I was saddened to hear of the Ted Haggard fall this past week. And I must confess that when it became apparent that he was guilty, for a short while I may have sneered at him. But before long God gave me a prayer that Christ would be exalted in all of this. I believe that prayer is being answered, and Christ’s glory is being seen even in this sad scandal.
I would direct you to go read the letter that Ted wrote his church to confess his guilt. It seems to be a very sincere and true hearted expression of repentance. And then read the short note Ted’s wife read to their church. It is full of a faithful covenant love toward her fallen husband. The letters are both available to read here, compliments of Justin Taylor.
Many who would consider themselves more conservative theologically than Ted Haggard and his church, have had some reactions to all of this which might flow from some unChristian pride of heart. Many have deep-rooted convictions which result in some big methodological and philosophical differences with Haggard’s church. And so they have assumed that such a fall as Ted evidenced is par for the course. They have got what’s coming to them. That won’t happen to us. Oh really? It has before and it will again, although sometimes theological conservatives can float under the radar, if you will.
And with such an outlook, pessimism would be expected. I admit I was quite pessimistic as to how this all would play out. But wonder of wonders, the Gospel is shining through. And the true unmistakable depth of Christianity is being revealed. Not only has Ted’s church handled the problem in a straightforward and Biblically faithful manner, Ted and his wife are evidencing repentance and forgiveness in their most unmistakable hues.
This morning, with the above backdrop provided, I urge you to please read Tim Challies’ most recent post on this scandal (HT: Justin Taylor). He has written from the depths of his heart concerning the spiritual lessons for all of us in this mess. The truth is we are just as messy as Ted Haggard, and but for the grace of God, the darkest sins of our heart would be exposed to and condemned by all as well. And God is the True Judge to fear, and so we should shudder in amazed awe at the wonder of his grace!
I wrote the following in response to Tim’s post. I placed it as a comment on his blog, but thought I would share it here. May these words not be mere talk, but may my heart and yours be raised from the squalor of the sin problems of this fallen world to the sublime grandeur of the Glorious Gospel revealed on that Old Rugged Cross.
Thank God for this post. Truly, it is an answer to prayer. I have prayed that Christ would be exalted even through the blatant ugliness of this whole affair, and I am sure others have as well.
I would like to just add one further level of thought. Yes, Ted is a sinner. Yes, we are too. And oh, we should let it sink in just how horrible we all really are. And yes, too, despite the assurances to the contrary by postmodern and liberal theologians, God’s wrath is suspended over us, and naught but grace stays His Holy Hand. And we are thus beckoned forcefully to thank God unceasingly for that grace.
But let us not forget Christ as the Reason for that grace. Let us be sure to lift Him up. And let us be sure to trumpet the Gospel as the unmistakably jaw-dropping truth that it is. That because of God giving up His only Son Jesus–the most Worthy and Holy Individual there is–He thereby offers to us–the most wicked and despicable, undeserving creatures there are–infinite and priceless grace. He places all of Ted’s black sins, and all the as yet unseen or unappreciated black sins of my own heart, and yours, on His Spotless Son–the Lamb of God–and then provides for people like Ted and you and me infinite Righteousness and Holiness. So that He not only restores us, even as Ted’s wife has been willing to restore her guilty husband, but that He raises us up to an unspeakable level of honor. We become joint heirs with Christ! By means of Jesus’ very blood, we inherit all of Jesus’ wealth!
Let us be shocked anew at the wonder of such an incredible message. Let us be amazed at the wonder of grace, as measured not only by the depths of our own sin but by the heights of the Glory of that Perfect Lamb Who was sacrificed on our behalf!
Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb! Glory be to our Great God and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ!
∼striving for the unity of the faith for the glory of God∼ Eph. 4:3,13 “¢ Rom. 15:5-7
Thanks for posting the link to the Haggards’ letters. I was intending to look them up. You’re a big help!
Oh, and have you guys figured out yet that the debate over contemporary music won’t end until the current proponents of contmeporary music are old and objecting to the next generation of contemporary music? I just emailed a copy of that book-length string of comments to enjoy them all at once so I can digest it more carefully. Sorry for my little roadbump comments you all had to wade around! 🙂
John,
I don’t look at them as road bumps. It was nice to have some help. The discussion is pretty much over now. But I would really like others to chime in if they’d like to. Sorry about the “book length”! I tend to be longwinded and use twice as many words to make the point I am trying to get across.
Thanks,
Bob
Someone over on the comments under Tim Challie’s post concluded his comments with these words:
“There is a time and place for outright denouncement. I denounce Haggard. I denounce him for the inestimable damage and hurt he has cast his family into. I denounce him for the years (decades?) of deceit and the rawest, rankest hypocrisy. I denounce him for how he has hurt his congregation, and caused some to doubt their faith.”
I responded as follows, and I think sharing it here is good for us all to consider.
“I think this one of the inate reactions that the world would make. If a world leader fell like Haggard did, one of two reactions would be probable. Disdain, outrage and denouncement or a minimizing of the sin and an explaining away of his guilt.
It is exactly at this point that the other-worldliness of Christianity can be recognized. Christianity affirms the guilt and the blackness of the sin, yet at the same time realizes that if Haggard is indeed believing and confessing/forsaking his sin, ALL of that sin has already been put away through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us on the cross.
Let us hope the best (1 Cor. 13:7) for Ted–(ie. that he is genuinely believing and that God is preserving his faith in and through this event). And let us emphasize that the Gospel is Glorious and Wonderful in that it takes care of the very real and deserved guilt that Ted Haggard has earned. Let us not attempt to either distance ourselves from Ted or explain away Ted’s guilt. Rather let us use this event as an illustration of the wonder of the Gospel.
Let this be an occasion that the Holy Spirit can use to reveal the spiritual truth of the Gospel to darkened hearts. Let us lift up Christ in conversations with unbelievers over this event. And further, let this be a time to point out that our hope is not in the NEA or the “religious right” movements, and neither is Ted Haggard’s ultimate hope, rather our hope is in the Gospel of Christ.”
What has impressed me is that by quickly and openly dealing with the sin, it is already fading from the news.
Contrast that with other institutions that have covered up sin “for the sake of the ministry” or whatever, and are now plagued by a bad reputation that just won’t go away.
It was refreshing to not see anyone resort to circling the wagons the way so many have in the past. You are able to point at Ted’s tv interviews as an example of someone stepping up to the plate and taking the full brunt of the blow without hiding behind lawyers. It’s pretty clear there’s some integrity there. There is some relief in having nasty skeletons out in the open. Even if someone else has to drag it out.
Ryan,
Great observation. I really think it deserves notice. Funny how a “looser” church can actually deal with pastoral scandals better than many stricter churches.
Of course, it is all a matter of following Scripture, specifically 1 Tim. 5:20 “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.” That verse is in the context of how to deal with elders.
Amen, Captain.