Steven Furtick is a Pastor I respect. I dig his sermons and love his blog. He’s copped plenty of flack in the last couple of weeks for having Ted and Gayle Haggard in church this past weekend. Why? Ted Haggard was the Pastor of a large and influential church in America, until he 2.5 years ago there was a massive scandal after he was found to be visiting a male prostitute. Big fall. Big consequences.
Furtick had the Haggards in church as part of their ‘Healer’ series. I listened/watched the interview earlier today. Furtick has a number of reflections on his blog. Here’s two:
- Sin is devastating.
- Forgiveness is powerful.
Ted stuffed up big time. He doesn’t deserve the forgiveness of his wife. She’s a legend for her ability to forgive! It comes across clearly that the basis for her forgiving her husband is the forgiveness she’s received from God demonstrated at the cross of Jesus. The forgiveness that God offers to sinful people is likewise undeserved. Jesus died for us when we were ungodly, powerless, sinners and enemies of God.
that’s powerful stuff Dave – the cross of Jesus abounds in grace and it truly transforms people. where grace has truly taken root, grace abounds. couple years ago was told of a family in adelaide ch. who’s husband was lured out on call as a doctor, beaten, bound and put into the boot of a car, set on fire – for money. perpetrators found and jailed. wife visited them in prison, forgave them, ministered to them. today one of them is a Christian and at ch with them. that is the power of the cross and transforming grace. in Him, euge
hey egue. wow. great story. there are some incredible stories of Christians forgiving. i know of a bible translator that was killed by a random tribesman with an axe. the wife stayed in the country for a further 20 years – forgave, saw the murderer come to Christ, and finished the translation in their local language.