Why Are the Mighty Men Falling?

Unless you have been living in a cave for the past week you are well aware that The Rev. Mr. Ted Haggard, Pastor of a huge "Mega-Church" of 14,000 persons in Colorado Springs has been outed as a closet homosexual and meth drug user.

Why has this gotten so much national and even international press? Are the media moguls really that interested in Christianity and the tragedy of a leader caught with his pants down? Why have all the broadcast news people blasted this bad news all over the airwaves?

The media are normally interested in those cases when politics are involved. Mr. Haggard is also involved in politics. He was head of the National Association of Evangelicals and worked closely with Dr. Dobson and other conservatives to promote a bill barring homosexual marriages in Colorado.

Can anything be more inflammatory and more helpful to the political left's attempt to stopping the bill dead in its tracks than a scandal involving the Pentecostal Minister heading the effort? This is what happens when Christians forget about ministry and evangelism to become politicians. It is always important for Christians to be good citizens who vote for good people and good laws, but we must be careful not to "Sell our birthright for a mess of political pottage..."

My heart goes out to Mr. Haggard, his family and his congregation. I am praying that he will get the support and healing he needs to escape the bondage of his compulsions.

Yes, compulsions. Adultery or drug use are not always compulsive but in this and other similar cases they are. What other explanation can we give for a smart, famous man taking such risks just before a hotly contested election? Could he be that stupid? No, he is compulsive; out of control; driven;hiding; in deep pain.

Let us pray for Mr. Haggard to have the resources and time needed to receive the healing and release of the inner pain that brought this destruction and devastation.

I pray that he will not react like Jimmy Swaggart and go to some equally famous preacher for a "Deliverance". The desire for a "Quick Fix" got him into this mess and another one will not get him healed.

I pray for Mrs. Haggard. She will need a lot of support, compassion and love. Where will she receive it? Where are the wise counselors who can look beyond the sin and see the needs?

We need more healing places where leaders can go for extended time to get the rest, love and Soaking Prayer they so desperately need.