Obviously we are all too painfully aware now of the ever-unfolding circumstances of the Ted Haggard scandal and the downfall taking place. And a quick google search or scan thru the news only shows that countless people are offering their opinion on the matter. Some are using this as a platform against God, others against the church or Christians, while some seem to find themselves simply confused what to believe.

Ultimately, no matter what happens within New Life (Haggard's church) or the National Association of Evangelicals, there is something much more important to worry about or be concerned with: our own self.

The Bible tells us in so many words that what happened in the life of Ted Haggard can happen to all of us. Clearly, Romans 3 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. Romans 1 tells us that men exchange the truth of God for a lie, the glory of God for our own short-lived glory. Living by our own strength and our own economy, we are incapable of anything but sin. And if someone thinks that they are above behaviors such as those of Ted Haggard, one only needs to look at the verse that tells us that pride comes before a fall.

This may seem destructive thinking in nature, especially when much of our cultural Christian leaders rave about a prosperity gospel where we are all winners and champs and somehow deserve the love of God. But the reality is that thinking highly of ourselves only crowds out the dependence for God that we so desperately need - for it's only our weakness that we are somehow strong in Christ.

Haggard's downfall only makes so much noise because the pedestal was so high. But I must admit that even on my best days I am as capable (or incapable) as he is. The cross is for all men and for all women - for the just and the unjust - and we are all in desperate need of a God to save us. Fooling ourselves to think otherwise is to misunderstand the very essence of God's grace and mercy.

Such an event like this will be played out in differing ways by the media and the political circus to follow. But for the Christian, an event like this should force us to do some heartwork, should lead to repentance, and should encourage us to remember just how loved we all are by a God who continues to break us and mold us so that we are useful for His glory and not our own.