Seems that most everyone has offered commentary on the Ted Haggard affair. Many wise posts float around the blogosphere. But what had bothered me for some time about Haggard was that he appeared to be teaching a theology that undermines the insideous nature and power of our fallen state. I once heard a radio program that was taped in the afternoon and during that program Haggard told the host that he had not yet sinned that day. WOW – by the time my mind begins to form thoughts in the morning, I’ve usually sinned before the first foot hits the floor. Moreover, New Life recently issued some suggestions that guide parents in how to discuss this issue with their children (HT: Tim Challies). Again, sin is in quotes as an optional word to use and parents can simply classify Haggard’s indiscretions as “mistakes.” One cannot avoid the reprecussions that are born from the theology one holds about God, His holiness and our sin nature.
This morning I dug out an old paper that I wrote for a class on Christian ethics and modern culture. I included a few Haggard quotes from an article by Jeff Sharlet that appeared in the May 2005 edition of “Harper’s” magazine. Admittedly “Harper’s” is not particularly friendly to Christianity, but the tone of the article had a distinct flavor and my thoughts in the spring of 05 were as follows:
“Many characteristics of contemporary culture, from the postmodern denial of truth to the mind numbing “plug-in drug,” lulls one into a vulnerable position of anti-intellectualism. We want our churches to be “grace places” so we can reach the unchurched, yet we rarely think about our processes or our tools of the trade. Ted Haggard “learned that everything, including spirituality, can be understood as a commodity.” And in order for the church to prosper “it needs more than ‘moral values’ – it needs customer value.” Ted Haggard may woo thousands into his contemporary cathedral every week, but is it worth the cost of compromise? In meditating on Matt. 7:13-13, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us, “The disciples are few in number, and will always be few…never let a disciple of Jesus pin his hopes on large numbers” (The Cost of Discipleship). The church has been entrusted with the truth of the Gospel and holds the responsibility to disseminate the truth in a way that honors God and does not cheapen the precious grace He has given us.”
Painting Baseboards 