Posted on 11/05/2006 1:05:02 PM PST by sonrise57
I was also responding to the little grammar lesson on your first post. Alas.
I had no concern with his poor grammar, per se. His poor grammar was simply an ironic parallel of his actions, putting himself before his family.
Sorry if that bothers you.
Peace!
If you can't see the forest for the lichen on a single rock, then I guess you've got a problem of your own.
I am more concerned with his actions.
If that bothers you, so be it!
Christian believers know that God is aware of everything they think, do and say and that we all sin, just as Ted Haggard has.
To be a sinner is to be a liar, for all sin is born of the lie that we need something other than God.
When we sin, we cling to the lie, to deceive ourselves and others that our sin is not what it is.
The price of unrepentant sin is separation from God which is spiritual death.
This is the pain that Ted Haggard has been living with.
I pray that God will have mercy on him and heal him, his family and his congregation.
More like the apology of a true Christian hypocrite...
A straight man wouldn't be discounting his encounter with a male prostitute as 'just a massage.' This is a funny scandal.
In what way?
she's the biggest victim here,his children, that whole Church - I wonder how long it is till she files for divorce.
She must be disgusted at his double life, infidelity and hypocrisy.
Anyone can say 'I am sorry,' 'I love you,' etc. But your feelings are only for you. Like a profession of love, an apology is meaningless without honorable actions or character.
I don't think it's necessary to go over the hypocrisy of this guy did. But after it had become obvious that he was thoroughly and totally busted, that it was indisputable that he had a relationship with a male prostitute from whom he had bought drugs, he lied pathetically about it. He was narcissistic enough to think that his church would remain loyal to him because of his false facade of virtue and his reputation. In an attempt to gain sympathy, he used his family as props.
In the disgustingly obsequious letter, the undercurrent of gross narcissism continues. He wants to "clarify [his] heart's condition." No one cares about that anymore. He portrays himself as a hapless victim of the repressed sexuality that somehow 'resurfaced.' He 'found himself' there, soliciting the prosititute. My heart goes out to him.
Still childishly and lamely defending himself, as if anyone cares, he says that some of the accusations aren't true, but doesn't bother specifying which ones. Behind the guilt, there is innocence, everyone! If he is going to call his accuser a liar, he must specify any false accusations. Otherwise, this is nothing but empty, defensive noise.
He tells us that some eminent men are going to restore his marriage through some kind of 'program.' Good luck to them with that.
He notes that the recent birth of a child to his replacement is, in fact, about him. This 'prophetic' babe was born to symbolize hope and redemption for the church and for the fallen pastor himself. Similarly, my little sister came to us from God on the fourth anniversary of Chernobyl so that our family in America might know that someday nuclear catastrophes that cause cancer would...
He 'needs desperately to be forgiven and healed.' It is very well that he is desperate to be forgiven. He has shown all too clearly that the esteem of others is the most important thing in his life. If he thinks that homosexuality is a conscious choice, he isn't 'sick' and doesn't need healing. But throughout this letter, he outwardly takes responsibility, while portraying himself as a victim, not an agent. So which is it?
Lastly, by asking his faithful to forgive the man whose accusations have largely been verified but who nevertheless spoke unspecified calumnies against the good pastor, Haggard again slyly deflects the blame. There is some grandiosity in his statement that the whole affair will make himself, his wife, the church, the world, etc., stronger. Haggard is God's unwitting agent in some sort of divine test, not a perpetrator. He got caught because it was part of the plan, for the best, etc., not because he was stupid. While it is possible that Mrs. Haggard is now stronger for all of this, and I sincerely hope so, it would be remiss not to note that this is exactly how AIDS was spread.
In his lengthy apology, Haggard doesn't mention the fact that he is a tweaker. Perhaps he still privately maintains that he never touched all the meth that he bought. That tape recording sounds awfully like a repeat customer.
Haggard spent his life and career selling something that was antithetical to who he really was so that he could bask in adulation and respect. He and a prop had five little props together. Between him and the 'accuser,' who's really the whore?
Well, I was only reacting to the fact that he seemed to accept more responsibility than any other public figure I've seen in this situation. But you're right, it came after days of denials and obfuscation.
He needs to go away, so that he can allow God to salvage his life. I respect that he has finally come clean. He has caused a great deal of damage to the Church that he cannot repair. But God has left Ted Haggard alive; therefore I know that He still has something in mind for him. But I wish him the best as he tries to put his life back together.
All I'm saying is that this wasn't a very good apology - it was wordy, self-involved, and self-serving. He's still the same lousy guy he ever was, except that he got caught.
Ping.
OK, Wouldn't a heterosexual male then hire a female prostitute to perform these acts his wife is uninterested in?
His wife and kids don't deserve this. They haven't done anything wrong. His family gave him love and loyalty and he repaid them with betrayal. Not nice.
so true, I feel very sorry for them
I don't know; I don't think this guy is going to come out like McGreevey and say he's "gay" as though biologically determined is what I mean.
He is physically attracted to members of the same sex. I'm not sure what other word would you use for that? The problem is, his wife will always be wondering if he would rather be with someone else who doesn't share her gender. It doesn't matter if he "comes out" or makes his preferences public. The damage is done.
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