Carl Trueman:
A man who betrays his wife can be forgiven; but I am not sure he can be forgiven for making it an opportunity to further his career. When Haggard talks of acceptance and does it on a TV show, and others cover their sleaze with blog talk of `sins of relational mobility’, is it any wonder that the world looks on with utter contempt?
Read the whole thing here.
I really, really struggle with Haggard being back in ministry, especially in Colo Spgs where he agreed not to return nor begin a church. What do you think, Chris? Given repentance (and I’m unconvinced Haggard has done so), should forgiveness be granted such that he (or any leader who falls to the depths as he did) be permitted to return to leadership in ministry? Put differently, what would forgiveness look like for a ministry leader who has repented?
I haven’t followed the situation well enough to assess his repentance. However, even if he is repentant and forgiven, this doesn’t mean the elimination of consequences. I can’t picture that Haggard is qualified at this point to start another church in Colorado Springs and then to be on a television show as well.
Thanks, Chris. I tend to agree.
I cringe with embarrassment everytime a prominent preacher or Christian in public life goes off the rails like this. The recent wave to sex scandals involing Tea Party “personalities” is making all sincere Christians look bad.
Tis sort of thing makes it a thousand times harder to witness to non-Christians, who are sensitive to our inconsistences and are quick to illuminate the scandals as they come to light.
No wonder Jesus said that judgement will begin with the church!