RELIGION

The Lost Shepherd

Ted Haggard's sex scandal cost him his church, and some of his faith.

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  • Posted By: jordan c. fan @ 05/09/2009 7:56:38 PM

    Religious Persecution By The Democratic Party

    The problem with the Democratic Party is that it is controlled by the Kennedy Family who are Catholic. The Catholic hate the Protestant Evangelists and Southern Baptists. This is the reason why they wanted to destroy the Evangelists including Ted Haggard. The American Democratic Party starting with President John F. Kennedy to his brother Senator Ted Kennedy and now Barrack Obama have a long history of religious persecution. Since George W. Bush and fellow American supporters are mostly Evangelists and Southern Baptists. Obama is currently initiating a drastic program to persecute those religious group starting with Evangelists. The Civil War II in the United States of America has just begun and it will soon get a lot worse. He is no better than Hitler. Barrack Obama and the Democrats have a long history of initiating religious oppression and violence against Southern religious group claiming they have mistreated Blacks. Such violence include the murder of religious group in Waco, Texas by the FBI under Bill Clinton on April, 19, 1993. Seventy-four (74) Texans Americans were murdered at Waco by the FBI under the order by the Democratic Party.

  • Posted By: jordan c. fan @ 05/09/2009 7:51:13 PM

    Religious Persecution By American Democratic Party.

    By: Jordan C. Fan, Prophet of Environment.

    The American Democratic Party starting with President John F. Kennedy to his brother Senator Ted Kennedy and now Barrack Obama have a long history of religious persecution. Since George W. Bush and fellow American supporters are mostly Evangelists and Southern Baptists. Obama is currently initiating a drastic program to persecute those religious group starting with Evangelists. The Civil War II in the United States of America has just begun and it will soon get a lot worse. He is no better than Hitler. Barrack Obama and the Democrats have a long history of initiating religious oppression and violence against Southern religious group claiming they have mistreated Blacks. Such violence include the murder of religious group in Waco, Texas by the FBI under Bill Clinton on April, 19, 1993. Seventy-four (74) Texans Americans were murdered at Waco by the FBI under the order by the Democratic Party.

  • Posted By: MargeSS @ 03/01/2009 7:22:11 PM

    I go to a church that calls itself a house of mercy. We'd let Mr. Haggard come to our church. We'd help him be restored. We're praying for him.

  • Posted By: ash2480 @ 02/19/2009 12:57:01 PM

    It upset's me so much to see that a congregation that is for jesus christ judge and put someone down so bad for something that stupied. This is why people look down on christians that arn't christians because they treat someone so bad like that for something like that. It is no ones places to do that its God's places and they will have there time with God for the the things that they have done. I ask this where is the love and the true christian in them for telling them they have to leave a STATE because there OWN EMBARRESMENT. And even if he did do wrong God did have a calling in his life to be a preacher.

  • Posted By: ash2480 @ 02/19/2009 12:55:46 PM

    It upset's me so much to see that a congregation that is for jesus christ judge and put someone down so bad for something that stupied. This is why people look down on christians that arn't christians because they treat someone so bad like that for something like that. It is no ones places to do that its God's places and they will have there time with God for the the things that they have done. I ask this where is the love and the true christian in them for telling them they have to leave a STATE because there OWN EMBARRESMENT. And even if he did do wrong God did have a calling in his life to be a preacher.

  • Posted By: Elained @ 02/16/2009 2:07:03 PM

    I just viewed the 45 min movie this past Saturday night. My heart was so heavy and filled with compassion for Pastor Ted. Yes, he did mess up and he did sin. But WHO is judging this sin to be so big I ask??? A sin is a sin and Jesus died on the cross for us so He could forgive our sins. I do believe that Pastor Ted and his family have been through enough punishment for this sin. What example has the church and church body been to his wife and two sons; who were innocent victims of this sin. Pastor Ted has repented enough; he has endured enough. Where is the Love of Christ in this situation. I say, those of you whom had and have condemed him so severely, watch out because you will have to account for your actions one day.....you have shown yourself to be like the pharasees! Let God be the judge NOT MAN!!! He knows the true heart; we as true believers can only love and support this man who has repented. My heart is so heavy and filled with sadness to see the lack of compassion and love. I will pray for this man and family and ask God to guide and protect his future and family. To Mrs Haggard and their sons....you have shown truth to God's word in foregiveness, compassion and true love!! Go Jesus!!! Elaine - from Canada

  • Posted By: Qidisrupt @ 02/12/2009 10:53:29 PM

    I'll give the guy credit...he is a wiley businessman. Haggard may be playing the pity card...tugging once again at our heartstrings...to once again make another financial killing; from the movie about him. The man is simply diabolical.

  • Posted By: from123 @ 02/03/2009 1:29:24 AM

    RICHMONDREV and NEWSWEEKREADER11236:

    Your mere passion on this issue, so long after first posted, says a lot.

    The Bible is clear in answering your rhetorical and otherwise questions.

    Just read it with an open mind and heart.

    I eventually gave it a try once...

  • Posted By: RichmondRev @ 02/01/2009 11:55:26 PM

    Forgiveness. From whom? Those who were directly wounded, or those who were/are indirectly disappointed? Seems a lot of folks who are indirectly disappointed experience the same sense of moral outrage as those who were directly wounded. Is there a moral statute of limitations as to "how long" is "long enough" to be publicly condemned? After all, think of all the divorced pastors who never "fell from grace," even though many of those second marriages began as adulterous affairs. The world sees how much the church "hates sin" but where's the enthusiasm over the transforming difference the healing mercy and powerful love of Jesus Christ can make in one's life? And what's the incentive for reconciliation? Who would want to be "restored" to a group of hateful, angry, condemning people who wish you'd drop out of sight?
    Do (we) Christians believe in "the God of the second chance" or not? Do we believe in grace or not? When does the condemnation, the rejection, and the "I-wash-my-hands-of-you" STOP?!?!?

  • Posted By: NewsweekReader11236 @ 02/01/2009 6:43:28 PM

    If Rev. Haggard and his family reads this, I want to let them know how much they have blessed me and encouraged my faith in Christ. I am so very proud of all of you. Mrs. Haggards, God bless you as you are a gift to your husband, your family and to the body of grace. To the children, you are incredible and strong, and courageous. Keep your faith in the Lord because you are soldiers like your Dad showing how to suffer in Christ. To Rev. Haggard, I applaud you for facing this storm head on in Christ and trusting Him for the outcome. I am amazed by the amazing grace of our amazing Christ in all your lives. I am not wordly rich, but pray God opens doors of income for you and your family. In HIm, S. Gaither, NYC

  • Posted By: from123 @ 01/30/2009 12:50:13 AM

    True Christianity requires acknowledgment, acceptance, and repentance of ongoing sin.

    And the Bible clearly dilineates and judges sin.

    There are two types of "Christians." Those in name only, and self-deceived in blind, self-serving, ongoing, unrepentant sin. And repentent, humble, but always imperfect and forever works-in-progress Christians, as from the beginning.

    From the beginning. The same.

    Which are any of you?

  • Posted By: Mark Sikkila @ 01/20/2009 11:08:03 PM

    Ted Haggard's unfortunate situation reveals what New Life Church and many other mega-churches really worship: not God, but success, conformity and public image. After the revelations about his behavior and his struggles with his sexuality, perhaps they could not keep him in a leadership role. But banishing him from the church and from the state reveals how quickly Christian mercy is cast aside when faced with unfavorable publicity. The story of the New Life leaders' treatment of Haggard, like the coverup revelations in the Roman Catholic church, is the real story and farther-reaching scandal.

    Mark Sikkila
    DePere, Wisconsin

    • Posted By: slpatrickav7 @ 01/26/2009 6:18:30 PM

      Mark I completely agree. I myself am a Lesbian Christian. I grew up in the church and have often found that in the eyes of many mega churches homosexuality is the worst "sin" imaginable. These churches preach that Jesus is love, but their actions speak louder than the merre words they preach when they banished this man from not only his job, but the church and even the state. Whether you believe that homosexuality is a sin or not is irrelevant. The bottom line is that these churches should be more concerned about the people than their own image and not cast someone out because of their perceived sin.

  • Posted By: Joe the window washer @ 01/26/2009 12:24:44 PM

    As a window washer I saw Pastor Ted on many occaisians conducting business. He was always nice. I started going to New Life because I was attracted to his humility. I am soo thankful for his life in service to God. I forgive him completely and miss his insights. Although he was losing his battle with imorality, he never gave in and said that the gay lifestyle was acceptable. LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE. I struggle with different things in my life. My response to the scandle was denial, then tears for a man who, like me, was losing a struggle to the Devil who wanted so much to beat Ted, and finally forgiveness. -

  • Posted By: skibum49 @ 01/25/2009 2:59:36 PM

    "He says he has never had an adult same-sex encounter with anyone other than Jones."

    Sorry Ted but once again you are a LIAR LIAR Pants on Fire!
    A local TV station in Colorado Springs just had a piece where the current New Life Minister verifies that Pastor Ted had at least one and apparantly more than one relationship with members of the church. A young man described at this point as someone in their early 20's was going to be interviewed on the station. This young man (a member of the church) not only had an ongoing relationship with Haggard but was paid off by the new life church to buy his silence. He is now coming forward because he is not pleased that the HBO program is trying to portray Ted as the victim in this whole sordid affair instead of the confused scumbag that he is. Haggard was aware according to the current minister that the young man was coming forward even at the time that he was telling your reporter this lie about adult sexual relationships. This pathological denial from Haggard speaks volumes about just how screwed up the guy is!

  • Posted By: from123 @ 01/20/2009 11:54:04 PM

    Valid points, Mark Sikkila, but we still can't judge a philosophy by its abuse or rules by their exception--which this case is.

  • Posted By: from123 @ 01/17/2009 6:50:12 PM

    TORQUEFLITE:

    And a little bit of false judgment of me, which I'm used to.

  • Posted By: torqueflite @ 01/17/2009 5:21:32 PM

    from 123 says: "It is also uselessly hypocritical to justify the homosexual lifestyle and behavior, while falsely criticizing, condemning, and judging others and their lives." Looks as if my comments got under your skin. You're certainly correct in judging--yes _judging_-, which loftily accuse me from your virtual pulpit of doing--that Haggard is a hypocrite, but he is one for denying his same sex feelings and for condemning other gays while he continues to enjoy the privileges accorded to straight males in our society. "Healing his life" will come when he acknowledges his homosexuality and asks the forgiveness not only of his wife and family for betraying them for the forgiveness of the gay community whom he has betrayed as badly or worse. I have no interest in your previous posts since I doubt you are any more an expert on sexuality than I am. There is no such thing as the "homosexual lifestyle" anymore than there is a "heterosexual lifestyle"; that's a term invented by homophobic conservatives to shift the discourse from civil rights to their version of theocratic morality. Gays as just as inclined as you are to monogamy, home ownership, having a steady job, in short living as American citizens with all of the assumed rights and responsibiliities of that so-called "lifestyle" as you are. So get off the "lifestyle" high horse and learn something real. This posturing by conservatives is the height of hypocrisy given that 50% of American males have had at least one homosexual experience. Please spare me the righteous bombast since it merely underscores your own hypocrisy.

    • Posted By: from123 @ 01/17/2009 6:37:59 PM

      TORQUEFLITE:

      "Please spare me the righteous bombast since it merely underscores your own hypocrisy.":

      Looks more like I got under YOUR skin in your own actual self-described response--a little projection there? All I'm doing is sharing facts and standing up to the self-deceiving lies of pop-culture and homosexual asctivists that have done more harm to homosexuals than anyone or anything else.

      "Homophobia" doesn't exist, and is actually a contrived term used to marginalize, condemn, and berate anyone who disagrees with homosexual activists and other purveyors of the same cultural lies. Actual science, history, and contrary empirical accounts ain't on your side, I'm afraid. "Homophobia" is more accurately the fear of telling homosexuals the truth, because it is not popular.

      "There is no such thing as the "homosexual lifestyle" anymore than there is a "heterosexual lifestyle"; that's a term invented by homophobic conservatives to shift the discourse from civil rights to their version of theocratic morality...This posturing by conservatives is the height of hypocrisy given that 50% of American males have had at least one homosexual experience.":

      Your stereotypical slogans, name-calling, and false accusations are common for those in your position that have the same or similar dishonest, self-deceiving agendas.

      What about the vast majority of homosexual males having heterosexual experiences?--why doesn't that make them repressed heterosexuals? And I'll assure you, 50% of men have NOT had a homosexual experience, but it wouldn't matter if they had anyway and that means or proves nothing--and you cannot rely on statistics from homosexual-based sources, which are self-serving and have everything to gain or lose. Standard, credible and relliable mainstream statistics, studies, and sources do not have specific false agendas to justify.

      Even if genes did determine complex behaviors and pathology, it justifies nothing, and it wouldn't personally matter to me either--so I personally have no "axe to grind," "bone to pick," or personal agenda to justify, other than truth--which is that which corresponds to reality.
      Haggard's fall, repentence, and redemption clearly reflect his real passion for God, wife, and family, according to the article. Haggard isn't denying anything now, especially his true love and passion.

      It is the height of arrogant hypocrisy to claim that homosexuality trumps all else and is "who you are." "Who we are" is not defined by behavior, lifestyle, or what we do or feel. I'll leave it up to you to figure out what it exactly is.

      Further, do some research on Joe Dallas' counseling organizations and Joe himself and his numerous books on this subject--but I doubt you would. Although, as a heterosexual, I have nothing to justify, I too used to believe like you do, before I actually studied and learned the easily ac

      • Posted By: from123 @ 01/17/2009 6:44:08 PM

        CUT OFF MY LAST POST:

        "...the easily acquired facts."

  • Posted By: from123 @ 01/17/2009 6:43:37 PM

    CUT OFF MY LAST POST:

    "...the easily acquired facts."

  • Posted By: from123 @ 01/17/2009 6:37:11 PM

    TORQUEFLITE:

    "Please spare me the righteous bombast since it merely underscores your own hypocrisy.":

    Looks more like I got under YOUR skin in your own actual self-described response--a little projection there? All I'm doing is sharing facts and standing up to the self-deceiving lies of pop-culture and homosexual asctivists that have done more harm to homosexuals than anyone or anything else.

    "Homophobia" doesn't exist, and is actually a contrived term used to marginalize, condemn, and berate anyone who disagrees with homosexual activists and other purveyors of the same cultural lies. Actual science, history, and contrary empirical accounts ain't on your side, I'm afraid. "Homophobia" is more accurately the fear of telling homosexuals the truth, because it is not popular.

    "There is no such thing as the "homosexual lifestyle" anymore than there is a "heterosexual lifestyle"; that's a term invented by homophobic conservatives to shift the discourse from civil rights to their version of theocratic morality...This posturing by conservatives is the height of hypocrisy given that 50% of American males have had at least one homosexual experience.":

    Your stereotypical slogans, name-calling, and false accusations are common for those in your position that have the same or similar dishonest, self-deceiving agendas.

    What about the vast majority of homosexual males having heterosexual experiences?--why doesn't that make them repressed heterosexuals? And I'll assure you, 50% of men have NOT had a homosexual experience, but it wouldn't matter if they had anyway and that means or proves nothing--and you cannot rely on statistics from homosexual-based sources, which are self-serving and have everything to gain or lose. Standard, credible and relliable mainstream statistics, studies, and sources do not have specific false agendas to justify.

    Even if genes did determine complex behaviors and pathology, it justifies nothing, and it wouldn't personally matter to me either--so I personally have no "axe to grind," "bone to pick," or personal agenda to justify, other than truth--which is that which corresponds to reality.

    Haggard's fall, repentence, and redemption clearly reflect his real passion for God, wife, and family, according to the article. Haggard isn't denying anything now, especially his true love and passion.

    It is the height of arrogant hypocrisy to claim that homosexuality trumps all else and is "who you are." "Who we are" is not defined by behavior, lifestyle, or what we do or feel. I'll leave it up to you to figure out what it exactly is.

    Further, do some research on Joe Dallas' counseling organizations and Joe himself and his numerous books on this subject--but I doubt you would. Although, as a heterosexual, I have nothing to justify, I too used to believe like you do, before I actually studied and learned the easily a

  • Posted By: torqueflite @ 01/17/2009 10:01:05 AM

    Haggard is a pathetic wretch who brought about his own destruction while doing his utmost to harm other gays. Apparently he has learned nothing, for he is still in denial and still harming gays.

    • Posted By: from123 @ 01/17/2009 2:31:39 PM

      TORQUEFLITE:

      He only "harmed gays" by being a hypocrite, not due to speaking the truth about homosexuality. What's "harmful to gays" is lying to them about the moral and scientific basis for their homosexuality, to make then feel good, justified, happy, or so they won't dislike or get mad at you--that is the true "homophobia."

      Ted isn't "in denial" about anything--just the opposite--and trying to heal his life and concentrate on his real love, committment, and desire for his wife. Read any of my previous posts on this issue. It is also uselessly hypocritical to justify the homosexual lifestyle and behavior, while falsely criticizing, condemning, and judging others and their lives.

      Funny how you surely wouldn't like being "judged" for your homosexuality (?), but will quickly falsely judge anyone you disagree with.

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