Comments on: Ted Haggard

By: Rick Cendo

Rick Cendo — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 17:29:07 +0000

Clearly, the time has come for my plan to protect Traditional Marriage: a constitution ban on crystal meth and gay prostitutes!

By: Nikie

Nikie — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:44:47 +0000

The man is human. The man is repentive. I do
not know this man nor his family. Yet in the end times many will fall. Many big churchs and little churches. Many loved and many not so loved. God will bring the walls and bondage and chains down. I read both his and his wife’s letters and tears were brought to my eyes. Why?
Because in each of us there is a darkness. In each of us we have struggles. In each of us we have to fight temptation, evil and resist the flesh. If we do not die to these every single day and repent every single day, then satan has a crack into our being . We can rebuke it as often as we like but until we completely give up the sin and repent unto our lord in agony (if it must be) and then lay it totally down on the alter of God and nail our sins to the cross then and only then can we recover. The root problem must be extinquished with any sin. We must examine ourselves and realize that we all have those deep corners of our lives that once took over in us. It can be exaggerating, it can be lust, it can be little white lies that we say that don’t mean any harm but hey we have all been guilty of saying things like”oh you look so good today, ” or that outfit just is wonderful on you” or you might forget to tell your husband something about the kids. “well lets not tell your father, he might over react” Or maybe you took some grapes off of the stem at the produce counter (just to taste) Or what about the anger you felt when someone cut in front of you in the car and they were speeding and no police where there but you go 10 miles over the speed limit and get caught.Or lets not forget the porn videos or movies people go see that have such gross language and murder scenes and sex scenes. Or maybe the Playboy one has hidden the closet and lets not forget about those that live together or have sex but say they are in love. Even herbal vitamins that give you a high or too many Red Bull’s . Or the drinks or beer one might have to have socially or by themselves “just because” Yes these are so little compared to what has happened in your church but isn’t a sin a sin no matter what? And little things start little but once prey to it , it has a habit of growing bigger until one day you look and can not either remember how it all started or it just seems so deep that you can not stop. And are we not told to die to self every single day? The man is human , his family are hurting and must heal. I have to admire Mr. Haggard because at least it did not go on and on for weeks . Yes he denied it , but the Godly in him and the love he felt for all those hurting both he and his wife sent wonderful and respectful and loving letters of repentance out to this church members, blaming himself and knowing it is he that has a problem that needs attention. Yes he has fallen in the eyes of men, but God redeems and forgives and that is what others must do. There will be a time of healing. Even a time of anguish but just remember we are all human and before we came to Christ we all had a past no matter how small or big we all had a past. We know that God is merciful and loving and all forgiving——-that is what we must all be . And don’t let satan grab a hold of any by gossiping or slandering or doing anything that is not of the Lord. For that is exactly how satan works and wants us to be so he can take hold of ones life no matter how small it starts it can grow to insurmountable highs. Dying to self is the key. Yes it is hard but the reward is great and when one knows that they are truly innocent even satan can’t take hold. So be loving and kind and work on yourselves because in that you will stand victorious . I want my Father to say “you have been a good and faithful servant” What about all of you??? Let’s not throw stones upon this family or man lets hold him and his family in prayer and even the man that turned him in.
Mr. Stone has a past and may not be a Christian.
His soul needs saving and the Gospel must be taught to him. What an opprotunity to change lives. Forget about the political arena and what it can and can not do just remember to vote for the one God would want in that position and what the Word of our Lord says about these things.
Be blessed.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:46:03 +0000

Ted Haggard was widely reported to talk with President Bush EVERY MONDAY. How can this story NOT have political implications.

By: Jerry Marwell

Jerry Marwell — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:44:13 +0000

Ted Haggard was widely reported to talk with President Bush EVERY MONDAY. How can this story NOT have political implications.

By: Nick Blesch

Nick Blesch — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:35:27 +0000

I think events like Haggard should lead to some investigation into why so many people who portray themselves as being extremely virtuous have more than the average amount of self destruction and sin in their lives, while many who portray themselves as hedonistic freaks (some rock stars) are in fact mild mannered monogamous individuals.
I think it isn’t so much what they do that’s a surprise, it’s what we expect them to do.
When someone claims to be extremely virtuous, even something basically innocuous (like, say, having a few beers every Friday or going to Vegas to – gasp! – gamble) becomes a Big Deal. Similarly, when we’re talking about a rock star, we expect such bad behavior from them that a rockstar who “only” did cocaine every now and then (and, heck, has a few beers on Fridays and like to go to Vegas) just doesn’t shock us.
Also, when we see things that seem very extreme, like Haggard’s actions, it’s not as if they’re representative of a group (generally). It’s specifically because they’re so extreme that they’re in the news for days, etc.

By: Steve Kellerman

Steve Kellerman — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 13:11:02 +0000

By: Steve Kellerman

Steve Kellerman — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 12:29:35 +0000

Mr Haggerman has a sermon posted on his website where he prays that deception and lies will be uncovered. I guess you have to say be careful what you wish or pray for. Everyone is a sinner (makes mistakes) but it seems a person who proclaims their “godliness” is often drawn into the extremes of sin.

By: Joel Betow

Joel Betow — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 23:59:12 +0000

The fact is that a significant minority of the evangelical community does see church leadership and the Republican party as one and the same, or at least close to lock-step. That has come about through the Moral Majority, Christian Coalition, Focus on the Family (political division of it) and several other high profile individuals or groups. Many of my more mainstream religious but politically conservative Republican friends as well as my more secular conservative friends tell me they don’t feel nearly as welcome at Republican gatherings. Maybe that is just a rural south-border state thing.
It should be pointed out that Haggard is purported to speak to President Bush or his advisors every Monday. I don’t think they are talking about simply spiritual matters. I think they are also talking about how the evangelical community can influence the electorate to vote for Republicans. The fact that he does it greatly behind the scenes seems rather irrelevant. So, while he may not be on the ballot, he is no side-player to the Republican party. Hypocrisy is no proof that the Bible is wrong or that Christianity is flawed, but it certainly can be a factor in determining if the faith as practiced has integrity. Martin Luther never claimed that church practices or church leaders he viewed as corrupt were damning either to Christianity or the gospel, but he did believe they distorted people’s understanding of Christianity and the Word. If hypocrisy is widespread, that doesn’t affect the truth of what is being advocated, but it might call into question as to whether the truth of Scripture is being correctly advocated in the first place.
As far as one of your main points, I agree that Haggard’s fall shouldn’t affect the election. But it should be a reminder to those on the left and right that immmorality accompanies individual leaders without regard to theological perspective. Ironically, in some ways, Haggard displayed more humility in his demeanor than many other religious leaders do. Indeed, if there is an impact on the election, part of the reason might be that many religious leaders come across not simply as advancing their understanding of the Gospel but as somehow being morally superior to those whose beliefs they criticize. The truth is that even though they shouldn’t, many people do vote based on emotional reasons.
Years ago, many Republicans used the moral failings of Martin Luther King to try to sway people away from voting for Democrats, so this issue cuts both ways.
When James Dobson referred to Sen. Patrick Leahy as a “God’s people hater” I think he stepped over the line into sanctimony that has fed the kind of emotions that may result in Haggard’s fall affecting the election at least minimally. (Personally, I think Dobson’s move to set up a political arm of Focus on the Family was short-sighted; he already had the Family Research Council that had political overtones — now Focus on the Family is widely identified with the Republican party, whether it is fair to do so or not.)

By: K. Espenschied

K. Espenschied — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 23:33:02 +0000

I think this stuff is a fucntion of the myriad of erroneous teaching so many evangelicals have been embracing over the past 15 years or so, the “Church” has really lost its way. But I don’t expect most folks will get the message. The machinery of damage control will be fully employed, someone will happily move into the position of power they’ve coveted for so long, and many congregants will double their their denial, and efforts in the same direction. I don’t think Jesus had anything to do with this. I’m sure He is good. If someone is really following Him, they have a good chance to avoid doing things like this, though snares are there for us all – sin is real. One sad part is this: faithful people, people who really care about Jesus and souls will pay a price and the big name TV preacher band will continue to play on.
Maranatha!

By: Christinewjc

Christinewjc — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 14:30:11 +0000

My post on this issue: Church Scandals Cause Immense Harm