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Monday, November 06, 2006
"I am so sorry.
I am sorry for the disappointment, the betrayal, and the hurt.
I am sorry for the horrible example I have set for you."
The latest Ted Haggard incident is the latest in the heart-breaking trend of broken pastors. A servant of God who dedicated his life towards saving and growing souls for Christ - fallen hard, disgraced, stripped of his ministry, his respect, his reputation, almost his very life. Adultery is like a dark acid eating into the heart of pastors. Sometimes you can "neutralise" the effect and even wash it away. But often we can't.
The church should be less astonished at how many pastors fall away than at how many remain standing. We are all guilty. It's whether our guilt remains private (or "in the mind") or scandalously exposed.
I can EASILY be the one writing what Haggard wrote in his letter to his congregation. Out of mercy and love, God chooses to spare me. But this doesn't make the struggle any easier, as per what Haggard writes:
"For extended periods of time, I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom. Then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach."
Why is this so familiar? Haggard speaks for all of us. The tragedy is that he has to come to this dark place in order to do so. His closing request, especially the third, cements - IMO - the work of God still filling his heart.
1) Please stay faithful to God through service and giving.
2) Please forgive me. I am so embarrassed and ashamed. I caused this and I have no excuse. I am a sinner. I have fallen. I desperately need to be forgiven and healed.
3) Please forgive my accuser. He is revealing the deception and sensuality that was in my life. Those sins, and others, need to be dealt with harshly. So, forgive him and, actually, thank God for him. I am trusting that his action will make me, my wife and family, and ultimately all of you, stronger. He didn't violate you; I did.
Haggard is not a lost cause - by no means whatsoever. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.
Our pastors need us more than ever.
Posted at 06:15 pm by alwynlau
 | | | Alwyn
November 13, 2006 06:50 AM PST
Alex, probably (to give him the benefit of the doubt) the same reason why David's honesty/humility (a'la Psalm 51) started pouring AFTER Nathan blew the whistle? Again, I'm aware of quite a few who wouldn't even when caught...still, I wonder if this discussion is moot, as I feel it's best to think of ways of *supporting* ppl like Haggard and their families. | |
| | | Alex Tang
November 13, 2006 12:07 AM PST
hi z,
I cannot judge Haggard's honesty and humility but I do take note of the fact that all these "honesty" and "humility" started pouring out after he was found out. Why is it so? | |
| | | Alwyn
November 12, 2006 12:21 PM PST
Limmy ~ indeed I think ppl put unrealistically high expectations on pastors, and if the church as a community is not support/forgiving then it could prove that all the time it's been a sham. The pastor was not much more than a religious CEO who should be banished at the first hint of scandal.
Alex ~ I've not heard of MacDonald's case...though i've heard of a few within the local churches, Peter Tan being the most prominent name. | |
| | | Alex Tang
November 11, 2006 11:52 PM PST
"Haggard is not a lot cause"... provided his repentance is sincere, he seeks help for his problems, he submits to church discipline and he is forgiven by Christains. There are a lot of ifs, and my prayer is that he will overcome to come back as a stronger leader. Gordon MacDonald did. My fear is that Christians in general are not very forgiving of fallen leaders. | |
| | | lim siok lin
November 10, 2006 04:47 PM PST
There's a common belief that pastors must be very special people - God has called them to be a shepherd to His flock. Some pastors enter service believing that they are very special too! They don't serve God but that God is there to serve them. Or that lots of money and power can be made by being a pastor. Or God has nothing to do with being a good Christian, its all to do with charisma, showmanship and marketting. WRONG!
The lure of fame and fortune rears its ugly head in religious circles too. The old adage - " Power corrupts " is alive and kicking , don't you believe it. Depending on the motivation of each individual pastor determines the outcomes of his/ her ministry.
Pastors regardless of their posts are 'famous' highprofile people, if only within their humble parish. Satan never sleeps, so what sometimes happens is the individual gets caught up with all the hype the World (Satan/ accoyltes) attaches to people of importance If one isn't God centered its so easy to loss sight of the truth, its easy to believe that whatever you do is OK with God , after all ..... as one of God's chosen ones , how is it possible to do any wrong (gasp).
Naturally the fall out from the exposure of the wrongdoing is catastrophic - how can a man of God be like THIS!!!!!???
But whatever - it must be remembered that pastors are merely human beings . Men and women governed and controlled by human emotions which are wilful and unpredictable. They aren't godlike and they are definitely not GOD.
Haggard's display of humility , his forgiving of the 'whistle blower' - how genuine is it really. After all , if had none one found out about his double life , would he have owned up ? How long would it have remained a secret.
Perhaps I'm too critical and judgemental. I'd like to think he's speaking the truth but ......... . Then again his confessions are none of business. Its between him and God. Only time will tell if he is truly repented, ACTIONS always speak louder than words.
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| | | Alwyn
November 7, 2006 06:30 AM PST
Exactly...in some ways he's living the "pattern" of the Christian story: of sinners in a completely fallen state, yet somehow reaching out not only to grasp God's hand but also demonstrate his conviction to continue doing so, no matter what happens. Another fren of my said that God, out of love, decided to pull the plug b4 anything worst happens. | |
| | | z
November 7, 2006 04:31 AM PST
I was really struck by the honesty and the humility of Haggard's confession. I think this is one of the few instances where the church is dealing well with something really painful and difficult; it's never easy to do, and it's so much harder when you have to do it in public. But I do think that in spite of all its messiness, Haggard is witnessing, and witnessing well, for Christ. | |
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