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On 02 November 2006, the Rev. Ted Haggard, senior pastor of New Life
Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado, publicly stated that he “could
not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made
on [a] Denver talk radio” program. He said, “I am voluntarily
stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed
to proceed with integrity. I hope to be able to discuss this matter more
in detail at a later date. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual
advice and guidance.” At New Life Church, Ted Haggard was under
the oversight of three pastors from the state of Colorado and one pastor
from the state of Louisiana. These four men constitute the Overseer Board.
On 03 November 2006, the national media broadcast that
Pastor Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals,
had resigned from the leadership team. Evangelicals were stunned on 04
Nov. 2006 to hear that the Overseer Board announced that they had concluded
their investigation and declared that Ted Haggard was guilty of “moral
failings.” In a written statement they said, “Our investigation
and Pastor Haggard’s public statements have proven without a doubt
that he has committed sexually immoral conduct.” The sexually immoral
conduct they referred to was homosexual activity. Since then the website
of New Life Church has removed the availability to all of his sermons
and the former music minister has been given the role of interim senior
pastor.
The Response. In response some people have
lashed out against Christians, criticizing them as hypocrites and calling
them homophobic. Others have ridiculed the Bible, claiming that the Bible
does not have anything to say against homosexuality. Unfortunately for
Ted Haggard and the 14,000 men and women who have been attending New
Life Church, these days are sad and painful. Those who attend the church
were stunned and brought to tears by the pastor’s confession of
sexual immorality.
Some in the national media have called for forgiveness
and understanding. In contrast, some support the decision of the Overseer
Board. How should we respond? Jesus did teach us to forgive, and forgive,
and forgive. That was Jesus’ message to Peter.
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (NASB) Matt. 18:21-22 For many people, that is the correct answer. Yet, there
is something more.
Types of Sins. Most people, Christians
and non-Christians, believe that sexual sins should result in a pastor,
rabbi, bishop, or priest being removed from his “spiritual ministry.” But
what does the Bible teach and are there other sins that should result
in one’s removal? If we look closely at the New Testament, we discover
that Christians were rebuked publicly for a variety of sins - not just
for sexual sin or divorce.
In Acts 5 we are told that Ananias and his wife Sapphira
had sold some land. Then Ananias came to the Apostle Peter and claimed
that he was giving all of it to the church. He ignored God’s disapproval
of lying, and consequently died. Later his wife came in and made the
same false claim. As a result, she died too! The news spread like fire;
and in Acts 5:11-12, we discover that non-Christians were afraid to join
the Christians. This is an example of sinful behavior that resulted in
the discipline of two believers. It was not a sexual sin, and the discipline
was public.
In the church at Corinth, Paul encouraged the believers
to remove a mother and her son for engaging in sexual sin (1 Cor. 5:13).
Paul’s concern was two-fold. 1) Sin that is ignored sends the message
to others that the sin is acceptable (1 Cor. 5:6-7). 2) Sin that is ignored
does not help the individual turn from his or her sin (Gal. 6:1-2). Helping
one stop is a true act of love. This was an example of sexual sin. Once
again the discipline was public.
In 2 Timothy 2:17-18 we discover that the Apostle Paul
openly rebuked Hymenaeus and Philetus for teaching false doctrine about
the future or the second coming of Jesus Christ. It is clear from the
passage that their teaching was very public. This is an example of false
teachers. As a result, they were publicly rebuked.
A very common sin is described in 3 John 9-11. The individual’s
name was Diotrephes. He was a controlling leader in a church. The Apostle
John warned in an open letter, 3 John, that if Diotrephes did not change,
he (John) would take action against him. The leader’s sin was pride,
evil words, sinful conduct, and control of others. The rebuke and warning
were public.
In reality, any Christian who exhibits any pattern of sinful
conduct and is unwilling to stop should be approached and encouraged
to stop. If he is unwilling to stop, then the principles that Jesus gave
us in Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Corinthians 2:1-11, Galatians
6:1-2 should be followed. If he repents, we have rescued a brother caught
in sin. If he refuses to stop, ultimately he may need to be removed just
as Jesus directed.
Restoration. The goal of reaching out to
any believer caught in a pattern of ongoing sin is to help him stop sinning
and then restore him. Restoration takes time, and it is not accomplished
in days, weeks, or even a few months. For some habitual patterns of sin,
it can take years.
For an elder, that is, a church leader or pastor, to be
restored to ministry, the biblical
qualifications have to be reviewed. The man needs to demonstrate
that he once again is spiritually qualified - his pattern of life is
holy. The amount of time varies with the individual. To establish a new
pattern of life requires years. Some may never be able to reenter the
ministry.
The document Recovering
The Pattern of Biblical Leadership discusses the qualifications
of church leaders and pastors.
Conclusion. The Apostle Paul taught us
in 1 Timothy 5 that even a beloved, gifted leader or a pastor in a church
should not be given special favor.
Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. (NASB) 1 Tim. 5:19-21 Pastors and leaders are supposed to be examples to the flock,
. . . I exhort the elders among you . . . be examples to the flock. (NASB) 1 Pet. 5:1-3 They are not to be an Ananias, Hymenaeus, Philetus, Diotrephes,
committing some sexual sin, or indulging in some other sin. If they are
guilty of a pattern of sin, God wants us to follow the principles
of church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18:15-20 and attempt
to restore our leaders and pastors,
as well as any believer to holiness.
. . . like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” (NASB) 1 Pet. 1:15-16 It is important to notice that the Bible clearly teaches that we have
the responsibility to evaluate the character and conduct of others but
only with objectivity, righteousness and fairness. May the Lord be
honored in our conduct.
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| Sinning Pastors: What To Do? | |||||