Do any of us?

I'm sick and tired of this kind of question. Just because we've fallen once or twice (in big or small ways), we're all still sinners.

If I have a right to "rebuke" someone, the Ted Haggard has the same right. If Haggard doesn't have the right, I don't have it.

It would be one thing if Haggard were coming down on (condemning) people who had inappropriate sexual relationships. The word hypocrite comes to mind.

But in this case, what makes Haggard unqualified to comment on what he sees as a missed opportunity?

It's like saying "you molested a child, you can't say murder is wrong." Give me a break. Anyone can recognize that anything is wrong. Just because I've done one thing wrong (and should therefore give compassionate criticism, if any criticism, on that subject), calling people out on another issue is another matter.

it's a pathetic attempt to turn the focus off of him, as if it's somehow other people's faults that he's gay.  he's so far in the closet, he can see Narnia.

I don't know what it means to say he has a "right" to call anyone else out.  But I'd say humility is probably the way to go when you take the pulpit for the first time after a multiple moral failures.

In that context, absolutely.  He is telling the church as a whole to use him as a reason to proclaim the name of Christ.  That is what the mercy and grace of our fair Lord is about.  This is exactly a 'be the first to throw a stone' time.  None of them are without sin, was Haggard wrong in the first place...absolutely!  But that doesn't mean we shouldn't use his dilemma to shout out that Christ is Lord and that Haggard has already been forgiven.  That will be the power of the gospel, it's a shame that terrible things happen...but there is no excuse for not using failures of Christians to pronounce the victory of Christ.

I would have to question whether he's actually repented or not! If he hasn't truly and completely repented from his sin, then it's just like pointing out the speck in someone' else's eye when you have a log in your own. If that's the case, then No, I don't think he does.

As a pastor  (for 29 years now) I have learned that those confronted with their own sin whose response is, "Yes, I have sinned. I am sorry" have been the most broken, contrite , and sincere. These folks came back even stronger into  their walk with Christ than they were before the sin.

Those confronted with their own sin whose response is, "YOU are being judgmental" or "YOU did not confront me in love" or in any other way quickly pointed the finger back at the confronter have been  the ones whose "recovery" has not been as quick and strong as the ones quickly owning and repenting of their sin.

It is with that thought in mind that I am a bit scared for Ted, i.e., he sins and then he is telling the rest of us that somehow our response to his sin was not appropriate?

I hope he is not more concerned with correcting us all because of  our  somehow not having just the right response to his sin than he is with  his own repentance and humility and continued walk in holiness with the Lord. I so want him to be sincerely sorry, free of the sin that destroyed his ministry in Colorado Springs , and move on!

Um, Ted, I can think of some other ways a pastor can spoil opportunities to communicate the Gospel....

If he had actually had any tiny shred of my respect left, he would have just lost it.

I was a member of New Life Church before I moved to Albuquerque.  I've heard Ted Haggard preach years' worth of sermons.  What I have never heard from him (before this tape) is humility. 

I think the lessons we could learn from him have much more to do with the folly of putting church leaders in such an exalted position that they are never questioned, never held accountable for the little things until the day they have to face the big failings. 

There were many wonderful things at New Life and ministries that do a lot of good.  When I was there, it was a weekly gritting of my teeth to listen to Ted because I felt that he was more about preaching the gospel of Conservative Republicanism than the gospel of Christ.  He was so quick to judge those with whom he disagreed as not Christian. 

I have prayed for him often and will continue to pray for him and Gayle and their children.  He is an extraordinary man who has intelligence, drive, ambition, and a gift for oratory and organization.   

Just once I would like to see one of these guys admit something _before_ they get caught.  True honesty, humility, and repentance, even at the risk of their own reputation.  I would respect any such person more for telling the truth on their own.

@mswhitney@xanga - judgement yes, God judges, but we are supposed to confront other Christians, in love of course, but firmly as well. I do not know his heart, i do not know if he is truly repentant or not. but he should not be a leader anymore, he has brought down the church because of his actions. when God set up the Church (a gathering of believers, not the physical church) he set certain things as necessary for being a leader in that church. In 1 Timothy 3 7 its says And he must

have a good reputation with

those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and

the snare of the devil.1 timothy is about the people who lead the church, it gives the qualifications. Now he has obviously failed this point. also in the rest of the chapter it talks about them needing to be beyond reproach. They are called to a higher standard than most( i dont actually believe in the roleof a pastor, its not biblical but oversear, or bishop is in the bible which is the closest thing to a commandment for a pastor there is) and he has failed that. He lead a flock of 14,000 people, but now he has forfeited that right to lead. not saying that leaders in the church will always be perfect, but it does seem that God wants them to be above reproach. He should not have a pulpit again, he should be kept to a role as an active participant in the Church. I do not say kick him out of the Church, he has apologized, and in a publick way which is right because it has become a publick sin. But to put him back into a position of leadership is going against very clear Biblical prinicples. I hope he does keep on the right path and grow in his christian faith, but he destroyed his role as a leader in the church by his actions

I wouldn't use the word rebuke....only the Lord has the right to rebuke...out job is to forgive and restore.  We can not cast stones.