My Time at Ted Haggard's New Life Church

Back in 1990, less than a year after I received Christ, at the invitation of a couple of fellow soldiers at Fort Carson, Colorado, I visited New Life Church in Colorado Springs - which was pastored by none other than Ted Haggard (yes, THAT Ted Haggard). Ted did nothing to me personally, but the spiritual abuse that I received there from others really stunted my growth in Christ.

If you guys think I'm making this stuff up, then perhaps I could refresh your memory on one of Ted's favorite pet phrases: "There's no goodness in the Devil, and there's no badness in God."

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[TheAdultChild101]

Missed this vid until now. I live right outside of Denver, so I hear on the local radio what he is up to frequently. I've come to the conclusion Ted will forever be more into his image than any genuine representation of Christ. In short, he runs his ministry like a spiritual MLM: Those at the 'bottom' work the most for the least and are under constant confrontation so nobody else can share in their inner circle. Nothing but bad politics and bullying. Good to hear you got out mostly unscathed.

[APSOC38]

@TheAdultChild101 Thanks for the compliment. It could have been a lot worse.

My prayer and concern is for those who were burned badly under his "ministry" to the point where they want nothing to do with Christ.

[Sweetmelody2011]

I am very critical of Ted Haggard's behavior and statements since his scandal. I do not think he is truly repentant and regenerate. However, I cannot see the point you're making. He was surprised you were leaving the church and he asked you why and somebody said you were not praising God fervently enough? That's all you have to say against New Life Church? I'm afraid that's not enough to justify the accusation that you were spiritually abused. Greetings from Germany :)

[APSOC38]

@Sweetmelody2011 Thanks for writing.

Ted did nothing to me personally. However, I believe that a lot of his "theology" had a lot to do with why I received the treatment I did from others. As it was, I did not want to drag people's name through the mud. The long of it and the short of it is that there were certain people there who played a lot of head games with me. I know who they are, and they know who they are. I hope they watched this. I really do.

[j70141]

If someone had told me I wasn't 'praising God fervently enough', I would have responded with the scripture, "God prefers obediance to worship". Then asked just how obediant they were being with such arrogance and pride.

[APSOC38]

@bejjinks I've been thinking about how to approach this the best way possible. Everyone will see the final product.

[bejjinks]

@APSOC38 I don't support Ted Haggard at all. I'm offering wisdom so that you do not fall into a snare as you rebuke him (which it is appropriate for you to rebuke him).

Ephesians 4

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.

26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

[APSOC38]

@bejjinks Did you read an article in the Christian Post about an interview that Ted gave recently? He basically said, "Tiger Woods can be restored. Why can't Christian leaders?"

I am going to make a video about that interview and post it in the coming days. Rest assured, he and anyone who supports him will not like what I have to say.

[bejjinks]

@APSOC38 Anyone can be forgiven IF THEY TRULY REPENT. The problem with Ted is that he isn't truly penitent. He's merely sorry. You're right about the trend but it's actually three trends, the legalistic trend of modern day pharisees found in the more formal Churches, the spiritualism trend found in the more charismatic Churches, and the greasy grace trend found in the more affluent Churches. All of these trends are strategies of the enemy to get us away from Jesus.

[APSOC38]

@KarensFaith Hey, Karen!

I don't know if you go to the ChristianPost website, but there's a recent article on there about Ted Haggard. He basically said that Tiger Woods can be forgiven and start over, so why not Christian leaders? I just could not believe the hubris that guy has! He even said in that press conference when he was starting a new church that he acknowledged the qualification issue. So, he has no excuses!

Theology matters...