The news concerning former NAE president, Ted Haggard, leading essentially a double is heartbreaking. A man who rose to a lofty position of leadership, and meanwhile combating (or feeding?) his inner demons.
As a pastor, I have some empathy for Haggard. But I also have nothing but contempt for what he has done: to himself, his family, his church, and his organization. It is much easier for me to condemn or make fun of people I do not agree with. But this is closer to home.
An excellent post by Gordon MacDonald is
here. MacDonald had his own bouts with his inner demons, and they almost destroyed him, and his ministry, about twenty years ago. So he writes out of compassion, but with the firmness of a truth-teller.
I am absolutely convinced that church leaders need real accountability, a community of trusted saints who will call it like it is, and love them unconditionally.
Of course, like Kerry's recent gaffe, Haggard's fall will be politicized. It is not exactly apples and apples, Kerry is a politician. I suppose some would argue that Haggard is also a politician, though a church politician. Some will conclude that his is what evangelicals are like, and this is the sort of thing the movement spawns.
I don't believe that for a second. I do not believe that the pedophile priests are indicative of the Roman Catholic church. I do not believe that sexual promiscuity is typical of Democratic presidents (though one might try to build a case for this from FDR, JFK, and WJC).
Some thoughtful comments, as I expected, from Scot McKnight and his
Jesus Creed blog. I very much like Scot's proposal.
Thus, a proposal, and I can only suggest it and hope that some evangelical leaders will catch the same vision — some at the national and international leadership level: evangelicals need to work hard at creating an environment of honesty. It is dishonest to the human condition to pretend that Christians don’t sin; but as long as we are afraid to confess to one another we will continue to create an unrealistic and hypocritical environment.
To do this, we need to begin at the local church level of learning to utter honesty with one another, to confess sins, privately as much as possible, to mentors who are spiritually sensitive. I believe if confession becomes a safe environment — and exposure of what is confessed in private must be treated as a serious offense — that an entirely new environment can be created in which time will bring out the sins of Christians in such a way that it is both recognized and simultaneously dealt with responsibly so that ongoing growth and periodic healing and restoration can take place.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Haggard family, and the church he left, and for those sheep who are now wandering alone and afraid because their human shepherd has abandoned them. May the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, the Lord Jesus, be their Shepherd.
Since September, I have been the temporary supply pastor at Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church. The church is mostly older, but very lovely people. The Eagle Rock area is growing, and becoming much younger. And the church is just catching onto this fact. The Los Angeles Times had a recent article about Eagle Rock, here. My time at the church is ending December 31, and they are looking hard for a designated pastor. I think it would be an exciting place to work and do ministry.
