I realize that recently I’ve made a few posts about the recent developments regarding Ted Haggard. This isn’t to elevate one particular situation or give it undue and unnecessary attention. As with any situation involving a previously or presently influential leader, the way they respond has the potential to define or distort crucial issues that face the church today. Ted Haggard’s fall continues to impact and influence not only those within the church but our current cultural climate today.
On Thursday, Ted & Gayle Haggard made their anticipated appearance on Oprah. I watched and processed with mixed emotions. I was planning write my viewpoints on the interview until someone sent me an excellent overview by Joe Dallas (one of my favorite speakers and teachers). I don’t want to reinvent the wheel so here is what Joe had so say:
Ted Said: AfterThoughts on Ted Haggard’s Interview with Oprah
Guest Post by Joe Dallas
Rev. Ted Haggard broke his two year silence on Oprah’s show yesterday, his first media appearance since a catastrophic fall from the pulpit of New Life Church in 2006, when his longstanding relationship with a male prostitute was exposed. The details are still fresh: Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, was condemning gay sex publicly while paying for it privately, until accusations from male escort Mike Jones cracked the dam of Ted’s denials (“I neverhad gay sex!”) and trickles of half-concessions leaked out (“Well, yeah, I bought some meth from a gay escort, but threw it away”) followed by voice mail recordings irrefutable as Monica’s blue dress, and the inevitable confession, contrition and exit. It was as tawdry as it was achingly familiar in this era of public falls, and many of us hoped the story was played out.
Enter the sequel. An HBO special titled The Trials of Ted Haggard premieres Thursday January 29, and by way of promotion, Ted granted interviews to Larry King as well as Oprah, revisiting those dark days with his own insights and explanations. If there’s a redemptive twist to all this, it lies in what can be gleaned from the Reverend’s experience and, to an extent, his statements about Christianity, homosexuality, church life and human nature. A typical spectator, I cheered and booed throughout the Oprah interview, shouting criticisms or praise while knowing nothing of what it was like for the man under the bright lights being grilled about his worst failures and private agonies. So I’ll concede, a la Roosevelt’s famous observation about the man in the arena, that it is indeed the guy in the ring whose performance matters far and above the critic who wishes he’d done this or said that.
From that deferential position, then, let me offer some thoughts on what Ted said, what I wish he’d said, and what still needs to be said:Ted said: “I’m a heterosexual with homosexual attachments.”
What prompted it: Oprah’s predictable but relevant question: Are you gay, straight, or bisexual? (read more)
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.
Emergent church leader says gay can be biblical lifestyle
Once again another leader who has the influence to shape the minds and theology of this next generation has drastically compromised the truth of the Gospel. Tony Jones is an author and leader in the Emergent Village movement, which in my opinion, is one of the most dangerous movements facing the church today. Tony
has finally stated that he believes “‘gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and queer’ individuals can and should live out their sexuality in – and blessed by – the Christian church.” Emergent authors such as Tony have been saturating the publishing world with books that are marketed to the teenage to twenty-something demographic. Their message is clear, today’s Christianity needs to be redefined for a more relevant generation and its theology reframed for current culture.
In this article, Jones states “all the time I could feel myself drifting toward acceptance that gay persons are fully human persons and should be afforded all of the cultural and ecclesial benefits that I am.” Here is the key; of course homosexuals are fully human people that should be treated with the basic respect that is afforded to everyone. The Church, unfortunately, has missed this mark dramatically in the past and we are now reaping the consequences of our actions. However, this is not an excuse to throw away 2 millennia of sound church doctrine and the unmistakably clear statements of scripture on this issue because of the Church’s irresponsibility to display the love of Christ in all situations. The point is that the perception of homosexuals being anything less than fully human is tragically false and this is where Jones made his first mistake. Had he initially seen them as creations of the Heavenly Father who are intended for a divine purpose and loved unconditionally, he would have been able to navigate and interpret Scripture without the compromise of “his experiences and feelings leading him toward a different conclusion.”
Many have made the mistake of seeing those impacted by homosexuality as something less. This perception instantly removes us from a Biblical foundation and misrepresents the heart of God. We are, therefore, left with no alternative than to be led by experience and emotion in order to find our way. If we initially see each person as a divinely created being intended for relationship with the Father, then we have our compass to guide us in the correct interpretation of Scripture that leads to a Biblical response of mercy and truth to all who will hear.
via Emergent church leader says gay can be biblical lifestyle
Posted on: November 24, 2008 in Commentary 5 Comments