twenty-three

This last month has seen a very difficult series of events unfold surrounding the allegations of former-pastor and president of the National Evangelical Association, Ted Haggard and his involvement with a male-prostitute and drug use. While I’m sure many of you have heard about this in the news, here are a couple good links to refer to. I was not familiar with Haggard up to this point, but I was distressed on hearing his story.

Christianity Today
International Herald Tribune

Clearly, there is a lot to chew on as we are confronted with this
story. It is sad to see these actions take place in anyone’s life, it’s
hard to see someone in a church leadership role fall so hard, and also
to see that backlash of all the discussion surrounding the fallout of
this story. That’s what I’d actually like to bring up in this post.
While these allegations and admissions of Haggard are terrible and
clearly outside of moral boundaries on many levels, it’s especially
disheartening to hear the outcry by those who would seem to point the
finger and say "told you so."

While I’m sure there are plenty of examples I could site of this, I
think the most impacting is that of Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill
Church in Seattle. For me, to hear his reaction (which strays from
addressing his sadness for the Haggard situation on to some "tips for
pastors") this hits very close to home, seeing that I know many people
who attend Mars Hill who think very highly of his teachings. It’s one
thing to agree to disagree, but I feel like his response to this (and a
few other choice issues) deserves some sort of comment. Here’s a link
to a couple of Driscoll’s posts about the Haggard issue, before we go
on.

Evangelical Leader Quits Amidst Allegations of Gay Sex and Drug Use
Ted Haggard Scandal 2.0

Generally, both of these posts approach the Haggard issue with a
response that puts the blame for his issues on the sexual inadequacy of
his wife. Rather than address the issue of sexual promiscuity as a sad
and devastating action, the tone of these articles is actually used as
a platform to promote the male agenda, to help us sexually deprived men
make sure we set our wives’ priorities straight and make sure we’re all
being taken care of physically. Make sure your wife doesn’t let herself
go just because you’re faithful to her and she knows it. Your wife
needs to be "available" to you (whenever? wherever?). Forget the
balance of the marriage that asks us to bring ourselves both to the
table and look after each other equally. Forget finding ways to work
through struggles that we all face in one way or another. Let’s just
move beyond humbly approaching this indiscretion with grace and find a
soap box to promote this hyper-masculine agenda.

Can we call people out for their sins while still maintaining a
graceful approach? Can we discuss these issues openly in ways that
allow the one who falls short to actually see hope in moving on? Why
doesn’t this issue of Haggard’s garner more dropping of stones and
going forth to sin no more (John 8)?

I think what really gets me going with this issue is not the general
response I’ve heard surrounding the Haggard issue, because that has
been relatively gracious. The Christian and national communities have
seemed to be willing to forgive and him heal properly, in what I’ve read. That is encouraging.
What bothers me is the twisting and soap-boxing by a local pastor,
someone who influences the lives of people I know personally. It’s
scary to hear pretty much anything come out of his mouth because I
don’t often hear much grace accompanying it. It scares me to think how
this man influences so many young people in Seattle. He’s an icon. That
church is immensely popular. It is shaping the theology and the lives
of the Northwest’s next generation of Christian leaders and lay people.
What will we become? Will we continue to ask our wives to be
subordinate to us? Will our churches close their doors on homosexuals
and the other outcasts of our society? Will we become a generation who
knows everything (wait, we already are) and doesn’t open their minds to
God’s will (maybe we’re going that direction already)?

This is scary stuff to me. I hesitate to even write about this,
because it hurts to see condemnation on this scale and I’m fearful that
in my own inability to articulate my thoughts, I may fall into such a
reaction myself. Please pray for our community, in your hometown, your
state, your nation, and the world.

**** UPDATE ****

Interesting developments in this ongoing story. There is a peaceful protest planned for Sunday morning, December 3 at Mars Hill Church in Ballard by a group called People Against Fundamentalism. And Driscoll has offered something of a statement responding to critics of his posts on the Haggard issue. Here are a few interesting links to check out:

SPU Falcon Online: Staff editorials – Mars Hill Church protest: it’s time voices are heard
The Resurgence – Thank you Critics

People Against Fundamentalism: Protest Press Release

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