Ted Haggard, who was banished from his church in 2006 after a gay sex scandal, is back in his home town today announcing the start of a new church. Haggard made the announcement Wednesday during a news conference at his home with his wife and three sons standing with him three weeks after filing incorporation papers for a new church named St. James Church.

During the news conference, Haggard didn’t directly address the 2006 scandal, but said he had been broken and his church would be a place for broken people. He said his church would espouse that marriage should be between a man and a woman, but that he would stay out of public policy discussions. Haggard said that experience has made him more sympathetic to others and said he now feels better qualified to counsel people. Some may disagree, but I’m ok with the idea of Ted Haggard beginning a new ministry.

Some may disagree, but I’m ok with the idea of Ted Haggard beginning a new ministry.

Restoration was the end goal, wasn’t it? Haggard seemed to fail the restoration process he was to submit to under the leadership of pastors Tommy Barnett and others. He seemed to go off into a world of obscurity where no one really knew what he was doing. Yet, although ‘plan A’ of the restoration process seemed to be unsuccessful, it seems Ted Haggard did not run from the gospel but to it.

He has not renounced his Christian faith. He has not ignored the magnitude of his sin. He has not to my knowledge claimed that what he was involved in was not sin. My impression, though just an impression, is that Ted Haggard has run to the truth rather than away from truth in the wake of this scandal. He and Gayle were also able to salvage their marriage when others would have probably caved in. In my eyes that is what should be commended.

Will people trust him again? Maybe. He probably won’t experience the kind of popularity he did while pastoring New Life, but I think people will give him a second chance at their trust. His past may even give him a more keen edge to minister to people who are struggling with their sexuality.

As to whether or not he has the moral authority to preach, I believe he does, as long as he has applied the truth of the gospel afresh to his own heart and once again places himself under some kind of accountability to others.

The whole message of the gospel embraces the restoration of those who have sinned, fallen, and been broken to pieces. The gospels give us several accounts of Jesus forgiving people and then setting them on their way with a testimony. The body of Christ should be able to accept the restoration of those who have fallen, been broken, repented, and have now been restored.

The recent developments concerning evangelist Benny Hinn and his wife Suzanne has got me thinking. My earlier post concerning this situation called for a bit of honesty from Hinn. I am truly praying that God would restore his marriage and that this situation would end happily, but I’m not too sure that will take place.

Benny Hinn released a statement on Thursday concerning the situation. I thought it was somewhat honest, providing that it’s not being spun in his favor. But something about his statement concerned me, and that was the portion in which he explained that he would not be taking a break from his crusades amidst this crisis.

I want you, as my partner in this ministry, to know that I am going to continue preaching the Gospel and praying for the sick as I have for 36 years. I will not allow anything to slow me down or stop me. – Benny Hinn

My concern is simply this; how can you work on your marriage while continuing a grueling ministry schedule? How can someone continue ministry while ignoring a major crisis going on between them and their spouse?

I’m not calling for Benny Hinn to quit the ministry. I hope that when this situation is properly handled and hearts are strong again he will go back to being Benny Hinn. But why not go through this process with the utmost availability to your children and your spouse? Does the world really need Hinn more than his sons and daughters need him right now?

Frankly, I’m not buying the idea that ministry comes before spouse. The marriage covenant binds two people together, making them one person (Mark 10:6-8). If there is a call to do something for Jesus it also involves the person you committed your life to in holy matrimony. Because the two shall become one. It is simply not ok to deem your ministry as more important than your spouse.

Consider what the married Apostle Peter said about marital discord being a hindrance to prayer.

“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” (1 Peter 3:7)

He literally meant that when you and your spouse deal with each other in disrespect or discord your prayers are indeed hindered. Prayers are stopped up or blocked by hard-hearted stubbornness.

The ministry of a man or woman to their spouse will always be their primary ministry. I’m going to argue that there is no significant ministry that can take place in your life while you ignore or simply blame your spouse for failure. Healing must take place for the stamp of God’s approval to be placed on the heart of a minister of the gospel.

Again, I’m not bashing Benny Hinn or calling for him to quit the ministry. There probably is significant loss that would take place if he stepped down for any period of time. But am I wrong to think that trying to stay married is worth the break? Maybe even a loss of monetary gains?

Can anybody really expect to be used mightily for God while ignoring or neglecting their spouse? From my perspective, absolutely not.

Earlier this evening, USA Today reported that Suzanne Hinn, wife of Evangelist Benny Hinn, has filed papers for divorce with the Orange County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note that the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.

I felt the importance of writing about this situation, given the many people that I personally know who have experienced Hinn’s ministry. Benny Hinn is one of the best known ministers in pentecostal camps today. His ministry has been far reaching, with miracle crusades spanning all over the world.

I feel its important that we draw our attention to this situation not to mock or gossip, but to observe and pray. First, we ought to pray. No one knows the whole story; it’s always best to pray before casting judgment. Obviously, this is terrible news given the amount of influence Benny Hinn has had on many in the body of Christ. No matter how big, great, lofty, powerful, or anointed a ministry may seem or be, the minister’s marriage commitment is important. Which is why we ought to do one more thing, and that is to observe.

As Christians, we ought to observe this situation, reminding ourselves that no one is exempt. We all need to remember that if a man can’t manage his own household, it is far fetched that he can rightly manage God’s church (1 Tim. 3:5). No one is exempt; when our priorities are wrong, it doesn’t matter who we think we are, our sin will find us out.

Though his ministry has not been without controversy, I have always appreciated the ministry of Benny Hinn. I understand that J. Lee Grady reported on his twitter account that Benny Hinn has indeed requested prayer.

My concern here is with Benny Hinn’s honesty. What will he do with this situation? Will he ignore it by acting as if a failed marriage is not important? Will he continue on doing miracle crusades week after week? Recently, in charismatic movements, we’ve had quite a few prominent ministers divorce and continue on ministering as if nothing happened at all. They disrespected God’s church and trampled on the anointing.

Will Benny Hinn do the same?

I hope for the sake of his integrity and his ministry that he is honest about this situation. I hope that he is open to admitting his mistakes in marriage so they can be used as a point of teaching to all other ministers who are longing to be used by God. I hope we will see him step down for a season; honestly confronting the issue. Is that to much to ask? Is it too much to ask that a preacher of the gospel show remorse over failing to honor his promise to God?

For those ministers who have fallen and then tried to assume that God needed them more than they needed Him, I’ve unfortunately lost respect. But if Benny Hinn, though understandably difficult, meets this situation with open spirited honesty and remorse, for him I believe I would gain respect. Why? Because we need so desperately a dose of honesty in the church, and especially in the charismatic movement.

What do you think about Gayle Haggard?

It’s been a little over 3 years since Gayle’s husband, evangelical leader Ted Haggard, admitted to “sexual immorality”, a confession he made after a Denver male escort claimed he and Haggard had a three-year sexual relationship.

Gayle and her husband went through the most gut wrenching, humbling, and public failures in ministry that we’ve seen in decades. They lost their church, their home, and immediately lost their prominence as the face of evangelicalism. The details of their descent to rock bottom were pictured in the HBO documentary “The Trials of Ted Haggard”, directed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, Alexandra Pelosi.

I remember watching the documentary and thinking to myself, “Did it have to be this hard?” I understand the implications and why he was not to be allowed to immediately go back to New Life, but did this excommunication really have to be permanent?

Did the Haggard’s really deserve to be booted from their home and have to move to a place where they could for the health of the church somehow disappear?

Regardless of the church’s or Haggard’s rights or wrongs I have noticed Gayle Haggard. Although Ted Haggard disappeared from the spot light, it seems that Gayle Haggard appeared. Everyone wanted to see how she and her children would handle this whirlwind of disaster.

I personally think Gayle Haggard has taken the hard, hard road. No option would have been a good one following her husband’s fall, but instead of jumping ship, changing her name, and bailing town, Gayle did something most would find insane – - she stayed.

It’s the title of her new book, “Why I Stayed: The Choices I Made In My Darkest Hour”, which talks about her decision early on in the scandal to stand with her husband.

She said in her interview with Today Show host Meredith Vieira, “I knew I was going to have to make the choice early on . . . and I chose early on that I really do love this man and I’m willing to fight with him for our marriage, and for our family, and everything that I cared about… our church even.”

What do you think about Gayle Haggard?

I think she’s either insane or she is one of the greatest examples we have of the Christian life. In spite of the damage done by Ted’s wrong, Gayle has certainly modeled unconditional love for her husband. She could’ve left him, she could’ve broken down and cursed him in front of the church and the nation. She could’ve gone on a war against cheating husbands, using her influence to weed out other cheaters in today’s society.

But instead she stayed; she stayed with him all the way to rock bottom, to the desert and back. Today, 3 years later, Gayle Haggard has made up her mind that for her husband and her family… it was all worth it.

]]> http://thebainjournal.com/why-she-stayed/feed 0 http://thebainjournal.com/the-leaven-of-the-nicolaitans http://thebainjournal.com/the-leaven-of-the-nicolaitans#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:06:01 +0000 Roger Bain http://thebainjournal.com/?p=2063

In Revelation chapter 2 the Apostle John writes to the seven churches in Asia Minor concerning the revelation of Jesus Christ. When addressing the church in Pergamum his message was firm; he rebuked them for their embrace of the false teachings of the Nicolaitans.

“Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” (Revelation 2:15, 16)

The teachings of the Nicolaitans, an obscure sect, taught that in order to enjoy the acceptance of Roman society, the followers of Christ must compromise and adapt to their pagan communities. The Nicolaitans campaigned accommodation to pagan society by eating food sacrificed to idols and by engaging in sexual immorality.¹

The city of Pergamum itself was a famous political city; filled with idolatry and the pursuit of political power. In as early as 29 B.C., it became the site of the first temple for Roman emperial worship, which erected a temple in honor of Augustus Caesar.²

For Christians in Pergamum, the constant temptation was to compromise their Christian beliefs for social and political acceptance. Christians refusing to adapt to pagan society were exposed to harsh ridicule and rejection. This rejection from society set the table for the teachings of the Nicolaitans, a teaching which was the sort of leaven which could destroy the Christian community. Like Balaam (Num. 25:1-3) in the Old Testament, Jesus warned that the Nicolaitans were influencing the church to indulge in practices which were contrary to the flourishing of their Christian faith.

If the church at Pergamum would not repent, they stood in danger of trading in their Christian character and faith for a seat with Satan on his throne of temporal political power (Rev. 2:13-16).

Compromising for Acceptance

Like those in the ancient church of Pergamum, we’ve all at times played the game of compromise in order to enjoy acceptance or approval. We live in an increasingly secular nation, and the glaring temptation for the church today is to compromise our own Christian beliefs in order to enjoy the temporal pleasures of social and political gain.

Compromise in the context of Christian beliefs is more than just making a decision to avoid conflict; it is a decision to choose immediate pleasure over the eternal pleasures offered by our Lord Jesus Christ.

The root of compromise is in our lack of belief in who Christ proclaimed Himself to be. We compromise when we have no idea the eternal treasure we forfeit in an effort to be liked an approved. What Jesus promised the overcomers in the church at Pergamum can still be a source of encouragement for us today when faced with the temptation to compromise.

The Rewards of Uncompromising Faith

Jesus promised those in Pergamum who would overcome, a portion of the hidden manna (Rev. 2:17). Hidden manna represented the supernatural sustenance provided by God. Jesus himself is the true bread of God; the only one who can offer true acceptance and eternal life. For those who crave acceptance, Jesus offered them the supreme level of acceptance; acceptance which was the invitation into His glorious Kingdom forever and ever.

To those who would overcome, Jesus also promised a white stone; a white stone which would have a new name from God written on it. A white stone in ancient Pergamum was commonly used as admission to the great banquets and festivals of the city. The white stone is an equivalent to an invitation into all of the presidential gatherings of Washington in our day. A new name would be on that stone which was a new name or identity given to them by the creator God Himself; giving them the full right to all things in His Kingdom.

As believers we must be so diligent in keeping ourselves pure of opposing gods, idols, people, and things which take a precedence over our worship of the living God. We need the Holy Spirit to help us stand guard against the leaven of the Nicolaitans, a doctrine of compromise which still exists today. Let’s reject the advice of those who will invite us to succumb rather than have courage in standing for our faith in Jesus Christ.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2: 17)

The Harvard Business IdeaCast some weeks ago took up an interesting topic, it was a conversation on how to lead clever people. By “clever people” they didn’t mean intellectually elite, but rather creative individuals who can add a great deal of value to an organization, yet they cannot be tamed (told what to do).

Gareth Jones, coauthor of the book, “Clever: Leading Your Smartest, Most Creative People” said during the interview, “Some of your greatest leaders will say they don’t want to be leaders and they will also say they don’t want to be lead.”

Superiors can often tell people what to do and without questions or remarks subordinates carry out the task. While subordination is needed in any organization, the problem is that often people who simply carry out tasks don’t add as much value as anticipated. In other words, they are so comfortable with following that they don’t press the organization to reach new horizons.

Pastors want people to add value to their ministries, but the problem is that they often want them to do it THEIR WAY. They desire to have the people they work with do things the exact way that they would do it. But the reality is that quality leaders will lead in their own skin.

With the trust of their superiors, strategic parameters, and goals these “clever” leaders can achieve the heights of their potential.

This Harvard Business IdeaCast, though speaking of methods from the business world, I think gave some sound advice senior pastors could use in getting their most creative and ‘clever’ leaders to add value and find a place of significance.

How To Lead Clever People:

* Do explain things and persuade them, but don’t tell them what to do — clever people don’t take a leader’s word at face value; they need to understand why they’re being asked to do something.

* Do tell them what to do but don’t tell them how to do it — clever people enjoy figuring out how to do things and will almost always rise to the challenge.

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus calls His disciples to a mountainside for instruction. “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach (Mark 3:14)

Mark’s gospel explains that when people heard of all that Jesus was doing, the people came to Him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.  The crowds were drawn to all the miraculous signs which Jesus had performed.  Israel’s Messiah had come and the mighty works that He was doing proved that very fact.

But Jesus was interested in imparting something into those He had chosen to be with Him.  Just as Moses had chosen twelve men from every tribe to be with him, Jesus was calling twelve men to be His own apostles.  “Sent ones” or “emissaries,” explains their job title, they were called to preach and to have authority.  And with the crowds following closely, the mountain side provided a place where He could be alone with His disciples.

His call to them in Mark 3:14 was two-fold; (1) they were called to be with Him, (2) and because of their proximity to him, they would be sent out to preach and to have authority to drive out demonic forces.  They were called to Him, a place of intimate relationship and their relationship with Jesus was the credential, the source of authority, to drive out demons and to preach the gospel.

They had been called to Him first and their spiritual authority was dependent on their relationship to Jesus.  All ministry flows out of the inner fountain inside of us which is maintained by God.  It’s the living waters which Jesus spoke about that quenches the thirst of our parched world.  Any attempt to quench spiritual thirst without this living water is futile.

They had been called to Him first and their spiritual authority was dependent on their relationship to Jesus.

Ministry is the distribution of Christ’s living water as we partake of it ourselves.  The disciples were commanded to give freely, as they had freely received.  In the eyes of God our success in His work is not based on how much we are doing; but by whose power we are doing it.  The truth is that whatever we are doing without the presence of the Holy Spirit is simply busy work.

No matter what we feel like we’ve done for God, without Him in the mix we’ve played a religious game. A game which, after its played, leaves us exhausted and empty, wondering where the zeal for God’s ministry has gone.

Ministry in the western world has become increasingly focused on “doing.” And rightly so, we can’t truly do God’s work while we hide out in our churches oblivious to the needs of our communities and the world around us. But we must remember that this is God’s work and without Him we create a weird niche, a weird niche where we pretend to be able to heal and bind up the broken hearted on our own.

Jesus was not merely an example. He is the driving force of the life of every believer. He is not just an example of strength, He is OUR strength. He is the power we need in our lives to do what He has called us to do. Through Him we can have an affect on our communities and our world. Through Him we gain access to authority; authority to do the work of Him who has sent us.

I appeal to you to look to Him for your vitality and strength. He is willing to fill your heart with His purposes and plan, we must only be willing. Willing to access authority and strength from Him in all circumstances. To Him be all authority and power in Heaven and on Earth.

I’m extremely thankful for the life led and the faith expressed in the man who brought spirit-filled charismatic ministry to the mainstream and took his tent revivals to television.

In 1935, Roberts fell stricken with tuberculosis, a highly contagious bacterium. Roberts was bedridden, living on raw eggs and milk. His family brought him to a tent revival preached by the evangelist George W. Moncey. On the way to the revival, Oral had what he called his first personal encounter with God.

Clearly, distinctly, and unmistakably, God spoke to Roberts, “Son, I am going to heal you, and you are to take My healing power to your generation.” Roberts survived his brush with TB.

God spoke to Roberts, “Son, I am going to heal you, and you are to take My healing power to your generation.”

Oral married Evelyn Lutman in 1938; they would have four children, 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. She died in 2005. During the 1940s Roberts traveled broadly and published books. He also studied at Oklahoma Baptist and Phillips Universities.

Roberts resigned his pastorate in 1947 and purchased his own tent one year later. It began a ministry that would eventually include more than 300 crusades on 6 continents.

Oral Roberts University received its charter in 1963 and accepted students beginning in 1965. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools granted it full accreditation in 1971. By 2007 the campus had expanded to 22 major buildings, a retirement complex, and University Village.

How many people have been affected by this man? Innumerable. I’m thankful that he answered the call to ministry amidst trials, scandals, persecution, and mockery; he indeed answered the call to launch out into the deep. His legacy will not soon be forgotten.

All of us have become angry at times.  We all have faced situations in our life that have evoked one of the deepest emotional reactions that human beings can emit – Anger.  But does God get angry?  Does God ever get so fed up with people doing the wrong thing that He bursts into fits of rage?

Romans 1:18 says that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. This simply means that God’s anger is for the purpose of revealing the truth, and when the truth is suppressed he’s not happy.

But we should understand that God’s Wrath does not hold the same connotation as the modern concept of wrath which is uncontrolled anger.  But rather, we should understand God’s wrath as justice being served.  His anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst produced when we do something wrong.  God’s wrath is better understood as divine justice.

People often equate man’s actions with God’s actions.  Man’s wrath is uncontrolled emotional and physical violence toward a person in which we have perceived to have done wrong to us.  We often equate our human experiences with angry people to what God must feel toward us when we feel we haven’t amounted to His standards.  Some of us approach our Christian life this way, like a bad on and off relationship.  We hide from God rather than running to God when we have fallen short.

God’s wrath is better defined as a settled and necessary reaction of a holy God to sin of any kind.

Only a holy God has the right to judge unrighteousness.  If God does not judge sin than He is the one who does not act justly.  He informs us of what is wrong in our actions, thoughts, and emotions through his word.  He reveals His attitude toward sin in order to reveal His plan of salvation to us.

God tells us what He must do in light of sin in order to tell us what we must do to receive His righteousness.  He reveals His judgment in order to show us His mercy.  The scripture states in Romans 3:22 that we are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.

It’s this truth that is the heart of the gospel, that God has to judge the sins of the world, yet He has provided a rescue plan.  It is His kindness not His wrath that He wants to show you in order to lead you to repentance.  God gave the life of His own Son as a substitute for us that we could have eternal life and fellowship with Him.  This is the truth that makes all the difference, He’s not mad; He’s presenting His ultimate plan to give us life.

This week I attended the Find Conference at Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. The conference was hosted by ARC (Association of Related Churches) in the effort to bring several of the major church planting organizations together for one conference. Involved in the conference were ARC, the Church Multiplication Network, Stadia, Acts 29, and NewThing.

On the first night of the conference Pastor Chris Hodges (ARC) speaks of his experience in church planting. He asks the question, “Have you won the war in the Spiritual?”

Jon Ferguson (NewThing) speaks about reproducing churches and the NewThing network.

Billy Hornsby (ARC) speaks of the characteristics of the Biblical Church. The Biblical church wins souls, disciple’s people, worships, and fellowships.

Scott Thomas director of Acts 29 speaks about discerning the heart of a leader and prospective church planter.