Haggard Exhaustion

I wasn't going to post about this at all. But eh, let's go ahead.

I am so burned out on the Ted Haggard situation. I've read and listened to all I can stand. I know you've all waited for days to hear me pontificate. ;) I'll simply say this. It's an ugly deal and great warning. Pray for Ted, his wife, his kids and his church. Pray for forgiveness, mending of relationships, and restoration. Pray for all of your brothers and sisters in Christ as we are all susceptible to temptations, even those as great as we have witnessed in this case.

And let's be careful about casting stones. I have thrown a few this weekend myself, not directly at Ted, but at him and other high profile Christians who I felt caused this spotlight to be cast on us in the first place. I still feel they are partly to blame, but downing them constantly? That's not the right way to handle it. Those who aren't Christians are watching us, and how we treat one of our own will matter. How could we expect them to understand who we are if they see us throw stones, or worse, abandon our brothers and sisters when they screw up? Let's be like Jesus when he dealt with the woman caught in adultery.

Also, I recorded a podcast yesterday and hope to get it up soon. I may play around and make it "fancy", but then again, maybe not. So be watching for that.

Speaking of podcasts, just listened to great sermon by Don Miller that he recently gave at Imago Dei in Portland. Check it out at their website. Lots of good resources there.

Comments

[fr'nklin]

Hey man, I agree for the most part. I mean, I don't think we need to pound Haggard, but I do think that "the world" would expect "the church" to respond w/ a measure of outrage. I mean, c'mon, the guy is responsible for a lot of this "gay ammendment" stuff going on TODAY, and then it turns out he's doing the gay wild thing? How can you not be po'ed? Especially if you sympathize more w/ the gay community than the xian community? Anyway, I know we all have skeletons in our closets...it's just the hypocricy of this situation that demands a measure of outrage.

[Rich]

I went through the outrage part over the weekend, thus the stone throwing. :)Everyone from Dobson to Falwell and back got it from me. I'm with you and I think there is a place for outrage. That wasn't really what I was talking about I guess. I wasn't clear enough now that I read back. I just hope we can get past the anger and not let it be the end of our reaction. When I think of his kids, my blood boils. But I also know that Jesus can forgive even this. The Bible says they will know us for our love, one for another. That's my hope in this situation. The only thing that can help wash away some of the ugliness.

[Bek]

I'm torn here, as are lots of christians, I'm sure. I'm very sad, but also angered. I understand and agree with the exhortation to refrain from throwing stones. We all have sinned like the woman at the well who was living in adultery. But, Jesus had very strong words, not stones, sternly spoken about hypocrites. This man was living a lie, and for 3 years (apparently) he deliberately deceived his wife, children, friends, and church. My understanding (which may very well be limited) of the woman at the well was not one of deceptive hypocracy. Everyone knew who she was and how she lived. She wasn't hiding the truth of who she was and what she was doing. Jesus is so very merciful and forgiving to those who admit their sin and own up to it, but he was very hard on the hypocrites who pretended to be something that they were not. He didn't mince words. How long would Haggard have continued with his deception had he not been exposed? Hopefully, this has caused him to sincerely repent and turn away from his sin and seek God to restore him. It's good that he's admitting he was deceptive and wrong, but again, he only did it after he was exposed. The church should be willing to receive him with open, loving arms and be full of mercy, ready to assist in his restoration. It would be wrong and sinful for the church to turn her back on him if he is trully seeking forgiveness and restoration. We should pray for him, his family, and the church just as you said and trust God to bring restoration.

[Rich]

Bek, you have your stories mixed up. This isn't the woman at the well. This is the adulteress caught in the act. Her deeds were done in the dark and she was brought to Jesus by the Pharisees. See John 8.

As for the woman in the story of John 8, sure, it's not the greatest one for one example, but anyone who flat out condemns Haggard to, well, at least a form of death, needs to check themselves, just as Jesus had the mob check themselves. A pharisee lives in all of us at one time or another.

Also, since he didn't admit till caught, should that keep us from doing any of the things in my original post. So what do WE do with hypocrites? Seriously. I'm asking. I feel a bit of a push back and am not sure why. If I am wrong I want to know what the right reaction is, really I do. I am willing to admit being wrong.

My reaction is to the many blogs and pronouncements out there that are crossing the line and are not hopeful for redemption. Many are almost gleeful. Ick.

[Kerry]

Love your heart here.

Indeed, there are no winners here. No vidication, no "see, told ya." Just pain, real hurt people with shame, needing grace again, like we all do.