Yesterday, I opened the Sept./Oct. '06 issue of Discipleship Journal and saw an interview with Pastor Ted Haggard printed there and it made me feel sick and sad all over again. I realize you may have had enough 'Haggard' to last you for a long time, but indulge me one more time to write about his moral crash. Ted Haggard, in case you've been stuck in the wilds for a week, is the man who led Colorado's largest church until last Sunday, is a prolific author, and the recent president of the National Association of Evangelicals. One week ago today his involvement with a male prostitute and with illicit drug usage was exposed and led to his removal from his ministries.
The question that keeps echoing in my head is: how did he descend into such an ugly, sinful secret life?
Perhaps he thought he was strong enough to fight off temptation by himself. Many of us do! It is hard, very hard, to look in the mirror and admit to ourselves that we have lied, that we have cheated, that lust stalks our mind, that we taste the poison of hatred, that we have been greedy, or such things. So we learn to give our sins other names, as though renaming them makes them less sinful. And we devise schemes that we think will keep us from doing what we know should not do. Still we fail; again and again. The more we fail, the deeper our sense of alienation. The more alone we feel, the more desperate we become. Our desperation leads to the need for an escape, which fuels temptation, against which we feel powerless and so, we do it again - strengthening the cycle. Sin is bigger than you, me, or any living person.
Don't trust that 'knowing better' is a strong defense against temptation, either. On Monday, 11/6/2006, the LA Times, published this excerpt from Haggard's book, Letters from Home. Published in 2002, the book is framed as a letter to the two oldest of his five children, who were preparing for college at that time. In a section called "Live as if there are no secrets," he listed powerful men brought down by lust or lies, including Presidents Nixon and Clinton and the Rev. Jimmy Swaggart. "Major leaders have lost their positions of influence because of what they did alone in a room," he wrote. "Please don't ever fall into the trap of believing that you can do something in secret, even when you are far away from home," Haggard urged his children. "This is a lie, and it will always come back to haunt you." Four years later, Haggard's own life blew up after his hotel room depravity was made public. He knew better but did it anyway. In Romans the power of temptation even in the face of knowing better is made clear. There we read: "I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge." (Romans 7:22-23, The Message)
Trying to self-regulate our behavior is a weak defense, too. Paul reminds us that rules and religion are ultimately powerless to change the sinful nature that resides in everyone of us! “Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch.” Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires." (Colossians 2:21-24, NLT) In a statement read to the church he had pastored, Haggard spoke of the powerful temptations that overcame his inhibitions. "For extended periods of time, I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom, then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach."
Some of us think that fear of being shamed and/or internal guilt will save us from ourselves. It won't! We have amazing powers of self-justification. I am speculating, but I wonder how many times Haggard dealt with his guilty shame by rationalizing "I'll never do it again. It was just the pressure of that moment that made me weak."
Here's the part you probably won't like today. Haggard's sin is particularly repulsive to most of us, but in reality, his sin is no worse than yours or mine in the eyes of God! Honestly, which one of is not a hypocrite in one way or another? Which one of can say that our daily lives are in perfect harmony with our professed values? That said, I will go on to say that those who say that they live in by the Spirit should be growing in Christ's grace, closing the gap between words and actions! If his sin becomes an excuse for anyone of us to make peace with with our own sins, we have erred in our conclusion, and failed to gain a thing from his example. His failure should be a call to each one of us to renew our daily commitment to spiritual disciplines that create pathways for the Spirit to enter our lives in a powerfully transforming way. His fall should teach us the importance of staying in touch with those who can call us to account and seeking the Spirit's powerful conviction that will turn us from our lusts and lapses.
Paradoxically, the Bible teaches us to admit to our inherent weaknesses, for 'when we are weak, then we are strong!' Paul says, "Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence." The Message (1 Co 10:11-12)
There it is! Forget self-confidence.... cultivate God-confidence.
"Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. " (Romans 7:24-25, NLT)
_________________________
Take time to be holy. Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends with God's children;
Help those who are weak,Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy. Let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow thy Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His word.
Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive beneath His control;
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.
Take Time To Be Holy
Author: Longstaff, William D. / Stebbins, George C.
Copyright: Public Domain
No comments:
Post a Comment