Marriage Advice from Haggard

I was doing some spring cleaning at the bookstore, returning older stock, and I ran across a copy of from this day forward: making your vows last a lifetime" by Ted & Gayle Haggard. You, of course, will remember Ted as the head of the Evangelical organization, pastor of a megachurch in Colorado Springs, CO who had a scandal several months ago surrounding methamphetamine usage and an ongoing homosexual relationship with male escort Mike Jones.

from this day forward discusses a Biblical marriage relationship, how God created marriage, structured it so that it would be a symbol of Christ and the church. Honestly, it's not a bad book.

Does anyone else catch the irony of this situation? from this day forward was published in April 2006. November 2006, Haggard was a household name as the story broke surronding him and Mike Jones, and the advice that Haggard probably wrote in this book went out the window. (In fact, Jones said the relationship went for three years. So when this book was being written/published, Haggard was literally cheating on his wife with another man).

I don't want to delve into the story.
I do, however, have a dilemma.
What do I do with this book?

It's not a bad book. The truths in here are good. Here are some quotes.

* If we live according to God's plans, we receive blessings that benefit us and our family and extend to future generations.

* The goal is for a wedding to brim with significance for the bride, groom, weding party and guests so that everyone can understand the holy solemnity and joy God intended for marriage.

* Every couple must determine the mission and calling of the family, and commit to be joined together for that purpose.

* In marriage, the husband sacrifices his life, and the wife responds by laying her life down, too.

That's good, right? It may be that because Amy's in Ukraine I'm a little more sappy romantic, but if I was to give people advice, I would say something like that. This tells me that the truths in here are valid. Biblical grounded.

"But Haggard's a hypocrite." So because he's a hypocrite and didn't mean these words I should just throw the book away, right? It's trash and he's a sinner. Burn in Hell, Haggard!

Wait, I'm a hypocrite too! I'm a sinner, like him, forgiven by grace. Aren't we all sinners, really? Have we lived a perfect, sinless life? How can I advise someone on something when I, too, have made mistakes in the eyes of God. So I should sell it.

But by selling it I am endorsing a man who wrote a book making his vows last a lifetime, yet was cheating on his wife when he wrote it. Not exactly a good role model for my customers.

See my dilemma?

Haggard had another quote that I find valid:

* No matter what or who we are today, by the grace of God and the forgiveness of Christ, we can become something more, something better.

I hope in time Haggard's wife, children, church and the Christian community will forgive Haggard. Through Christ, we know God will...

If you were me, what would you do with this book?

Comments

[RC of strangeculture]

This is an interesting post...i didn't know (but am not surprised) that haggard wrote a book on this topic.

i remember blogging about his world came crashing down because i had talked about his role in the film Jesus Camp.

Do you think if you sold this book anyone would buy it?

[Jenni Smith]

My gut reaction, chuck it. Then on second thought, I wondered if the ghostwriter should be punished too. But then again, ghost writers don't usually receive royalties, so that brings me back to chuck it.

Stock "Each for the Other: Marriage as Its Meant to Be" by Bryan Chapell instead.

[scott fraser]

we can afford to not carry it... i mean, we have tons of other marriage books that say the exact same thing, without the dilemma. but don't send it back, thats more work for me

[Heather]

Keep it as a novelty item. I have the "In Christ Alone" single that I haven't gotten rid of yet.

Just a matter of finding it.

*HeatherT*