Haggard

[BlueSky]

Ted Haggard's hard road to redemption

Thursday January 29, 2009

Categories: Evangelicals
In a post earlier this week on world-class narcissist Ted Haggard's desperation bid to stay in the limelight (wonder if he and Blago bumped into each other in the green room?), I mentioned that if he was really interested in atonement, he would take a lesson from how the disgraced UK cabinet minister John Profumo redeemed himself: by quietly working in the London slums to help the poor, away from the cameras and the public eye. My Bnet colleague Patton Dodd, who was Haggard's writer and editor for eight years, and who therefore knows the man well, sounds a similar note in a Slate essay today, in which Patton discusses why a pastor has to walk a higher road to redemption. Excerpt:

One place to look is outside religious ministry and inside British politics, to the famous Profumo Affair. When popular politician John Profumo was caught with a prostitute in 1963, he resigned and withdrew completely from public life. For the rest of his days--he lived until 2006--he did the work of atonement, cleaning toilets, washing dishes, and working with alcoholics in London's East End. Profumo never published a memoir or even granted so much as an interview, even though he once acknowledged "deeply distressing inaccuracies" in reports of his affair. Before his fall, Haggard always claimed he'd do the same. From time to time over the years, from his pulpit, Haggard would say that if anything ever incapacitated his ability to minister, he hoped he'd just continue to come as a member and volunteer at the church--clean floors, scrub bathrooms. Unfortunately, given allegations of inappropriate behavior between Haggard and a church member, he couldn't be allowed within his church at all. But there were plenty of other options. Every town has an East End.
The problem for people like Ted Haggard--the problem that John Profumo intuited--is that he was in a position of public trust. Once fully lost, that trust can never be fully restored. Robert Downey Jr. can become an A-list actor, ruin himself with drugs, sober up, and become an A-list actor all over again. A businessman, a scholar, or a parent can do something similar. Why can't Haggard? Because his very public career was based on the antithesis of his failures. Downey wants only to be a damn fine actor, and he can be that no matter the content of his character. Haggard wanted to be a minister, a position that makes claims on his behavior--claims that Haggard professed to be equal to. Haggard didn't have to be a big supporter of President Bush, or outspoken against homosexuality, or any of the things that charged his public life. But he did have to have character that was consistent with the values that he so loudly espoused. His life did have to be consistent with what he preached, because preaching is based on public trust within the preacher's community of followers. Integrity is the deal-maker, hypocrisy the deal-breaker.

Very astute point. Every town has an East End. Beautiful line. And a true one.


http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon...d-to-rede.html

[IMHO]

Mr. Haggard seems intent on redeeming himself. His family is working WITH him. I respect the man for tur ning it around but I doubt he will ever be able to turn off the I LIKE MEN tap. As long as he controls his urges I say BRAVO to the man.

[Soundbear]

"Very astute point. Every town has an East End. Beautiful line. And a true one."

Unfortunately, the church is much slower to forgive than even the most cynical in the world. Jim Bakker did exactly the same as Profumo, but very few know it.

"The church is the only army that shoots their wounded."

[Slow]

Nice to see this line of thinking from my separated brethren...even if it took way too long for you to get there.

[The Berean]

not yours. The RCC maybe

[Slow]

not yours. The RCC maybe

Am I not a Christian?

[Slow]

pretzel and grapes maybe, no mor

LOL!!!

[NewCasa]

Wow these threads can go downhill fast.....

[Soundbear]

mods will decide who should be here.

[Slow]

...especially with content from those who shouldn't be here.

Commenting on the 'fruits' of others, sitting in judgment of others...that is where these threads go downhill.

[The Berean]

Commenting on the 'fruits' of others, sitting in judgment of others...that is where these threads go downhill.

right from, "even if it took way too long for you to get there." RWGR

[GRUMPY]

...especially with content from those who shouldn't be here.

hhhm I thought thats why we had a moderator on here for to judge what should or shouldn't be on here . however what right do you or anyone else have to say who should or shouldn't be here?

[IMHO]

It could have been a good thread...interesting topic and in the news NOW.

[GRUMPY]

Very true, I watched an article on TV about him and was bemused to think that he went from a hypercritical preacher to an insurance sales man and wondering which was worse. But more power to him if he gets his act straight and hope everything turns out alright for him and his family.

[BlueSky]

Guys, I had to edit and delete heavily in this thread. Any more of that and I will kiss this thread Bye Bye. One infraction was given as well for the one who started it. Be careful with the judgmental comments or some of you will be taking a Soonet vacation.

[The Berean]

Nice to see this line of thinking from my separated brethren...even if it took way too long for you to get there.

what do you call this??

[Anapeg]

"Very astute point. Every town has an East End. Beautiful line. And a true one."

Unfortunately, the church is much slower to forgive than even the most cynical in the world. Jim Bakker did exactly the same as Profumo, but very few know it.

"The church is the only army that shoots their wounded."

Barry I would have to respectively disagree with your "Church being slower" statement. I hold that the church is slower to condemn then it is to forgive. While for an item this recent, possibly, but for older, more forgotten indiscretions of their own, not so much. While Ted Haggard, the individual was full of remorse and did try to quietly make amends the church as a whole is not as altruistic. But that's just me.

[GRUMPY]

Barry I would have to respectively disagree with your "Church being slower" statement. I hold that the church is slower to condemn then it is to forgive. While for an item this recent, possibly, but for older, more forgotten indiscretions of their own, not so much. While Ted Haggard, the individual was full of remorse and did try to quietly make amends the church as a whole is not as altruistic. But that's just me.

Sorry to disagree with you on this one but its not just you,there is a world full of people who are tires of the papal hypocrisy. They put a new spin on turning the other cheek making it more of a spread the other cheeks instead.Until they get serious about cleaning up their act and not just crap of saying "We're sorry", that just doesn't do a thing other than tick more people off. However it would have worked right off the bat if they had said "We're sorry about all the pain that was caused and we will do our best to see that it never ever happens again,so take these priest and try them for their crimes." But to cover it up and in most cases help the perv to get his hands on even more kids is just pure evil.

[Slow]

"Sorry to disagree with you on this one but its not just you,there is a world full of people who are tires of the papal hypocrisy"

Really?

Where?

[NewCasa]

*raises hand*