The Lost Shepherd

Mr. Haggard, please...you were no more born an evangelical than you were born an insurance salesman, although there is not much difference between the two. You "over repented" because what you had done, you have been doing for a long time and as such, no one taught you to be bisexual (which you are). A young person cannot be "taught" to be homosexual or bisexual. You may experiment for a short time but one usually follows what nature has given him: the capacity to relate to both sexes sexually and emotionally or the capacity to relate to one or the other of the sexes....exclusively. You obviously are expressing your sexuality as a bisexual now, like hundreds of thousands of other men, all too evident if you know where to look to find them. So be it. God will be your judge and only God. If you have the capacity to forgive yourself then you have the capacity to look beyond those who enslave you. Go to the United Church of Christ and start preaching and practicing forgiveness and inclusiveness and get off of your pity pot. Your relationship should be with God, not with your man made church. Within every man made entity there is flaw. The so called New Life Church is full of them. Search out the one being who can forgive you for all your sins, past, present and future. He died for our sins...all of them. Jesus Christ will forgive and accept you for what you are...flawed like all of mankind.

where did this guy's money go? $140,000 per year plus whatever he makes from his merchandise and appearances and we're expected to believe that he and his family are destitute? not to mention he's an egomanical bigot. poor little ted haggard. he made hundreds of thousands (if not millions) preaching against homosexuality, drug use, and marital infidelity while practicing all three and now we're supposed to feel bad for him? as christopher hitchens once said of jerry falwell, it's a shame there isn't a hell for him to go to.

Get a grip Ted!!for that matter Get a Grip America --- Mr. Haggard YOU ARE A HOMOSEXUAL and guess what THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!! God doesn't make mistakes when he creates people!! While it concerns me and I'm sure others that you say one thing yet do another I resolve myself to the fact that alas you are human.....Tell me Ted, while you were manipulating people out of 10% of their income or more, while you were preaching against Homosexuality and at the same time slobbin some guy's knob did you ever ask yourself what would the impact of your actions have on people??? I would most likely guess that the answer to that question is NO!! NO because what it really boiled down to was multifold-- First you had needs and still do according to your statments..Second, your income was also in jeopardy --Enough of my ranting but in closing I will impart the following to whoever chooses to read this-- Ted not only are you Gay but your a liar, a manipulator, a con man and self centered!! Shame on you!! Shame on you for messing with peoples faith!!!

I watched VERY closely as the leadership of New Life Church dealt with Ted and the crisis he created. They were amazingly gracious to Ted, both in the way they handled him and the way they didn't trash him. Even privately, I have not heard ONE leader at New Life say ONE unkind thing about him.

And they did set up a group of peers around him to help him through his darkness. Ted's comments just show he is yet realize how much one persons mistakes can cost others...which is what he preached on very eloquently.

I wish Ted Haggard and his family only the best. I'm not familiar with his ministry and don't know if he was a fire-and-brimstone type preacher but he did espouse a philosophy of discrimination against many people; the self-righteous Right Wing which for years has been telling us liberal heathens just how rotten we are while they are the bearers of righteousness. Yet, we are all not that different, are we? And while many people in Haggard's community became rich and rode the wave of power during the Bush years, thinking we reached the end of history and they were right, that their political philosophy had won, but were blind to their own shadows. We are ALL flawed, liberals and conservatives, black and white, red and brown, Dems and Reps... we're human, the trick is to keep walking and lend your brother or sister a helping hand instead of judging them.

I hope that Ted can use this experience to become a more well-rounded person and that the arrogant bunch who looks at the rest of us as somehow lesser than they are just because we don't believe as they do, will see that Christianity was always about good works, not about judging your brother. The fact that so many of his community turned their backs on him, while a San Francisco liberal, no less, has not forgotten him does say a lot. I'm not going to judge Haggard's community for the way they've reacted towards him but it behooves them to see if they are living up to their own standards as "Christians". I grew up with an understanding that Christianity was about service, right now what passes for it is a bastardized version that sees church as big business for preachers and a political mobilization tool (for elected officials who -turns out- are even more corrupt) which only wants to assure people that their prejudices are right and to vote accordingly.

I wish Ted the best.

God loves straights and gays alike. Anyone who preaches otherwise preaches blasphemy, and will ultimately be judged by the lord. Anyone who preaches that God is anything but a loving God, is an ignorant fool and a false prophet. There is no argument about it, God created each and every one of his children exactly as they are, therefore he loves them EXACTLY AS THEY ARE!

Just so I make sure I have this correctly (from a guy who lied to pretty much everyone all the time until he was caught): A person learns to be gay; a person learns to be an addict; but that same person is born an evangelical?

Reverand Ted should be glad there is no Hell, because if there was, a very deep circle would be reserved for hipocrites like hm.

Rich Monk, God bless you! You remind me of myself back when i was lost. I, too, spoke out like you are doing now! Then I met Jesus & He turned my life around! I love you & hope & pray He reaches you before it's too late! God can always use someone who's not afraid to speak their mind!

Just so I have this straight (from a guy who lied to pretty much everyone until he was caught): Someone learns to be gay, someone learns to be an alcoholic --but that same someone is BORN an evangelical?

If there is a HELL, this guy is going to have his own concentric circle.

I attended Ted's church a couple of times back in the '80s; I enjoyed it very much. However i saw a problem there that plagues all denominations/congregations. The elevation of the pastor anto a very high status & moving them to a "demi-god" status. Much adoration &, yes, even worship, is heaped upon them. Soon it goes to their heads, & why wouldn't it? Mr. Haggard's congregation must accept their share of the blame.

I am deeply concerned that any church would banish someone who is seeking help from any sin. How many of his former congregants haven committed adultery, fornication? How many of the board members that made him sign such a ridiculous agreement havent looked at a female congregant and lusted in thier own heart. The Church is failing miserably and we need to reclaim it. Jesus came to seek and save the lost....what part of restoration means banishment? No wonder Christians do not attend very often any longer.

I am deeply concerned that any church would banish someone who is seeking help from any sin. How many of his former congregants haven committed adultery, fornication? How many of the board members that made him sign such a ridiculous agreement havent looked at a female congregant and lusted in thier own heart. The Church is failing miserably and we need to reclaim it. Jesus came to seek and save the lost....what part of restoration means banishment? No wonder Christians do not attend very often any longer.

Wow, this article brings me to tears. There is such a lack of demonstrating Christ's love to this brother and his family. I pray that the Lord would send people Ted's way to minister to him in love. Discipline according the Bible is necessary but I think to "ban" someone from living in a city he/she desires is out right ridiculous. This is why so many people mask in church and try to cover what they struggle with. Whew....this is so humbling and shows how much we need to be transformed and walking examples of Christ's love in the world.