The Trials of Ted Haggard or What Happened to Grace?
I just finished watching “The Trials of Ted Haggard” on HBO. It is a documentary made by Alexandra Pelosi that documents the post-exilic life of Ted Haggard. Ted is the founder and former pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. In November of 2006, Ted admitted to a homosexual relationship and meth usage. I lived a couple of miles away from New Life at the time.
I had a couple of friends who attended New Life. New Life’s theology is slightly different than mine, but we basically agree on most things. I was saddened by the news and I wrote a blurb about it called Shepherd Cloning. In it I encouraged my readers thusly:
The truth is that if we were all famous, we would all have public failures just like Ted Haggard. Our anonymity protects us from that public shame. But that is a mirage. Please discover your weaknesses. If you are honest with yourself, you will see the real you and desperately need change.
The documentary I just watched depressed me more than I felt back then. The way Ted has been treated since his public fall are not at all what I would call “Christlike.” I simply feel saddened. Perhaps it is my forgiving nature, but I cannot seem to wrap my arms around what is going on. I appreciate the words of James:
James 3:1 — Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
I understand that those in leadership are held to a higher standard. But I have a fundamental problem with the way the modern American church handles sin. Why does grace disappear once we cross the line into belief? Why do we stress grace to the one who does not believe — enticing them to believe that they truly can be saved by grace — and then focus on works after that? Ted said something like this in the documentary: The church should be a place where sinners are received and helped; not a place where they are exiled from.
The true hero of the documentary is Ted’s wife, Gayle. She forgave her husband. She forgave him because she believes that is what the Bible teaches (it does). Most of Ted’s friends apparently did not forgive him. His church certainly has not forgiven him. And society has not forgiven him either.
We all desperately need change. We all are hypocrites. And yet we all should forgive. Especially in the church.
Colossians 3:13 — if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
May the church be a place where sinners are welcomed. And may we be a people who welcome those around us who are sinners — which, by the way, is everyone.
After I watched the documentary I felt sadness in my soul. As I watched Ted and his family go through the hardships I wanted to reach out and help him.
Honestly and admittedly I do not have all the facts in this story. However, I do question the church exiling Ted and his family in their most critical time of need.
Ted had given his life to the church and yes, he failed in his service to his family, his church and his God. But his failure shouldn’t be punished by rejection by the family of the church. What would God demand us to do?
From my perspective I look at pastors with high reguard because as leaders of a congregation they are held to a higher standard. However, we must remember that they are human and have trials and tribulations that they struggle with.
We must all strive to forgive each other as God forgives us. We must strive to love all amongst us in need. If I knew how to contact Ted I would like to understand how he and his family are doing and if they are in need of help still.