A Stone's Throw Away
Its Election Day... I did some research and voted the best I could. I can't wait for these ridiculous campaign ads to go away for another year or so (wishful thinking?).
Anyway, the whole Ted Haggard scandal has been bouncing around in my head for a couple days, and I can't help but weigh in. I made a comment on Bryna's blog, because she had some quotes from conservative Christians about proposed anti-gay marriage legislation, and from a person fighting for marriage rights for gay people. This scandal isn't really going to help people on either side of the argument, but I do think it is ironic that Pastor Haggard has been working to deny gay people the very relationships with which he himself broke covenant.
About throwing Stones....
How can we try to legislate personal piety? I don't think it works. I don't think Jesus advocated it. I was reminded by RELEVANT podcast that this is a reminder that all of us are broken and in need of grace. Ted Haggard doesn't need grace any more or less than me. And while both of us are guilty of breaking covenant with our loved ones, neither of us can decide who other people are to make covenant with. Are we also supposed to make laws against adultery?
Israel in Jesus' day had laws against adultery, and the penalty was death. Maybe many of us forget that while Jesus didn't hold a mountaintop seminar on the definition of sexual immorality, he did stop a group of privileged, self-righteous men from stoning a woman who had been "caught in the very act."
“All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” - Jesus (Matthew 8:7 NLT)
Anyway, the whole Ted Haggard scandal has been bouncing around in my head for a couple days, and I can't help but weigh in. I made a comment on Bryna's blog, because she had some quotes from conservative Christians about proposed anti-gay marriage legislation, and from a person fighting for marriage rights for gay people. This scandal isn't really going to help people on either side of the argument, but I do think it is ironic that Pastor Haggard has been working to deny gay people the very relationships with which he himself broke covenant.
About throwing Stones....
How can we try to legislate personal piety? I don't think it works. I don't think Jesus advocated it. I was reminded by RELEVANT podcast that this is a reminder that all of us are broken and in need of grace. Ted Haggard doesn't need grace any more or less than me. And while both of us are guilty of breaking covenant with our loved ones, neither of us can decide who other people are to make covenant with. Are we also supposed to make laws against adultery?
Israel in Jesus' day had laws against adultery, and the penalty was death. Maybe many of us forget that while Jesus didn't hold a mountaintop seminar on the definition of sexual immorality, he did stop a group of privileged, self-righteous men from stoning a woman who had been "caught in the very act."
“All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” - Jesus (Matthew 8:7 NLT)
posted by Unknown at 4:20 PM
2 Comments:
i am with you. i've chosen to refrain from throwing stones at pastor haggard and seek to show grace through prayer for him & his family. something i wish i was able to do years ago with other ousted leaders
The church must confront their hypocritical actions concerning sexual sin.
Homosexuality is not in God's perfect plan, but neither are internet pornography, divorce and adultery. Unfortunately for Christians, the percentages of those inside the church participating in these actions are the same as outside the church.
How can we possibly have an authoritative voice in the socio-cultural landscape with so many skeletons in our own closet?
It's just like the 'pro-life' stance that Christian's take.. Sure, they're against abortion, but what about the death penalty, war and deaths that are NOT US infantry?
We have put up blinders to see only what we want to see, and we challenge only that which does not challenge ourselves to a higher standard.
When we come to grips with our own sexual sins as a church, only then can we begin to heal and have a relevant voice in the world again.
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