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    H. B. London Speaks out on Ted Haggard’s Return

    H. B. London Speaks out on Ted Haggard’s Return

    Usually quiet, H. B. London is now speaking out publicly, saying he wishes Ted Haggard would have followed the counsel of his restoration team.

    Here's some of what H. B. had to say to The Christian Post:

    “The irony of all of this is that, from the very beginning, Mr. Haggard had been counseled to go to another city, complete his restoration program, experience healing in his family and with his addiction, and only then begin again. But, he has made a choice not to do that.  We, who were members of his restoration team and those who served New Life Church as overseers, wish he would not do this. We feel it to be insensitive to a church that provided generously for him and his family for over a year after his misadventure. But, more than that, he violates his own words that he would not begin a new church.

    Meanwhile, New Life Church and it's new pastor, Brady Boyd are taking the high road:  New Life "will always be grateful for the many years of dedicated leadership from Ted Haggard and we wish him and his family only the best."

    Haggards new 'bible-study-church' meets within one mile of the New Life Campus.

    You can read more here...

    What do YOU think?

    Todd

     

    Comments

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    1. Christopher Fontenot on Mon, November 23, 2009

      Wolf in sheep’s clothing.  It would be hard to believe that someone who is so self-centered could be surrendered to a Holy God as Lord.  He is the fig tree with outward and “showy” evidence of Christianity but NO FRUIT!  This man is the antithesis of Christianity and we need to separate him from us until he repents and trusts Christ.  Christians are often criticized for shooting their wounded.  Ted Haggard is not a wounded Christian….he is lost.

    2. rbud on Mon, November 23, 2009

      I am very hesitate to use such strong language as Mr. Fontenot in criticizing Mr. Haggard. I’m not in a position to look into Mr. Haggard’s soul to see what’s really there.

      As for Mr. London, his view is well thought-out, reasonable and properly presented. I appreciate his respectful, sensitive approach to the issue. I would expect him to prefer that Mr. Haggard complete the course of recovery begun but left unfinished.

      However, in the final analyis, only Ted Haggard can really say whether or not he has come to terms with his recovery, his behavior proclivities, and his relationship to Christ. My greatest concern is that Mr. Haggard remains in denial over his issues, which, if true, I see as a dangerous situation for himself, his family, and his followers. Over the long term, it would be a disaster in the making.

    3. CS on Mon, November 23, 2009

      From the article:

      “In a short statement issued on the eve of Haggard�s first prayer gathering, New Life Church�s current pastor, Brady Boyd, said the church �will always be grateful for the many years of dedicated leadership from Ted Haggard and we wish him and his family only the best.�

      “The church said it would not comment further.”

      I’m going to have to call out New Life on this one.  If you have a man who no longer qualifies as a pastor engaging in pastoral activities, in violation of his word and promises for spiritual reconciliation, and accept donations that he gathers for your church, you are in error.  You can’t really say, “we wish him the best.” 

      It is your duty to call him out and to say that what he is doing is wrong and that you stand opposed to it.  You must refuse his monetary contributions, admonish your congregants to have no fellowship with him, and rebuke him sternly.  Failure to do so is synonymous with accepting egregious and public sin as a part of your church body. 


      CS

    4. Dan Moore on Mon, November 23, 2009

      I am not surprised.  He is following in the footsteps of Jimmy Swaggart who was supposed to undergo a similar restoration process but part way through he stopped.  Mr. Haggard has some serious issues and is possibly being enabled by some close friends.  Sad.

    5. GR Guy on Mon, November 23, 2009

      The issue is now much larger than Ted Haggard, the very integrity of the body of Christ is at stake.  Christ can work in any situation but this does not look good if Haggard’s counselors are against this move.  We may not be able to judge Ted Haggard, but I think it is fair to say his counselors are in a position to do that, and it doesn’t look promising based on London’s statement.

      Haggard really needs to understand that he has lost his moral authority to lead a church and that he might be better to do God’s work in a different capacity.  It is not a matter of what is fair or not, but it is a matter of integrity.  We all need to pray hard on this one.

    6. Rick McGinniss on Mon, November 23, 2009

      No judgment is required of Mr. Haggard’s spiritual condition, etc, etc.

      As a pastor who has been through this kind of process with a former staff member who fell into the ditch, the bottom line is that he did not follow the leadership of those who counseled him. More importantly, he is interfering in the ministry of New LIfe. It’s hard enough to do ministry without a former pastor/staff member lurking in the background.

      I commend Brady and the staff at New Life for their high-road approach and I pray that they will have the strength to stay with it. Sometimes I don’t.

    7. Christopher Fontenot on Mon, November 23, 2009

      The glorification of God is primary in the heart of true believers.  With ALL the counseling this man has received concerning Biblical restoration and his apparent knowledge of Scripture concerning matters like his, how can he claim to do the will of God when he is in stark violation of that will revealed in His Word? I stated my opinion of his spiritual condition based on this assessment.  It is apparent that he thinks only of himself and his fame(typical of most modern “evangelical” mega-church pastors) and could care less about Jesus and His renown.  Shame on you, Ted Haggard.

    8. David on Mon, November 23, 2009

      In Ted Haggard’s book, Life Giving Church, he specifically states that if you are on staff at a church and you feel that God is leading you to start a ministry, that the only honorable way to do that is start that ministry at least one hour drive away from the church where you were serving.  He is not only rejecting to the counsel of his restoration team but also his own counsel.  I pray that Ted will pray about this, reconsider and choose another path.

    9. Steve Long on Mon, November 23, 2009

      I was looking for the word ‘misadventure’ in the Bible. Anyone have any ideas?

    10. RicM on Tue, November 24, 2009

      Acts 5:36 NIV
      Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.

      Folks just need to leave it alone.  Stop talking to one another about men and focus your heart and life on talking to God.  Put your heart into what God has called you to do and be.  Act like King David and not like king Saul.  Come on now, be about the Father’s business and let the Father take care of those who are proclaiming their rights in Kingdom matters.

    11. CS on Tue, November 24, 2009

      RicM:

      “Put your heart into what God has called you to do and be. “

      Part of what God has called us to do is to call out false teachers and mark those who cause division. 


      CS

    12. RicM on Tue, November 24, 2009

      How well I understand that truth.  But here is my point. Should the burden of chastisement and correction be that of the entire body of Christ?  99% of which have little to no knowledge of the behind-the-scenes workings and or conversations.  I say let those whom are in the position of bringing about that correction do what they see best as they have been appointed to do so.  The rest of the church should take on the biblical responsibility of fasting and praying for both the man and restoring counsel overseeing the process; not wasting Kingdom time in what so easily could be seen as gossip.  I am not directly in those behind the door conversations, but I am responsible to pray.

    13. CS on Tue, November 24, 2009

      RicM:

      “I say let those whom are in the position of bringing about that correction do what they see best as they have been appointed to do so.”

      Here’s the problem in this instance: they haven’t done it biblically.  If you check the article, you’ll see that New Life has not made any sort of declaration that Haggard has been set outside and should be treated as a false teacher.  Doing something as one, “sees best,” is not the way we do things; we follow Scripture.

      For example, I know of one situation well at my last church where a situation warranted the furthest extent of church discipline in setting someone outside per Matthew 18.  Instead, the person was merely removed from where that person was serving in the church, and it was not brought up in front of the congregation as they should have.  It was pushed aside for fear of disrupting the church.

      When we do what we see as best, if it is outside of Scripture, then we’re in a wrong place.  If it’s in line with the Bible, then best effort is reasonable.  In this situation, no one seems to be doing what the Bible commands (at least publicly).


      CS

    14. Omega Seamaster on Wed, November 25, 2009

      It would be hard to believe that someone who is so self-centered could be surrendered to a Holy God as Lord.

    15. Bill on Sat, November 28, 2009

      “People love a good comeback story.”  ????  that certainly reveals where his heart is.  it is mostly about HIS story.  He broke his word yet again by starting this “church” and he has refused guidance from some very Godly and wise men.  It really is a shame and, unfortunately, it will probably only be a matter of time before something else comes out about him.  Really hurts the body of Christ.

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