Ted Haggard Quits Restoration

Let me start by asking a basic question. Why is it that when it is a sexual sin the church is unable to bring restoration? Of the cases of adultery, homosexuality, etc, I don't know of one that has submitted to a full restoration process, whatever that is.

How would you counsel or restore a man like Ted Haggard who spent three years as a "monthly homosexual." Do you make him screw his wife more? Exactly what do you talk about? Perhaps how he was a liar, cheater, hypocrite, and adulterer. But how do you change someone who refuses to see himself as he is. If you think about it Haggard has made a mockery of the restoration process, because he has yet to acknowledge that he is gay.

Maybe by quitting the restoration process he intends to throw it all away and get rid of the wife and find himself a lover, but that would be too juicy. No, I think he quit because he refuses to submit to anyone, but "God." I know those types and they end up going out and starting another church or some other kind of work. I will bet a year's wages that this is why Haggard quit the restoration process. He is planning a church or some other work.

He would not be the first, and yes, some people will follow him. Why? He won't exactly be talking about sin much. Or will he be like Jimmy Swaggart who was so legalistic and arrogant that he waged war on anyone who was preaching the Gospel. He seems to be a bitter man, but I digress.

Haggard is actually right on target in the group of ministers thrown out for sexual sin. Roberts Liardon (homosexual act) took off six months and still ministers today. Maybe they could hook up. The only problem is they both are the female part of the equation.

Paul Cain fired his overseers, went to California to get restored by people who did not know him. That is usually what happens. There was a huge fight between the original overseers and the ones that did the work. They decided within a year that due to his poor health and the fact that he only knew how to preach, he was allowed back in ministry. Hmmm, does anyone else see a problem with that?

OK, now my opinion. You cannot restore with counsel if someone won't really admit to sin. Further, most of the work has to be done between the person and God. God knows the heart, unlike another man. These men engaged in behaviors for years, not months, and were around the original teams constantly as coworkers. The Bible does not say you have to do all this restoration stuff, but repent, and that is the thing that has been missing from all three cases. These men have been arrogant and prideful. They believed their own good press, and put themselves above true accountability.

In Ted Haggard's case, he even caused division when ministers approached him about his homosexual feelings. He called them liars and cut off relationships. Now that is the work of a true unrepentant person or he was in some serious denial.

So, the idea that Ted Haggard ended the restoration process should not be a surprise. The surprise will be if Haggard does not go into some type of ministry within the next 12 months. If he keeps his wife, it is only for show, not for love. She has shown herself to be one that is willing to sleep with a gay man. Where is her self-esteem?  Of course, people have been presenting this as if Ted Haggard is the only one who has the decisions to make, but the reality is that his wife is the one, and she has chosen to stay married to a gay man.

I know that Haggard said he was cured within the first 90 days of restoration and that he is fully heterosexual, but my gut and my brain tell me that he is continuing to play a game, and is now seeking a new field.