How do we respond....the Ted Haggard story?

It is hard for many of us to understand why something like this happens. The truth is that Ted Haggard will not be forgiven...for anything he does. He is not forgiven because he plays the part of a Christian, because of the way he looks, or because of anything he does. Ted and you and I are forgiven because of what Jesus Christ has already done. Our forgiveness doesn't rest in how good we are. In fact God has something to say about this in Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His love for us, while we were sinners, Christ died for us." God accepted us when we were filthy and there is no amount of good works or accomplishments we can do that would be enough to equal what Jesus has done on the cross. Only through Jesus and our dependence on Him can we be forgiven. So if you struggle with the idea of someone who has done the things that Ted has done you can know that he is not forgiven because of anything other that what Jesus has done for us. John 14:6, "I (Jesus) am the way, the truth, the life; no one comes to the Father except by me (Jesus)."

So why would someone who doesn't feel they are half as bad as Ted Haggard feel like they need Christianity? Well they don't. They don't need Christianity; they need Jesus to stand in their place of a Holy God who must punish sin - all sin. You see Christianity is when messed up people come to a Holy and perfect God and realize only because of His grace and Mercy can they be with Him. We don't deserve it. We shouldn't let it make us made when someone of the stature of Ted Haggard messes up. We should be in awe of a Holy God who in spite of our sin and disobedience demonstrates an amazing love for us by punishing our sin on the Cross of Christ for those who believe and trust in Him instead of giving us what we deserve - separation from this Holy God.

I am in no way saying that we should live any other way than in pursuit of being like this Holy God we serve. But remember that in the middle of our sin we can be reminded of why Jesus had to come and die in our place in the first place.