The Church
Here we go again.

Ted Haggard was the president of the National Association of Evangelicals and the pastor of the 14,000 member New Life Church in Colorado, Springs. Was because he resigned as pres of NAE and is on adminitative leave from his position as senior pastor at the church. Why? Because of accusations of sexual misconduct and/or soliciting drugs from a male escort, Mike Jones.
When the story first broke, Dr. Dobson quickly jumped to Haggard’s defense arguing that this was the allegation of one man that really was trying to affect the outcome of Tuesday’s election. Now, it appears that Haggard has admitted to his church overseers some of the “indiscretions” alleged by Mr. Jones. Indiscretion? Is that not a major problem with the modern evangelical church failing to call sin sin?!
Here we go again. When will the church learn that its job is ordained by Almighty God because it is the supernatural creation of God? Let me assure you I am convicted of the need for professing Christians to affect the culture. But, not by slick programs of para-church organizations know-towing with political power brokers. The purpose of the church is to proclaim the Gospel to the world, nurture and equip the saints to be faithful and obedient to their Lord and Savior and equip them to do those good works God has ordained them to do from the foundation of the world. Why do we have an NAE anyway? Is not your responsibility as a Christian to discharge the Great Commission? That is the way the culture is changed…one life at a time.
By all means Christians should participate in the political process. But, evangelicals as a whole have sought worldly political power at the expense of the only true power we have…the Gospel. As an officer of the court, I am surely not ready to convict Ted Haggard without hearing his side of the story…innocent until proven guilty. But as a Christian, I, and he, must avoid the appearance of impropriety. We live in a society that is already hostile to Christianity. They do not need proof to say: “here they go again…the hypocrites”.
Are we learning our lesson, or are we doomed to repeat our folly? Pastors make sure you vote on Tuesday but in the mean time preach the whole counsel of God as the pastor and teacher you were called to be. Then just maybe, we in the pews will become the persons we are called to be…hearers and doers of the Gospel. Did we not just celebrate the recovery of the Gospel by the church? Oh, that’s right we were too busy stumping for our favorite candidate who will make a difference for Christians in the state house or Washington. What pathetic creatures we are! I said it the other day and I will say it again….Soli Deo Gloria. Our only hope is in Him alone!