Posted on 03/13/2011 8:33:53 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I don’t know about Tiger Woods being restored. His Golf game sure hasn’t.
Well, for one thing, Woods is a golfer, and Christian leaders are generally held to a higher moral standard, since morals are their “business”.
If he were to turn to God, repent of his depravities and demonstrate trustworthiness, I suppose “being restored” might be a consideration at some point. We are to forgive.
But, his recent statements do not indicate that he really even understands the religion he purported to preach. He thinks he’s “marketing” the Bible, but doesn’t think he needs to believe it or follow it. He’ll be caught in some flagrant activity again, if his own words are any indication.
So, no, Mr. Haggard. Sorry. We’ll forgive you but you’ve given no reason for anyone to trust you in such a position of moral authority.
Go away Ted .. go seek group counseling Marv Albert and Eddie Murphy.
I once heard the reason for that described as:
“the Repentance must be as large as the Trespass”
It has been 5yrs since Haggard’s action became public, I can recall him complaining about this very thing in yr #2, is that notable Repentance?
IDK, that is not for me to judge, I would think he should go back to working in whatever manner he feels called to and to be honest about his past mistakes and let his deeds speak for him so to speak.
I can’t tell: is he steeped to the core in sin, or is he just plain hawg-stupid? It’s very telling that he mentions Tiger Woods, who appears not to have the slightest idea that he really did anything wrong, only that bad consequences for him (finally) occurred, and “people were hurt.”
Mr. Haggard’s talk of “everyone’s sin condition” implies that personal repentence of actual sins for which he is personally responsible isn’t really on the agenda. He didn’t do anything wrong ... it’s just that there are all these judgmental people making him feel bad about being himself.
By the standards of Christianity, Tiger Woods is not restored. But because nobody really cares much about morality in sports, unless you cheat to affect the outcome, normal activity has resumed.
...because Tiger wasn’t admirer because of his faith.
Yep.
Ted just wants another mega-church.
That is the “atonement” this guy wants or needs.
He’s right. Jesus came to the corrupt money changers in the Temple and scolded the people who objected to their corruption - saying ‘we must forgive the corrupt and let them continue with their ways”...
Too easy.
Tiger was admired because of his golf game. If his game comes back he will again be admired for his golf game.
Haggard, and others like him, were admired by some, and successful because of their supposed principles and living a faithful life, and so on.
He is welcomed back into the Christian community as a person, but what he is really upset about is that he can’t be a big time bible hustler again.
Forgiveness is is different from restoration. I Haggard repents, I have no trouble forgiving and restoring fellowship to such a person. However, the scriptures requires a church leader to be blameless and to have a good reputation. He no longer meets these qualifications. He needs to find other work.
RE: He no longer meets these qualifications. He needs to find other work.
I’m not sure about this... this issue isn’t a new one. It came up during the Donatist controversy.
Augustine of old had a major disagreement with the Donatists, who believed that the personal character of the clergyman gave validity to the celebration of the sacraments.
Augustine’s view, which was also the majority view within the Church then, was that it was the OFFICE, not the personal character of the incumbent, that gave validity to the celebration of the sacraments.
The names "Tiger Woods" and "Charlie Sheen" still fit in the same sentence quite nicely.
Nobody’s expecting Tiger Woods to counsel married couples, but a pastor is expected to. Pastors are in a position of trust. If this ex-pastor were truly repentant, he wouldn’t mind a few years of pushing brooms or selling cars. People may either trust him again, eventually, or he may lead a quiet life of humble obedience to God. Either way is good for his soul and would be a nice example for the faithful.
Humility is the lost virtue of our time.
Bless you Ted, I'm familiar with the Biblical call to forgiveness and I don't know that there are any Christians who haven't or wouldn't forgive you. Seven times seventy. But I'm not so familiar with this "restoration" thing you speak of. Whatever it is apparently you think it means you should be instantly whisked back to your Multi-million dollar Mega Church pastorate and set as an example for millions of Christians. All without demonstrating any real fruit of repentance. Let it go. Return to Jesus as a suffering servant and forgiven sinner, rejoicing in the precious gift you have received and content to accept whatever God's will is for your mission during the rest of your visit here in the world.
I understand Jim Bakker is living quietly and working humbly in the back ground at some inner city mission his kid is involved with...at least when I last read of him some years ago...what he’s doing now i don’t know.
Jeez, just don't try to become a Christian leader again. Do something else and it will be easier to receive restoration by the church.
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.