I share your feelings.

So sad that we chose fear & skepticism over the wonder of Love! God change us to love as YOU love……..without condition, always, forever!

When I began to read the “skepticism,” I caught myself agreeing with it to make myself feel better about my own struggles and issues. I realize that my wife and I have been where the Haggards are. In our journey of healing and restoration, we simply wanted companionship and love as we allowed God to show us our next step. I want to do something to change it for others, TOO

sent this to the staff at a christian organization i work with and their responses were immediate skepticism until they watched the video. so to them, the press conference was important to give the opportunity for us to be convicted by looking and listening to a man who is living a life of second chances. we need to learn here instead of throw stones. this is crucial! if we want grace in our own lives, we have to learn how to specifically give it in the most difficult and messiest of places.

me too. Why is it so difficult for us to practice the very thing that roots our faith? That makes it different than any other religious option? Perhaps it's so remarkable, so “other” that it goes against our nature to execute it. This much I know -grace produces grace. Sometimes we need to be the ones who initiate, no matter how ridiculous or radical, confident it will produce more. I'm admittedly not awesome at this but I'm trying to get better…with grace.

So true- “Instead of the benefit of the doubt, we highlighted what was wrong and reminded them of their past.” We need to keep them in our prayers. We're all prone to issues that can alter our walk with Christ.

Mike, I tried in vain, to find contact info for the Haggards. I wanted to send them a letter of support when I saw your last post. Do you know how to contact them?

Sad commentary on how we humans treat each other. Whom did the Lord fellowship with? Did He cast a stone? How deeply did he love? And we? …

I am reminded of the words of Gamaliel in Acts 5:32-39 “….For if their purpose or activity is of humane origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; You will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Isn't God in the business of restoration or resurrection? I would hate to be discrediting the resurrection power of God in Ted Haggard as a man or the Haggard's as a couple in their marriage. Just a thought.

I have been feeling for him ever since the beginning. I think there is something very cleansing about getting all that sin out in the open. He has nothing left to hide and he will definitely think twice about placing judgment on others. I hope he does well!

AMEN. If you don't like Ted or don't believe him, don't go to his church, it's that simple.

found it!

I'm so glad that you wrote this from the perspective of belonging. While not all of us can relate to same-sex attraction, drug use, or public scandal we can all relate to the inherent desire to belong.

I have a love/hate relationship with blogs in general. I sometimes feel that bloggers are these people who like to live in their glass houses throwing stones and snarky comments at everyone else in the world, especially those who show any vulnerability, all the while their life remains insulated by their firewall of protection. Its always easier to tear down then to build. No offense, POTSC.

if you email it to kristen(at)ethur.org i can fwd it to them if you want…

thanks for sharing that Jenn…thats cool.

isnt that true…sometimes when we see our own junk/past expressed in others lives we can get weird about that when it comes to grace for others. thanks for sharing that greg!

i know there are a lot of people excited for them and supporting them which is positive…but so much of the stuff that i saw seemed kind of harsh…and i got to be honest, i was surprised by the critique,etc…

I'm sorry to say that America gives more grace and forgiveness to politicians and their various and sundry troubles than to anyone else. The Haggard's haven't tried to commandeer our money, exert control over our lifestyles, or strip us of our rights. And yet, Ted's “sins” have been held up as evidence of hypocrisy. Sorry, but America is the “pot calling the kettle black.”

What sound as a paradox to me is the using of the expression “fallen from grace” to describe Ted's story. What does it means? Grace is or is not something that is not related to works? If he can fall from grace this means that before he was in the grace by his good works. Not giving a 2nd chance to a brother is putting a nice mask of Hypocrisy and prissiness.

Carol, go to http://www.tedhaggard.com and send them an email. Easiest way for Ted and Gayle.

All these negative comments come from fear of competition, fear that Ted will come back stronger and better, after the tremendous suffering he and his family had to endure, and they are realizing that GOD ALMIGHTY allowed the devil to mess him up to show that Ted is still God's anointed, and God said “Do not harm my chosen one, do not come against my anointed” Ilda

this is a great article. spot on. we no longer live in a world where love and belonging is paramount. we live in a world that exists the tear people down. But the Haggards are a great example of people overcoming their crap and saying, 'let's continue to better ourselves and love people' if only more people were like them the world would be a better place.

It reminds me of when pro athletes sit out seasons either because of injury or incarceration. Some commentators say the athlete is a has-been; they're washed up. Teams drop their contracts with them, endorsers flee. But there are always some commentators or coaches who bet on the underdog and believe they can be a superstar again. What kind of commentator do you think God would be?

Biblically, I think there is only one answer.

I tend to think its our humanness (mine included), not the Biblical text, that prompts us to nay say in these moments. After all, we all generally agree: God wants to use every follower to advance his desires for this planet. If one of these followers (even if its the “chief of sinners” in Christian sub-culture perception) is sidelined, but then pursues repentance and healing, do we really think it flies with God to suggest God wants people to stay home, to stay un-invested, to stop using their gifts for the rest of their lives?

I encourage us all to lovingly challenge that perception when we hear it voiced.

One more thought: If I act like Haggard's situation is too big or too dark for God's grace to penetrate, then I'm not discrediting Haggard–I'm discrediting the grace I myself need. After all, God offers all of us the same thing. If its not real for Haggard, its not real for us either. And conversely, if his grace is real for us, its real for Haggard too. Thankfully humans don't get to arbitrarily choose who gets to be redeemed by God because, if that were the case, most of us would've been written off by our own stingy critics a long time ago.

After reading Boyett's post and comments, I am always so refreshed by the perspective you bring Mike. Thanks for posting this. It helps me clarify what to say when people ask me about Gayle's book and how we should respond. I am tired Christians responding with fear and skepticism.

thanks benji…i thought jason's post was respectful but some of the comments were just out of line…and that was only a small sample of some of the critical stuff i saw. appreciate you benji!

i was lost, but now i am found… was sitting in sin, but God stooped down to rescue me from the pit… i was dirty, but God gave me a white robe and called me pure…

then God invited me into fellowship.

And I have been finding ways to exclude others from belonging ever since…

*sigh*

Dang, I just spent an hour and a half writing 900 words on this and yours is way better than mine. I'm jealous.

BELONGING?! seriously?! This is a desperate attempt at manipulating people into a certain way of thinking and it marginalizes those who do not agree. The reason I am offended by this rhetoric is because it is false doctrine. I know doctrine is probably a curse word to some, but irregardless we all have them… I've asked for clarity of terms and I have yet to find them when it comes to love and judgment. Love and judgment are not opposing themes like they are being misconstrued to mean.

If by love you mean grace I would submit that it is not yours to give. Ted Haggard has not offended you. He has offended God first and foremost by distorting His image. I have yet to hear Ted Haggard admit to that and show the humility that follows such a great indictment. I must clarify humility in it's purest form, contrition, not self defense for the consequences that he deserves. He does belong to God (if God decided that), whether or not we want to include him or not. I'd like to believe he belonged to God before he fell into temptation (I don't know him personally, so I cannot judge him in that way either), but when he did fall into temptation he rejected his belonging… to God and to his church.

How could I say that? If Kobe willfully decided to start making baskets for the Celtics, he would be rejecting (or rebelling against) the team he belonged to. Here's where the conflict begins… are the Lakers bad teammates because they decide to not to pass to him anymore? Is Phil Jackson a bad coach if he doesn't allow Kobe to play in the game anymore? ABSOLUTELY NOT… he's wise! For the Lakers and Phil Jackson to not stop Kobe would mean that they HATE their team.

Does that mean Kobe's done… He's out… he can never play again? No, but I can guarantee you there would be some conditions that would ultimately be determined by the coach… not Kobe. The trust would have to renewed and the allegiance to the team would have to be more than evident.

This is what I feel is being grossly overlooked in this situation. Ted Haggard has offended God far more than any of us can begin to understand. Ted deserves the consequences for that (just like we all do), and it is God and God alone that decides whether or not Ted receives his favor- for the pastorate or anything for that matter. Our approval of Ted doesn't mean ANYTHING! Just like we shouldn't try to “judge” him negatively, we should also not try to judge him positively if we are not his elder.

Before another judgment is made against people who are skeptical and unsure, for good reason, please show more support to where the “Coach” is letting Ted back in the game, not Ted is letting himself back in the game.

BELONGING?! seriously?! This is a desperate attempt at manipulating people into a certain way of thinking and it marginalizes those who do not agree. The reason I am offended by this rhetoric is because it is false doctrine. I know doctrine is probably a curse word to some, but irregardless we all have them… I’ve asked for clarity of terms and I have yet to find them when it comes to love and judgment. Love and judgment are not opposing themes like they are being misconstrued to mean.

If by love you mean grace I would submit that it is not yours to give. Ted Haggard has not offended you. He has offended God first and foremost by distorting His image. I have yet to hear Ted Haggard admit to that and show the humility that follows such a great indictment. I must clarify humility in it’s purest form, contrition, not self defense for the consequences that he deserves. He does belong to God (if God decided that), whether or not we want to include him or not. I’d like to believe he belonged to God before he fell into temptation (I don’t know him personally, so I cannot judge him in that way either), but when he did fall into temptation he rejected his belonging… to God and to his church.

How could I say that? If Kobe willfully decided to start making baskets for the Celtics, he would be rejecting (or rebelling against) the team he belonged to. Here’s where the conflict begins… are the Lakers bad teammates because they decide to not to pass to him anymore? Is Phil Jackson a bad coach if he doesn’t allow Kobe to play in the game anymore? ABSOLUTELY NOT… he’s wise! For the Lakers and Phil Jackson to not stop Kobe would mean that they HATE their team.

Does that mean Kobe’s done… He’s out… he can never play again? No, but I can guarantee you there would be some conditions that would ultimately be determined by the coach… not Kobe. The trust would have to renewed and the allegiance to the team would have to be more than evident.

This is what I feel is being grossly overlooked in this situation. Ted Haggard has offended God far more than any of us can begin to understand. Ted deserves the consequences for that (just like we all do), and it is God and God alone that decides whether or not Ted receives his favor- for the pastorate or anything for that matter. Our approval of Ted doesn’t mean ANYTHING! Just like we shouldn’t try to “judge” him negatively, we should also not try to judge him positively if we are not his elder.

Before another judgment is made against people who are skeptical and unsure, for good reason, please show more support to where the “Coach” is letting Ted back in the game, not Ted is letting himself back in the game.

It’s not a matter of belonging.  Here’s a forinsance:  An accountant who is the treasurer of a church embezzels money from the church.  As a church, must we forgive him?   Yes.  Do we want to find a way to restore him, so that he won’t leave the parish, and will continue to be a valued member of the community?  Yes.  Do we let him be treasurer again?  No.  It would be foolish to do so.  Extending grace does not mean that the person gets a by from the conscequencs of his actions.  Ted Haggard can be a valued member of a community without leading it, and I don’t think that extending grace to fallen leaders means that we have to restore them to leadership.