From my research, Dr. Dobson is the most solid Evangelical Christian of all.  He’s the kind of guy I look up to.  I hope he is real with Ted.  Dobson is no-nonsense and doesn’t have patience for playing games.  I’m surprised he’s spending time on this; it must reflect the gravity of the situation.  I wouldn’t expect much from Hayford, and don’t know the other guy. 

Just my opinion.

I wondr if anyone asked Pastor John Hagee to help? 

...Bernie

I am so brokenhearted over this situation with Haggard.  I hope and pray that he gets to the root of the problem.  I agree with the author about getting so caught up in being a “busy Martha” that our relationship with the Lord suffers, people need to know their balance in serving in the church.  We also do need to remember that his sin is no different that someone gossiping.

Well, since we’re giving our opinions about Dr. Dobson, I think he’s a pretty stereotypical conservative evangelical.  That being said I’m impressed neither with his theology nor with his politics (nor with how he fuses the two!).  In fact, I would argue that his close association with Republican politics is positively disastrous (for the Kingdom, not so much for the politics).  Aren’t you glad christianity isn’t a popularity contest??
I will say however, that I’m glad Haggard is getting serious counseling.  We need help to get back up when we fall that hard… And regardless of what I think about how Dobson encourages people to misunderstand the essence of Christianity, he will probably be great for Haggard and the recovery process.
My two cents,
-Daniel-

Andy said: “I agree with your comment on Dobson and wonder where your comment about Hayford came from. “

Personally, I think Hayford is like a typical member of the “good ole boy” club, with my understanding of his persona.  Feel free to disagree.

Dobson, however, is not afraid to make waves with his strongly-held beliefs.  I don’t see Hayford doing that.  Just seems to me that Hayford is really good at “playing church.”

Another big difference between the two: Hayford names things after himself, like his “Jack W. Hayford School of Pastoral Nurture.” Dobson vowed never to do such a thing:

From:  https://giving.family.org/giving/A000000024.cfm
(btw, I think these guidelines are an excellent role-model)

This ministry belongs to God, not to James Dobson. It is neither a monument to his ego nor a legacy to his memory. Focus on the Family does not bear his name ... the buildings do not belong to him ... we have not founded a James Dobson University. Dr. Dobson is merely a fellow servant in the work of the Kingdom.

Just some insight into my thoughts.  Feel free to disagree.  I’ve studied the operations of Focus on the Family and I’m impressed with Dr. Dobson’s management and integrity.  I think he’s rock solid and genuine, like Christian leaders should be.  Sure, he’s not perfect; no one is.  I don’t worship him, but I see him as a Evangelical role-model (in regards to finance/stewardship and politics), when there are so few to see.  I don’t agree with him on everything, but his character is beyond reproach as far as I can see.

Colossians 1:21-23 (New American Standard Bible)
21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
22yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--
23if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard,

...Bernie

Jack Hayford is one of the most respected men in ministry.  I’d say his number one qualification is that he’s filled with the Holy Spirit.  Unlike many Christians he’s not quick to judge. If your looking for fruit from a person’s life I’m sure you’ll find quite a harvest from Jack and his wife Anna.

Bernie,

Do you form an opinion about every person whose name appears in print?  Why do you feel the need to do this?  How do you understand enough of someone’s “persona” to make a derogatory comment?  My mom used to walk past me when she heard me gossiping on the phone and whisper “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

I think that you base someone’s integrity and credibility on how many waves they make, how many people they call out and try to bring down, and how they manage their finances.  And if they are not making trouble, they are in an “old boys club playing church.”

Fison – Daniel and I agree (I think) about the problems of mixing politics with our Christian faith and efforts to advance the kingdom of God.  A lengthy discussion about that would hijack this thread, but I would just say to your comment about John Jay . . .

He was a fine and Godly man indeed, and he may have believed this to be a Christian nation (which a democracy could never really be), but the constitution established and provides for a pluralistic country.  Every Mormon, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and atheist has equal rights to practice their “religion” because our founding fathers gave them this right.

James Dobson is a fine and Godly man, and will I know be a great help to Ted Haggard and the family.  However, in the past few years I have more than once been completely embarrassed by his mean spirited representation of me on national TV (because he claimed to speak for all evangelicals).  I think this is the kind of thing Daniel was speaking about.

Wendi

Wendi,
I don’t know if we do agree on mixing politics and religion?

Wendi, I just RE-read what you said about hijacking the original tread. So I am going to erase what I just wrote to you. It wasn’t ugly or nasty, just some of my opinions. But you are right, so I will back off. I will leave my first sentence on. I am pretty sure we may disagree on religion and politics, but you know what--those disagreements aren’t salvation issues, just opinions. I am am really sure that you and I can disagree and get along just find. My wife tells me I am wrong quite often--can you imagine that. I am the head of my house, and the little woman says, “fishon, you better shut your pie-hole or your going to make a fool of your self. Hum, I think I am the head of my house?

MAKE IT a great tomorrow.
fishon

I am not as concerned about the selection of these men to do the hard work of restoration. I pray they are willing to put in the time needed to fully restore a brother in Christ. By restoration I do not mean being reinstalled in his chruch. I am mean restored to full spiritual and family health.

Their qualifications I am sure are fine. I am also sure that no matter who they chose there would be reservations and criticisms. As for the politics of the men in involved, they will not come into play in the work with Mr. Haggard, it is their heart and soul that will be called on.

Does anyone else find it odd that part of the restoration process involves “a polygraph test and extensive investigation”?  Is that really necessary?  How about some spiritual discernment instead?  It seems like there is still some feeling that Haggard will not be completely honest with the men appointed to this task, or that they will be unable to do the work without knowing every little detail. I don’t know. It just seems kind of sad to me to have to bring a polygraph into the equation.  If you’re not ready to be honest, then is restoration even possible? 

I also want to echo Wendi and Linda’s comments on Jack Hayford.  He is a solid guy - experienced, wise, and even-tempered.  I wonder, Bernie, if your perceptions of his ‘persona’ are based solely upon his naming something after himself?  The seminary he founded, by the way, is not named for him.

Look at what has happened due to this scandal.  Christians on a blog now debating about Christian leaders by giving our sometimes narrow views of people we may have never met. and really don’t know that much about I’ve read more of that then I have how glad we are that there is A TEAM is godly men that are there to lift up a brother that was once a great leader.  SAD!  Now I remember why I stayed away from MMI for a while.

Maybe the spiritual discernment was to add the polygraph and an extensive investigation.

I’m actually a little disappointed with this.  I’m a little disappointed with the men chosen, not because of anything inherently wrong with them but because such high-profile, busy leaders were selected rather than allowing Haggard to “retreat” from such a public life and be nurtured by a smaller community.  Having such “big names” in charge of Haggard’s “Restoration” undermines one of the inherent problems in this entire situaiton - pastors thrust into the limelight of media and the seduction of politics.

More than that, however, I’m disappointed that all of this is happening so, so quickly.  Were we on a time table to announce this on Monday because there’s an election on Tuesday and we have to make things look like they’re taken care of?  Why not give everyone involved, the church and especially Rev. Haggard and his family, time to mourn what sin has done in his life and get to the point where they can celebrate that he doesn’t have to lie anymore?  Haggard needs counseling, support, prayer and time - things which can’t occur quickly.

Tom

I see the point about questioning the rush to announce the restoration plan and that it had to include such big names.  With the seductiveness of power and influence, perhaps it would have been better to have the restoration team be made up of people like Pastor John Doe.

I see the lie detector like a drug addict in recovery being required to take regular drug tests.  Once deception and lying become such a part of a person’s life, it is sometimes difficult to even know when one is telling the truth.

Leonard: I think it is dangerous when the lines between faith and politics become indistinguishable for both Campolo and Dobson . . . and I believe both have crossed the line.

Wendi