Ted Haggard Starts Preaching Again
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, November 13, 2008
- Viewed 113
- (16) comments so far
Haggard:
“My dad was pretty successful. He had a lot of workers. One of those workers had a sexual experience with me. I was 7 years old.”
“There I was, 50 years old, a conservative Republican, loving the word of God, an evangelical, born-again, spirit-filled, charismatic, all those things. But some of the things that were buried in the depths of the sea from when I was in the second grade started to rage in my heart and mind.”
“I’m very, very sorry that I sinned. My wife—all my sin and shame fell on her. People treated her as if she had fallen. And my children—they all went through carrying my shame.”
“There came a moment in my life when we were so alone and there was so much despair that I was suicidal. And I’d figured out how I was going to kill myself and rid the world of the horrible curse of Ted Haggard.”
“I’m a stronger Christian than I’ve ever been in my life. I have a stronger marriage than I’ve ever had in my life.”
“I believe that he [God] gives us opportunities every couple of years to communicate the gospel worldwide through secular media and we consistently blow it. A congressman in trouble, that’s the time. A family member gets himself in horrible trouble, that’s the time. A preacher gets himself in awful trouble, that’s the time.”
Thoughts?
It's been two years... and Ted Haggard spoke at a small church about the scandal and sin that brought him down...
According to ABCNews.com, Haggard told the congregation that a sexual incident with a man when he was 7 years old may be related to the scandal involving a male prostitute and crystal meth use that cost him his job two years ago.
Comments
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Leonard on Thu, November 13, 2008
Ted Haggard spoke but that is different that starts preaching again.
fishon on Thu, November 13, 2008
I have prayed for Haggard in the past. Was heartbroken over his sin and its pain for the cause of Christ. I wish him well.
However, I fear that I hear too much about how others missed this and that opportunity.
It may well be true—but I think it not for Haggard to be the one to point it out. Someday, maybe, 2 years later, I don’t think so.
To confess, repent, and then point out others failings in your fall, I just am uneasy about it.
fishon
Derek Vreeland on Thu, November 13, 2008
I listened to the entire message Haggard preached at OBF in Morrison, IL. And it seems like he really has processed his sin in a healthy and biblical way. He admitted that the shame, disgrace, and loss of leadership (and employment) was God’s discipline.
He says he is selling insurance know and getting back on his feet. I am happy for him and his family. I do pray for God’s best for them. His wife must have a tremendous amount of character and resolve to have endured all the hurt, pain, and ugliness of this all. I admire their courage, strength, and honesty.
Derek
CS on Thu, November 13, 2008
Derek:
Not having heard the complete sermon myself, did he show genuine repentance and take full and complete ownership of his sin? While I watched the YouTube clip, although he said that he took responsibility for his sin, the only thing I got was that he took a victim mentality in regards to his father’s hired help, and that he felt bad for wronging people, not specifically for wronging God.
Don’t get me wrong—I know only God can judge the heart. I’m only going off of what my ears heard, and want clarification in sincerity.
—
CS
Derek Vreeland on Thu, November 13, 2008
As for his sincerity, only God knows. What I heard him say was that his molestation was a reason and not an excuse for his sin. He admitted that he had not properly handled the abuse in the past and soon after he turned 50, he began to have sinful thoughts that he connected with the abuse. He didn’t mention homosexual thoughts, but that was my assumption.
He did confess and acknowledge his sin. He did not specifically say he wronged God, but that is how I understood his confession. He said that he had been wrestling with his sin for sometime before the news went public. In fact he said, he prayed one month priory to the public revealing of his sin that God would “do whatever it takes” to rid him of sin.
He described the disgrace and fallout as the discipline of God, because God disciplines those he loves.
Derek
CS on Thu, November 13, 2008
Derek:
Thank you for the further information. I hope and pray that his repentance glorifies our Father, and that he is truly saved.
—
CS
shane on Thu, November 13, 2008
I hope that Ted is still getting the help he needs and that he is truly repentive. My concern is this; it’s only been 2 years, why does Ted “need” to be back on the scene so quickly? I believe (my opinion), Ted needs to continue healing for himself, his wife, his family. I would like to see Ted rebuild his life, but I do not believe it needs to be from any pulpit in any capacity any time soon.
My 2 cents, and praying all the best for the Haggards.
Jermayn on Thu, November 13, 2008
Good on him.
We all make mistakes and its not the fall that makes a man but its the way we get up, repent and move on.
Andy Wood on Fri, November 14, 2008
I was tracking with him and grateful for his humble spirit until the “missed opportunities” part. I don’t think he has, yet, the moral authority to critique the strategic shortcomings of national ministers in the media. Many of them were too consumed with damage control because of his scandal.
That said, I pray he continues to heal and to be a healing voice to broken people and families. There, I believe, he IS developing some credibility.
David George Montalvo on Fri, November 14, 2008
How long exactly before he regains moral authority? None of us have it save thru Christ Jesus. How long before he should get up and confess his sin publicly and repent publicly? He’s not preaching a message on healthy sex lives or on how to avoid drugs, he’s speaking from his experience. Was he making others culpable or merely explaining how sin crept into his life?
Darrin on Fri, November 14, 2008
Right on, David.
All of us are washed-up ragamuffin sinners saved by grace. Unfortunately, I have the tendency to decide who should receive God’s grace, how much grace God should dispense, and when it should be dispensed.
Isn’t that crazy? I am a washed-up ragamuffin sinner who still looks at other people with a sideways glance and furrowed brow.
None of us deserve grace but He freely offers it to one and all. No matter who we are, what we’ve done, or where we come from, grace is the defining characteristic of God’s DNA.
Ted is a child of God and I know God has done something in his life. He wants to share his message…His Message…of grace to the world. He is a man who was broken. He became a man who was contrite. And he has been forgiven. Just like me.
Andy Wood on Fri, November 14, 2008
By moral authority, I mean the ability to speak with credibility about an issue and be heard because our walk matches our talk. This isn’t a grace issue to me. You guys are absolutely right. He is a child of God and has experienced the incredible truth that grace works for pastors, too. I get it, and I agree.
My ONLY concern was in his diversion from his amazing testimony of repentance, healing, and grace to say, “you guys missed a great opportunity.”
Tony Myles on Mon, November 17, 2008
Whenever something like this happens, the big question everyone wonders is, “Who get him?”
Meaning, the homosexual community wonders, “Do we get him? Will he come out and speak about how there’s nothing wrong with he did and no one should be judged for sexual orientation?” Ray Boltz seems to be hearing, “Thank you” these days - no pun intended.
And the evangelical community wonders, “Will he become a success story we get to talk about as a sermon illustration? How someone went far but came back and did even more good than before for the kingdom?” Former rebel Franklin Graham is ready to receive that baton pass from his dad, if he hasn’t already.
Perhaps his own theological background wonders, “Can we talk about him in a charismatic way? Did the Spirit of God finally penetrate his heart?”
And so on.
To me, that is quite fascinating - this game of “got it, got it, need it, got it” we play with those in the spotlight.
Pat on Mon, November 17, 2008
Personally, I would not want to keep hearing messages from someone about their sin. It seems like he’s building a ministry around it. Or maybe this is his way of absolving himself? I can’t imagine how it must be for his wife and children to have to keep hearing all of this.
john on Mon, November 17, 2008
I believe that TEd needed to thank pastor Jack Hayford and Pastor Barnett of 1st Assembly of God . They took him under thier wing. He stayed at the dream center phoenix. I think we need to help those who fall instead of kickdown.I and many pastors believe that MOST men in the church will NEVER admit gay or bi even if married . I feel the church culture pressures men to PLAY church and perfect. They need help Before they get busted from other ministries and God. How do you treat guys who are struggling with gay and bi at your churches who act gay and fem. Do you befriend them or reject them. WWJD?I have an ex gay ministry called http://www.redeemedwashedsanctified.com if you or you know someone who struggles. abuse is the cause of the orientation and sexual sin
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