.co.uk
I suspect that until Bible-teaching churches become "safe" places for people to open up about taboo sins, we will continue to see an escalation of "Ted Haggard-type" stories.
Eric, you make a good point. I wonder how it is that we create a "safe" place. Accountability small-group gatherings have been very successful in many places; but, how many would make the time available to meet regularly. We back up against the unmovable mountain of time. I would love to see something like this take flight within our congregation.
What do you think?
As I ponder on the story of Ted Haggard, i can't help but be encouraged by what has happened. First of all, this man fell because as James says, we are led astray by our own evil desires that live within us. No one else to blame and he's not blaming anyone else. But Satan - the deceiver and liar - was certainly there whispering that what happens in the dark would stay in the dark.
This confirms to me what Jesus said about the darkness being exposed by the light. And what exposure here, all over the news, radio and internet.
Now since these Bible teachings prove true, then I tend to believe the rest of the promises in the Bible will also hold true, such as the forgiveness of God and God not allowing more than we can stand.
So, yes, I'm encouraged by what has happened with Ted.
I am guilty myself of holding in struggles and temptations, and I believe that satan builds off of those and makes them harder to overcome. Ted Haggard though a minister and spiritual man also is susceptable to satan and his deceitful ways. As we all know all it takes is a few minutes without GOD and our minds begin to stray. In my life it is very important to keep GOD in the forefront through constant interaction with him through prayer.
It is these struggles and temptations that as mentioned before we need to share with our brothers and sisters. I cannot express how many times that when I have shared a struggle with a brother how much easier it is to battle against Satan. I am looking forward to meeting and sharing and letting my brothers and sisters that they can lean on my prayers and support.
Our Sunday morning prayer group is an excellent example of getting to know some of my brothers better because of the will power that GOD has given them to share and then pray together about them.
Hope that makes sense.
Aaron mentioned the prayer groups. Please remember that an informal group is meeting Thursday evenings at the building. The meetings typically last from 8:30 - 10:00pm. Please feel welcome to come even if you are uncomfortable praying publicly. The atmosphere is relaxed and participation is completely voluntary.
It has been powerful for those involved.
Lisa makes an excellent point -- trust is paramount to building a "safe" environment. Building trust takes time...months...years. We don't just say "we're here, we love you, so trust us." On campus, getting students motivated takes a lot of effort on my part -- effort that takes months and years. I have to consistently prove my intentions toward them by my actions, whether it's taking time to talk when I'm busy, or in just spending time with them after work hours. In other words, I have to prove my trustworthiness, and my interest in their lives. It's only after I prove my trustworthiness and intentions that I can really help my students. This proving means I have to actively seek to engage with them in activities, study, athletics, etc. A simple "how's it going buddy" will not work. It's the same way in churches. A simple (half-hearted) "how's it going buddy" isn't going to work.
After my trustworthiness is earned, and they open up about some big issues (contemplating abortion, struggles with sexual identity, drugs, stealing, etc --and these are just a few) their sense of well-being cannot tolerate my inability to handle the issue. I cannot send a direct or indirect message to them that insinuates their issue is too bad or unable to be dealt with. So...in a nutshell...building trust through consistent genuine interest in others, and through consistent, loving reactions is the best way to create a "safe" environment. There is no "program" we can purchase or "how-to" manual. It just takes time and effort.
I like your thoughts Eric. Trust building with our brothers and sisters in Christ I understand can take some time and a lot of effort. But I think the bigger picture is maybe we do not trust in the LORD to forgive us of our sins. If we truly believe in the grace of our LORD and Saviour why is it so hard to make our sins known? If sharing them with a brother or sister is so hard it is probably more of a pride issue than a trust issue. We are more worried about what they may think of us rather than what the LORD is feeling about us.
I guess I am saying if we are waiting for a "safe" environment to come clean with our faults and struggles then we are just making it easier and easier for Satan to work on us. A perfect example is Ted Haggard, he obviously had a temptation that he could not deal with on his own because of his position and what that would do to his image and work.
I have nothing but respect and I am always humbled with a brother or sister than can come before us and give their sins to JESUS. I will be the first to say that this is my struggle and I hope that through relationship building with my LORD I can overcome this.
Aaron's statement about "waiting for a safe environment" is right-on. I agree that we could be waiting forever. Good thoughts Eric and Aaron.
Post a Comment