Now, three years later, he’s back.  He and his wife are once again hosting a Bible study in their Colorado home…and people are coming.  Nearly 100 this past Thursday.

Many of those who attended carried cookies, pies, and brownies along with their Bibles. By the time the Bible study began, more than 50 cars were parked outside their home. Haggard insists that his intent is not to start a new church, but he isn’t ruling out the possibility. He said the reason for starting a home Bible study after three years of exile was a simple one.  “We were getting lonely,” he said.

Albuquerque pastor, Alan Hawkins, traveled to Colorado Springs to be in Haggard’s living room last Thursday.  He said, “The essence of our faith as Christians is to forgive. When this thing happened, I said, ‘Ted, nobody is defined by their worst moments.’”

I’ve been following Haggard’s journey over the past three years, and on Friday, I listened to the audio of Haggard’s first public speaking engagement that took place one year ago.  I found him to be contrite, humble, and surprisingly honest about his journey up to that point.  I was actually inspired by his words and felt a great sense of compassion for him as I listened.

At the time of the recording, Haggard said that he was selling life insurance and reported that he was actually beginning to make enough money at it to provide for his family (five kids, including one son with special needs).   I was happy to hear that he was finally back up on his feet and able to provide for his family once again.

Then today I read the news story that he is holding a Bible study in his home and is open to the possibility that it may become a church – with him as the leader – sometime in the future.  I’m torn about this.  On the one hand, I celebrate with him the forgiveness, freedom, and restoration he claims he has received from the Lord.  I – along with Alan Hawkins – believe that the scandal he was involved in three years ago does not define him.

However, I struggle with whether he should be so quick to assume – whether official or unofficial – the role of pastor.  By his own admission, the problems that led to his “fall from grace” were deep-seated and could be traced all the way back to his childhood.  Is three years enough time to deal with those issues and assume a role of spiritual leadership once again?  And, because he was in such a high-profile position of leadership and because so many people were affected by his fall, I wonder if three years is enough water under the bridge for those who were impacted.

I fully believe that God can and has forgiven Ted Haggard of his sins.  I also know that it is incumbent upon all Christians to view him through the lens of Ephesians 4:32 where Paul tells us to be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving of one another just as we’ve been forgiven by God through Christ.  However, I do question the timing of his re-emergence into a pastoral role.  Is three years enough?  What do you think?