Haggard Starts New Church

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Details: Written by Marcus Yoars

"I'm certainly not going to say no to people (who need help) because of my personal shame. I've got to overcome my personal shame and be willing to help somebody that knocks on our door." —Ted Haggard, speaking about his new church, St. James, which launched on Sunday in a barn next to his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., with an audience of about 160 people. Haggard, the former pastor of New Life Church who was nationally disgraced after a sex scandal more than three years ago, has been holding prayer meetings with groups since November. [news.yahoo.com, 6/2/10, denverpost.com, 6/7/10]

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Related Terms: church , prayer meetings , st. james church , ted haggard

Comments

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0 #25 Mikie 2010-06-17 05:35

Brian I am sorry that you feel like you do. I just want to say that we agree more than what it looks like from your perspective. I think there are probably more things we all agree on than what we disagree with even though it does not look like it from your perspective. After re-reading comments I think we all agree that Ted has been forgiven by God and us. What we don’t agree on is if Ted should go back to work as a pastor over people again or not. I think you heard many good arguments based on each one’s biblical standpoints. I think every comment including yours was well intended but differing on our biblical reasoning. I think if we all sat down and talked we would probably agree on most biblical foundational truths which make’s up Christianity. Bottom line Ted is going to do what Ted wants to do and still be forgiven.

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0 #24 Brian AP 2010-06-17 03:43

This is the very reason that the body suffers now. Even you CHRISTIANS can't unite when it comes to the forgiveness and restoration of one of your own! How in the HECK do you think you can help somebody on the outside??? Exactly! You CANT!!!

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0 #23 Mikie 2010-06-14 11:35

Did God forgive Ted? There is no question of Gods forgiveness for Ted not even from me. The question is should he be allowed to go back into ministry and bring more reproach on the church than he already has? I don’t see anything other than discus when I see other fallen ministers like Todd Bentley, Jimmy Swaggered, Jim Baker and the
growing list return to ministry because they could not do anything else to support them selves. Regarding David he was a King not a priest? Ted was Pastor not a King over people. Did God deal differently with Kings and priest in O.T. when they sinned? Most feel Ted should return and everyone is entitled to believe what they want. But on
judgment day we will all stand before God and our hidden motives will be shown in shame.

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0 #22 Prophetess Betty Sim 2010-06-14 07:27

I believe God can restore anyone who will turn back to Him with a truly repentant heart. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance, meaning God does not take back His gifts. Pastor Haggard has a right to follow the leading of the Lord and pursue his ministry; however I do pray that God will give him the power of the Holy Ghost to be kept from the temptation to commit sexual sins or any other sin that would bring a reproach on the church. David was guilty of murdering Uriah, Bathsheba's husband; and yet God used him to judge Israel. Let God judge Ted Haggard and let us pray for his complete restoration.

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0 #21 Benjamin C. Bell Jr. 2010-06-10 16:46

Please realize we are saints that have been saved from sin, not sinners saved by grace. One is our pre-born again status, not out current one. Remember as the Apostle Paul says as such were some of you. We were sinners now we are saints. Glory to God. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature...

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0 #20 Rev. John McDonald 2010-06-10 03:53

[Cont]
If we uphold them in prayer they will make it, and we will see them raise up something that will bring healing to those who are hurting and rejected.

I am sure if I visited his church( which I probably will do when I am in the area) I will hear a man who has been humbled by God.

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0 #19 Rev. John McDonald 2010-06-10 03:53

Quoting Mikie:

Mikie, I don't know why you think you offended me, you didn't offend me at all.
Until one understands the biblical understanding of restoration we will always try to justify our stance.

Biblical restoration, is more than about our 'spiritual' relationship with God. Restoration places us back before our 'failure',(declaring us righteous/innocent before God) it puts us back on the pathway we were on before turned onto another road, so that we can fulfill our mandate.

Yes we will have to face those who remember, that is the natural consequences of our failures, the fruit of our sowing.

As 'all things work together for God to them that love God and are called according to His purposes', what the devil meant for destruction, God will use for good. [Cont]

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0 #18 Mikie 2010-06-09 18:40

Sorry Rev. John if what I said offended you. I would like to dispute what you said again and I can, but this is not about you and me and our theology but about Ted. Bottom line I believe Ted was forgiven and restored to God and body immediately after he repented. But I don't think he should return to ministry. I think this verse in EEC 10:1 fits Ted perfectly. Dead flies putrefy [fn] the perfumer's ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; or stink [So does] a little folly to one respected for wisdom [and] honor. Why would you want some one like this to return to ministry and continue bringing shame to the name of Christ and his body?

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0 #17 Rev. John McDonald 2010-06-09 10:59

Quoting Mikie:

Regarding the prodigal son it was a picture of a sinful son coming back to a all loving forgiving father just like when I was sinner coming back to my loving father in heaven for the first time.

Actually that is not true at all, rather your understanding of the scripture comes out of the 'evangelsitic' mindset, that has taken the story out of context. Repeat something enough and people will believe it, even if its wrong.
The story comes out of Covenantal life, of the people of God, and deals with a son who has wandered away. The same is told of the one from the 99 sheep. Jesus came to minister to the lost sheep of Israel, the people of God.
All men born from Adam were NOT part of the covenantal family of God.
Restoration biblically is NOT partial restoration. It means to be FULLY restored to all God has called you for and to.

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+1 #16 Mikie 2010-06-09 10:24

Now regarding Moses, Paul, and David you forget A.G. these men were not Born again filled with the spirit believers when they killed those people. Moses and David were not spiritual leaders either when they killed at that time. Ted was a spiritual leader and in better Covent when he committed this sin. Paul was the only one who was born again like Ted but he did not kill or sin like Ted after his conversion. Paul was not highly paid nor recieved the glory that most pastors get for their services as Ted was. I don't think Ted can be compared with those great men of God.
Now I agree with you A.G Ted is forgiven by God and the body and restored back to the body and onto salvation but not restored back to ministry because of the consequnce of his sin. If a believer steals money and is are caught. He can repent and he will be forgiven if he repents but to put him back in same position that he fell from is great error!

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