Ted Haggard: Nailed to the Gate
John on November 6, 2006 at 11:16 am
I usually don’t write about stories that have been headlined on Drudge for a week because, really, what’s the point? The facts of the story are out. Ted Haggard, a pastor I’d honestly never heard of before last week, was carrying on with a gay prostitute and had a drug problem. He has been removed from leadership, has confessed his problems to his church and is trying to put his life together again.
Personally, I was most touched by his wife’s response. Unlike her husband, she did nothing to deserve the negative consequences she and her family are experiencing:
For those of you who have been concerned that my marriage was so perfect I could not possibly relate to the women who are facing great difficulties, know that this will never again be the case,” she wrote, evoking a ripple of laughter. “My test has begun; watch me. I will try to prove myself faithful.
While I can’t add much to the story itself, I do have some thoughts on the reactions of Christian bloggers to the story. A number of them immediately jumped on this as a sign of a pervasive rot in evangelical Christianity. Not surprisingly, most of those holding such opinions held them before Haggard’s name hit the news. He is just one more drum to pound in a beat that never changes.
For example, Ingrid at Slice of Laodicea wrote an article about the scandal which not surprisingly condemns pretty much every living evangelical. She wrote:
Evangelicalism is where medieval Roman Catholicism was just before that portentous day when Dr. Luther pounded his Theses to the castle church door at Wittenburg.
Ingrid’s fellow Slice author Ken Silva promoted a post by The Reformed Gadfly which ends:
Stuff like this can only happen because contemporary Christianity is rotten to the core.
Phil Johnson at Pyromaniacs was quick to proclaim that Haggard’s sin was only a symptom of long-standing doctrinal failures:
The fashionable brand of NAE/Christianity Today-style “evangelicalism” actually abandoned historic evangelical principles long ago, and hasn’t taken a firm stand for biblical and evangelical doctrine for some time. The current scandal is only a symptom of that much deeper problem.
Which is to say that evangelicalism right now is at least as much in need of Reformation as Medieval Roman Catholicism was before Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church.
And there’s Luther again, nailing his theses to the gate. Lost in most of these posts is any sense that Ted Haggard is a man, not a symbol. He’s an individual with some problems and a history of lying to everyone around him. Most of these Reformed bloggers, rather than offer a kind word for a fallen brother or the church that he led, seem eager to nail him to the gate.
Tim Challies, who is as reformed as anyone and with whom I’ve disagreed on occasion, has an excellent post which doesn’t devolve into the “I told you so!” mold. On the contrary, he takes on some of the other bloggers mentioned above. It’s one of the best things I’ve read on this and, in my opinion, shows a lot of genuine wisdom:
[T]here 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.
The whole post is worth reading. Again, I don’t always agree with him, but he has nailed it this time. Well done, Tim. In fact, I’d just like to amplify what Tim says a bit. In the most famous Sermon ever given, Jesus said:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
That’s an impossibly high standard. Forget about the idea that we could be where Haggard is. The wise man is one who recognizes we are where Haggard is. Any man who tells you differently is either a saint or a liar. And in my experience there are very few saints.
Jesus was pretty clear about the response we should have to this sort of sin. When the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery before him, he turned the question around on them. In essence what he said was: Look at yourself. He said much the same thing in a parable about a Pharisee who prayed “God, I thank you that I am not like other men…” The pharisees’ eye is always on someone else, never on himself.
So I’d like to suggest that the Haggard mess provides us with an interesting insight into where some people stand. Bloggers whose response to Ted Haggard is to look for the rot in someone else (all evangelicals, all mega-church pastors, etc.) have missed the point. Look at yourself. And if, after doing so, you’re still eager to condemn someone, well…you’re either a saint or liar. And there are very few saints.
Aside from Challies, the three best responses I’ve read to the Haggard mess are this one by Scot McKnight, this one by Bryan Preston and this one by Marc Driscoll. [HT: SmartChristian for pointing out 2 of the 3]. All deal with the situation with the kind of justice and grace that I think is appropriate. All three treat him like a man, not a symbol or a list of grievances to be nailed to the evangelical gate.
I’m going to be praying for Haggard and his family. I’m also going to be praying for Mike Jones. Looking to myself in light of Jesus’ high standard all I can say is:
God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Category: Religion & Faith |
Even Shoher, a right-wing Jew, was surprized by the lack of understanding and compassion for Haggard. After all, his transgression is so small.
November 6, 2006 @ 12:30 pmHow disgusting it is when brothers and sisters in Christ share openly personal sins and failures of others. “Love covers a multitude of sins”. The mistake to treat doctrinal differences the same as personal sins is shameful and only exposes the stench of self-righteousness. And if John MacArthur had committed the same sins would some of these blogs have a different tone?
These are those who Jude speaks of when he says “…walking after their own lusts; and their mouths speaking great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage“.
And to grant interviews to the secular press is deplorable. No matter who the brother was, even if it was MacLaren himself, the world has no part in us. We are a family, albeit disfunctional, but when “one member suffers, all the members suffer with him”.
I will continue to confront what I believe is error in, for instance, MacLaren and Bell’s teachings, but if they should be “overtaken in a fault” they can be sure of two things. I will help them if they need it and I will not be a shark in the water by helping to finish what the Destroyer has attempted.
John, below is my take on our fallen brother.
http://judahslion.blogspot.com/2006/11/brothers-sins-gal.html
November 6, 2006 @ 12:37 pmGod forbid it should happen, but yeah…it would be night and day.
I read your post on this and it’s one I largely agree with. Schadenfreude is not something I associate with wisdom.
November 6, 2006 @ 1:34 pmWhen things like this come about, I think it’s important to realize (as some blogs, including VS, have pointed out) that the root cause is sin, and that such events are not something to revel in – proving our superiority in theology – but something to bring us back to our knees – to be like the tax collector in Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:9-14
November 6, 2006 @ 2:06 pmVery well put, John. One expects the MSM to dump on a fallen Christian. That other Christians would join in is dismaying. I hope none of them is ever caught out.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
November 6, 2006 @ 2:07 pmGreat post John.
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” – Prov. 16:9
Our feet wander off His path constantly, and it is by His infinite grace, and the compassion of those around us, that we are able to walk upright and find His way again, and again.
I pray that all brothers and sisters in Christ will realize that even in a sad situation like this, when a prominent brother falls, therein lies an opportunity to glorify Him. May we take that opportunity and help His light shine, rather than snuff it out with man-made wind created by judgement and harsh words.
November 6, 2006 @ 4:30 pmHello John,
November 7, 2006 @ 3:06 pmThe saddest part about the Haggard affair is that after being a liar and a deceiver to his flock, he is now becoming a liar and deceiver to himself. If he truly believes in a God and that we are all created in the image of that God, then he should embrace what his God has created. Why can’t he acknowlege that he is a gay man and begin the journey down the highway of life as an honest self respecting man. Why the self loathing.
Could it be that he is already plotting his comeback. Is the deceit just on temporary hold before it kicks back in at the appropriate time. Does he figure that the self flagellation will prove him to be worthy of the trust of a new flock.
I hope that Haggard has the sense to ask forgiveness from his wife and family and that he is able to convince them that he is a gay man through no choice of his own. I hope that he can learn to be honest with himself and stop the charade that he has been living for all these years. Any gay person who has come out of the closet will tell you that coming out is liberating. It will be interesting to see what path Haggard takes. He should read Jim McGreevey’s book for a little insight.
Hello Scott,
November 8, 2006 @ 12:05 pmWhat is the difference between Haggards sin and the sin of a member of his flock engaging in the same behavior? A great deal. I’m sure that on Sunday you put something in the collection plate. The difference is that Haggard is putting nothing in the plate, but is sucking out a substantial portion to maintain a life style foreign to his flock.
Sorry Scott,
November 8, 2006 @ 12:09 pmI meant to post this on your “Why Isn’t It Just Sin?!”
Roger says,
“If he truly believes in a God and that we are all created in the image of that God, then he should embrace what his God has created.”
One of God’s creations is His Word. I hope that Ted Haggard will embrace it, acknowledging that all sexual activities and thoughts outside of marriage are sin, realize that He can be forgiven by God for any and every sin that he has commited, and know that He can walk in purity through God’s power.
November 8, 2006 @ 12:10 pmHello Amy,
November 9, 2006 @ 9:24 amI always enjoy reading your comments because they come from a kind and forgiving heart. Although I admire your positive and uplifting comments I do disagree on one point.
I think your quote, “One of God’s creations is His Word”, does not measure up to the standards of, what I consider, rational thought. I commented in an earlier post on Bart D. Ehrman’s Book MISQUOTING JESUS: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why. Ehrman chairs the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is in no way a Christian basher. As a student of ancient Hebrew and Greek documents relating to the early church, he covers the errors, some by mistake and some by design, of the writing of the gospels. I’m sure that no two people who read the book would come away with exactly the same take on it. I personally came away from the book with the opinion that the Bible is the word of men, and not a god. Since so many fingers were involved in the writing of the Bible and because of the contradictions in it, I find it hard to refer to it as the Word.
As pathetic a figure as Ted Haggard is, I don’t judge his behavior as contrary to biblical teachings. I judge it as contrary to a rational sense of decency. I’m sure that he is living in his own personal Hell, and a well deserved Hell. I feel no sense of sorrow for him because his Hell is self inflicted. Do I enjoy seeing him suffer? Absolutely not! He put himself in Hell and only he can extricate himself. Do I wish for him to extricate himself and live a happy life? Absolutely!
I have been made aware of Ehrman before and realize that his publications have a wide audience and have influenced a lot of people. I am aware of textual criticism issues and spent a despondent (though thankfully short-lived) period of my life being overwhelmed by them.
There are so many men who have started off with “simple faith,” gone to seminary, studied textual criticism and come away with little or no faith. I could be like one of them because generally I like to analyze things and don’t like seeming contradictions. Yet God really just miraculously took away my desire to even consider textual criticism issues. I have no doubt that there are seeming contradictions – I also am aware that there are possible explanations for some of those contradictions which are often not presented. Perhaps one day when I am at a different stage in my life I will look into the issues more – not for myself, but simply so that I can present “other options” to those who have only been shown one part of the story. There are “other options” for at least some of the seeming contradictions.
In the end accepting scripture as the Word of God is a matter of faith, which is a gift from God. No one can prove the accuracy and lack of contradiction in the original text, since they are no longer available.
I’ve heard some of Isaiah’s prophecies scoffed at by a Bible scholar 1)because Isaiah couldn’t have possibly known what he was talking about 2) because there was an immediate fulfillment. The assumption is that for a prophecy to be valid the prophet had to know what he was talking about and that prophecy once fulfilled could not have a future fulfillment or fullfillments. I see no reason to hold to either of those assumptions.
Perhaps even if I had some doubt whether or not the Word of God was truly the Word of God, I might still recognize that the definition of sexual purity as presented in scripture- fidelity between a man and woman- is the guideline that gives one the most joy in one’s personal life and provides the best environment in which to raise secure children.
November 9, 2006 @ 3:40 pm[...] Source: Verum Serum [...]
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