Only In Our Arrogance . . .

I read a FB link earlier this week, that I have thought of and pondered much.  Since it clearly impacted my thought life, I decided that some of you might also benefit from some pondering today.  (smile)

I will just share some excerpts from this article in Christianity Today's "Leadership Journal", but hope that you will click on the title to pop over and read the entire piece.  

Going To Hell with Ted Haggard

What I learned about grace and redemption through my friendship with a Christian pariah.

Michael Cheshire

Here are some excerpts . . .

A while back I was having a business lunch . . . with a close atheist friend. He's a great guy and a very deep thinker. During lunch, he pointed at the large TV screen on the wall. It was set to a channel recapping Ted's fall. He pointed his finger at the HD and said, "That is the reason I will not become a Christian. Many of the things you say make sense, Mike, but that's what keeps me away."

It was well after the story had died down, so I had to study the screen to see what my friend was talking about. I assumed he was referring to Ted's hypocrisy. "Hey man, not all of us do things like that," I responded. He laughed and said, "Michael, you just proved my point. See, that guy said sorry a long time ago. Even his wife and kids stayed and forgave him, but all you Christians still seem to hate him. You guys can't forgive him and let him back into your good graces. Every time you talk to me about God, you explain that he will take me as I am. You say he forgives all my failures and will restore my hope, and as long as I stay outside the church, you say God wants to forgive me. But that guy failed while he was one of you, and most of you are still vicious to him." Then he uttered words that left me reeling: "You Christians eat your own. Always have. Always will."  . . .

I studied the TV and read the caption as a well-known religious leader kept shoveling dirt on a man who had admitted he was unclean. And at that moment, my heart started to change. . . . When I brought up the topic to other men and women I love and respect, the very mention of Haggard's name made our conversations toxic. Their reactions were visceral.  . . .

Most Christians would say God can forgive him, but almost universally people agree that God will never use him again. When I pressed the question, "Why can't God still use Ted?" I was dismissed as foolish or silly. Most of these people got mad and demanded I drop the subject. . . . After all, I reasoned, Jesus restored Peter after he denied Christ. That's a pretty big deal. . . .

(at this time . . . the author then reaches out and befriends Ted and his wife .  . .)

But then the funniest thing started happening to me. Some Christians I hung out with told me they would distance themselves from me if I continued reaching out to Ted. Several people in my church said they would leave. Really? Does he have leprosy? Will he infect me? We are friends. We aren't dating! But in the end, I was told that my voice as a pastor and author would be tarnished if I continued to spend time with him. I found this sickening. Not just because people can be so small, but because I have a firsthand account from Ted and Gayle of how they lost many friends they had known for years. Much of it is pretty coldblooded. Now the "Christian machine" was trying to take away their new friends.  . . .

Grace must pick a side in the light of day, not just whisper its opinion in the shadows and dark places where we sign our name Anonymous. When a leader falls and then repents, grace picks a side. Grace is strong. Grace is a shield to those who cannot get off the battlefield. Grace is God's idea. Like a spiritual Switzerland, we stay in our neutral world where we can both forgive and judge but never get our hands dirty caring for the fallen. And when we don't pick a side, the wrong side gets picked for us. . . .

Of course, I understand that if a person doesn't repent there is not a whole lot you can offer. But Ted resigned, confessed, repented, and submitted. He jumped through our many hoops. When will we be cool with him again? When will the church allow God to use him again? It's funny that we believe we get to make that decision.  . . .

(You will have to read the full article to find out the reasoning behind the title.  
Think . . . Huckleberry Finn.)

"You Christians eat your own."

What do you think?  

Have you been a part of doing this to others?

Has this been done to you?

"The religious leader kept shoveling dirt on the man . . ."

Have you shoveled dirt on others?

Have others shoveled dirt on you, after you admitted your failures?

Have you heaped mounds of judgement upon others?

Have others heaped mounds of judgement upon you?

"Why can't God still use Ted?"

Have you determined that someone else is unworthy to be used by God?

Has anyone determined that you are unworthy to be used by God?

Is it our place to make this determination?

"Grace must pick a side."

Have you chosen Grace over Judgement of others?

Or have you chosen Judgement and Condemnation?

Have others shown you Grace over Judgement when you have done wrong?

Or have others shown you only Judgement and Condemnation?

Do you need to go back and "pick the other side"?

Do you need to repent and give Grace, where you have judged?

Do you need to repent and Forgive, those that have judged you?

Is there anyone that others have condemned,

that the Lord is calling you to befriend?

Would you befriend this person, 

even if it meant others turning away from you?

Yes.

I am burdened that "Christians are eating their own."

I am burdened by the Dirt Shoveling.

I am burdened by the Dirt Shoveling done "in the name of love".

I am burdened by the Dirt Shoveling done "because I'm concerned".

I am burdened by the Dirt Shoveling done "as a prayer request".

I am burdened by the mounds of judgement and condemnation

being heaped upon Believers . . . by other Believers.

I am burdened by the lack of Grace amongst Believers.

I am burdened by the lack of Compassion amongst Believers.

I am burdened by the lack of Love amongst Believers.

I am burdened by the Arrogance I see in so many Believers.

I am burdened by the Pride displayed by many in Ministry.

Yes.

Ted Haggard sinned.

Yes.

Ted Haggard made some VERY bad choices.

Are any of us above sin?

Are any of us above reproach?

Are any of us immune from making bad choices?

Are any of us truly unworthy of being used by God?

Actually . . . are any of us truly worthy of being used by God?


Only by God's Grace are any of us used by God.

Only in our arrogance . . .

can we believe that God has found someone unworthy, 
and kicked them to the curb like a piece of trash.



By God's Grace . . .

no matter how dirty and broken and unusable we look,
He will pick any of us up if we ask Him to.

Only in our arrogance . . .

can we believe that we are so worthy 
that God wouldn't kick us to the curb, as well.



Only by God's Grace . . .

no matter how clean and perfect and pretty we look,
does He pick any of us up to use us for His Glory.