This is a commentary I wrote for Ministry Today, January 20, 2009. 

 

Ted Haggard is using an upcoming HBO documentary to chastise the church for how it handled his sex-and-drugs scandal in 2006. Read one pastor’s take on why he may have a point.

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Ted Haggard is at it again. The former pastor of a Colorado mega church who admitted to a sexual relationship with a male escort in 2006, is now sharing his story in a documentary called The Trials of Ted Haggard. On January 29, the film premieres on HBO and will re-examine the scandal that rocked the evangelical world. For many, this film will reopen old wounds and stir up feelings thought to be dead and buried.

I question why Haggard chose this particular outlet to voice the pain and frustration of his private journey. While I can only imagine the suffering Haggard has endured over the past two years, I cannot excuse some of his choices. And now, once again, it seems the church will have to deal with another reminder of those choices. But maybe there are some things worth being reminded of.

In recent news reports, Ted Haggard chastised church leaders for missing an opportunity to use his scandal to “communicate the gospel worldwide.” Despite how we may feel about the circumstances surrounding Haggard, I believe we have the responsibility to ask: Is he right? Did we, the global Christian church, somehow miss an opportunity to respond to those who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction with the gospel of truth? While these are valid questions that demand our attention, I believe there is another question that addresses an issue just as important, if not far greater:

What if Ted had told the truth? (click here for the entire article)

I been away for a couple of days so I just found out about Michael Guglielmucci’s deception surrounding his terminal illness.  This, to me, is a devastating situation.  This not only affects Micheal, his family, his church, but also the entire Body of Christ at large.  While Ted Haggard’s fall significantly impacted Christians around the world, there is something about this that cuts deeper.  His actions were incredibly intentional, planned, methodically deceptive, and predatory.  Having lost a brother and a father to terminal cancer, I can sympathize with the thousands of people who found hope in Michael’s circumstances and now feel incredibly betrayed.  I must confess, I am angry.  Not in a way that wishes vengeance or is void of compassion for Michael and his family.  Rather, it is a righteous anger that is appropriate for this degree of violation.  Forgiveness is given.  However, the Body of Christ must handle this with integrity and consistency.  I’m encouraged by what I’ve read so far regarding how his church is holding him accountable for his actions and exercising compassionate discipline.  

Now it has just come out that Michael has been addicted to porn since the age of 12.  His family and church are left ravaged by the revelation of so many years of a double-life.  I can only imagine how much of a tortured soul Michael must have been over these years.  I do not look at this situation with contempt but rather I see it as a wake-up call for all leaders in the Body of Christ.  All of us can put ourselves in a position to become vulnerable through compromise, isolation, and placing our trust in anything or anyone other than God.  This certainly is making me take inventory of my life to see if there is anything that could potentially undermine my integrity, values, and commitment to Christ.  However, I need to remind myself that it shouldn’t take a tragic situation such as this to motivate such scrutiny. 

I had someone stop by my office to ask me if I thought the song “Healer” really was authentic and God inspired in light of the circumstances.  My response was “truth is truth”.  The message of that song is, without question, inspired by the truth of scripture.  We must make the distinction between the veracity of the message and veracity of the messenger.  Unfortunately, we can so taint the message through our sinful actions that people may never be able to break free of associating the compromise with the truth.  The truth has not changed but the lens through which people view it has been dramatically altered.  This is how souls are lost and lives are destroyed.  

Michael is part of the Body of Christ and therefore, we must choose to respond with righteousness, compassion, and authenticity.  My prayer at this time is this:

1.  Complete revelation of the truth and everything brought into the light.

2.  Wisdom, discernment, and grace for the church leaders directly involved.

3.  Wisdom, discernment, and grace for the legal authorities involved.

4.  Peace, compassion, and strength for Michael’s wife, family, parents and friends and that they would grieve with a Godly sorrow and be protected from hopelessness and depression.

5.  Provision for Michael’s family in the coming weeks and months.

5.  Hope, peace, and protection for Edge Church International during this vulnerable season.  

6.  A new revelation of hope for all who were inspired to believe for healing through the message of Michael’s song and ministry.  

7.  Finally, that Michael may truly discover the Healer and find healing and restoration in mind, body, and spirit.

AdelaideNow… Fake illness preacher Michael Guglielmucci told to go to police.

Disgraced pastor Michael Guglielmucci a porn addict | The Australian.