Haggard back in pulpit; peers unhappy
Ted Haggard is preaching again – and some of his old friends are not happy about it.
The former head of the National Association of Evangelicals and founder of the influential New Life Church, whose ministry fell apart amid allegations brought by a male prostitute of gay sex and drug use, has been holding prayer meetings in a family barn.
As Wendy Norris writes in a critical piece over at Religion Dispatches, several former peers have voiced their displeasure:
H.B. London, the dour head of pastoral ministries at Focus on the Family, denounced the prayer services in the press, in a widely-circulated email, and on his blog. London reportedly told the Religious News Service of Haggard’s plans to hold prayer services, “When you think of the ethics of that, it, to me, just defies explanation.” Not to be left out of the media feeding frenzy, other high-profile pastors in the conservative evangelical Christian community quickly piled on.C. Peter Wagner, who co-founded the World Prayer Center with Haggard and is well known for the exorcism-obsessed New Apostolic Reformation movement, told the Colorado Springs Gazette that Haggard is deceiving himself and that he’s not fit to preach. “He must have someone confirm him in the body of Christ” before he can preach again, Wagner said.
Former Foursquare pastor Jack Hayford, another NAR bigwig and member of Haggard’s now-disbanded restoration team, and Gary Black of Rock the Nation youth ministry echoed the tightly-scripted public excoriations about the incomplete apostolic protocol. Said Black, “I would be shocked to think he’s ready to lead a church.”
“I don’t believe I will ever be forgiven by the modern day Pharisees,” Haggard tells Norris. “Redemption can never come to the sinner. I’m going on with my faith walk and they despise me because of it.”
Comments
Sounds like a "faith walk" driven by denial and opportunism. But he's gotta make those house/car payments somehow, I guess....and when there's a flock ready for fleecing ....the "shepherd" is rady with the shears....
Posted by: BankStreet | December 2, 2009 11:48 AM
Well put. Anyone who follows this man is delusional. He can be forgiven, but can he ever be trusted or believed again about anything?
Posted by: Anonymous | December 3, 2009 10:47 AM
Does the term "Hypo-Christian" sound right?
Posted by: Robert Littel | December 3, 2009 11:08 AM
Haggard refers to the "modern day Pharisees" in his comments.
Physician, heal thyself.
Haggard promoted shamelessly his role as a teacher and preacher of God, putting himself in the role of Pharisee (an Israelite who paid strict attention to tradition and law). While promoting himself as knowledgeable, not only of God's principles but of God's personality, he committed gross sin in the eyes of God.
Jesus himself referred to men like Haggard: Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness. I never knew you.
Don't worry or concern yourself about Ted Haggard. If he knows the Bible as he says he does, then he realizes against hope that his destruction is imminent, as foretold of all those who "honor [Jesus] with their lips, but their hearts are far removed."
Posted by: PW | December 7, 2009 7:31 AM
Here comes Haggard--never haggard, refreshed, rejuvenated, new prayers on his silver tongue, his mercurial temperament and his duplicity his close companions--he was trying to resurrect himself as an insurance agent. The recession has gone against the guy. After failing at insurance he's back to preaching. The churches of America are full of these guys. Fail at something--anything--- a church is always around the corner to rescue the Elmer Gantrys of this world--all you need is a tongue to spit out fire, a couple of eyes to close in feigned devotion and a head to bow--"Let us pray!" and the needy mobs will come to you--to a shed, a garage, a fox hole, even under a manhole cover they will gather to praise the lord with whatever rascal will promise them eternal life in the "promised land". I am glad the stultified, conservative preachers are wringing their hands. He should be confirmed in the body of Christ before he can preach again? O please! The pots are calling the kettle black. C.Peter Wagner seems trumped. What happened to his powers of exorcism? Can he not exorcise Haggard from the church?
Ravensfan Anon
Posted by: Anonymous | December 7, 2009 9:48 AM