Question for Dobson: Can Haggard be Cured?
Posted November 8, 2006
Former National Association of Evangelicals president Ted Haggard has lost one of his three key spiritual advisers. Focus on the Family founder James Dobson won't be working to help restore Haggard -- his Colorado Springs neighbor -- to the ministry.
"Emotionally and spiritually, I wanted to be of help — but the reality is I don't have the time to devote to such a critical responsibility," Dobson said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. It's unclear what changed between Sunday (when Dobson's participation was announced) and Tuesday.
Dr. Dobson is probably the most influential psychologist in the evangelical Christian world. If I were interviewing him, I'd want to ask him two questions, based on his decades of professional experience.
1.) What is the length of time it typically takes to bring healing and restoration to someone with Rev. Haggard's psychological profile? and
2.) What is the likelihood that a percent with Rev. Haggard's inclinations can ever be successfully treated?
3.) Based on what you know, is it likely that you would ever be able to recommend that Haggard be returned to the ministry?
It will also be interesting to see if Revs. Tommy Barnett and Jack Hayford also end up bailing or if they stick around.
Archived Comments
Dobson's pulling out of the Haggard recovery team made me sad, though in the spirit of "a need is not a call (except when it is!)" we have to respect Dobson's vista on his priorities and time.
Thanks for your blog and posts.
Haggard should never be returned to a public ministry; but the kind of people he runs with will try to get him back within 2-3 years, which will be so wrong I can hardly express it.
An overseer is supposed to be, among other things, above reproach (see 1st Timothy 3). Haggard flamed out in the highest public light, over a minimum of three horrendous sins: homosexuality, involvement with hard drugs, and blatant lying. Who knows what else will come to light?
Look how far we've deteriorated since the 1980's, let alone the 1950's! A minister is caught interacting with an on-line male prostitute, and people are already wondering when/if he'll get back into the ministry. We're not scraping the bottom of the barrel here, now we're digging underneath the barrel.
God's grace was given to forgive us for falling short of God's holiness, but it's also given to enable us to live up to them once we're forgiven. David stayed in power because no one would remove him (he should have been stoned to death, but no one had the guts to do it; and God apparently decided to show mercy to him).
The contemporary evangelical church talks about "grace", but what they really mean is libertarian license. It's theology for the mental slacker -- baptize libertinism with Christian words then claim you stand for grace against all the terrible "legalists" (i.e., people who feel that the moral commandments of the NT should be followed).
"successfully treated"??
How about asking Dobson *these* questions:
Given that the American Psychological Association no longer lists homosexuality as a disorder, what exactly is Mr. Haggard to be cured of?
Has the pressure to live an impossible lifestyle (that of a gay man forced to live a straight man's life) contributed to Haggard's unhealthy relationship with a prostitute?
Given that the "cure" rate for homosexuality is at *best* 30%(*), is it not more rational to accept that homosexual desires are part of the natural human spectrum of sexuality?
Would it not be healthier for all involved if this man had therapy to help him accept himself for who he is, gay or straight?
*(that is, of those who *actively seek treatment, meaning that the already belive that there is something "wrong" with them, at best 30% remain in heterosexual relationships)
1. Jesus Christ was the Son of God.
2. Jesus Christ said that the Old Testament was divinely inspired.
3. The Old Testament said that all sex outside of marriage is immoral.
4. The Son of God cannot err.
5. Therefore homosexuality is evil.
Isn't it ironic that James Dobson all of a sudden cannot find the time to "help a brother in need?" This is about like the upper ranks of the Republicans steering clear of their fellow Republicans who took an old-fashoned butt kicking during the Nov. 7th election. And for those who get caught up in supporting these power-hungry big-shot evangelists, especially on TV, and keep sending money to them, WAKE UP!!!!!! Research the likes of TBN and all of its wonderful "send money" TV preachers, and you will be surprised. Guess what, ALL of these TV preachers ask for money OR will be "in your area in the near future" so that you can attend AND buy their books and compact discs so that they can live the life of luxury AND claim it as a tax deduction because they are in a "non profit situation."
My goodness!!!! Jimmy Swaggart has been back on TV for years now after his tear-jerking "I have sinned" speech. Guess what? Swaggart is still asking for money from those who waste time watching him on TV.
Jack,
Does that mean if homosexuals are allowed to marry they would no longer be sinners?
Great! Let's work to get all of those anti-gay marriage amendments overturned!!
These are pertinent questions to be asked, and likely won't be answered directly (I wanted to say have a "straight answer" given. My sense is that the "cure" rate is low and probably why Jim didn't have the time -- It'll be life long.
But, it's likely that they'll want to parade him out as having been reprogrammed. But as Mel White's own autobiography makes pretty clear, such cure's don't work too well.