I'm really sad for Ted H. and his family...

I find myself feeling really sad for Ted Haggard and his family. To be guilty of this sin or to be innocent and accused of this sin will reap similiar results in the church. His ministry is over in all likelihood. He and his family are devastated.

I'm sad because in the Christian community we categorize sin and act like some outward sins are worse than those private sins we all have and struggle with. Are their categories for sin, some small and acceptable and others so large we condemn? Isn't all sin a sin and all sins on the same level? Can all people be forgiven and all people be able to be restored like the rest of us?

I really don't want to say anthing in judgement- even if Ted Haggard is guilty of these things -because we all are guilty of things.

We must not throw Ted and his family away. We must not throw him into the unpardonable sin barrell. We must not act like the world acts. We must not act like the church acts. We need to treat Ted H and all others who sin privately and publicly the way Jesus does. If the world wants to bring condemnation let them. But let's not let the world see the church community throwing stones and hurling words Jesus would never hurl. God's heart breaks when we all sin when we sin. And we do!

This is a moment in time when we in the Christian community can show the world who Jesus is. We have no right to condemn or judge or criticize or include Ted H in a sermon or Sunday school class as a bad example. Who do we think we are? Exempt from sin? Without sin? Not in need of forgiveness?

Imagine a church - standing with Ted H. - and before cameras in a news conference. We look directly into his eyes with compassion and love. "Ted we all have fallen into sin -we have all been in need of Jesus. We embrace you and your family and forgive you and refused to throw stones and hurl accusations at you. Because we are Christ followers we are silent before you and your accusers. Because we are Christ followers we live to do what Jesus does -we will never stop loving you and we will never look down on you or treat you differently. Because we all have sin in our lives -we have nothing to say and no one in the world is qualified (not even us) none are so pure that they have anything to say. We stand behind you -our brother and we will love you and help you to rise above this in retoration and healing from Jesus and all of us. We do this because this is what Jesus would do.

I don't know how Ted H. can keep living - He and his family have more pain than most of us will experience in a lifetime. He would have less pain if he cut his own head off.

Picture Jesus standing before Ted H. What do you see happening and what do you see Jesus doing as he looks Ted H. in the eye (guilty or not)? Will you join with me in trying to do what we know Jesus is doing?

Let's show the world who Jesus really is!