Christian Living
There are few things more difficult for Jesus’ church to navigate than the troubled and turbulent waters of a leader’s moral and/or spiritual downfall. Sadly, such downfalls have occurred throughout the history of the church, and will again until Jesus’ returns. On the one hand, it is quite true that into the hands of pastors, ministers, elders, teachers, deacons, and other church leaders, great responsibility has been entrusted. Along with that responsibility comes tremendous accountability… to other people, certainly, but most especially to the One from Whom such trust is granted. The developments that unfolded last week revolving around a well-known Christian leader literally brought me to tears, though I had not personally followed his ministry very closely. The despicable nature of Ted Haggard’s sin, the web of lies woven to hide it and the apparent extent to which such sin contradicted what he taught and stood for, implies a profound hypocrisy that impacts the whole Christian community.
“…Men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God…. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5b NIV).
With an avalanche of heart-ache and humiliation crashing down around his family, friends, and church family, threatening to engulf their sense of trust, hope, and identity, it is all too clear that our hope as messengers of the hope that can only be found in Christ Jesus will suffer a massive bruising in the matter of perceived integrity. Some will wonder that if such compromise can be found in one who has emerged as an influential leader, “Can the message itself be trusted?”
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV).
It may surprise some that a parallel can be found in the Scriptures. David, great hero and shepherd under the Great Shepherd of the people of God, also experienced a major moral compromise that he had thought could be covered up. In 2 Samuel 11, the Bible records his adultery and the terrible extent to which he went to hide it (namely, murder). But God sees everything. Accordingly, He sent His servant, Nathan, to confront this man to whom the kingdom had been entrusted (2 Samuel 12). Nathan’s declaration, “You are the man!” rang in David’s ears like bells tolling death. When he realized indeed that nothing can be hidden from the eyes of God and that He does truly measure our hearts as well as judge our actions, David surrendered his web of deceit and confessed, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Your reaction to Pastor Haggard’s downfall might range from anger to sheer astonishment, from tears to maybe even delight in his disgrace. But don’t be deceived… the unveiling of this man’s sin does not nullify the message of the Gospel, it underscores it. “…Because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions (sins) – it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV).
Let it be said that one is not saved for the good things he’s done in the past; neither is he saved by the good things he’s doing in the present, nor even by the good things he will do in the future. He is simply saved by God’s grace though faith in Jesus. “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:6-9 NIV).
If you have not personally entered into a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus, Who died to take the penalty for your sin, it is time to turn to Him knowing that the love He showed in dying for you, is sufficient to save you. If you have turned to Him in faith and He is now in fact your Lord, “remember to be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (from 2 Peter 5:8-9 NIV). “…By the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3 NIV).
And if, as a Christian, you have found yourself swallowed up in the struggle with the darkness of discouragement or temptation, remember that “The God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Peter 5:10-11 NIV).
If you have fallen into compromise, know that the best policy is to “come clean” with God. While there may be very real consequences to such a fall, God can restore you to an unfettered relationship with Himself. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have One Who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:8-9, 2:1 NIV).
Ted Haggard’s family and former church will never be the same. The world may never quite forget the sin and betrayals uncovered last week. But the hope for a child of God who has fallen into the snares of sin is that there is always an open door to start over again with the Savior.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me…. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me…. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:1-3, 10-11, 17 NIV).
Copyright © Thom Mollohan.
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