A Few Thoughts On Ted Haggard

This must be devastating to him, his family, his friends, his church staff, his congregation, and the people of Colorado Springs. The news media has had a field day and of course we know everything they say is absolute truth. Sure Ted sinned. His first knee jerk reaction was denial. Duh! Ever since Adam and Eve headed for the bushes in the Garden of Eden we've been in denial. But immediately after that, he owned the sin - at least the part he actually committed. And folks, I'd say that a brother in Christ deserves for us to believe his testimony over an accuser whose "credentials" are less than impeccable. C'mon, now, God set a standard of two or more witnesses! Deuteronomy 17:6 says, "At the testimony of two or three witnesses they must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness." And Deuteronomy 19:15 says, "A single witness may not testify against another person for any trespass or sin that he commits. A matter may be legally established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses." Then Matthew 18:16 follows with, "... at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established." And finally, Paul makes it very clear what our response is to be: 1 Timothy 5:19 - "Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses."

There you have it. Ted admits some wrong. And for that, he must face not only human judges, but he must stand before a much higher court - the court of heaven. But for anything beyond what he admits, we the Body of Christ must follow the mandates God established and not accept the accusation of a lone accuser. We need to be in constant prayer for Ted and those closest to him.

Furthermore, does anyone else find it just a bit curious that this accusation comes just days before the state of Colorado votes on the issue of homosexual marriage? For people who might be undecided on the issue, hearing that a well known opponent of the measure has been living in the sin he condemns might just cause them to vote in favor. However, it may just be that the accusation will back fire, and those who didn't care one way or the other will react to the obvious political agenda behind these accusations and voters across Colorado (and other states voting on this issue) will rise up against the measure.