Ted Haggard: I'm Probably Bisexual

[InTheLight]

Ted Haggard, the former evangelical pastor who was ousted from the megachurch he founded after it was revealed that his extracurricular activities included crystal meth and < edited >, confesses that he's probably bisexual in an interview with GQ.

Speaking to GQ's Kevin Roose, Haggard remarks, "I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual." After resigning from the New Life Church—which he calls his "old Soviet Union"—Haggard reconciled with his wife and founded a new church last June, which welcomes everyone: "gay, straight, bi, tall, short, whether you're an addict, a recovering addict, or you have an addict in your family."

http://slatest.slate.com/id/2282729/

Is he purporting to be a 'pastor' of this new 'church'?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Add creep to the list

 

[Arbo]

Is he purporting to be a 'pastor' of this new 'church'?

Is it unitarian?

 

[freeatlast]

This is very sad for more then one reason. Here is a man, and his wife evidently, that are in need of many prayers. I will be one who does so. That being said this man's teachings departs from sound doctrine. That in itself would be bad enough as it exposes his condemnation. The greater evil here is the many that he will make twice the son's of hell with his false teachings.
While this man is failing himself the church also has failed him by not following through with church discipline as given in scripture. If he had been turned over to satan for the destruction of the body he might be come saved, but because the church has also turned from obedience to God this kind of things will become more widely spread.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Haggard reconciled with his wife and founded a new church last June, which welcomes everyone: "gay, straight, bi, tall, short, whether you're an addict, a recovering addict, or you have an addict in your family."

Well, that should be the attitude of every local church on the planet.

The question is...is he going to be proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Sharing with these people how they can recieve new life from God, through faith in Christ, and experience the new birth, and subsequent new life, that God has for them.

I hope that is the case, but I fear he is going to go the Opra Winfrey style of "I'm ok, you're ok, we're ALL ok" route.

I hope I'm wrong.


AiC

 

[freeatlast]

Well, that should be the attitude of every local church on the planet.

The question is...is he going to be proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Sharing with these people how they can recieve new life from God, through faith in Christ, and experience the new birth, and subsequent new life, that God has for them.

I hope that is the case, but I fear he is going to go the Opra Winfrey style of "I'm ok, you're ok, we're ALL ok" route.

I hope I'm wrong.


AiC

I would disagree with you on that and so does the Lord. In the context of this man accepting everyone it is not saying that the church he pastors is willing to allow them in the doors welcoming them and speaking truth to them. It means that they are actually accepted into the church membership as if nothing is wrong. That no church should to.

 

[preachinjesus]

Ted's situation is deeply concerning to me.

On one hand I believe and practice forgiveness for someone who truly repents of sin and seeks humble reconciliation with those he has wounded spiritually, emotionally, etc. As the Church we must practice bold forgiveness for those who seek it as it is the way of Christ. Someone doesn't need to lay at the door of our churches (like they did in the early church after denying Christ in the midst of persecution) for years before being welcomed back into the fold. Our open forgiveness of a broken individual is a testimony to the world about our love and humility.

I have no reason to doubt that Ted has been broken by his sin and violation of God's call on his life. I would welcome Ted to attend the church where I serve. I would welcome Ted and his family to join the church where I serve. I don't doubt Ted's salvation.

On the other hand, Ted, because of his actions, has completely disqualified himself from vocational ministry for a time. His violation of moral purity, adultery, and impure practices with another person have marred his personal testimony and ministry calling. If we are to hold to biblical standards for the calling and serving of elders we must uphold Ted to those standards. He has violated the sanctity of his divine and special calling.

To be a pastor is to have a higher calling, to have a higher standard, and to have a higher morality. Ted's actions have invalidated his ministry for a time and he should seek careful restoration by spiritual authority he willfully submits to in his life. Ted refuses to do this. What he is doing now is adding to the case against him.

Was he put into a failing situation? Yes. Is he more than his sin? Absolutely. Should he be allowed back into ministry in the future? Yes, if he submits and not into a pastoral role.

The purity of the pastorate requires that we protect our flocks from those who might seek to destroy them and abuse them. I have known men who have had affairs and been involved in moral failure that have stepped away from pastoral ministry for a time and were gloriously restored to their ministry.

Sin...especially the moral sin of an under-shepherd of Jesus' Bride...has consequences.

I pray for Ted to learn humility in his life. When I see his interviews and interactions I don't see humility. I also hope he is past his sin and doesn't live under the identity of failure. He was not forced into his sin, but must be accountable for it.

 

[freeatlast]

Ted's situation is deeply concerning to me.

On one hand I believe and practice forgiveness for someone who truly repents of sin and seeks humble reconciliation with those he has wounded spiritually, emotionally, etc. As the Church we must practice bold forgiveness for those who seek it as it is the way of Christ. Someone doesn't need to lay at the door of our churches (like they did in the early church after denying Christ in the midst of persecution) for years before being welcomed back into the fold. Our open forgiveness of a broken individual is a testimony to the world about our love and humility.

I have no reason to doubt that Ted has been broken by his sin and violation of God's call on his life. I would welcome Ted to attend the church where I serve. I would welcome Ted and his family to join the church where I serve. I don't doubt Ted's salvation.

On the other hand, Ted, because of his actions, has completely disqualified himself from vocational ministry for a time. His violation of moral purity, adultery, and impure practices with another person have marred his personal testimony and ministry calling. If we are to hold to biblical standards for the calling and serving of elders we must uphold Ted to those standards. He has violated the sanctity of his divine and special calling.

To be a pastor is to have a higher calling, to have a higher standard, and to have a higher morality. Ted's actions have invalidated his ministry for a time and he should seek careful restoration by spiritual authority he willfully submits to in his life. Ted refuses to do this. What he is doing now is adding to the case against him.

Was he put into a failing situation? Yes. Is he more than his sin? Absolutely. Should he be allowed back into ministry in the future? Yes, if he submits and not into a pastoral role.

The purity of the pastorate requires that we protect our flocks from those who might seek to destroy them and abuse them. I have known men who have had affairs and been involved in moral failure that have stepped away from pastoral ministry for a time and were gloriously restored to their ministry.

Sin...especially the moral sin of an under-shepherd of Jesus' Bride...has consequences.

I pray for Ted to learn humility in his life. When I see his interviews and interactions I don't see humility. I also hope he is past his sin and doesn't live under the identity of failure. He was not forced into his sin, but must be accountable for it.

[SIZE=+0]While all that sounds nice and it may seem to be the the way of the Lord it totally contradicts what scripture lays out although it does follow this post modernism world view that has crept into the church. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]In Teds case he is not only disqualified to Pastor a church now he is disqualified forever. He can never again be above reproach because of his sin. Yes he can repent, seek forgiveness, and from some point in time live squeaky clean denouncing his type of sin as sin. However he can never again be above reproach as his past would always be in question as to his then present.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+0]Also he should not be welcome in any church even as a visitor much less a member with his current mind set. The reason is that what he is doing is thumbing his nose at God in full view of all. It would be another thing if he were repentant and makes clear his changed position, but in his current state he is leaven and a little leaven leavens the whole loaf.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+0]As for the idea that a pastor is to somehow have higher standards then others who are not pastors that is simply false and not of the Lord. The pastor has to show those higher standards in his life to hold the office, but each and every believer is to be held at the same standards as a pastor in their Christian walk. The only reason that those qualifications are pointed out is because if the man does not have those then those who he is suppose to be leading will not have them either. A student cannot be greater then his teacher.[/SIZE]

In the end ted has himself chosen a path that is contrary to God. He needs to be turned over to satan for the flesh to be destroy so that his soul might be saved.

 

[faithgirl46]

This is very sad for more then one reason. Here is a man, and his wife evidently, that are in need of many prayers. I will be one who does so. That being said this man's teachings departs from sound doctrine. That in itself would be bad enough as it exposes his condemnation. The greater evil here is the many that he will make twice the son's of hell with his false teachings.
While this man is failing himself the church also has failed him by not following through with church discipline as given in scripture. If he had been turned over to satan for the destruction of the body he might be come saved, but because the church has also turned from obedience to God this kind of things will become more widely spread.

You are right, they need our prayers

 

[Jerome]

Remember, Haggard was president of the National Association of Evangelicals when he was exposed.

A similar situation happened when Roy Clements, pastor at Eden Chapel (Cambridge) and on the management team of the Evangelical Alliance UK, had to resign in the late 1990s when his dalliance with a male research assistant came to light.

You can hear lectures by Clements at monergism.com.

 

[Alive in Christ]

Freeatlast.

It appears you you misread my post. Did you just read the 1st statement, and then stop?

I am essentially saying the same thing you are saying.

 

[freeatlast]

Freeatlast.

It appears you you misread my post. Did you just read the 1st statement, and then stop?

I am essentially saying the same thing you are saying.

Sorry if I miss-understood you.

 

[rbell]

What are they calling this "church," the "massage and meth fellowship?

I'm sorry, but that "my old Soviet Union" dig is disgusting. God may have him travel through Siberia and shake him up.

Makes you wonder if he ever got it...or was he an imposter from the beginning?

I'm all for the church reaching out to the lost. It's just that I prefer that those who head up the "reaching out" are saved themselves (or at least show evidence of it...)

 

[texasgal]

I would like to know how much money he made from the "interview" and why GQ thinks we need to think about him ANY more ?

Gross.

 

[pinoybaptist]

This is very sad for more then one reason. Here is a man, and his wife evidently, that are in need of many prayers. I will be one who does so. That being said this man's teachings departs from sound doctrine. That in itself would be bad enough as it exposes his condemnation. The greater evil here is the many that he will make twice the son's of hell with his false teachings.
While this man is failing himself the church also has failed him by not following through with church discipline as given in scripture. If he had been turned over to satan for the destruction of the body he might be come saved, but because the church has also turned from obedience to God this kind of things will become more widely spread.

The Bible has one description for these kind of guys: wolf in sheep's clothing.

 

[carpro]

Ted Haggard, the former evangelical pastor who was ousted from the megachurch he founded after it was revealed that his extracurricular activities included crystal meth and < edited >, confesses that he's probably bisexual in an interview with GQ.

Speaking to GQ's Kevin Roose, Haggard remarks, "I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual." After resigning from the New Life Church—which he calls his "old Soviet Union"—Haggard reconciled with his wife and founded a new church last June, which welcomes everyone: "gay, straight, bi, tall, short, whether you're an addict, a recovering addict, or you have an addict in your family."

http://slatest.slate.com/id/2282729/

Is he purporting to be a 'pastor' of this new 'church'?

i don't believe he's bisexual, just another unrepentent sinner.