Posted on 02/02/2009 1:10:27 PM PST by chuck_the_tv_out
ABC has apparently never heard that phrase, "There are two sides to every story." On Feb. 1, "World News Sunday" helped shamed former-pastor Ted Haggard take shots at the Christian conservatives who he says "shunned him."
Reporter Dan Harris introduced the piece by qualifying Haggard as a former "insider, a powerful pastor at the highest levels of the Christian conservative movement."
Haggard, who made headlines two years ago for getting caught in a gay sex scandal, is now offering advice to the Christian conservative movement; and ABC gave him the megaphone. Here is a portion of Harris' interview with Haggard:
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...
Haggard & the Camel(Broke)back author & (sic) pastor are shills for O.
He’s an attention whore if there ever was one, and some of his partners are also, or so it seems.
“Do not be yoked with evil doers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14.
I have full faith in ‘God’.
I have zero faith in the institutions raised up by ‘Man’ in worship of God.
And this clown Haggard demonstrates exactly why I feel this way.
Sorry-—don’t have the stomach to read his sodomite remarks.
“I have zero faith in the institutions raised up by ‘Man’ in worship of God”
But believers are the body of Christ! Paul exhorts us not to forsake the assembling together.
People like Haggard are no reason to give up on the church as a whole
‘People like Haggard are no reason to give up on the church as a whole.’
I was a private investigator for years, among other things. Trust me, friend, its not ‘just Haggard’.
Beside, I’m a ‘direct dial’ kinda guy.
I agree with direct dial. Direct dial doesn’t stop you being part of a church. Surely you should want to help those people, if nothing else. There is no doubt that the church is full of lost people. That much is a given. But we don’t give up on the church, just as we don’t give up on the lost!
I’ve had bad churches, but there are good churches out there, and when you find one, it can be extremely good.
I help in ways nobody knows, except me and ‘Him’.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not denigrating anyone that attends Church, not at all. I’m just jaded by what I’ve seen too many times in my life.
Be of good cheer, my friend. It hasn’t ‘jaded me’ on whats actually important to us both in this discussion.
“I actually agree with Haggard on this count”
But it’s an outrageous overgeneralization!
“there’s been far too much of the latter to the detriment of the former”
Jesus, during His earthly life, did not hesitate to challenge the national political leaders of
His day. His running battle with the oppressive views of the Pharisees and Sadducees are well
known. It’s no surprise that Peter, after living in Jesus’ shadow for so long, writes in one paragraph,
‘For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every institution, whether of the emperor as supreme or
of governors ... Fear God, honour the emperor.’ Then, in the very next paragraph he goes on to say,‘...to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example that
you should follow in his steps’ (1 Peter 2:13-14, 17, 21). As the central theme of his earthly
teaching ministry, Jesus announced he had come to inaugurate the ‘reign of God’ (Mk 1:14-15; Lk
17:20-21). Although his kingdom is not ‘of’ this world (Jn 19:36), it is not less than this world. His
kingly rule embraces and influences every realm of human life, politics included.
“And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.”— Matthew 7:23
I’ve had similiar issues, knowing far too much about people in a congregation.
I would look around and say to myself: “that guy’s a crook.” “that guy is queer.” “that girl lied under oath, and I know about it.” Etc.
Makes it VERY difficult to go to church.
I think it is a trick of the Devil to keep us out. Sinnless people don’t need church, so, of course, the most foul are in church, just like the sickest are in hospitals.
I now stuidiously avoid knowing anyone at church.
CS Lewis wrote about this in Screwtape Letters. It’s a very common issue.
PERILOUS TIMES: The Bible tells us that in the last days (of earth as we know know it), perilous times shall come — and IMHO we are at or very near that point:
“But realize this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Yep, he’s blaming everyone else but himself for his sin. Jim Bakker WAS repentant. Jim Swaggart was NOT.
Church is not a museum for saints, it’s a hospital for sinners. I get to know everyone in church if I can. Who knows when you can be a good influence for them. Avoiding people isn’t exactly Christlike. He ate with sinners. How do people get healed and saved if we avoid them?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.