Posted: 11/14/06

Man-Centered Psychology & Evangelism Failed Ted Haggard as it Has Millions of Others Because It's Godless

Why Psychology can never conclude anyone is a False Convert

The whole debacle of Ted Haggard's "moral failure" points to a glaring issue columnists and pundits have only lightly touched on, if at all, and is the point that is the very heart of the Ted's fall:

Ted was not saved. He may be saved now having repented but only time will tell.

No one can repeatedly and willfully sin against God in such a depraved way for three years and be a Christian, never mind a Pastor and leader of a Christian association of Evangelicals. It goes against the very nature of being a Christian to willfully continue to sin. Unless a man is born again he is not a Christian, he will not enter Heaven, PERIOD. "Believing" is not enough; salvation requires an absolute change of mind, an absolute house cleaning must take place of all you believe and think and trust in. I remember the first weeks of my conversion with fondness as God, along with many other freeing results, corrected the very definitions of the words I had used so loosely before. Words like "success" and "love" and "abundant" and "sin." So let's be clear right off: Sin is the violation of God's Law, the Ten Commandments. If you have ever lied, stolen or lusted you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart, guilty before God and headed for Hell, which you deserve. So let's move on…

Why evangelicals are so afraid to call as "sin" what Ted has done only indicates a lack of desire for personal introspection; an absence of the Fear of Yahweh. Ted didn't have a "moral failure" as Dr. Dobson labeled this obviously rotten fruit on Ted's dead tree. No, Ted SINNED. No other definition is warranted. And not just once or twice, but over and over and over, demonstrating no fear of God, no remorse and that he did not have God's Spirit indwelling him. The Christian cannot live willfully continuing to sin – in habitual sin – his very life would come to a steady halt until he faces his evil heart. The Spirit of God will not let a Christian dodge the truth.

Ted doesn't need psychological counseling, he needs repentance. God has given Ted a wonderful gift, seeing himself clearly in the Law of God. And the Law of God is perfect, converting the soul. This is Ted Haggard's greatest hour because now he knows he is in danger of hellfire. Now Ted can be honest with himself and with God. If Ted Haggard humbles himself and admits honestly his sin he can be saved by Jesus when he trusts Christ's sacrifice to be his sin's payment, submitting to God's will for his life.

No my friends, psychology didn't help Ted because psychology is godless, does not convict, because it does not define sins, provides no way for a man to be freed of his lusts. Ted needs Jesus to be saved from Hell. Ted must surrender to Yahweh utterly in humble submission for the forgiveness of his sins, the violation of the law, not to try harder to "be good."

Ted violated the 6th commandment specifically: He had sex outside of marriage. But, no, just how many commandments did Ted violate? Ted can answer these questions for himself, and you, reader, can evaluate yourself as well, with the Law of God:

1. Do you put God FIRST in your life always? Have you ever failed to do so?

2. Did you make a god you could be comfortable in your sins with? This is idolatry.

3. Did you ever us God's name without honor; Use God's name as a four-letter filth word to express disgust; Dishonor Gods name like Ted did, as he preached acting like he knew God all the while harboring sins that demonstrate he could not be His? This is blasphemy.

4. Did you end from your own WORKS, resting in the finished work of Jesus DAILY, running to Jesus to be free of evil? If not, this is not honoring God's Sabbath Rest for you.

5. Did you ever dishonor your claimed Father in Heaven by living a lie and causing all the world to hiss at Jesus? This is dishonoring your parents. Certainly such actions would dishonor any parent.

6. Did Ted murder those who raised him, with his anger, blaming them for not raising him right, instead of knowing Ted Haggard was the only one to hold accountable for his sins? Did you ever get angry without cause? This is murder.

7. Did you commit adultery; commit fornication or homosexuality? Did you commit adultery against God for being unfaithful to Him?

8. Did you ever steal? Did Ted steal the time of all who listened to his sermons, wasting their time with LIES - for whatever you speak of as being true, that you do not believe yourself, is called a lie.

9. Did Ted lie to everyone who knew him; lie to Yahweh when he claimed to trust in Him; lie to his wife when he said he would be faithful to her? All Liars will have their place in the lake of fire.

10. And did you desire what was not yours to have? This is covetousness, or being greedy.

If any of us violate the Law of God our sentence is Hell, our just reward from a Righteous and Holy Judge. But God doesn't want Ted or you to go to Hell. God has made the way if you want to be forgiven. But Jesus is your only hope: Only Jesus Saves.

Make Psalm 51 your prayer and surrender to Jesus as Lord, believing He alone can save you, confessing all your Law violations to Him, all your sins you have committed. Then read your Bible daily and obey what you read.

But STOP LOOKING TO Psychology to help you; it will only lead you straight to Hell, if the end result is not repentance and faith in Jesus.

Patrick J Burwell

OnlyJesusSaves.com

By Patrick Burwell Click here for bio and archived articles