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Haggard 'Deserves What He Got'Haggard 'Deserves What He Got'

So says Alexandra Pelosi, whose documentary about Haggard airs on HBO this week. But she also sees a man who has worked through his pain—thanks to the Bible.

Interview by David Neff | posted 1/28/2009 09:25AM

Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi first met megachurch pastor Ted Haggard while making Friends of God, a documentary about evangelicals, some five years ago. Self-described as "not a really religious person," ...

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shanobeigh

Posted: February 02, 2009 2:13 PM

All I can say is, aren't y'all glad that God does't give us all what we deserve, but instead sent His Son to redeem us & restore us to right standing with Himself. Grace & mercy flowed from the cross. Forgiveness was / is offered for our sins. Too bad we Christians can't extend the same forgiveness & grace to those in our midst. Why must we shoot our wounded? Ted Haggard should NOT be in leadership, however he should not be shunned & mocked either. I will pray that he & his family are TOTALLY restored. Shame on you Christians who are applauding his fall. Judge not lest ye be judged. And Fade to Black is correct - we need to pray for the Pelosi's that they will see not "what" got the Haggard's through, but WHO got them through & accept Jesus Christ into their lives.

Thomas Wagner

Posted: February 02, 2009 3:12 AM

Get used to this kind of treatment by the Evangelical community. Myself, I got bipolar disorder in '98. Had some wild aspirations, believed another woman would eventually become my wife (funny, this one was actually a Christian who went to church regularly). So I have had the rejection of the most righteous wing of Christianity, and I don't need any of you now. I got through it, got close to Jesus and the Father. I read my Greek NT now and call myself a "Neo-Classical" Christian. Give me the basics, Lord, the Evangelicals redacted them. I abhor Ted's sin and deception, but "you who are spiritual should restore" Ted and bring him back. Pay for some good counselling. Does he have to do it on his own? This very magazine had an article from around Jan '03 in which it was reported that one of the worst experiences for Christians is to have the church let them down. I know this. Come on, bipolar is just abberant brain chemistry, not a character flaw. I hope Ted gets healed. Pharisees don't.

skye	Posted: February 01, 2009 9:17 PM

God created homosexuals as well as people who actually have biology of both sexes.Many homosexuals are quite gifted, particularly in the arts. One could say that God loves them more because he gave them such great gifts. It is a more complicated issue than people admit to. The Bible says lots of loopy things, including about how to treat slaves, things that are nonsensical and absurd. Scriptures are a guide for life, but interpretations are not infallible. The message of Christ is to Love each other and to Not Judge each other. It is time to take blinders off and show love to all people, admit that everyone is not the same. Homosexuals exist and they should be accorded the same respect as any other people.

Dr. Judith Hirsch-Fikejs

Posted: January 31, 2009 12:28 PM

I have worked with pastors who have "fallen from grace" with the terrible consequences Rev. Haggard experienced. It is so sad that his wife and kids have had to deal not only with the public disgrace but the private wounds. But I am distressed more that Haggard has not learned that he needs to consider the wounds he perpetrated against his congregation--treating them with disdain as he carried on his secret life. Treated him harshly? I don't think so. Wisely he wasn't allowed to wallow in the pity that came his way; he wasn't allowed to salve his conscience with the sympathies of his people. They love him and hate to see him hurt. He needed to be exiled in order to face himself and deal with the pain of his own choices. God forgives and God's people forgive, but no one can make the consequences go away. The kindest thing his colleagues did was make him face the hurt of his personal choices. I am saddened that at some level it appears he may not have learned anything at all.

Philip Siew

Posted: January 30, 2009 8:59 PM

I heard Ted sharing once when I did my doctoral studies at one seminary in Pasadena. I was impressed by him. When I knew of his fall, I was so sad. I prayed for him that one day God will renew and restore him. I am so moved and inspired by this interview. God answered my (and others' prayers) for Ted. He got what he deserves. God is not mocked. However, God specializes in creation, re-creation, redemption and transformation. This is again confirmed through Ted's life. This tells of God's never failing grace, unconditional, unchanging, and eternal love for all, and especially for those who though fell yet are willing to take His promises of forgiveness seriously and truly repent and believe God will honor what He has promised. I believe that by God's amazing grace and Word, Ted will be a blessing to many again. Ted's restoration by God's Word has blessed me. God's word is true: "for though the righteous fall seven times, they will rise again." (Prov.24:16) This is the gospel!

Taylor

Posted: January 30, 2009 7:38 PM

Rose Ann Davis, your judgment of NLC as to their response to Ted's behavior is based on ignorance and naivete. When his duplicitous lifestyle was exposed, Ted lied, lied and lied again. Even when confronted via the Matt 16 directives, he continued to deny. Read I Corinthians 5. The overseers did the best they could in light of both Ted's responses, his continued denials and minimizations. The church needed distance to begin the healing process, as did the Haggards. Go to the Christianity Today website and read the blog by Paton Dodd. He articulates the reality of the situation very well. Outsiders like you would do well to inform themselves in this manner before mounting your soapbox and judging situations ignorantly. And softening your comments with your religious jargon does not dilute the fact that you are speaking out of turn. Even God knows.

Pinky Toenail

Posted: January 30, 2009 6:37 PM

Haggard is surprised that the congregation and leadership that HE developed from the ground up wanted to separate itself from him? That's like Darth Vader being surprised that Luke would rather plummet to his death than identify himself with a father like him. Maybe not the best decision in either case, but not surprising considering the flawed "genes"...human ones. Who built this church? I Cor 3: 8 - 20 Further, I have not read whether in his supposed "exile" does Haggard IDENTIFY with CHRIST'S Body at all? If he says that "Because I am not a pastor, I am not a part of the body," that does not remove him from The Body...if he is truly in Christ. The gospel is not reading the Bible to make myself feel better, and it surely isn't Jesus & me versus the world (or versus the church). Score another enemy victory if the result of Haggard's "comeback" is to encourage even more believers to flee active servant living in the church. 1 Tim 1:5 - 19; Heb 10:19 - 39; 1 Pet 3:8 - 5:11

susan

Posted: January 30, 2009 5:25 PM

don't know all the facts and don't need to. i have learned more about God than i knew before. i pray to have a real heart, like God has for each of us. i thank God for the good example of a woman who knows who she is in Christ, and lives well, and sets an example for us all. the good qualities that Mr. H had, he still has. he is a very unique and real person. i just love God and God is so Good. why can't we desire His wonderful character for ourselves in this life? there is humor in this story. there is love in this family, maybe more real love than in the "unfallen" families in the church. i think the good that has come from this is so important for the Christian world to see. sin is sin, we all have sin and all fall short, we all live in a world where there is light and darkness, we all need to stay close to the Savior and let him really BE our Savior. we cannnot save, but are here to learn to love. amen

MLL	Posted: January 30, 2009 5:02 PM

ROMANS 7:21-22 Apostle Paul says: 21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Jeff	Posted: January 30, 2009 3:37 PM

Saw Ted On Oprah, Larry King and the HBO documentary. One thing I saw was an honest but broken man who has nothing to hide now. Though I may differ with him regarding homosexuality for I am a Christian gay man who did the ex-gay route for 22 years. I see that he has a bigger heart for people. The one thing that really was not brought out was that much of his sinful behavior really hinged more on addiction than the reality of one being gay. And too often in the church sex is the only thing many times evangelicals think about with gay men. I hope this challenges many in the church but know that most will ignore the issues here. Redemption, forgives, healing and the fact that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Looking forward to the day when I can have honest dialogue about being a lover of God and gay. But it will happen and the church will look back on how ugly they have treated the LGBT community and demonized them. Good for Ted, his wife and family!

Sandra in IL

Posted: January 30, 2009 2:35 PM

I am so grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for having a powerful effect on Alexandra Pelosi. As I read the other comments, I am struck by those who think you can separate Jesus from His Word! According to John 1:1-x Jesus is the Word/Word is Jesus! I am glad that Haggard is pressing his way through---that is the process of repentance. Repentance is not a statement. It is a process. It is the process that all Christians are to go through from the moment they accept Jesus as Savior. Repentance is painful. It should be or we would commit the same sins over and over because there would be no deterrent. Mrs. Haggard sounds like a gem of a woman! I am sorry for Ted's fall, but his exposure is helping many who are going into ministry and who are in ministry to keep a more careful watch over their sin nature. All ministers should have had an accountability partner to help them seek counsel when needed and to help them avoid even the appearance of evil. Easier said than done.

Sandra in IL

Posted: January 30, 2009 2:35 PM

Fred Conwell

Posted: January 30, 2009 9:41 AM


Where is the sin, that lack of love that Jesus speaks about (Mt 22:36-40)? What makes homosexuality a sin, indeed? Ted's sin was dishonesty about his God-given sexuality that extended to even marrying a woman.

Paige-Patric Samuels

Posted: January 30, 2009 7:25 AM

It is rather sad that such a situation has occured. However, I feel that if he had gone through Pastoral training, in a theological school it may have help him. Again Harrads fall is based upon his ego, and the dividends he got from the Chrch, the church was his sole commodity, not a place where lost sole can be saved, hence I think this is one of the reason why the church he built have not been able to forgive him, maybe one or two, he will be restored, but I think that this is the best way forward is to humble himself and allow the healing process by God to do its work. I pray that he will be heald and his family hosticaly and spiritually Paige-Patric

Diana

Posted: January 29, 2009 5:41 PM

Much has been said about the effect on Ted Haggard, but what about the effect on his church? What about the young Christians who "fell" as a result of the deception. A Pastor is a Shepherd watching over his sheep, but what happens when the shepherd falls? The wolves move in to devour the flock. I think the overseers were concerned about the spiritual babies in the church. Ted Haggard was a Pastor. I have not heard him express concern about his flock, only his concern about what he was going through. Many young christians are turned away from church and never darken the door again over things like this. There were many hurt people at the church. There was a process for restoration, but it takes time, obviously more than Ted Haggard was willing to submit himself for. I don't think the church said "go to hell". I think the hurt in the church was so great over his deception.

John	Posted: January 29, 2009 4:57 PM

Perhaps Mr. Haggard could consider becoming a pastor in a denomination that is accepting of homosexuals? Afterall, being a pastor is really the only job experience he has. He would have to stop calling himself an evangelical. Once you accept and love a person no matter what their sexual orientation, you will immediately be no longer considered an evangelical or a "true christian" for that matter. Maybe that's ok.

Austin

Posted: January 29, 2009 3:13 PM

When are we as believers going to step into the 20th century on the topic of homosexuality. Especially since we are already living in the 21st century. Theological ideas about so many other social issues with a moral connection have shifted and grown with society, but conservatives are so insistant upon clinging to this issue that it truely unveils their need to hate something and someone. Homosexuality was long understood in the medical community and society. Those understandings have changed and shifted. It is time for conservative Christians to catch up. When they do, when Ted does, then he wouldn't have been forced into his deciet and hypocrisay. He had to lie in order to succeed in the Theology in which he was raised. He was forced to believe something not true about himself. Sadly, he hasn't come to grips with that yet.

an old friend of Ted's

Posted: January 29, 2009 1:26 PM

Ms. Pelosi's read of the living epistles, Gayle Haggard and children, glorifies Christ. Though Ted's "exile" by the church leadership, Larry Stockstill et al, is mandatory church discipline for Ted's sin. It is unfortunate that Ted, well versed in this as he was, did not explain it to her. Repentance includes the recognition and verbalization of the consequences of our sins. Ted and only Ted is responsible for his current state, including the poverty of his family. What does it profit Ted if he gained the whole world and lost his soul? Perhaps under this earthly "judgment" Ted will find forgivness for his heinous sin.

A PASTOR IN NEVADA

Posted: January 29, 2009 12:47 PM

ALL that has been written on Ted are Great articles, and a replay on what happened when Bakker & Swaggert fell into sin in the 80's ... by replay I mean the deep expressions of disappointment, sorrow, shame, anger, excuses, explanations & finally judgment from those who fell & the reaction of the Body of Christ. May all the leaders in Christendom & all in the Body of Christ be always before the LORD in prayer & honesty with the demons we battle every day & "if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" - Romans 8:13b

Psalm7118

Posted: January 29, 2009 10:44 AM

I watched Ted and Gayle yesterday on Oprah and I thought they both were sincere as well as clear about the issue. Ted has same sex issues and knows it. Just like a porn addict, drug user or wife abuser he now publicly admits it. Also it appears he does not want to be that way because of the Word of God and God's instructions regarding marriage etc... That came out in the Oprah interview to which she (Oprah) vocally disagreed. The issue is we are all sinners. He yielded to sin gave into it, lied and got caught. He will live with this as we all do when we disgrace ourselves no matter what the sin. Great article and message. The beauty of God's Word and it's power to give comfort and direction in the darkest hour. I love it good word. Let's keep the focus of the HBO on the triumph of God not the failure of men.

JohnS

Posted: January 29, 2009 10:39 AM

Haggard is a tragic figure of the left and the right. It is sad that he had to hide (and apparently still does) his sexual orientation to fit the moral strictures of his brand of fundamentalist Christianity. And it is sad that the left has jumped on him as the ultimate example of hypocrisy. That said, much like Bishop Gene Robinson, I have little sympathy for those that cheat on their spouses regardless of the gender of whom they cheat with. Haggard deserved to lose his job, but not be destroyed. I am glad he has been able to survive this ordeal with his faith and his family intact.

Polycarp

Posted: January 29, 2009 10:05 AM

No one liked to be judged. But does Matt 7:11 forbid making any assessment of an individuals behavior as to whether it was right or wrong. Taken to an extreme does this mean that we cannot judge any behavior whether it be genocide, wife beating, child molestation, terrorism, lying, pride etc.....or preserving life, being a good husband and father, preserving the good of society, telling the truth and expressing healthy humility? Or should we consider the passage in its full context and clean out our own conscience before evaluating another's? Ultimately the final judgment is up to God. But until that verdict is revealed at the resurrection we do have court systems and church discipline.

Art Vesterdal

Posted: January 29, 2009 10:00 AM

One cannot read the above article without being touched by the case of human tragedy for Ted Haggard, his family, and his church, while becoming aware of the case of everyone's own personal weakness. Jeremiah was right when he noted that the heart is desperately wicked and therefore I estimate that EVERY CHRISTIAN LEADER has some hidden weakness, temptation, or secret sin. It is time to drive a stake thru the heart of the professional ministry, time to close the majority of our seminaries, time to stop adoring our Christian superstars like we did with Haggard, while moving toward Biblical Community. We have turned Christianity into a corporation complete with media glitter and it is ugly. If Haggard was an elder in a home church, at most 20 or 30 would have been hurt, and that church would have surrounded him and family to work to restore, not destroy. Perhaps we are all immature because we prop up an institution that produces constant moral and financial scandal.

P.	Posted: January 29, 2009 9:26 AM


It's interesting that in Pelosi's first film for HBO, Ted Haggard was the only evangelical leader who was truly friendly to her. Also, I commend Haggard's family for their support. I don't really condemn his former church because I can see how they felt shocked and betrayed by his behaviour. Anyway, I hope Haggard leans on God, because that's the only way he can put his life back together.

Larry

Posted: January 29, 2009 7:29 AM

Something about this whole thing just doesn't sit right. Ted has had a problem with these temptations much of his adult life. In that same period of time, he was able to build a church from scratch to over 12,000. He lied about it when it was first revealed, because he was in shock. Evil!!!! Either building a church is a work of man or it is a work of God. The only thing that changed was that his problems became public. It just seems to me that the church has been harder on him than God was. His wife stuck with him. His church could have done a better job of doing that.

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