I have always respected Ted Haggard. He is the pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. He has been the president of National Association of Evangelicals for sometime. He is married and the father of 5. I’ve heard him speak and God has used him. I love the Desperation CD’s that are produced by his church.
But now he has been accused of a sexual relationship with a homosexual man in Denver, CO. Haggard denies the accusations. I want to believe him. In fact when I first heard the accusations last night I knew they were false.
Then I watched 2 videos on CNN here. Notice last night he denied knowing the man. Today he admits knowing him but said he never had sex with him. He says he only bought Meth and had a massage. I really want to believe him but he lied right there.
Here is the problem. Haggard may be telling the truth. I pray he is. But because he had no accountability he is in this predicament. I am physically sick about this.
I am asking for some male friends on the blogsphere to partner and become accountability partners. I sure don’t want to fall into this trap or some other trap. I had a window put in my office when I moved here. But it only takes one slip up or one false accusation to ruin a minster.
Some of you probably already have this in place. I have in the past, but I’m in a new town. It is best to have people outside your place of worship.
I like the questions used by Chuck Swindoll:
Seven questions used by Chuck Swindoll and a small group of pastors.
1. Have you been with a woman anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spent adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me?
If you are interested let me know.
Pray for the Haggard family.
Filed under: accountability, church, sad
Accountability is a great idea, if it were to really work. As I told you when we spoke on the phone, when I opened myself up to a brother pastor, he took what I shared with him, and told three other pastors what I had said, and embellished the truth on top of that. So when someone approaches me about an accountability relationship, I tend to be a bit skeptical, as you can imagine.
Also, I wonder to what extent people will tell the truth in these types of situations. If they really are sneaking a peak at a porn site, would they answer honestly? My experience tells me that they will not.
I do not intend to be cynical or negative, but just genuinely curious about these questions I have. What do you think?
Wake up and smell the coffee. The fact that he started off with lies, and is now admitting the truth (a little at a time) should ring some bells. It’s only a matter of time before it all comes out — like it or not. Crystal meth + a massage with a male prostitute = (do you need to have it spelled out?)
And yet people had to make such a big deal out of liberal Bill Clinton and Monica L.!
Kevin,
I know it’s painful to watch a strong figure in the faith fall, but is it not unexpected that such things happen from time to time? All believers (even non-believers, for that matter) know that sin is alluring… tempting… and often almost impossibly difficult to resist. If we each look within our own hearts, we know we’re capable of things that horrify us. It’s at those moments that we realize that we are, to use a phrase from our reformed brothers and sisters, totally depraved.
I guess, painful as it is to see the hurt such sin as Rev. Haggart’s causes in the life of individuals, families, churches, and even wider spread groups of believers… I don’t see this particular situation as something that is the end of the world… or even something that is terribly harmful to Christian witness. If anything, it’s an opportunity to point non-believers to our depravity as evidence that we are all capable of falling… that we all need the grace and forgiveness offered by the Holy God… and that, to quote a cliche… Christians aren’t perfect… just forgiven.
Will non-believers use this as an excuse not to believe? Of course. Will the media sensationalize this? No doubt. Does either of these mean that God has lost His ability to work through this to further His Kingdom? Absolutely not.
Romans 8:28 is true, Kevin. You believe it… not only that… you KNOW it in the depths of your heart. Trust God in this… don’t lose heart, and keep looking for how He’s working through this.
Here is an interview with Rev. Haggard’s “escort” friend.
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid38664.asp
I find it very interesting that Haggard is now admitting to buying crystal meth, but that he supposedly didn’t use it. How many people buy illegal drugs just for the sake of collecting them? The more he lies about these things, the worse things will get. Numbers 32:23: “… be sure your sin will find you out.”
Kevin,
I appreciate your post. I read Haggard’s “Primary Purpose” in seminary and many of his books since. I am heartbroken by this story.
I enjoyed hanging out with you in Atlanta. I would be interested in some type of accoutability check up. At the very least I would like another prayer partner.
I met this good man about 14 years ago, while I was in Colorado Springs, visiting. I am heartsick at these events as well.
But two passages of Scripture quickly come to mind. 1 Corinthians 10:11-14, and Galatians 6:1-3.
I pray for Pastor Haggard, for New Life Church, for his family, and for the sanity of the Body of Christ in this nation.
We all NEED accountability, whether we want it or not.
Dear Kevin,
You use the term accountability, But my experiences after 29 years of looking at how churches function and leaders rule It is a nebulous and vague unbiblical term.
People use the idea of accountability in assuming that the bible commands each believer to discuss their walk with each other so it will prevent sin.
My experiences and assumption is I would suspect and assert that Haggard had expressed his problem with other minister people previously, but that they were covering it up and sweeping it under the rug.
WHY? Glad you asked.
It’s very simple, “cashflow”, “scandals”, “loss of followers”, collapse of the professional religious business enterprise.
The most modern idea or concept of a “church” in America fits the profile where 1 man stands in a pulpit on Sunday mornings and delivers a message that he alleges came from God to an listening audience that has been led to believe that this is a biblical practice sent down by Jesus.
You end up with 1 monologue and never any dialogue.
Even if the pastor or speaker is in error, or teaching non-biblical issues you can not stand and speak, correct, or rebuke the person.
You have been condition to sit, listen, and touch not the Lords annointed.
These practices prevail in almost all modern churches in America and most people sitting in these seats and pews are the evidence of the blind following the blind.
Has any pastor or church ever taught you or a congregation to clearly understand what a wolf in sheeps clothing is, the wolf’s charcteristics, a wolf’s behaviors, and where wolves are found?
You have probably heard many sermons on giving, tithing, and submitting.
Has any pastor or church ever taught you or a congregation to clearly understand what Jesus taught about the entire context of chapter Matt 18, but specificly the section on a brother that sin against you?
The entire context of Matt 18 is a profound application that Jesus left for us to apply and follow, but very, very few organizations have ever applied it.
Why? Glad you asked. “Cashflow”, they do not want to upset the operation and cause a church split where people would leave and take their moneies.
Kevin most modern American churches are set up very much like the temple at Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. Just a few special church leaders that had taken the teachings of God and substituted them for the traditions of men. And of course there were the money tables and the temple retail business products that all good Jews needed if they were going to be able and comply with the religious leaders church business model.
Kevin there are many topics in the Bible that are taught by men with there monologues every Sunday morning.
But there are so many other topics in the Bible tht are “never” taught because if you knew the truth the truth would make you free!
Jesus came to teach us the truth so the truth would make us free he declared, but “free” from what Kevin?, the devil?, well he is one part of the process, but Kevin the greatest freedom that Jesus came to decalre to people inside the synagogues and churches was that they did not have to be in those buildings to be in relationship with God.
Jesus came to give you and I truth so we would be free of the bad and false teachings of men declaring to operate organizations for God.
Anyone can get a business license from your local government and rent a building and open up and allege to be a minister or leader.
He is relying on that you will not diligently study the scriptures to be approved or that you will be a berean and check out his words to see if these things are so.
The culture of modern Americans is they are addicted to “entertainment” and not study. This is why you see churches and organizations so involved and are moving to systems of edifices that portray the ideas of “pentacostal pagentry”, the alluring entertainment practices of the world now parked inside of alleged churches.
Most people in churches on Sundays may read there bibles frequently, but they never study their bibles. Most people in churches are “parrots”, squacking out things they heard the pastor said.
In intrviews and surveys I have conducted with adults that had been in 1 church for over 12 years illustrated that not one person could clearly tell me or explain to me the “Gospel”.
Most people were conditioned to “invite people” to their church and hope that the pastor could preach something that might emotionally convict them and then recruit them to join the church.
This prevails across America in your community and mine also.
What you and I see as the church in America and it’s methods is not what
Jesus taught or reccomended.
More people today financially empower alleged christian churches and organizations that operate as “imperialistic enterprises” that will not allow any correction process into their practices.
Most people attend church organizations and unscriptually submit to “pastors” that do not have a living epistle required by Jesus and live under a relationship of “fear”.
Alleged modern pastors operate more as a “christian mullah” very similar to that of Islam, where the mullah can only speak for God and you have become the mullahs vessel that will be used to achieve and accomplish what ever agenda that the mullah desires to develop his enterprise.
There is so much to be said about all this!
See if you can remember this Kevin.
Everthing written in the Bible was written for me, but not everything written in the Bible was written to me.
I as a gentile believing in the New Testament and the Gospel of the Grace of God submitt my self to the teachings of Jesus alone as my guide for me to walk every day and how to “react” when I amconfronted with life easch day.
I am walking each day trusting only in what God has declared to me through Jesus concerning the “gospel good news” that is mine for believing in Gods Plan to redem me based only upon the finished work that was accomplished by God and His testament.
By one mans disobedience all was lost, but by one mans obedience all were regained to those that would believe in His name!
In Isaiah and in Hebrews we find this profound declaration of God’s word’s:
“The days are coming says the Lord when I will draw up a new covenant with the people of Isreal and Judah it will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I led them out of Egypt, This is the covenant I will make with the people of Isreal in the days to come, says the Lord, I will put my laws in their minds and write themon their hearts, For they will all know me from the least to the greatest, I will forgive their sins and will no longer remember their transgressions and iniquities.
What you see as churches today are not the bibles way to operate.
By this shall all men know that you are my disciples by the love you show one for another! What is the bible definition and description of love?
Most men leading churches or para-institutions or organizations are almost always surrounded by men that do not know what to do when there leader is
in sin, or teaching error, or behaving improperly, therefore they don;t want to be the advocator of exposing anything and causing division, so they all tolerate it and hope it goes away.
WHY?
Cashflow, the love of money from the organization, instead of the love of the sheep as instructed by Jesus their leader.
Matt 18
November 04, 2006
Kevin
Why am I not surprised when I see modern church leaders caught in scandals? Many of the churches I have attended are breeding grounds for self deception and modern day Pharisees. The word Pharisees comes from the Hebrew perushim, from parash, meaning “to separate”. Modern Pharisees separate themselves and their followers from people who are not as “righteous” as they are. Modern Pharisees are full of self righteous pride and people emulate prideful leadership. The Pharisee leader sees themself as better than others because of his titles or self righteous, self directed works (both of which Jesus despised).
Modern Pharisees put heavy loads of man made legalism (Mt 23:5) on their followers. Jesus’ disciples were ordinary people like fisherman. He taught them to consider themselves as brothers and not to take on honorific titles (Mt 23:8-12). Modern day Pharisees will not accept correction from ordinary brothers as Jesus commanded in Mt 18:15-18. In Mt 18:15-18 Jesus used the word listen four times. . A true disciple of Jesus judges himself so he or she will not be judged (1 Cor 11, Matt 6-7) and listens to others who try to correct them (Mt 18:15-18). Modern day Pharisees will NOT listen; they will not even set an appointment with another Christian if they sense they may be corrected. If corrected, they will often slander or verbally abuse the person who tries to correct them, ignoring the fact that the Apostle Paul declared that slanderers and railers will not enter the kingdom of God (1 Cor 5-6)! Modern day Pharisees love places of honor (Mt 23:6) like pulpits. They have monologues rather than interactive dialogue. They will never let ordinary brothers teach or publicly question their teaching, lest people realize their teachings are doctrines of men that nullify the Word of God (Mt 15).
Jesus said “ Woe to you Pharisees, for you are like white washed tombs who look beautiful on the outside … How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a chick gathers her children under her wings AND YOU WERE UNWILLING.”
GOOD NEWS! JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN PRACTICING PHARISEEISM OR FOLLOWING MODERN DAY PHARISEES FOR YEARS DOES NOT MEAN WE HAVE TO CONTINUE!
If you have ever driven on a long interstate trip, you may have gotten lost. While some people are too proud to ask for directions, a wise person will not just go to a convenience store and ask any ignorant person, but will ask a trucker, a policeman or someone who clearly knows where we are on the map and the right direction to get us to our destination.
If we are to avoid hell and go toward the Kingdom of God, we must humble ourselves, stop following modern day Pharisees. We must stop putting blind faith in leaders and start studying the Bible to get off the broad road to destruction and get onto the narrow road that Jesus said leads to eternal Life! (Matt 5-7)
Ken Naccari
Here is a very interesting article about accountability — in plain terms.
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1104-23.htm
Brian,
The whole thing is sad.
Jason,
I understand what you are saying but not everyone is like the man you dealt with. I would rather have some systems in place to protect me from my own worldliness than to think I can handle it on my own. I believe accountability is a must!
Matt S,
I’ll be in touch.
Matt 18 and Ken,
Thanks for stopping by and adding to the discussion.
Interesting that Brian’s article mentions Martin Luther King, an enthusiastic womaniser and adulterer.
Kevin, like it or not, there is much more to this than meets the eye — not just with Haggard, but with so many others in the evangelical churches. And people who think otherwise are fooling only themselves.
Brian,
I’m afraid you are right.
http://www.newlifechurch.org/pressrelease110606.pdf
Yes, Kevin, and now the news release is everywhere. Here it is, from Yahoo.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061104/ap_on_re_us/haggard_sex_allegations
This is only the tip of the iceberg, so people might as well brace themselves. Now maybe others can reflect and think of their Catholic neighbours with respect to various announcements that have been affecting them.
It’s going to be a bitter pill for Haggard to swallow, especially after all of the comments and preaching that he has done against gays.
And, I understand there is controversy brewing in Florida, too. Here is the story:
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/11/110306florida.htm
Serves him right! I have not a skerrick of sympathy for him.
Cheerio, Brian and Kevin- I’m off to the USA!! Happy Solstice/Xmas and New Year- also Thanksgiving, which I’m finally getting to experience for the first time ever.
Hi Francoise, have a great time in America. This sounds like quite a trip!
Thanks Brian- only 2 more hours til I board the plane.
It’s just been reported in our papers that Haggard has confessed to his gay activities- what a hypocrite! I always suspect the worst whenever anyone is loudly condemning others for something -it’s usually what they hate most about themselves.
Adios amigos- my friends in USA have booked me into a train ride through the Sierras which features a murder mystery. I sincerely hope that I’m not fated to be the victim- how boring to have to lie still for 2 hours whilst everyone else gets to act their hearts out!
Then shopping in San Francisco- Thanksgiving, Christmas ( my first white Christmas!) etc. My mate will be taking me to watch your elections- 25 November or thereabouts. As Australians have compulsory voting ( Yes, true, and, as we’re also in election year, I will have to vote from USA, or face a fine or gaol) I find your electoral antics absolutely amazing. What a circus!
If time permits, I might drop into Starbucks ( yerrrgghhhh) and meet KB himself.
Cheers, all.
Hi Francoise,
Wow, what a wonderful trip you have planned. The mystery sounds like it will be a lot of fun.
Regarding Haggard, yes, I agree. There is a reason why people love to point out others’ faults, quite simply because the spotlight is then on somebody else! It was obvious from the start that Haggard was lying about everything (another “sin”), and gradually, the truth had to come out. He noted to a reporter that he was happy that the accuser failed the polygraph test. I have read where the accuser failed only part of it, very likely due to stress (not eating or sleeping properly) and that he might be required to re-do the test. If Haggard is so glad that the accuser failed the test, then let Haggard take a lie detector test (can you imagine the questions?) AND take a drug test and we will see who has been most of the lying. I don’t believe any of this stuff about Haggard saying he did not have sex or use the drugs. What was he buying the drugs for? And meeting for only a “massage”. I will leave that alone but anybody can use that word and put 2 + 2 together and come up with some vivid images. As for the business about how he said that he found the accuser via a hotel concierge, nope, I don’t think so. Hotels usually don’t like to be known as being a source for that sort of activity.
Now, he is saying he has had a lifelong sexual problem, which is not surprising since he has not been honest with his sexuality all along. It’s unfortunate that so many other people are impacted by this (his wife and family, and people who looked up to him). If he goes back in the closet and goes for prayer, deliverance, whatever, he will still have this “battle”, regardless of how much faith he has. I might sound harsh to some, but I am not belittling the man. Truly, I wish him the very best, but he has to be honest about himself before he can sound a trumpet about other people or try to convince others that he is healed and then carry on as though everything is fine. And maybe now, he might be able to relate to the feelings that other people go through due to intolerance and bigotry (gay bashing, rejection, etc.), much of which can come from the church (thanks, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, John Hagee and others – NOT!)
Finally, whatever made Haggard think he was fooling anybody? I’m surprised that this did not happen earlier.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/05/haggard.allegations/index.html
I just got back from a week long cruise. I try to stay away from the news but one of our dinner partners brought this up. The later on that night at the bar in which my wife and I were sitting with new friends, the entertainer brought it up.
I feel badly for his family. I feel badly for the church. But, like Francoise said, not much sympathy for him.
I hate that what he did will be used to smear the majority of pastors who labor faithfully, anonymously and with integrity.
(Kevin since you said that about accountability with men…I’ll not be offended if you don’t have this on your blog.)
When I’ve attempted to have accountability partners, it was often fake. You both have to be willing to hear the worst in each other, still love, and keep it quiet or get help if needed. We don’t teach about how to keep each other accountable. I even joined a ministry at church for women mentoring women. There is not a level of trust there yet for me to want to be accountable with my mentor. We only have four months left together. Can we teach about being accountable for each other? I think it would terrify many church members who have learned for so long that being real about sin struggles isn’t welcome in the church.
Kevin, I don’t know if just asking for it from your fellow men on here will bring accomplishment. More needs to be done to help people truly be accountable. It be very easy to lie about struggles over internet…it is easy enough in person.
Thanks for this contemplation.
I feel very bad for his family, and for his church, and in a lot of ways, for him. When I see something like this happen, it really causes me to think about my own life and my own sin. Is there really any difference, spiritually anyway, from the thoughts in my own mind and the things I do which are sinful, and what Ted Haggard did? His sin, related to a highly publicized political issue, and his position of high visibility combined to bring about a spectacular downfall. But is what he did any worse than what any other Christian, any other minister, does that isn’t pleasing to God?
I had a seminary professor who once told our class that one of the best ways to remind yourself of your personal accountability and reputation, at least in some areas, was to drive like you had a Jesus bumper sticker on your car, and act like you were wearing a Christian t-shirt all the time.
I also have to wonder, here, three or four days after the event, whether God intends for his people to have such a high level of power, influence and visibility, or whether the very visible and apparent success of pastoring a congregation of thousands isn’t behind a feeling of invincibility. Putting sinful people on pedestals can be quite counterproductive.
I also have to wonder what kind of a job we have done in the church of teaching people about the nature of God’s grace, which Ted Haggard has as much access to as any of the rest of us.
I feel terrible for him and for his family. I don’t know if anyone else sees this but I really believe that it’s much better that this story came out, instead of being kept secret. God is so awesome I am praying for Haggard and his family, they need prayer and love right now.. God bless them and all our family across the world…
[...] By the way, Kevin brought up a point about accountability. I think it’s really interesting and it should be useful. Does any nice person want to do prayer and accountability with me? lol [...]
[...] Kevin – reflecting accountability [...]
This is an interesting side to the Haggard case, in light of the fact that James Dobson has now announced that he will not provide counselling for Haggard.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-2942.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-briefs8.4nov08,1,6039976.story?coll=la-news-a_section
Saddens me. I’ve just had the fiber to read of it now. Reading his letter to his church broke my heart.
Accountability important, yes.
Also, liked with the insight lees shared. Spotlight. Too much pressure. Too much stress.
I’d be interested in talking to Janna some. Accountability with women is possible…you just have to cultivate the environement.
JasonK…yes, people are still people. A lot of care has to be used with the person we use for accountability and the level of detail we want to share. High level sharing friendships and prayer partners can have their course.
So many pastors I hear say, “I so appreciate time with ‘normal’ people about non-church stuff where I can just talk and vent and be myself…they are few and far between.”
As I grow in influence, ministry, leadership, whatever you want to call it…the sheer work of it all is about enough to drive anyone insane at times. God continues to teach me how to do what Ted talked about in the video clip I saw this week that he’d put out on how to have a good marriage.
That “fun” time with family. Sounds like God was working with him…but there were times he neglected to listen and follow and got himself into some serious trouble.
I would hesitate to call anyone a hypocrite, though it seems he is meeting the definition at this point in his life. In any case, I think that would probably work very much like a boomarang for me in some area or another and I hate the feel of that word so much.
May we be people of integrity…show us all how, Lord.
Rev. Haggard has some company. Another mega-church pastor has been outed.
http://365gay.com/Newscon06/12/121106pastor.htm
Commercialization of the Lord’s gospel is coming to an end.
HE will no longer tolerate millions of hard earned dollars being tossed to deceivers!
1 Peter 5:2 STRICTLY PROHIBITS PAID MINISTRY! In fact, it is described as “FILTHY LUCRE.”
Once the gospel (which is free gift for all) is taught without a price, then is when God can begin to work miracles in our individual as well as collective lives.
WHY must pastors be paid? If they truly desire to proclaim the good news, can they not do so for free???
Biblical Accountability: The Problem (Part 1)
What is ‘accountability?’
Why do we need accountability?
Is accountability even biblical? If so, what does biblical accountability even look like?
Practically, how do we do accountability?
Accountability…for what?
My story:
I have be…