What is the real sin of Ted Haggard? That he lied to his family, and engaged in an “extramarital" affair? That he lied (through omission) to his congregation and violated one of the 10 Commandments? That his affair was with a man instead of a woman? Is his sin greater that that of, say, Jimmy Swaggart? All of the above? It’s clear that there are a number of separate issues here. So, without challenging the entire code of Judeo-Christian morality, here are several perceptions. Is Ted Haggard’s sin the extramarital affair itself, in which he allowed his libido to override his solemn and sacred commitment to wife and family?
The harm that was caused by his affair goes beyond his lack of libido control. Other people were emotionally harmed by his actions, not only his family, but his congregation as well, and the resolution of that situation is between Haggard and his family, between him and his congregation, and between him and his God.
But are we really begging the question here? Is the real issue the fact that the sex was with a man instead of a woman. After all, we could say, Jimmy Swaggart violated one the 10 Commandments, but at least it was with a woman. Does that make one transgression more or less egregious than the other?
One could argue that, since homosexuality is specifically banned by Leviticus in what Christians call the Old Testament, Haggard’s sin may be more grievous than those of others.
But there are a lot of rules in Leviticus, as any student of the Torah will tell you. Leviticus prohibits the eating of pork, hare, shellfish, camels, hawks, swans, pelicans, weasels, ostrich, lizards and moles, among other things. It does, however, permit eating of grasshoppers, and presumably crickets. Emus and rheas didn’t exist, nor were they known in the Middle East when Leviticus was written (circa 600 B.C. or B.C.E., depending on your point of view).
Leviticus also says that a woman who gives birth is unclean for anywhere from a month to three months (depending on the sex of the child) Does that mean that any Christian woman who has a baby must go through a purification ritual after waiting a month or more?
There are many, many bans and transgressions named in Leviticus, entire chapters devoted to the proper cleaning of food, utensils, and people, and only one line (in Chapter 18), about homosexuality.
Interestingly, in the next chapter of Leviticus, there is another admonishment: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge for wrong done to thee by thy fellows; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; thy Lord is his."
In the New Testament, Jesus uses almost the same exact words, when the Pharisees (traditionalists), trying to trick him, asked him “What is the greatest commandment." His answer was,"Love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, they whole soul and thy whole mind." And then he added something: “And the second (most important –editor’s parenthesis) is like unto it: Love thy neighbor as thyself."
What Haggard did was wrong. There is no question about it. Married, loving, heterosexual couples will tell you this. His unfaithfulness to his wife, his children and his congregation has caused hurt, anger, and a number of other conflicting emotions.
But homosexual or lesbian couples who have loving and caring relationships, many of whom consider themselves Christian, will tell you the same thing. Not all homosexuals are libidinous, sex-crazed individuals who will have sex with anyone at the drop of a hat. Many are loyal and faithful in their relationships. Interestingly, there is no mention of homosexuality in the New Testament.
If Christians wish to follow Leviticus to the letter, then they will have to give up eating pork, clams, lobster, oysters, shrimp, crab, and a number of other delicious foods that they have become accustomed to eating.
Women will have to be considered unclean after giving birth, and when they are having a period. Live sacrifices of unblemished animals must be made. The year of jubilee must be honored, when everyone is forgiven of debts, and their land restored. Land must not be sold in perpetuity. And so it goes.
Many contend that Haggard’s real sin is one of unfaithfulness, and he owes amends and emotional restitution, and honesty to those he has harmed, i.e. his wife, his family, his congregation, and those he misled by hypocrisy. In that vein, we can also say that he owes amends to the man he had sex with.
» left by Anonymous (2 years 7 days ago.)
Your article is thoughtful but contains several common misconceptions. Most glaring is your statement about homosexuality missing from the N.T. Romans 1:27 states, "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." This is a clear prohibition against that lifestyle, yet God loves all sinners, including T. Haggard. Respond to this comment
» left by Robert Dailey(8) Robert Dailey (2 years 6 days ago.)
You are aboslutely correct, of course. Paul did write that in his letter to the Romans. I should have written "in the Gospels."
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