Monday Morning Insights

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    Ted Haggard: “I am a Loser”

    Here they are:

    Haggard talks about a lifelong battle with his sexuality β€” and that he never claimed to be heterosexual.  “The reason I kept my personal struggle a secret is because I feared that my friends would reject me, abandon me and kick me out, and the church would exile and excommunicate me. And that happened and more,” he says.

    My comment:  Absolutely, Ted.  Did you think that the church would condone your sinful behavior?  Did you think the NAE would allow their spokesman to openly admit to being a homosexual? 

    You never claimed to be a heterosexual?  What?!  In the pulpit, when you decried homosexuality as a sin, you didn’t at least imply that you were a heterosexual?  What about when you married your wife?  Was your church board, or the board of the NAE kinda thinking you were a heterosexual?

    Some would say that for years, Haggard only struggled with homosexual ‘thoughts’, and that the lifelong battle he speaks of was only ‘in his head’.  Could be.  But it seems to me (and I might be totally wrong… it’s happened once before), that Ted is crying foul to everyone around him when the foul is really on himself. 

    You see, Ted, you say you kept your personal struggle secret because ‘you didn’t want your friends to reject you’.  But then you showed your famous face to a male prostitute that you knew could identify you.  You sacrificed your reputation, your family, your ministry, and those friends you feared would reject you.  And now, your worst fears have come true.  They’ve done exactly what you thought they would.  And, it sounds to me, as if you really believe in your heart that it is their fault.

    It’s not.  It’s yours.

    Ted… you are my brother in Christ.  But cut the charades. 

    I admittedly have not faced the struggles you have faced. I have not had to deal with Christian celebrity.  And I am definitely not above sin.  Far from it.  But it does tend to tick me off a little when I see this kind of behavior from someone who, by all standards, should know better.

    My heart goes out to the Haggard family, and I wish nothing but the best for Ted, his wife, and their kids.  But this HBO special documentary sticks to high heaven.  And no one will be served, Ted especially, if it comes off as a ‘pity party for Ted’.

    Here’s Haggard’s closing quote in the article:

    “At this stage in my life, I am a loser.”

    If you use the next month to play the blame game, Ted… then this is one thing that we can agree on.

    Read more here...

    Am I too harsh?


    Last week, it was announced that Ted Haggard has agreed to make some public appearances to help promote an HBO documentary about himself that will air in January. This is not a joke. The documentary, produced by Alexandra Pelosi (daughter of U. S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi), will supposedly show how Haggard is struggling to provide for his family and make progress after his fall from grace a couple years ago. But there are a couple of quotes that really stuck out to me in an article over the weekend from the Rocky Mountain News...

    Comments

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    1. jud on Mon, December 22, 2008

      No, your not too harsh. For choosing to cash in on the situation instead of simply humbling himself and disappearing into the woodwork he is a loser. There were all kind of people willing to extend Grace to Ted Haggard when his fall came. He had a big teadm of prominent evangelicals willing to assist him. When he found out restoration and forgiveness didn’t include a return to 6 or 7 figure income and the limelight, THEN he threw these people under the bus with the “ ...that happened and more” self pity party.


      He chose to be humbled when he lived a life apart from confession and repentance all those years. No one set him up but himself. Humility is the point the Lord is trying to teach him (and the rest of us for that matter) and he STILL wants the “Ted Haggard Show”, which HBO and Pelosi probably snicker at the opportunity of giving him.


      Unbelievable.


      We all need to see the warning in this.

    2. ckincincy on Mon, December 22, 2008

      The part that saddened me the most about some of the articles is him and his wife stating that they are making it work ‘for the children.’


      That’s what’s wrong with marriage in America.  We are not married to our children, we are married to our spouse and need to start making it work for them!

    3. bryan on Mon, December 22, 2008

      Yes.  That was pretty harsh.

    4. JOB on Mon, December 22, 2008

      ....and in other news Jim Bakker has his own talk show again. http://www.jimbakkershow.com/

    5. Tony on Mon, December 22, 2008

      So sad.  This is reminiscient of Jimmy Swaggart; his ego will not allow there to be true repentance on his part.  For the sake of The Body of Christ and all concerned, please go quietly Ted.  Stay out of the limelight and let the healing process work it’s way out in this.  Please think about someone other than yourself; FOR ONCE!!!.

    6. Rob on Mon, December 22, 2008

      Ted did loose his job, but that’s not the same as being exiled from “the church” as he states.  As I recall, several Christian leaders stood by him to help restore him. 


      Gay activist will have a field day on this one.  They already call us gay haters.  In my opinion, this documentary will only further that belief.

    7. Dan Moore on Mon, December 22, 2008

      Sin is sin.  We can judge sin.  It is bad, destructive, and corrosive.  Ted is dealing with other aspects of sin…pride!  It is great when one is on top…but what is sad when so many preachers get caught up in their own rhetoric and belief that they are immunue.  Bakker, Swaggart, and now Ted.   It also happens among us lowly types as well.  I have known folks who were caught in sin, lovingly confronted, and they initially agreed to follow through…then to turn in anger on the body of Christ as if it were the church’s fault.   If Ted had been battling his issues for so long, why didn’t he take his own advice and seek counseling long ago?  Ted got his priorities mixed up.  Humility is needed in him.  Accountability is necessary.  Ted, if Christ and His church can deliver me from alcoholism (and I have been dry since August 8, 1985), then Christ can deliver you.  Take a dose of humility, mix in God’s word and stir it up with faithful counselors who will hold you tight in the grip fo their love.

    8. jim on Mon, December 22, 2008

      This is the part that saddens me: until the church is a SAFE place for people to divulge their struggles with homosexuality, this type of thing will happen over and over again.  This post shows exactly why it is impossible for most churches to help those who feel a tension in their sexual identity.

    9. Katrina on Mon, December 22, 2008

      Todd,


      I’m impressed by you candor but know this:


      the MOST loving thing you can do is tell someone the truth even if you think it sounds “harsh”.  Ted is capitalizing on this tragedy for the money HBO will pay him for the story and you are right in that he will use it to hopefully draw pity upon himself.  You did not compromise and called it for what it is.  Pray for him?...yes. Condone his sin then support his prideful decision to capitalize on it?...no.

    10. Pat on Mon, December 22, 2008

      He sounds like a very confused man, to me.

    11. Lynn on Mon, December 22, 2008

      I absolutely believe the Bible is clear on the issue of homosexuality - it is an abomination to God.  Ted gave into temptation and the price tag was so high.  We often don’t think of the price tag - what will it do to our families?  What does it do to our testimony?  What will it do where my job is concerned?  Most of all, what does it do to the heart of God?  As the Bible says, sin has it pleasure for a season.


      Having said that, I wish the church was a place for those struggling with homosexuality to be open.  We have served in a pastoral role for many years.  We chose as a pastoral couple to convey the message that if you are struggling with ANY sin, come and let us help you.  We won’t reject you and we will walk help you walk in victory if you want that.


      Most homosexuals that we have seen get free and stay free are still afraid to talk about their pasts.  It the “shameful” sin.  They feel they will never be looked at normal. 


      In some cases, what about marriage.  If you knew a man was “delivered” from homosexuality, would you want your daughter to date and marry him?


      These are hard questions.  The sin is awful but how do we help the sinner?

    12. Steve on Mon, December 22, 2008

      Yes, it comes across pretty harsh - kind of a ‘thank God I’m not like him” tone. Not much grace coming through!


      Remember how Jesus deal with scandalous sexual sin. He was born into a family filled with scandal and he loved and healed and protected scandals his whole ministry!

    13. Peter Hamm on Mon, December 22, 2008

      β€œAt this stage in my life, I am a loser.”


      Knowing you have a problem is the first step toward ignoring it and hoping everybody else forgets about it.


      http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif

    14. Zach Nielsen on Mon, December 22, 2008

      The gospel is for losers.  I am glad he said what he did.  It’s a great place to start.  If you don’t think you are a loser, you probably don’t need the gospel. 


      z

    15. CS on Mon, December 22, 2008

      “Am I too harsh?”


      Nope, you were right on.


      For a while, we have been seeing Haggard engage in activities after his stepping down from being a pastor that have been questionable, including preaching in other venues, ignoring what his elders told him to do, and sometimes appearing as though he would start a new church.  And now we have him shamelessly promoting a biopic on HBO and talking about his homosexuality with almost no sense of remorse.


      Frankly, he has yet to show Godly sorrow and repentance.  He has shown metamelomai, in feeling bad that he was caught, and not metanoia which is what God demands. 


      If I saw that someone was doing a biopic on my sins in my life, I would feel horrible about those sins and tell people about the unworthy forgiveness I have been given through Jesus Christ.  Not advertising and boasting about it.


      Shame on you, Ted.



      CS

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