What Can We Learn from Fallen Christian Leaders?
Tuesday November 14, 2006
When I first heard the news that Ted Haggard, the former senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, had resigned amidst accusations of sexual misconduct and for purchasing illegal drugs, my heart was grieved. I was so upset I didn't dare speak or even write about it. As the accusations proved to be true, I continued to grieve. I grieved for Ted, his family and his congregation of over 14,000. I grieved for the body of Christ, and for myself. I knew this scandal would affect the entire Christian community. You see, Ted Haggard was also the president of the National Association of Evangelicals. He was well-known and often quoted by the media. Christians everywhere were hard hit with the news. Fragile Christians would be devastated and certainly skeptics would turn away from Christianity.
Whenever a high-profile Christian leader falls or fails, the effects are far-reaching.
For a while I felt anger at Ted for not getting help sooner. I was angry at Satan for devouring another Christian testimony. I felt sadness for the pain this scandal would cause Ted's family and his large sphere of influence. I felt sadness for the gays, prostitutes, and drug abusers focused on by this scandal. I felt embarrassment for the name of Christ and for his church. This would be one more opportunity for mocking Christians, for pointing out the hypocrisy within the church. And then I felt ashamed for judging my brother, for overlooking my own hidden sin, my own failures and short comings.
Something like this can happen to any one of us if we do not remain vigilant in our walk with Christ.
When anger and shame subsided I felt some comfort too. For I know when sin is kept hidden in darkness, it flourishes, entangling and blinding as it grows in strength. But once exposed, once confessed and ready to be dealt with, sin loses its grip, and a prisoner goes free.
Whenever a high-profile Christian leader falls or fails, the effects are far-reaching.
For a while I felt anger at Ted for not getting help sooner. I was angry at Satan for devouring another Christian testimony. I felt sadness for the pain this scandal would cause Ted's family and his large sphere of influence. I felt sadness for the gays, prostitutes, and drug abusers focused on by this scandal. I felt embarrassment for the name of Christ and for his church. This would be one more opportunity for mocking Christians, for pointing out the hypocrisy within the church. And then I felt ashamed for judging my brother, for overlooking my own hidden sin, my own failures and short comings.
Something like this can happen to any one of us if we do not remain vigilant in our walk with Christ.
When anger and shame subsided I felt some comfort too. For I know when sin is kept hidden in darkness, it flourishes, entangling and blinding as it grows in strength. But once exposed, once confessed and ready to be dealt with, sin loses its grip, and a prisoner goes free.
-
Psalm 32:3-5
When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD"—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin. (NIV)
It seems that the enemy goes for the strongest leaders and tries to prey on their weaknesses in order to bring the, down and create havoc among Christian followers. It’s happened since biblical times as David is one example. I believe it will be this way until the end of time as we know it. We must continue to pray for Christians around the world, to keep their faith and not become discouraged, but to put their faith in God, not man, as we are imperfect vessels given to temptation and in this case, giving in to the temptations of satan. Forgiveness is needed, and so is repentence. I hope Rev. Haggard is making his peace with God.
Mary,
Steve of Stupidchurchpeople.com has published a letter he wrote to Ted Haggard. It’s in three parts. I suggest everyone go read it. It really is amazing. In it, he says that this whole situation reminds him of something one of his colleagues said to him years ago, that has stuck with him to this day. Ted you have not fallen from grace, but rather into grace.
This issue with Ted Haggard is going to force alot of people to take a long hard look at how they view homosexuality in relation to the church. The Evangelical church may be harder hit than other denominations, since Ted is an evangelical who is for all appearances seems to be gay. Personally, I can’t say I’m grieved by this or that I really care. Yeah Ted screwed up, but so what? Is there any of us who can say we haven’t done our share of sexual imoorality in our lives? I can’t and I won’t, because I’d be a liar. What really matters more here? That a brother in Christ has fallen or that a brother from the pulpit has fallen? Why is it so heinous that a minister has fallen as opposed to a pew sitter? Have we put our religious leaders on such a pedastal that if they sin, like we all do, the very structure of the church is in danger?
If we ever get tired of debating the Ted Haggard thing, we can always move on to talk about Kent Hovind. This guy’s lookin’ at 200+ years in jail for tax evasion. Why is this story not getting any attention? According to God’s law this guy is a liar and a thief. But I guess pastors are held to a higher standard than young earth scientists are.
These are my initial comments about Ted Haggard. I posted this in the comment section at http://www.stupidchurchpeople.com initially:
I think one thing that may be getting overlooked here is what responsibility to Ted do we as fellow Christians have, if any? He had a responsiblity to his church and others to be honest with us as an example of how to walk worthy in Christ, and he chose for whatever reason to abandon that responsibility. So what should we as committed followers of Christ be doing in response to this and similar incidents where the pulpit-pounders have fallen from grace?
I think this situation may be bringing out the worst in us as Christians. Just take a look at all the opinions about what Ted should do or should have done that are coming to the surface now, not just on this blog but on message boards all over the internet and television and radio programs that are devoting time to this as well. We might like to think we’re discussing a serious issue that’s facing the church and on some level I believe we are, but aren’t we also just engaging in gossip and possibly slander if we refer to him as a liar or even something like an unregenerate sinner or a sodomite as some people may be inclined to do?
I think we should embrace Ted and people like him in the church and let them know that while we do not agree with their actions of the past, we will not turn our backs on them and kick them out of the church. I think the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 25:35-40 apply here. In short, what you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Is Ted not a stranger now, at least to the people who know who he is or was. Are we not now seeing a whole new person? A different person than the one we were led to believe was the real Ted Haggard these past few years?
Ted has been stripped bare of any privacy and has been laid naked these past couple of weeks, should we clothe him, or turn our backs on him?
It’s obvious to me that he is thirsting for something in his life and has not found it anywhere yet. He didn’t find it in marriage, he didn’t find it in fame and power, he didn’t find it in the pulpit. Shouldn’t we take him in and bring him to the water of life that is Jesus Christ? Only He has the power to change Ted’s heart of stone and give him a new one. What should we do? What do we want to do?
Jen & Zec –
Thanks, both of you, for the comments. My full article expressed some similar sentiments.
Zec, I read Steve’s letter also and found it very insightful. I especially like Tony Campolo’s comments in this post.