Friends are Friends forever...if one doesn't turn out to be addicted to meth and homosexual massages
It appears that Christian friendship and accountability only goes so far.Whether or not he is telling the truth, James Dobson's recent statement regarding Ted Haggard is nothing but bad news.
Dobson has decided not to participate in Ted Haggard's "restoration process."
"It is with great regret -- and after much prayer and discussion with friends and family -- that I have had to reconsider my involvement in the panel overseeing Ted's restoration. Emotionally and spiritually, I wanted to be of help -- but the reality is I don't have the time to devote to such a critical responsibility. Ted and his family will be better served by someone whose energies and attention are not tugged on in quite so many directions."
If he's telling the truth he is unwilling to help a good friend and fellow Christian leader who he believes has been essential to the furthering of the Gospel because he doesn't have the time. Wow. If he's not telling the truth he has decided to not help Haggard because Dobson doesn't want to spend time with people who may or may not be at least kind of gay. In either case, I was actually sadder to hear about this than anything in the situation so far. Jimmy James is not helping me picture him as the friendly grandfather of evangelicalism here. Congratulations Dobson, I hope that your Focus on the Family image and income is left in tact now that you've distanced yourself from your friend who has hit rock bottom. I'm sure that Jesus would have bailed had he found out that one of his disciples had done drugs and fooled around with another guy...
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In other Haggard related things, I have been looking over the possible books that Haggard may have written under the influence of Meth and gay sex. The story is that Haggard first got mixed up in all of this while staying at a hotel while writing. Assuming that this is true and that it has been going on for three years, there are three books written by Pastor Ted during this time.
Foolish No More! is applying Paul's letter to the Galatians to contemporary Christians. I think John and Lisa Bevere put it best when they say, "“Honestly, who wants to be stupid…let alone foolish?" So true. Dr. Clive Calver may be feeling pretty foolish whenever he sees his blurb on Foolish No More! "Ted Haggard is one of those very rare people who can be relied upon to ‘say it like it is.’"
Second, you have From This Day Forward, the ironic book by Ted and his wife Gayle about the meaning and importance of the Christian wedding ceremony.
Finally, there is The Pursuit of the Good Life. While I originally thought this may be an allusion to ancient Greek philosophical ethics wherein sex with young men was considered one aspect of pursuing the good life, I have come to find out that in this book, "Using the tabernacle of Moses, Ted Haggard shows how God has invited us into His presence and given us a road map to becoming competent Christians."
Which parts of these books were written under the influence of meth or just before calling for a massage? It looks like we'll have to wait for Haggard's next book, Gay No More!: How I was restored from homosexual activity and drug addiction no thanks to that SOB James Dobson.
posted by Jake Sikora @ 11:53 PM
3 Comments:
can't wait for that one to come out...quite a long title you've predicted there...
but honestly, I don't blame dobson. he can't be expected to baby-sit every philandering national-level evangelical leader. he has a lot going on.
oh and thanks for putting that lame mwsmith song in my head.
I am also disappointed in this. Not because I am a big dobson fan, but because despite all kinds of differing views, usually Christians of all stripes are at least about forgiveness for thier friends. I wouldn't expect him to forgive someone he didn't know (particularly if that person were a foreigner or had a different beliefs), But the dude is your friend, your ally, your church buddy!
And its not like he is admiting it and saying that its cool for him to love meth and love men. Hell, if anything is just adding fuel to the "homosexuality is a dangerous abomination" school of theology by painting an easy tale of look what gays hath brought and destroyed! A glorious megachurch destroyed, a family torn apart, and nation on the verge of slipping in the sea! Why? Gays! Homos! Gay-rods everywhere just waiting to sink thier teeth (or something else) into your children and now your ministers too!
You should know better James, You should know better. All I'm saying now is that Chuck Colson better not ditch Haggy. You know what I mean Chuck!
at this point, I kinda wish FagHag had gotten some action. I mean, he's gotten just as much crap about all this as if he'd been screwing the guy for years. How much more ironic if he's telling the truth about his gay virginity, only to have the whole thing blow up in his face. Anyway.
I agree with Molly insofar as babysitting and philandering goes. However, reneging on a commitment to a friend, colleague, and neighbor is another thing entirely. To say I'm disappointed in Jimmy is to give him too much credit in the first place. To say it makes that little place in my heart still holding out hope for evangelical superstars a little sadder is probably closer to the mark. Hopefully Dobson doesn't have need of the aid of his peers anytime soon- he has set a rather dangerous precedent for himself.
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