The Right To Condemn
I vaguely remember a line from C.S. Lewis in his autobiography about only condemning sins he had never tried. I present that as the solution to the moral superiority issues in the preaching of many evangelicals. (Maybe the liberals, too. I’ll have to think about that.) It would solve the problems because those who condemn homosexuality will first have to admit that they have struggled with it and been guilty of it.

That should give Ted Haggard some new insight into his preaching. Hey, I might even listen to him if he gets honest.

But not too many are going to take advantage of that possibility- not if they have to out themselves on some sin or another.

I guess this applies to us liberals, too. I have to admit to my base materialism in the face of incredible poverty before I can talk about it publicly as a sin.

No this doesn't mean I have to be a murderer to condemn it or a bank robber to know it is sin. The question as I understand it is the issue of moral superiority that we often feel towards those who are in different positions of sin than we are. That is why stories like the one on Ted Haggard strike such a discordant note. We get the impression from a lot of people that they are better than us poor sinners. Then when they get caught, WE turn the tables and feel superior.

Mea culpa.

Lots of information continues to be presented, debated, and becomes downright silly and inane. Some seek to explain. Others seek to excuse. Others make fun and become downright trashy. It is easy to do. Just surf the web and you will find all kinds of opinions. The end result is that for many non-Christians, we Christians have just gotten another black eye and the church has been smeared. If we in the church could only begin to see that it is not in the BIG churches, the BIG egos, the BIG political power, the BIG anything that the work of Christ gets done. Where two or three gather... perhaps. When the hungry are fed and poor helped... most definitely.

I gather from some of my reading the past day that Haggard was a little more open to some non-Republican items like helping the poor and environmental concerns. Now will it be gay rights?

[And no, George Bush is no more to blame for this than Bill Clinton.]

I feel sorry for Ted Haggard (as I did for Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Baker and any others.) I feel sorry that they have put themselves into such positions of superiority that when they fall they are seen as hypocrites.

Well, as I have always known, there's always room for one more hypocrite in the church. Whether we admit it or not, that's where we are. Each and everyone of us.

An Interesting Contrast
As all this was coming down yesterday, Neil Patrick Harris, formerly Doogie Howser, MD, outed himself to People Magazine's Website. He said:

I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest.

I wonder who is sleeping more comfortably tonight?