Been reflecting a lot on the Ted Haggard situation. Very sobering. Obviously, a lot of new information has come out since my last post on it along with a long string of comments.
I still stand by my post. When something like this happens we have to look in the mirror. We ought to thank God for his grace. It is a reminder of just how human all of us are. There is a saint in every sinner and a sinner in every saint. And we ought to pray about it more than we talk about it.
I want to add an observation to the mix: know your tendency.
It's been interesting to see and hear the variety of responses to the situation. And it is a reminder, once again, of one of my theological linchpins. Job 11:6 says, "True wisdom has two sides." In other words, truth is found in the tension of opposites. Where there is no tension there is no truth.
So here is what I mean by know your tendency.
John 1:14 says that Jesus was full of grace and truth.
Grace means I'll love you no matter what.
Truth means I'll be honest with you no matter.
Jesus was the perfect combination of both. Unfotunately, most of us aren't :)
So here is my question: are you more grace-oriented or truth-oriented? Where do you fall on the grace-truth spectrum? I think it is important to know your tendency because it will dictate how you to respond to situations like this. And the truth is: one without the other doesn't cut it.
Grace without truth is Christianity without a backbone.
Truth without grace is Christianity without a heart.
Think of it this way.
Salt is a combination of two elements--sodium and chlorine. By itself, sodium is a unstable metal that is highly flamable. By itself, chlorine is a deadly poisonous gas. Combine them and you get a useful food staple known as sodium chloride or salt--the only family of rocks eaten by humans.
By themselves, grace and truth are dangerous. Put them together together and they are a power moral persavative.
So my advice is this: know your tendency!
If Ted Haggard genuinely repents then I don't have a single doubt that God will completely forgive him. Who am I not to? The way we treat those who have fallen is sometimes heartless! We shouldn't put anyone on a pedestal before they fall and we shouldn't throw them under the church bus when they do.
Now let me flip the grace/truth coin.
This isn't a time for us to be politically correct. The world is repulsed by that. So am I. We need to fess up when we mess up. We need to tell the truth, take it on the chin, and let the chips fall where they may. Lies were told. Sins committed. Lots of people were hurt. And leaders are called to live by a higher standard. The more authority the more accountability.
Humbling and sobering. That's what this situation is. Here is my biblical prescription: read Psalm 51. It is David's confession after a very high-profile moral failure. That is my prayer for Ted Haggard. That is my prayer for myself. That is my prayer for you.
All I know is this: I am challenged to guard my own heart.
I still stand by my post. When something like this happens we have to look in the mirror. We ought to thank God for his grace. It is a reminder of just how human all of us are. There is a saint in every sinner and a sinner in every saint. And we ought to pray about it more than we talk about it.
I want to add an observation to the mix: know your tendency.
It's been interesting to see and hear the variety of responses to the situation. And it is a reminder, once again, of one of my theological linchpins. Job 11:6 says, "True wisdom has two sides." In other words, truth is found in the tension of opposites. Where there is no tension there is no truth.
So here is what I mean by know your tendency.
John 1:14 says that Jesus was full of grace and truth.
Grace means I'll love you no matter what.
Truth means I'll be honest with you no matter.
Jesus was the perfect combination of both. Unfotunately, most of us aren't :)
So here is my question: are you more grace-oriented or truth-oriented? Where do you fall on the grace-truth spectrum? I think it is important to know your tendency because it will dictate how you to respond to situations like this. And the truth is: one without the other doesn't cut it.
Grace without truth is Christianity without a backbone.
Truth without grace is Christianity without a heart.
Think of it this way.
Salt is a combination of two elements--sodium and chlorine. By itself, sodium is a unstable metal that is highly flamable. By itself, chlorine is a deadly poisonous gas. Combine them and you get a useful food staple known as sodium chloride or salt--the only family of rocks eaten by humans.
By themselves, grace and truth are dangerous. Put them together together and they are a power moral persavative.
So my advice is this: know your tendency!
If Ted Haggard genuinely repents then I don't have a single doubt that God will completely forgive him. Who am I not to? The way we treat those who have fallen is sometimes heartless! We shouldn't put anyone on a pedestal before they fall and we shouldn't throw them under the church bus when they do.
Now let me flip the grace/truth coin.
This isn't a time for us to be politically correct. The world is repulsed by that. So am I. We need to fess up when we mess up. We need to tell the truth, take it on the chin, and let the chips fall where they may. Lies were told. Sins committed. Lots of people were hurt. And leaders are called to live by a higher standard. The more authority the more accountability.
Humbling and sobering. That's what this situation is. Here is my biblical prescription: read Psalm 51. It is David's confession after a very high-profile moral failure. That is my prayer for Ted Haggard. That is my prayer for myself. That is my prayer for you.
All I know is this: I am challenged to guard my own heart.
15 Comments:
I'm not sure the situation could be summed up much better. I think one thing I've learned in my life is that as ministers we need to be extra intentional about having a small but intentional community of people that have a real look into our world on a consistent basis. Accountability that is not transparent in no accountability, and accountability without real relationship is just a personal police force. But as ministers we have to set up those relationships in our lives to allow people to see the small fires in our kitchens before they spread to our whole house.
As the body of Christ we need to remember that the whole secular world is watching our response. They are watching how we treat our own. I'm sure some may say, "Why would anyone want to be part of a 'family' or 'community' that throws one of their own under the bus." Punishment is always necessary, but so is restoration. After all that David did, he had so many good years of use to the Lord, after his fall and restoration. Time combined with true repentance and God's favor and forgiveness can do great things. I'd like to see a testimony of someone who can walk through the fire of judgment and repentance and in time be used to do great things for God and His kingdom. That's my prayer for Ted Haggard, myself, and all others in ministry or the church who have betrayed God and ourselves.
If this isn't a wakeup call to pray for your pastor, I don't know what is. I'm praying for mine today. It's never too late to do the right thing so start praying for your pastor today. For the whole pastoral team at your church. Lord have mercy on all of us.
Great post Pastor Mark! The war between grace and truth has to be one of the quintessential issues of our time. Very well said...
Great post mark, really need to be reminded of that. I think i tend towards grace, need to start living out truth more too!
Great Thoughts! Saw a very interesting article by Gordon Macdonald (who has had his own moral failings years ago) about the Ted Haggard happenings. He had some great perspective. You should check it out.
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2006/11/the_haggard_tru.html
One disheartening part, I think, is how everyone is more focused on the minister than the gay man who made the accusations. Perhaps the focus should be equal.
Nothing is impossible with God, and I think that the calls to pray for Mike Jones should be equally loud. In addition, it would be nice to see Ted Haggard ask him for forgiveness because Haggard also led that man into sin by buying drugs from him, at the very least.
Anonymous,
Totally agree.
I've been reading articles and posts and honestly it seems like the man who brought the issue into the light is one of the most-prayed for men in America right now as it should be.
We need to pray for anyone and everyone impacted by this.
I think most of the conversation is about Ted Haggard because that is who people know.
Mark
Great post, I couldn't agree with you more. Truth and grace are amazing, but as Christians we need to combine them both to reflect our Maker and Savior. This awful situation has given Christianity a black eye in America, but it's also given us an opportunity to stand up and show what we're all about. We're not perfect, but we are people of truth and grace. I've been able to share your post with numerous co-workers that are new believers and unchurched that are struggling with this situation. It really helped and has created dialog that wouldn't have otherwise been there. Keep up your amazing ministry Mark!
I tend toward truth and the comments by yourself and others have helped me to move back toward grace. My first reaction was "how could he do this to his family and his church" but my second reaction was "Whoa, check yourself to make sure you aren't going down the wrong path." Once again Pastor Mark thanks for a thought and prayer provoking blog entry.
Very well said Pastor Mark. Though if there is one tendency I know that I do not have, it is to post a great blog at 6:50am!!! :) So kudos to you.
First of all, thanks PM for continuing to address this topic and not avoiding it. Bringing up the "grace-truth spectrum" is a great way to put this in perspective.
What's sad is that it seems a lot of Christians tend to lean more towards grace for non-believers ("it's ok, you can be forgiven, come to Christ"), while leaning towards truth towards other Christians ("how can you do that?!").
Sometimes amongst Christians, there's far too much judging and not enough loving.
My question for you PM is how you can reconcile two of your comments:
"We shouldn't put anyone on a pedestal before they fall..."
and
"And leaders are called to live by a higher standard. The more authority the more accountability."
I have to say, I agree more with the latter. When someone puts themself up to be a leader, it's inevitable that they will be put on a pedestal. And they have an obligation to be accountable when they fall off that pedestal. Not to say they don't deserve grace as well, but they have to expect to be on a pedestal don't you think?
Ron,
I think there is a difference between respect for leaders and "putting them on a pedestal."
I think we have an inflated and unhealthy view of pastors sometimes. We are so human. That is why I try to remind NCC all the time that I'm a "work in progress" and I'm not "omniscient."
Leaders need to live to a higher standard. And they should be held to that standard. And with that authority comes responsibility. But we've got to find ways to stay "grounded."
It's one of the things I'm wrestling with right now. I don't want the growth of NCC or the fact that I've written a book to change me one iota. If those things lead to pride I wish they'd never happened at all.
I'm just keenly aware of the effect those things can have. And it doens't help if you have people putting you on a pedestal.
For what it's worth, in my experience, pedestals are really wobbly and fall down easily :)
My two cents,
Mark
nice post.
In terms of knowing your tendencies, I think the most helpful thing for me is regularly performing an "examination of conscience". I am Catholic and usually do this before receiving sacramental reconciliation but it can be used anytime to allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts to "know our tendencies"
Examination of Conscience can be found anywhere on the net and can be used by all christians denominations aside, since it is based on the ten commandments.
God bless
Major Props to you Mark for chosing to discuss this verses avoiding it. This is one thing I have noticed about you since I have started following your ministry. You don't appear to pull punches. However I do want to leave you with a challenge. What checks and balances do you have in place in your life and your ministry to help you avoid surcoming to temptation. I'm not wanting to open this up for public discussion. Nor am I expecting an explanation. For I am not your accountability just a concerned follower of your ministry.
Here is Ted Haggard's letter to his congregation. It might be worth linking to in a main post. I found it very encouraging to read this, although it also broke my heart.
http://www.newlifechurch.org/TedHaggardStatement.pdf
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