'God will forgive even Rev. Haggard' by Stephen Yulish

'God will forgive even Rev. Haggard' by Stephen Yulish

The following letter, provided by Dr. Stephen Yulish, was also submitted to and published by the Arizona Daily Sun. The below article, as submitted to the newspaper editor, is located at : http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2006/11/10/news/opinion/letters/20061110_letters_68.txt :

Ted Haggard admitted that he was a deceiver and a liar who had given in to his dark side (Evangelist apologizes... Arizona Daily Sun, 11/06/06). Yes, he sinned. Yes, he is a hypocrite. Yes, he has besmirched the name of Jesus and he has disgraced the Christian faith that he has so vigorously advocated. But thankfully, he is a Christian and the word of God says that if he confesses his sin, Jesus is faithful to forgive and to cleanse him of all unrighteousness. It also says that we are to forgive him if we want God to forgive us.
Make no mistake about it, there are consequences to our sins. Haggard lost the leadership of his huge Colorado New Life Church. He resigned as the head of the influential National Evangelical Association that he has served so well. He has not only shamed and humiliated his own good name, but what of his wife and children? He has caused many a youthful new believer to question his faith and many a non believer to mock his hypocrisy and therefore shun Christianity.
The Bible says that to whom much is given much is required, and while Haggard failed in this regard, we must remember that we are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God and we all are in need of a loving, and forgiving Savior.

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