It’s really important to start this off with a few caveats. I’m a complete outsider on this issue. I don’t know Ted Haggard. I don’t count myself in the number of people that were hurt by the drug and homosexual allegations and subsequent admission of guilt in 2006. I’m not speaking as an insider who knows anything about Ted’s pulpit ministry. I’ve never contributed a dime to New Life and I certainly wasn’t a part of the great work that God was doing (and is still doing) there when Ted was their leader. I visited New Life last November and saw the amazing ministry that it is. I was never there while Ted was the pastor, but when I visited I saw it to be an amazing church, full of great people with a passion for God. Knowing of the struggles the church had faced over the past 2 years, I got a real sense of strength and commitment from the staff and congregation. They are clearly committed to a man, but it was never Ted, it is Jesus. I think there are tremendous life and ministry lessons to be learned from this experience.

I watched Ted’s interview on Oprah last night. And I guess he’s doing a whole media tour promoting his HBO special. I read the excerpts from his interview with Larry King last night. I had a lot of thoughts coming out of seeing these interviews that I shared with Lish. But the most pervasive thought I have right now is how confusing Ted’s current message is. I think it’s because he’s still confused. At times I didn’t even understand what he was saying about his past or present. It just kind of reminded me of a guy who is trying to define and broaden the gray area between what is right and wrong.

So the thought that kept coming back to me was “how is this confusing message going to help anyone?” By his own admission, he isn’t through this process of healing yet. Larry King asked him if he had all the answers yet. His answer was “Not at all. And I think I’m still deeply wounded and scarred and somewhat confused. I’m going to need at least another year to get my bearings.”

So if the message isn’t clear enough yet to provide real help or hope, then why be out sharing your thoughts? I couldn’t help but worry that this isn’t about helping anyone else and that Ted might be doing this to help himself (whether it be financially, emotionally, psychologically). And in the process of bringing this back into public view, he might be hurting (or re-hurting) more people just to help himself. If so, that seems pretty narcissistic (which might be a root cause for some of his struggles).

I’m just not sure it’s time for Ted to be back in the public eye. By his own admission, another year might be the time he needs to really get his life straightened out and stabilized. Why not take the time? Honestly, there may never be a time where Haggard “deserves” or is even ready to be back in the spotlight, but with the culture we live in, I’m sure he can get the spotlight whenever he wants. Which means he still has influence and that’s the responsibility that I hope he takes very seriously. I’m sure he’s come a long way in a short time. I pray God’s best for him and for wisdom for he and his family.

p.s. – A lot of people (Christians included) are talking about how Ted hasn’t admitted explicitly to what kind of indiscretions he has committed. I’d like to suggest that those folks just use their imagination. It’s irrelevant. What bearing does that have on your ability to forgive him? If you want details on what sexual immorality looks like or need to imagine it, just keep watching HBO through the night after Ted’s show is over.