Thursday, December 14, 2006

Hypocrite? That's Not How I See It

As many of have heard what is now old news. A great Christian leader, Ted Haggard as step down from pastoring New Life Church in Colorado and as leader of the Association of Evangelicals because of drug and homosexual struggles and failures in his life. I know many that struggle with hearing this. The first thought that comes to many minds is the word hypocrite. However I can not call him that. Lets look at the definition of hypocrite: somebody who gives a false appearance of having admirable principles, beliefs, or feelings.

This is what I know about Ted Haggard. He did not give a false appearance of having certain principles, beliefs or feelings. What Ted Haggard did was immoral on all levels and he knows it and believes it. Even when he was struggling and falling in these areas he still believed what he was doing was wrong. He would be a hypocrite if he believed what he did was right and then preached that it was wrong or vise versa, but that is not the case. That is not the case with many Christians.

I have admired and respected Ted ever since I read his book “The Life Giving Church”. The thing is, I still value him as a person, author, and Christian. He fell and he in turn will suffer the consequences of his sin and he should be held accountable for them and seek help. However I hope and pray to see him restored one day. I have no anger toward him. I am disappointed, let down, and hurting to see a man I admired so much fall so hard. But I know that Jesus died for his sin just as much as mine. I can not hold his sin against him anymore then I would want Jesus to hold my sin against me.

I will still read his books and follow to see what God does next in his life because even though he did sin it is evident to me God was still speaking to him and using him through those times. God uses sinners; otherwise he could not use any of us. God even uses Christians that fall. Falling declares our need even more for Jesus. I am not ever excusing sin. I am saying that sin can be used by God to make an average Christian into a great Christian if we are willing to let God do His thing with our sin.