From the Christianity Today interview with the wife of disgraced former mega-church pastor/Evangelical leader Ted Haggard. Gayle has just published a book titled “Why I Stayed”. Two relevant soundbytes from the interview (ht AZ):
What do you want individuals and churches to take away from this?I really want our story to offer hope to people who find themselves in a crisis of any kind. The teachings of Jesus really will guide us through. I also want to challenge the church that what we exist to do is to bring forgiveness and healing to the lives of people, not increase their burden with judgment and scrutiny.
I see people more compassionately. I didn’t know what it was like to be the person who so desperately needed compassion. I live to share God’s grace with people who really need it.
The message I want to convey is that people are not alone when they go through their darkest hour. They can trust God, and he will not abandon them in the midst of their pain. With him, they’ll never be alone. His love does cover a multitude of sins.
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5 comments
Alex says:
Feb 3, 2010
I saw the Haggards interviewed by Larry King last week. I thought it was very grace filled. I hope to read the book soon. -E
StampDawg says:
Feb 3, 2010
Lovely post, Dave. Thanks.
Alex, have you seen the documentary "The Trials of Ted Haggard"? I really wish NetFlix would get it. I saw it on a Delta flight.
Alex says:
Feb 3, 2010
No, haven't seen it. I'm interested though. We were in Colorado when that story broke. Being in such close proximity to his church made it even more intriguing for me. -E
paul says:
Feb 4, 2010
I just don't think the church, in its formal and even its theoretical expression, will probably ever be able to let go of what she calls its burden of judgment and scrutiny. (Will the world, ever?)
There is something deep in the essence of 'church' which transforms grace almost at the moment of a person's new birth, into a form of address, and actually exhortation, to the old self that has just been killed.
At something like the very instant of conversion, the church addresses the person that has died — the old creation — with an incipient word — the law, theologically speaking — that killed the 'poor little fellow' ("Dombey and Son") in the first place.
So that same 'poor little fellow' is exhumed from the tomb, and … killed again, but this time by the — it's hard for me to say it — the church.
I wish so much for the church to heed what Gayle H. is saying here with power.
But I don't feel optimistic about it.
I think it has to do with a misunderstanding concerning the 'Christian' self, and a sort-of confusion about what happens at the point of new birth. Who 'died', and who got 'born'? Who's dead and who is still alive?
This is definitely involved with that so profound insight of the theological doctrine of the human being, "simul iustus et peccator".
We wish thee well, Frau Haggard.
Jeff Hual says:
Feb 8, 2010
Paul, your comment is, as ever, so absolutely helpful…and inescapably true! Thanks for sharing your insights. -Jeff