The tell-tale quote
In reading Ted Haggard’s departure note I was profoundly struck by this quote:
When I stopped communicating about my problems, the darkness increased and finally dominated me. As a result, I did things that were contrary to everything I believe.
This exposes a perspective fault that runs deep in the world of evangelical Christianity, they’re victims of their own spin. They’ve made church meetings into events, pageants, orchestrations, and presentations for the Gospel with all the shine and glamor that goes into a real-estate scam ad on late night TV – and just as much integrity. The first question in the planning of a worship service is not how to worship Jesus rather how can they get the most people in this service.
It isn’t just the Sunday meetings that have been sidetracked, it is the people in them. Christians (not just pastors) routinely find themselves in the same place as Ted did – Satan, through deceiving believers into presenting false fronts does two-fold damage; first, he weakens the church’s ministry by creating an individual who is still victim to his/her old self and therefore has a testimony, that upon close inspection (or a news story), reveals the hypocrisy of the matter; second, the believer is not experiencing the reality of the Gospel and therefore incomplete in their worship of God.
The realization of sin is important, especially these two things:
- You sin constantly, by what you have done and by what you have not done! No one is exempt from this.
- Your sins have names! Name them, what is it? Is it pride, selfishness, lust? What kind of pride? About what? Know your sins!
Once these steps have been done it is fruitful to talk with a brother or sister in Christ openly about your struggles. If you are married, talk to your spouse – be open with them. Husbands, be humble, your wife is your help-mate and you should remember to share these things. Wives, share these things with your husband, it is an issue of manhood if he doesn’t want to hear these things; the husband is the head of the household and as such must be able to support those in it with constant lovingkindness and Christ-heartedness.
I dare suggest that Ted is not an exception, but rather an everyman. We can all be where he is, don’t look on him with scorn, but pray earnestly for him and for your own condition.
worth reading: