The Exposure of Ted Haggard

The following is a warning against hypocrisy:

Luke 12:

1 Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

These words of Jesus came to pass in the life of prominent and popular mega pastor, Ted Haggard recently. Along with this unveiling, we are once again reminded of the reason why we as Christians are to be humble and watch ourselves at all times: Because those who tend to ride their high horse long enough will ultimately fall off it. And this is what we now see in the life of Ted Haggard. He fell off his high horse. And what a mighty fall it was.

Here is an excerpt taken from an article I wrote last year: Swimming with Sharks: The Hypocritical Christian: It never ceases to amaze me how we overlook the sin inside of us that we should be focused on, yet we are all too ready to focus on another's sinful ways. Sometimes the sin that is within us appears to be small and insignificant, but in reality it can be a huge beast of a problem that must be conquered.

What is it in man that leads him in such a downward spiral from the highest heights to the lowest depths?

There are several things but primarily pride, selfishness and fear. He probably felt as though nobody could touch him, not even the male prostitute who accused him, Mike Jones.

What we know right now

The pastor has confessed to buying drugs (meth) more than once, as well as getting a massage from the person in question. But what Christian preacher would go to a known male prostitute to get a massage? Well, that is a can of worms that I will close back up for now. Here’s my take on everything for now: I feel that we will find out more in the near future, and this is why I am hesitant to write much on this news story at this time. In another week or so, we should know more, and I will do a follow up article at that time. One thing is clear; Haggard led a secret life that many people who knew him never witnessed, including his family.

Ted Haggard is a perfect example why you are not to follow or put your full trust in mega preachers or in any man period! They will let you down and disappoint you every time. We have had other prominent men of God who have done the same, remember Jimmy Swaggart? Too many of us have had our eyes averted from the one true God, yet we still have the wherewithal to place our trust and devotion in a man, even if that man is a man of God. And Haggard is a man. He is not above you or me.

Brought Low

Haggard needed to be humbled, this is a given. But what a price he has paid already and will continue to pay in the future. He has surely been brought low.

Now perhaps he will talk a little softer and stay off his high horse when preaching to others about the very things he neglects: morals, self control and self respect. Drugs and homosexuality are two issues he preached against. Due to his recent conduct, he now needs to be preached to regarding these things.

This world is being shaken

This world and the people in it are getting shaken up my friends. And the shaking has only begun. Those who are trusted to get the truth of the gospel out will be shaken as well. And remember, they will be judged more harshly because of the gifts they have been entrusted with. We are told this in the bible:

Luke 12:48

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Warnings

Since I am writing this article from a Christian perspective, you may think I am somewhat biased. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have warned for years on mega churches and their ways. I have sounded the alarm long ago that many in the body of Christ were being swayed in a way which is not good.

Besides the gay prostitute and Haggard, did anyone else know what was going on? Yes. And I can tell you who knew, God knew. And because of this pastor’s stubbornness and refusal to repent and turn from his sins, they are now being broadcast to all of us. Had he turned from them earlier, most likely it wouldn’t have come to this. But the stubbornness of man will often bring to light things that we would have rather kept hidden. But Haggard evidently thought he could get by with what he was doing and keep it hidden. This is where the arrogance comes in my friends. Arrogance will take you further than you ever imagined possible and cost you more than you are able to pay.

Don’t put your trust in man

Don’t put your trust in me. Don’t put your trust in any man or woman on this earth. Put your trust in the one who made you and created the heavens and the earth. This way you won’t go wrong. When I was younger and Jimmy Swaggart had his downfall, I was shocked and saddened, but I didn’t let it knock me for a permanent loop. I realized then that man will fail you, yet God never will. Man is not above sin and debauchery, even those preachers and teachers of the gospel. But don’t judge all of them by a few bad ones. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. You might be asking yourself right about now, where are the true Christians? They are all around you, living their quiet lives and bringing joy, love and help to others just as Jesus told them to.
More on this topic will be available at a later date.