Sightings 11/30/06

Ted Haggard's "Sin" -- Jon Pahl

Now that some of the dust has settled from the unfortunate fall of
evangelical leader Ted Haggard -- who has confessed to being a "sinner" to
his congregation -- we can achieve some longer-range perspective on what it
all means.

I agree with Martin Marty that Rev. Haggard, along with his family and all
those involved in this scandal, deserves compassion, and one wishes him
peace (see "Considering Ted Haggard's Plight," Sightings, November 6). But
Haggard's letter to his church reveals a truncated understanding of sin and
a failure to recognize how the movement he led as President of the National
Association of Evangelicals is in part responsible for his plight.

Like most evangelicals, Haggard is the theological heir of Saint Augustine,
finding sin in pride and lust. Unlike Augustine, however, Haggard sees
pride and lust as personal attributes. "I alone am responsible," he asserts
in his letter. "I created this entire situation," he reiterates. And yet a
third time he says, "It was created 100 percent by me."