For many of us evangelicals, who have watched smugly for decades with folded arms as gay-rights theologians and feminists forced the main-line denominations into apostasy and schism, the fall of Ted Haggard is a wake-up call. At least this missionary hopes it will be seen as such.
Too often, since the so-called ''sexual revolution'' began in the 1960s, we have allowed the accuser of the brethren to use this issue to distract us, and silence our witness and faithfulness to Christ and the Gospel.
I'm sure that some readers wonder how I see a connection between overseas missions and the spread of heresy in the American and European churches. It's a big one. As older denominations have found out, churches who allow themselves to be compromised and divided over immoral behavior almost immediately cease to have any missionary zeal.
In fact, in mainline churches that embraced non-biblical family and gender values, all evangelism and church growth has died – not just missionary outreach. Sin brings death to churches, missions and individuals.
Now the revelations about Ted's sin will put this issue squarely center-stage for evangelicals whose teachers have all too often followed the theological fads and fancies of the older, mainline churches. Will a choice for God be made, or will evangelicals continue to surrender to secular culture as have the mainline churches?
Ted Haggard was ''outed'' by a homosexual prostitute only days before a critical election to defend the biblical-defined family in Colorado. The gay activist who exposed Rev. Haggard admits that he hoped that by revealing evangelical hypocrisy, he would sway the election against Christian values.
That our dear brother Haggard quickly and openly admitted his sin is a good start.
Pastorally, we all need to pray for him and for ourselves as we respond. Not only is his church, family, and the National Association of Evangelicals shamed on the eve of critical elections – but evangelicals must now respond correctly and with love to this public admission of lifelong, homosexual sin from one of our most trusted leaders.
''The fact is,'' said Rev. Haggard in an Associated Press interview, ''I am guilty of sexual immorality. And I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar. There's a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all my adult life.''
Our response to this confession must accomplish six objectives: (1) It must involve loving but effective discipline that preserves privacy for Ted and his family; (2) It must facilitate and demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver him from years of life-controlling sexual addiction; (3) It must preserve the integrity and the purity of the Christian ministry; (4) It must demonstrate a renewed commitment to holiness because all apostolic service depends on holiness; (5) It must not be allowed to distract or divide us from the central work of the Gospel; (6) It must ultimately result in Ted's reconciliation with the rest of the Body of Christ.
Bill Bray has been a missionary news correspondent for over 40 years working on assignment in 65 countries for many mission agencies and publications including the American Broadcasting Company, Christian Life, Christianity Today, Newsweek, and Reuters. He is a frequent contributor to Assist News and has authored or co-authored 11 books on Christian mission subjects. He can be reached at [email protected]