Just over twenty years ago, I picked up a book that seemed to be full of wisdom and insight which promised great help to me in my Christian walk. That book was called Ordering Your Private World and was written by a prominent Boston pastor named Gordon MacDonald. I loved the book, recommended the book, and then was betrayed by the author of the book. Shortly after reading the book, its author was appointed the new president of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. Within weeks of that appointment, he was accused of and confessed to being unfaithful to his wife. I was deeply distressed and angry, and would not look at the book for years.
But, MacDonald himself, disappeared for years. Wisely, he was removed from public ministry and exposure. He and his family were walking a long path of recovery and healing and repentance. Repentance in a leader must be, it seems to me, as notorious as his sin. Twenty years later, the work of God’s grace in Pastor MacDonald’s life seems real. I am ready to listen to him again. I think we all must listen.
Below is a link to a reflection that he wrote for Christianity Today on the Ted Haggard scandal. It is spoken with wisdom and insight that can only come from one who has walked this path before. He knows the dangers of fame and power and he knows the dangers faced by the famous and powerful who fall. His words are worth pondering.
But as well, he makes some observations about the evangelical movement as a whole, and the political associations we make. These words say better than I ever could what I often feel.
This is a long article, and I cannot say how long this link will remain active and functional. I encourage your reading this as soon as you have opportunity.
MagistraCarminae
This was a thoughtful article. Thanks for posting it, Randy!For those of you who have not had the opportunity, the letters written by Ted and Gayle Haggard that were read at New Life Church on Sunday can be found here:http://tinyurl.com/ymbezehttp://tinyurl.com/yb7pv5I was encouraged by reading them, and pray that what would appear to be real repentance and dedication to the Lord will indeed be the case during what must surely be a painful ordeal ahead of repentance and death to self.I am reminded of the old saying that the Church is the only army that shoots its own wounded…I am also reminded that we, in the church, should be unsurprised when such things happen: heart-broken, but unsurprised. There but for the grace of God would go any of us.Chris
Adria
I find it interesting that he didn’t reflect, compare, or empathize at all from personal experience. Someone who didn’t kow about his history could read the letter and just assume he is just another christian commenting on the whole affair. Hmmm…?
Gail and Keith
Gail commenting here:Randy said about McDonald’s blog:”But as well, he makes some observations about the evangelical movement as a whole, and the political associations we make. These words say better than I ever could what I often feel.” I agree with your comment, Randy, but I think that McDonald attaching it to the Haggard scandal is a separate issue altogether. Haggard’s sin is one issue. Evangelicals hitching their political fortunes to the Republican Party, or any political party, for that matter, is another. Starting back with the Moral Majority of ’79, Christians put their hope for salvation in a Political Party and it continues today. To be sure, many Christians have attached their star to the Republican party thinking that they are the means to bring society as a whole back to what they believe to be our Judeo-Christian roots. As a result, we’re all scornfully labeled as The Far Right, Radical Christian Right, etc. We’ve allowed ourselves to be pawns in the political game, used to achieve their agenda, and then cast aside.Christians are to be a moral force, involved in all areas of society. We are to proclaim Christ’s Kingdom to a World tainted by the Fall. How that is to be done is fodder for lively debate among many fine Christians. Gail
A sinner's 2 cents
One thing that I appreciate about this whole situation with Haggard is that it shows that even ministers are people who need the grace and mercy of God. They aren’t somehow less vulnerable to sin or more holy than the average Joe because of their position. What Ted Haggard did was wrong but what he is doing about it is real Christianity. He admits his wrong without excuses and seeks forgiveness. May God help the Church to not be too quick to judge.Tom
Randy Greenwald
A couple replies:First, to Chris — I don’t think that the church is shooting its wounded in this case. I’ve not had that impression. Nor do I think that it is ‘shooting the wounded’ to expect or even demand that a long period of time elapse before we e his repentance to be real.To Adria, I think that he purposely does not make direct reference to his prior indiscretions. He alludes to them, clearly, but does not drag it all out for the world to see. There may be wisdom in that. To remind a generation of new readers that he messed up and then to feel obligated to retell that story over and again might be painful and certainly would be sensational. I’m not sure that is necessary.And, Gail, I agree that the issues are in some sense separate. However, I don’t think the world sees them as separate. Ted Haggard was seen as a political entity by the bulk of our culture, and embodied the very thing we want to avoid: the one to one identification of Christianity and a political party. That said, your comments are ‘spot on’ and something I wish I could better articulate.And, Tom, I too appreciate your ‘sinner’s two cents’ worth’. But I look at any repentance with a sadly jaundiced eye. Is he repentant? Or sorry he got caught? Only time, lots of it, will reveal that!Thanks for all of the comments.