When a minister falls, how quickly the church world responds along with the world and throws a judgment call on him. How many of us would give up on David after his incident with Bathsheba and Uriah? How many of us would have given up on people like Peter for publicly denying Jesus? or on Aaron for setting up the golden calf? Or on Samson for his lusts?

I'm not excusing the sin, but I'm simply stating that we would do well to pray for leaders when they fall rather than feel good about ourselves and join the world in judging the man and writing him off. God may not be done with him. For all we know Ted Haggard might have repented genuinely and is seeking restoration.

It's wild to think that in Hebrews 11 Samson makes it in the heroes of faith. God delights in showing mercy, even when the righteous commit the most hideous of sins. Thank God for that.

Again - am i excusing the sin? absolutely not. this never had to happen because God has promised to walk with us and give us the power over sin in the new covenant life. however, does God give up on a people when they are publicly found out? absolutely not! and thank God for that.

1 corinthians 4:5 "therefore judge nothing before the time, till the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the heart. Then each one's praise will come from God."

lets pray Ted Haggard takes this time to get restored. May God raise him up once again the future to be a testimony of His grace and mercy.

Hmmm, if I recall the news reports, this sinful conduct was going on for several years..it was not one isolated incident, like David's tryst with Bathsheba so there is no comparison with David.

But I do admire the man's [apparent] willingness to step down and remove himself from his pastoral responcibilities. How many would fight with denials so they can retain their position and power? I also appreciate his wife's reaction that she is married to him for life and promises to stick with him. (I got this second hand...hope it is true.)

ginnyrose

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Sandra Miller

so when hidden sin is exposed, is God any less forgiving than He was to David? and whether it was several months or several years, what is key is that we know that as a fact and not just because the news said so.

let's say Ted Haggard has repented of his sin and is going forward behind the scenes. in God's eyes he is as clean and righteous as you or me. sure, the media won't see it that way... but heaven sure sees it that way.

we have to be careful to pass judgments based on news reports, hearsay, or appearance instead of a righteous judgment

Good post, Amen! Sometimes it takes time to see integrity restored though. Forgiveness is instant, but most of the time the restoration process is very lengthly. A bishop must be blameless IN THE SIGHT OF ALL MEN. :-(

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D.Miller

Sorry brother. But his story definatly sounds like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Ted was sorrowful for being caught. No doubt some leaders in his life told him to repent for the years he was committing those sins. He yet resisted it.

He has lost his ministry and he knows it. Read his letter.

I pray for our leaders. I pray for my pastors. But we must pray in the Spirit (not in tongues, but as HE leads).

Ted's heart has grown cold. Lack of the fear of God. It's disgusting and will take a miracle (which the God we serve IS a God of miracles) to restore his life to Jesus.

Ted's sin was like a pastor committing murder. There needs to be a time of DEEP remorse. And consequences.

Grace is great, but not when your testing God in your sin.

God gives everyone a chance to know Him, that's grace. If you trample on the blood of the cross, that's your fault and you have to make account for your actions.

One thing that seems to be ignored is that this man was imvolved in sin for a long time. Why did he not repent earlier? Was the Holy Spirit not there convicting him? Why did he resist so long? When I sin the HS convicts and makes me very uncomfortable until I do whatever He is asking me to do. Am I unusual? I think not. David and Peter were referred to in the lead post: how long did God wait until he confronted them about their sin? It was soon. And they responded appropriately by repenting.

Ted has engaged in this sin for years: he admitted he is a deceiver and a liar. We do well to accept what he has said and not impede his repentence by making excuses for him. If we recall David's sin caused Israel's enemies to blaspheme; I am not aware this kind of reaction has changed since then. Christians do well to remove a person like this from public ministry. Doing so will send a message to one and all that gross sin will not be tolorated.

Here is a link you may find informative:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/novemberweb-only/144-58.0.html

ginnyrose

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Sandra Miller

you mentioned "it's disgustingand will take a miracle..." and also said "Ted's sin was like a pastor committing murder"

first of all - what sin is not disgusting? comparing it to murder?
Jesus said in Matthew 5 that an angry heart and calling a brother Raca is as equal as murder. rebellion is compared to witchcraft and stubborness to idolatry - all which are also "disgusting in God's eyes" leviticus does say homosexuality is an abomination but it also says unjust balances, mistreatment to neighbors and gossip is abomination. anything that is of the carnal man is emnity with God.

David hid murder and adultery for an entire year. what happend after Nathan rebuked him? It says David said "I have sinned against the Lord" and the IMMEDIATE response was "The Lord has forgiven you" Does the Lord clean us and forgive us after a week of fasting, regret, and meditation? no that's legalistic.

don't get me wrong. there is a season to think over what one has done after hiding such sin. there needs to be a season to be set aside for that. but that has nothing to do with God's forgiveness.. it simply has to do with God's restoration. If Ted has repented, He is forgiven and clean - plain and simple

let's remember how many times Israel hid sin from the Lord, hideous sins, and faced judgment - yet God raised them up again.

look at Manesseh who killed children and set up paganism in Israel. sure he faced a chastening, but when he cried out to God he was not only shown mercy but in the coming years was made king again!!! the geneology of Jesus includes Manasseh.

His ways are higher

The tragedy is the moral decline in the church, even amongst the pastorate. The events as they happened with in Pastor Ted’s ministry tragically expose an epidemic currently raging through the church as a whole. You make mention of the countless years Pastor Ted has kept in the dark without repentance- That is true; I also believe that we should pray For Ted Haggard; but the one thing that we’re not exposing by discussing this event is the fact that the events that took over Pastor Ted’s life, are currently taking place in the lives of the majority of pastors. I don’t believe for one second that God looks at Ted’s life or salvation any different then the pastor that is living in a lifestyle of pornography abuse. Many pastors today (still in ministry), due to the easy access of the internet, are practicing on a daily basis the very things that got Ted busted. My prayer is that those living in that life style would see Ted as an example.

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tavita