I have previously written about Pastor Ted Haggard and the sex scandal that revolved around him. While I previously mentioned how I prayed and hoped that the church would use this scandal to demonstrate to the world the amazing forgiveness and acceptance of Christ, it is sad today that they have failed miserably.
I just watched the HBO documentary on Ted and I must admit that it tends to lean in Ted’s favor. I understand that many are still hurt and upset at the downfall of Pastor Ted. I can understand that it takes time for healing to come, but I also realize that many have moved from hurt and pain to bitterness.
I didn’t realize that Ted’s church had required for Ted to move out of state and never return. I didn’t realize that they had banned him from every working in ministry again. I didn’t realize that they had essentially kicked him out of the church, out of the state and out of ministry while telling him to undergo “spiritual restoration.” I am not sure this church even understands spiritual restoration.
While I whole-heartedly agree that Ted Haggard needs to receive healing and restoration for his life, I also understand that his life is his own and his choices are his own to make. The church has little say in how he goes about the process and they certainly don’t have ANY say or authority to tell him to leave the state of Colorado and never return. It is ridiculous for them to even believe that they can tell someone to get out of our area and stay out. I must say who do they think they are?
Only Ted and God, know the depth of his sin and where he is spiritually today. It is not for me, you, the media or his previous church to stand in judgment of him. It IS all of our responsibility to love him and accept him where he is at. We must be the church that God created us to be, not the Pharisees and Sadducees that many are.
I pray for Ted Haggard and his family. I pray for New Life church and their leaders and I pray for all of us to stop being so “righteous” that we can’t even be the church to a lost and dying world. It is time for us to use these moments of failure to demonstrate just how powerful the love of God is and how far reaching His forgiveness goes. Stop kicking those that are down and pick them up instead and build them towards a closer, more personal relationship with the Father of Lights.
Isn’t the purpose of the church to lift up the sinner and lead them to Christ?
Be careful how you answer that…..
Cause if you answer it Yes….
Then the church is failing miserably in this case and many others as well.
Filed under: Life, The Church | Tagged: Gay sex scandal, New Life Church, Righteousness, Ted Haggard, The Church
