Are we all really just like Ted Haggard?

In an attempt at dramatic rhetorical flourish the other day I concluded a post on Ted Haggard with the following words.

The truth is, I am Ted Haggard, we are all Ted Haggard, and Ted Haggard is all of us.  And may God have mercy me, on Ted and on all of us.

I"ve received a good deal of feedback on that comment, some of it in agreement but several comments have been quite taken aback by the statement and some of the critics have been quite picturesque in their language in describing their disagreement with me on this.

Today I came across a post from Rick Phillips at Reformation21 (HT - Justin Taylor) discussing the merits and demerits of the "denounce Ted" and "just like Ted" positions.  Since I took what could reasonably be called a "just like Ted" position in that former post I was particularly attentive to Rick's words in that regard.  You'll have to read down aways in the post to find a list of five things he finds wrong with the "just like Ted" position.

I don't know if Rick or one of the gang at Reformation21 read my post and decided that someone needed to put a sock in the mouth of the bozo from Maryland, or if they saw some other posts along those lines, but I do feel compelled to respond.

And my response is simply to agree with what Rick has said in his post and to explain a little bit of my own reasoning for saying what I said.  This is not really a retraction, but it is an admission that in an attempt to provide a stirring rhetorical finish to that post I overstated my case.

What was particularly offensive to some was that my comment seemed to indicate that I think everyone is engaging in the same kinds of activities as Ted and lying about it to everyone about it.  Insofar as my comment may have conveyed that I do fully retract and I will state that I believe that most folks, both Christian and non, are not engaged in such deception. 

Also, I want to say that I was speaking mainly about Christians in that comment and my intention was to convey that we all share a common Romans 7 type struggle where, to one degree or another, we desire to do good and find that we are unable to.  Don't hold Russ Reeves responsible for my position, but I think he stated it well when he said:

My point in addressing this is not to call Haggard a hypocrite; that hardly needs to be said at this point, and it’s not all that exceptional, since the only person who can avoid hypocrisy in some form is the person devoid of morals.

To one degree or another every Christian is going to have some struggle with hypocrisy.  If Christ is our standard and we desire to be like Him, we will all fail to live up to our best aspirations.

Further, when Christians see a brother in sin, we are told to look to ourselves in Galatians 6:1:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ga 6:1

In that text there is an implicit warning that the one who sinned is not the only sinner here.

But having said all of that, none of it minimizes the seriousness of the sin committed here, nor the need for discipline in such a situation.  Nor does it mean that any or all of us are engaged in the same kinds of sin as Haggard or are doomed to the same kind of fall.  That is what Rick Phillips brings out and I am in wholehearted agreement.

technorati tags:Politics, Religion, Christianity, Christian, Church

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Comments

[cavman]

I think your comments are on track. Paul described himself as the chief of sinners (in the present tense) right after listing a number of heinous sins. Just because the sin of his heart didn't manifest itself in actions doesn't mean he wasn't a great big sinner.
The closer we get to the light, the more we see the stains on our heart and the more we see ourselves as sinners in need of grace (credit for that goes to Augustine, I believe). My sinful desires are not identical to Ted Haggard's, but they are exceedingly sinful nonetheless. The guy who prayed "Thank you I am not a sinner like..." was not the one Jesus praised, but the one who said "Have mercy on me, a sinner."

[The Unfettered Monk]

Frankly I think Rick totally misses the "just like Ted" confession.
From our Richard Pratt days we realize that everything needs to be balanced and perhaps he's trying to bring balance to the discussion however all one needs do is read a few puritan prayers from the valley of vision to hear the heart of even what the world would consider the most practically pious and upright men denounce their vileness and corruption before a holy God. I think that's all you meant by "just like Ted" and I don't think you should apologize for it.
Being poor in spirit means comparing our righteousness to God not Hitler or Ted Bundy and when we make that comparison we cry out "Woe is me I am undone" and with Job (a righteous and upright man) "Behold I am vile" we are "just like Hitler and Bundy" from that perspective. The tastes great guys never get the less filling guys and vice versa...

[Former Corn Chuckin' Champ]

Dave,
What do these two statements have in common and how do they differ?

1) The truth is, I am Ted Haggard, we are all Ted Haggard, and Ted Haggard is all of us.

2) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. . .

You should write a post on how some people tend to dwell on the similarities, while others fixate on the differences.