Ted Haggard: Don't be Weird

[update] Jeff Sharlet of Harpers and Rob Brendle of New LIfe Church discuss the article here.

This is interesting. Apparently a bunch of important media sources are going to be filming news stories at New Life, recently cited by Harpers as America's Most Powerful Megachurch, during the next week and Pastor Ted Haggard is asking everyone to tone things down a few notches so that they don't come off as crazy people in front of the nation. This is a church that claims to never hide anything from the general public, so this attempt at faking what actually goes on is particularly relevant. He mentions that Barbara Walters is working on a piece, and that Tom Brokaw will be visiting and offers these coaching tips for those who will be present.

Source: List e-mail to the congregation from Ted Haggard:

Now we're heading back to the United States and will be in church on Sunday, but I wanted you to see this e-mail about some upcoming media attention that was just forwarded to me so you can help me. Why? Because it indicates the importance of all of our doing a good job. The Lord has sovereignly placed all of us, as a congregation, in a position where we are representing born-again, Bible-believing Christians to groups outside our normal spheres of influence.

Here are a few tips:

1. If a camera is on you during a worship service, worship; don't dance, jump, etc. Secular people watching TV are touched with authentic worship, but jumping and dancing in church looks too bizarre for most to relate to. Remember, people watching TV news are not experiencing what you are experiencing. They are watching and thinking. Worship indicates sincerity, dancing and jumping looks like excessive emotionalism.

2. If reporters want to interview you, talk with them, but use words that make sense to them. Speak their language. Don't talk about the devil, demons, voices speaking to you, God giving you supernatural revelations, etc. Instead, tell your personal story in common sense language (I was a drunk but God changed me and now I'm sober, I'm grateful, etc.).

3. Don't be nervous. Be friendly and open. Reporters typically don't have an agenda, they authentically want to know what we do and why we do it. For example, Barbara Walters is working on a story about heaven and will interview me and get some supporting shots from the church. She might not use any of it, but she wants to put together an interesting story. Since we believe in heaven, we are, in fact, a good source. So, if she talks with you, don't be spooky or weird. Don't switch into a glassy-eyed heavenly mode, just answer, "Heaven is real. It's the place where God will be fully present with his people. He will reward people in heaven. Heaven is better than Colorado Springs." Say it straight and clear. Don't worry (Yeah, sure!).

The e-mail lists the upcoming media events which include Barbara Walters and Tom Brokaw personally visiting New Life over the upcoming week. Haggard will be on O'Reilly on Friday the 13th. Billdo wants him to talk about the environment for Christ's sake. Sheesh.

[another update] I have two more original stories on New Life Church here and here. Please check them out. The full Harpers essay is now online here. Discussion is encouraged, even begged for on this blog, so please have at it.

[update]
The full text of the e-mail is available at the link below.

Download the full e-mail text(5.8K).

[update]
I have seen a few people question the authenticity of the email. If you have any questions about it call up New Life Church and ask them yourself. Associate Pastor Rob Brendle was already nice enough to comment here.

Comments

[meg]

"Heaven is better than Colorado Springs."

bahahahhhahah that's awesome.

Obviously, any reporter who wants the real story should be sending in an undercover crew.

[ike]

"Reporters typically don't have an agenda, they authentically want to know what we do and why we do it."

Gotta give the guy credit for that line... at least he didn't ramble about the "liberal" media.

[Michael Hawk]

outstanding post. this is real news and I appreciate it greatly. keep up the good work!

[Wonk]

I guess it's no longer W.W.J.D.? (What Would Jesus Do?)

It's now: W.T.P.W.J.U.?

What Talking Points Would Jesus Use?

[trailertrashbob]

Whenever I take someone to church I pray that God would show them the good stuff and keep the starnge stuff out. But It never worked. Couldn't put God in a box.

[Cecelia]

The e-mail doesn't sound authentic. It has a stereotypical quality to it.

[Rob Brendle]

Rob Brendle, Associate Pastor of New Life Church:

Since the last election and the Time Magazine story on the 25 most influential evangelicals, our church has received some media attention. This email was to let our congregation know of some of the week's happenings, and coach them a little bit on communicating effectively with the media. Every subculture is a world unto itself, with its own traditions, expressions, and norms; evangelical Christianity is no exception. When we become aware that our meetings are gaining a wider audience, we want to present our faith in a way that is understandable to as many as possible. We believe the media is a friend and great asset to the church, and we want to work together well.

[geni]

Wait, wait...I thought it was being filled with the Holy Spirit that caused them to froth at the mouth, roll on the floor, faint, speak in tongues, all of that. So, shouldn't the memo be addressed to God?

By telling them to cool it during worship, he's implicitly admitting that those displays are no such thing - they're just a way to get attention.

[HoppieToad]

"Here are a few tips:

1. ... Remember, people watching TV news are not experiencing what you are experiencing. They are watching and thinking..."

HAHA! Well, if ever there was an overt confession made as to whether anyone in these churches are "thinking", there it sits. :)

[Mary Morin]

Hey, give Pastor Ted a break - sure we're led and filled by the Holy Spirit - and sometimes Pastor Ted is even out there doing his little "jig for Jesus". Because we know that most of YOU like your religion quiet and staid - "grandma's church" - we don't want to send you over the top since God is pretty wild and free. In other words, he just doesn't think you'll get it...

[Nate]

Face it: you're a bunch of cultists and you would make David Koresh proud.

[Ryan]

I think that geni's comments are pretty well and valid... It is played up as if the participants actually roll over consumed by the love of God and are transformed into these wonderful spiritual vehicles when, in fact, they are capable of turning it off and on at their convenience. Sounds more like a circus act than a real awakening.

[Tan]

Think of it more as PDA. Just as excessive public displays of affection are met with distaste by any observers outside of the intimate pair, an emotional connection time in worship could appear over the top to outsiders.

[Billy]

If you read 1 Corinthians 14 you will see that Paul instructed the church to "curb" activity of the Spirit that outsiders would not understand. He encouraged them to continue that activity in situations where unbelievers would not be present. I think Pastor Ted was wise in following that example.

[Ryan]

I think it's a smart move and all. However, speaking in tongues can hardly be viewed as a public display of affection. How can anyone expect to be taken seriously if they claim to be able to speak in tongues at will? I can understand the whole, "Hey, let's not dance, sing, or act out while the cameras are here", because obviously they will be looking for some way to humiliate you. Yet, it seems a little more like an act now that we all know that you ham it up that much more when we aren't looking.

[David]

I think Ted Haggard sounds like the best thing that has happened to the church today. He sounds like the man for the hour in leading the Evangelicals. Relationship is what it is all about. He is just being kind, courteous and gracious towards those who have not experienced the love, forgiveness and freedom of God.... those who maybe cannot relate to why some people like to praise and worship freely. Maybe if we all experienced these things we would want to dance,praise and sing too! Maybe we should all go try a day at New Life Church! Sounds alive and well to me!

[warpcore]

I come from a totally opposite “subculture”-- otherwise known as spiritual beliefs not shared by the many. I am used to our very beliefs being questioned, much less our ceremonies. I can fully understand the Pastor’s desire to put on a good face for the cameras. What I think is sad is his motivations.

He is motivated to portray things different than they are. Why? Because society does not accept different things. We are becoming spiritually homogenized. The country that was founded on #1 Freedom of Religion. You guys ridicule them here. We are fighting wars over seas over religion. Religious sects are attacking us quoting their scriptures. What happen to our freedom of beliefs?

In a perfect world, their church could portray itself in it’s fullest glory, and we would all watch and be inspired, or wondered, or happy for them, or any other positive reaction. But, we would not. We would all act just like you are now about his email, and we would find fault. Hence why his email went out in the first place. You prove his very point.

[dasa]

Pastor Ted was WRONG! I wish you could have seen the email I received when I questioned him about his statements. Since when are we as Christians supposed to conform to what the world thinks we should be? (go ahead please find a scripture for me) Pastor Ted just showed everyone he is more concerned about the media and his influence around this country than he is about the lost and dying in Colorado Springs. You go Ted! God has already marked this one in his palm pilot.

[Chris Byrd]

Excuse me! Most people in our culture blindly believe everything our most popular media outlets produce. They don't think for themselves and whatever editorial spin or agenda may be in the background is empbraced as though it is total reality.

For a pastor to "coach" his congregation regarding their deportment when under the scrutiny of a camera or the keyboard of a journalist is perfectly legitimate.

I don't know about you but when we have strangers over for dinner, we always remain true to our family life patterns and never disguise who we are. However, we do coach our children in proper protocal and appropriate manners when entertaining guests.

Chris

[Jon]

Okay, I'll bite. I'm a Christian and former theology student. I really don't care for the megachurch model and I have always had fundamental (what is it with you people and that word?!) problems with evangelical Christianity in the USA because my complaints go way back to Lutheran vs. Anabaptist problems. That's just my thing, so whatever. But I am always deeply saddened when there's this perception that Christians are weird. not because we're not, but because that's supposedly all there is to say about it. One dramatic image of a massive churchfull of holy rollin folks and that's all she wrote. On the one hand I applaud the pastor for wanting his flock to put a good foot forward and not letting their media (i.e. style of worship) be the only message to The Media, but instead for the gospel to flow freely. On the other, gahhh! The media is always so bowled over by people of authentic faith. Even if I disagree with the specifics of lots of their theology or don't practice their way, I empathize that my fellow brothers and sisters in the faith are "good copy."

[Steven J.]

NON - thanx for posting those great links at my site.

Steve J.

[Unregulated Female]

The terrifically sad point of Ted's kingdom is he is more concerned with how others may interpret what they see on film, than authenticity. The whole "there's a demon out there so let's go hoarse praying in tongues at it until the demon leaves" is complete crap, in my humble opinion. Sounds like one more money making venture to lure the zealous w/o knowledge to his kingdom of far-far-off ones. AND I am a grateful reformed religious addict/ b/again believer who left this cultish society before they started handing out the Kool-aid.

[TMB]

"Don't talk about the devil, demons, voices speaking to you, God giving you supernatural revelations, etc."
You know... if these folks weren't affiliated with a church, they'd be considered clinically insane and placed in an in-patient psychiatric facility.

[Hestia]

There is good reason for all that. The congregation isn't out of control. They're just doing stuff that feels right in expressing how they feel. Face it, they can't have sex, wear cool clothes, go to nightclubs, or have sex if they're not married. They've got to have some fun some time! Mardi Gras looks just as out of control and crazy to them.

As for talking the language of the secular world, Carl Jung explained it well. He said that the only phrasing that fits archetypal, religous experiences are downright embarassingly bombastic overblown visuals.