Stumbling on the Road to Damascus: Ted Haggard Loses out on the Opportunity of a Lifetime

Apparently Ted Haggard has been cured of his homosexuality. At least that’s what he and the people he has chosen to help him deal with his sexuality are saying.

 

What a loss for our community! (No, seriously.) I really had hoped and prayed for a different outcome, and even wrote to Mr. Haggard to encourage him to accept his sexuality, come out, and devote his faith, passion, and skills (which he clearly has when you look at the mega-church he managed to found) to working for acceptance of queers in both Christianity and society at large.

 

While Ted Haggard has caused our community much pain and damage, I saw incredible potential if he repented, came out, and began working to undo the damage he did. The whole situation seems quite similar to that of the Apostle Paul’s own journey to Christianity. Paul started his adult life as a Jewish Pharisee named Saul who persecuted the early Christian church mercilessly. Then, according to the Book of Acts, on the road to Damascus, he had a conversion experience in which Jesus appeared to and spoke to him. He changed his name to Paul and became one of the most important and influential missionaries and theologians in the history of Christianity. Unfortunately, Ted Haggard has chosen to let his similarity to Paul stop at the persecution.

 

I would still accept Ted Haggard into the community sometime down the road if he accepted himself, repented, and came out. Even if Ted Haggard isn’t gay, but has some other sexual identity outside of the neat heterosexual/homosexual dichotomy, reparative therapy, or whatever it is being called in this situation, is not the answer.

 

Of course, Ted Haggard is never going to repent or come out if the queer community is not willing to accept him. Despite his embarrassment, he can still make a place for himself in the evangelical community as a repentant sinner and a newly “cured” and ready to go hetero. If that’s the only identity we leave open to him, then of course he’ll take it. But if we keep the door open for him, he may come around eventually. Lets keep that in mind as Mr. Haggard enjoys a brief return to the media limelight.

 

Below I’m attaching a post I made to a now defunct blog during the height of the Haggard brouhaha, that more fully fleshes out my opinion on it all:

Tuesday,

November 28, 2006

Showing our True Colors: Queer and Christian reactions to the Haggard “Scandal”

Many weeks ago, Mike Jones, a former male escort, went to the press with claims that he had had a sex for money relationship with Ted Haggard, then pastor at the New Life Church and then President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Jones also claimed to have given Haggard a contact to purchase meth. Since then, as we all know, Haggard has resigned as President of the NAE and been asked to leave his position at the New Life Church. Additionally, Haggard has publicly apologized, issued conflicting statements as to what actually happened, and declared his intent to go through reparative therapy.

LGBT organizations’, Christian organizations’, queers’, and Christians’ reactions to the Haggard brouhaha run the gamut of possibilities. Just to focus on those who tend to have a bit more of a progressive mindset, I was surprised as the scandal unfolded to see how many people reveled in Schadenfreude, celebrating an example of hypocrisy in the religious Right. While the situation was a striking example of hypocrisy, something inside of me said that the proper reaction was not one of celebration, but sympathy. When the scandal came up, I urged people not to gloat. Rather, I said, we should try to reach out to Ted Haggard, encourage him to come out and to become a powerful voice for queer inclusion in Christianity.

A common reaction to my views was to point out all the harm that Ted Haggard had done to queers and to Christianity prior to this scandal. While I recognize that he has inflicted a huge amount of violence on the queer community and Christianity, I see a powerful example of how to deal with his record in the Book of Acts. A Pharisee named Saul made a career of persecuting Christians and watching them stoned to death. But then, on the road to Damascus, he had a revelation and vision of Christ. After reaching Damascus, he became Paul, repented his past, and became one of the most influential evangelists and theologians in Christianity. Wouldn’t it be great if Haggard could follow this example?

 

Of course, if queer Christians and progressive Christians revel in Schadenfreude, Ted Haggard will probably remain where he is, seeking help through scientifically-unsound reparative therapy. But if we open our arms to him, offer forgiveness if he asks for it and offer help as he struggles to reconcile his queer identity with decades of anti-gay rhetoric that he has been engulfed by, then he just might become a powerful voice for queer people, both for queer inclusion in the Church and against prosecution of queers in society by the Church.

 

My frustrations were reaching a high when I received an excellent email from Soulforce that seemed to sum up most of my feelings. Look here for the text of the statement. Later, Soulforce launched a letter writing campaign to Rev. Haggard, inviting him to come out and become a modern-day Paul (although not using the Paul analogy). Once again, Soulforce has given us a great opportunity to take useful, direct action. If you feel as I do, I urge you to write a letter as well. Below is the text of my letter:

 

Dear Rev. Haggard,

 

It seems presumptuous for me to be writing you a letter. You are undoubtedly overwhelmed by both internal and external strains. Despite this, I feel a compelling need to write to you, and Soulforce has provided me the opportunity. Your situation has been dragged through the media with a vengeance by reporters searching for a scandal, politicians looking for political gain, and LGBT activists overwhelmed seeking to gloat. Please know that you have my prayers at this difficult time, when I assume that what you need most is time with yourself and with God, but have been given little privacy or quiet.

 

I would particularly like to offer my apologies on behalf of the progressive Christians and LGBT Christians who have taken a particularly un-Christian approach to your struggle and situation. Many of my friends in these communities have reacted by gloating. But when I think of Christian reaction, I have only profound sympathy for your struggle, and even greater hope for your potential to be a force for God’s vision for humanity: one of a peace. The work of your Evangelical organizations have undoubtedly caused incredible harm to LGBT people across the country and the world. But we need only look to the Book of Acts to see how a Pharisee named Saul traveled from city to city persecuting the early Church. He stood and watched as a man named Stephen was stoned to death. But then, one day on the road to Damascus, Christ appeared to him in a vision and struck him blind. Arriving in Damascus, he was healed, accepted Christ, and became the most influential evangelist in the history of Christianity. How similar is your own situation!

 

Having worked for so long to oppress LGBT people, Christian and non-Christian alike, now is your chance to come out, ask for forgiveness, and use your unique connection to national evangelical circles to be a powerful voice for change.

 

Please listen as voices from Soulforce share with you the message that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in no impedes one’s ability to be a Christian. Almost all of us who identify as LGBT and Christian have struggled to overcome what we thought were irreconcilable contradictions in these identities. But having overcome these misconceptions, we have entered into a phase of our lives when we are closer to God and to ourselves than we could have ever imagined while in the closet. It is not an easy journey out, but do not worry – you have Christ at your side every step of the way!

 

Yours in Christ,

 

John G.

 

Comments

[Andrew Strong]

Not to be inflammatory, but the first thought I had when viewing your comparison of Paul's enlightenment to the biblically SINFUL (if you are so backward to actually believe that the Bible is true as it was written, not as some have chosen to interpret it through culture today) activities of Mr. Haggard was, "blasphemy." His sin is inexcusable, and aside from God's permeating grace that he extends to all (without finding fault, James 1) he would be destined for hell.
I pray for wisdom and guidance in these matters, yet cannot see how one would hold onto the significance of the Bible, while deriding every significant author that was inspired by God to pen the words that guide our lives. I do wonder, however, how one could justify such a lifestyle.
If you do choose to reply, please do not misuse the Bible by quoting it in support of your position.

[John G.]

Andrew,

Actually, your comment lacks a coherent idea, at least that I can see. Unless you make a point, I can't really respond.

[zeppo]

What people need to consider with Mr. Haggard's personal struggle is that maybe he really believes what he preaches and that he struggling to be true to his beliefs. We cannot assume that Mr. Haggard really wants to give in to homosexual urges but is maintaining a facade because he wants to run a church.

[John G.]

I have no doubt that Mr. Haggard truly and deeply believes that homosexuality is sin. Not only do I try to always recognize the sincerity of the faith of others, no matter how much I personally disagree, I think that Haggard's behavior, ie going to "reparative" therapy, moving to Idaho with his wife, etc., prove that he is truly committed to his homophobic beliefs.

Thats not to say that strong statements of welcome and receptiveness from the queer religious community might not influence Mr. Haggard as he meditates on his entire experience in this "scandal" and his life experience dealing with homosexual desires.

[Mal]

John, you may be interested in the story of Anthony Venn-Brown, who was an Assemblies of God minister here in Sydney and has been involved with some of our pentecostal mega-churches. His website is http://www.anthonyvennbrown.com/
He also started an online group for gay pentecostal and charismatic Christians which can be found at www.freedom2b.org

This year that group will have a float in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, and straight members and even bible college students of one of the largest of our megachurches will be marching with them!

[Rick]

John,

I couldn't agree with you more. I was appalled at some of the reactions of the gay community when Ted Haggard’s actions were outed.

My first thought was "What an incredible opportunity for GLTB Christians." However, I think deep down I knew that he would choose the path of being right in the eyes of mainstream Christianity rather than being right in the eyes of God.

Oh, I know... someone's going to flame me for presuming what's right in God's eyes. But isn't our commission to spread the Good News to everyone? Ted Haggard's refusal to accept who he is doesn't do anything to spread the Good News. All it does is continue to spread the lie, thereby condemning many to an eternity without God simply because they will never accept a God who will not accept them.

How sad that Ted Haggard has chosen the cure instead of the healing.

[Julie]

I have been reading this blog for well over a year. I love it. Thank you so much for all the thoughtful views articulated here.

[John G.]

Mal, thanks for the info, espcially the links! Its great to have some resources for gay pentacostals and charismatics to spread around!

Julie and Rick, thanks so much for your supportive comments!

[mikhail]

why are christians so obsessed with other peoples sexuality..so obsessed with sex, gender and genitals...really, don’t they worry about real stuff , like poverty, famine, environmental degradation, war and pestilence, the rich gettting richer and the poor getting more destitute.

Why do they get so obessed with homosexuals, claiming it is a threat to the family ..HOW? if your husband runs off with the hussy next door, how can it be the fault of gays/lesbians? How can gays/lesbians be responsible for 50% divorce rate ( incidentally highest divorce are in the bible belt ha ha ).

If your son does drug and your daughter gets laid while on booze - how is that the fault of gays/lesbians. Christians historically sought out scape-goats..they used to blame Jews, then blacks, then gypsies , then women and now since it is no longer fashionable to blame jews or blacks etc, they have to pick on vulnerable minorities like gays and lesbians.

Hitler did not kill 6 million jews in a vacuum. Centuries of marginalization and denigration and demonizing of jews as Jesus killer enable common german citizens to exercise false moral authority in killing jews. In like fashion centuries of demonizing and denigration of homosexuals embolden wicked and otherwise morally bankrupt ‘straight’ bigots to descrimiaate and do violence to gay and lesbian and other sexual minorities .

Furthermore picking on a scape-goat makes christians feel superior and ‘saved’. Denigrating others is easier than exercising love,charity and compassion which is actually the most basic teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Sadly Christians hardly practise the most important commandemt of Jesus ie. Love God then immediately love your neighbour as yourself ( be he/she gay or staight).

It is AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS WHEN THEY IN FACT DO NOT PRACTISE THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMANDMENT OF JESUS !!! THEY WOULD RATHER BE HYPOCRITES AND BE LIKE THE PHARASEES OF OLD DUUUH !

mikhail - a child of the Universe

[mikhail]

Evangelicals and christians in general tend to be so obsessed with sex, gender and genitals to the point that you would think that morality = sex and nothing more. Why I suppose in an evangelical’s mind a heterosexual drug dealer is ‘morally’ superior to a gay philanthropist. Christians in general are guilty of being self righteous and are constantly pretending to ‘love the sinner but hate the sin ‘ as if they can really do that -hah.!!!

May I remind them that the oft repeated mantra of the modern pharasees ‘ love the sinner but not the sin’ is not a quote from Jesus , but a glib semantic invention of some self righteous baptist minister.

Careful scholars of biblical texts who are familiar with the intricacies of ancient oriental languages are wont to not read their bias into isolated quotations.

Jesus had no problems with gays ( natural eunuchs born of the mother’s womb). If you are anti-gay or condemnatory of gay people than you are out of sync with Jesus.

This is what Jesus said:

KJV Matthew 19:12
12. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

No less an authority than Jesus said it is o.k. to be gay, and for you to accept it. Who do you wish to follow - Jesus (of Nazareth) or Jerry (Falwell).

For more detail discussion of this biblical position on the acceptance of gay people by no less an authority than JESUS - THE SON OF GOD , I refer you to this link :

http://www.hiddenmeanings.com/gaysJesus2.htm

Mikhail - a child of the intelligent Universe