I listened to portions of the words said by Bishop Eddie Long to his congregation at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church today. In response to the litany of charges raised against him - he adamantly denied all of these claims and said that these others were lying.
When he first spouted his innocence and said that he would fight the charges - I heard a thunderous applause from the congregation in support of Bishop Long.
Let me clarify my point for a second.
Over the past 10 years as all of these "Mega Church" leaders (Long, Dollar, Jakes) have been attacked by one force or another - I have strongly defended them.
The positions that they hold coupled with the medium of television, Internet and printed books have allowed them to expand the reach of their positive message far beyond the walls of their church.
About 3 years ago as I snuck away from the office to go to the "Mega Fest" at the Georgia Dome I had another 'Million Man March"-type experience as a large pack of Black males took over the MARTA "Five Points Train Station" and let out a unified chant bout responsibility. (I don't recall the exact works of the hymn they sang). Compare that to the high likelihood of seeing an EMBARRASSING spectical on a normal day of riding the train.
I am the first to admit that this spontaneous chant was merely an emotional draw - at the same time I have to conclude that I would prefer to see a train station full of Black men doing so in the context of their religions faith than in submission to an entertainment or political figure.
The Need For Governance To Fill The Void
The difference between "wasted emotionalism" and the spark that allows someone to span that last inch of doubt is the management of the credibility and integrity of an institution. As I said before there is no MAGIC in this world. Upon "trying harder" at doing the very same thing it is likely that you will be frustrated and tired as a result.
I am of the opinion that the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church fielded a "miss" today.
The subject of scrutiny about unthinkable actions was allowed to take to his microphone in his bully pulpit and proclaim his own innocence.
WHERE is the "New Birth ORGANIZATION", which must be independent of one man, in all of this?
I instead see the very same "us against them" - team sport - that is present in Black political activism - being present in this space.
With 4 young Black males making public pronouncements that the man who was entrusted by New Birth as their mentor has VIOLATED this trust and the power afforded to him by the church - it is the CHURCH ENTITY that needs to be a bit more TRANSPARENT in its actions.
After listening to the words said by Bishop I got the feeling that New Birth loves its pastor more than it loves its INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY.
There is no harm in making a decision to ask their pastor to step down from his public facing duties while this matter is being adjudicated. A pastor enjoys a position that requires supreme trust. This is a position that deals with the highly emotional charged issue around people's salvation and its connectedness to the real world challenges that they struggle with.
Instead the New Birth community seems to choosing the claims of its founder above the indictments that 4 independent Black males have put forth. I am not calling for them to do a "perp walk" with Bishop Long being lead out of the church. Something more than what I saw today is appropriate though.
How many mothers upon hearing the molestation charges against their male significant other have chosen to believe that their children are "lying" or "not in their right minds" BECAUSE she seeks to not believe that her male significant other is capable of doing what he is alleged to do?
The New Birth INSTITUTION needs to take these allegations seriously and NOT GET INTO A DEFENSIVE POSTURE.
They risk permanently fracturing the largest church in the state of Georgia if they fail to act appropriately.
7 comments:
Quote: "The positions that they hold coupled with the medium of television, Internet and printed books have allowed them to expand the reach of their positive message far beyond the walls of their church."
1. Positive message filtered with lies for the underlying will of "filthy lucre". I guess you forgot that aspect.
2. Ed Long could've clearly said "I ain't do nothing of the kind"! That was a lil suspect, but still no evidence so I reserve my opinion of "guilty". Pastor Tony Smith very controversial (somewhat annoying), has been on point about Ed Long and the likes of the "mega organization-churches" bka PROSPERITY PIMPS.
3. Child molestation is a huge deal and any mother that denies their child should swiftly be dealt with, and mos def WILL be judged. In this case if Ed Long did commit "coerced" sodomy it's legal not CHILD MOLESTATION. i.e. What legal recourse does an adulteress mistress have in bringing charges against her lover, she stole from and got caught, now her feelings are hurt bc he lied and cheated on her too! Absurd!
4. Regardless of Ed Long's potential sodomy he's abused his man-made appointed authority and needs to fall or REPENT. Ed Long has very little credibility, but the other sodomite young-grown-men have very little credibility too! - Nikki (sorry for always commenting, but sometimes I feel compelled.)
You have just uncovered the real deal: which is that every 'mega-church' is dominated by one person. Members don't look at the corporation papers before joining. That person appoints the 'Board' of Directors and controls the finances. Creflo Dollar apparently has 2 organizations: one personal and one that is a 'church'. On TV no one can tell the difference. Hence, no one speaks for Mr. Long BUT Mr. Long. No one speaks for Dollar but Dollar. Not a chairman like in the 'old' church.
And don't expect anything to be said by Mrs. Long. Women who enjoy the upper income lifestyle will endure anything to keep it.
[quote]1. Positive message filtered with lies for the underlying will of "filthy lucre". I guess you forgot that aspect. [/quote]
Anon#1
You set up a standard that NO MAN ON THIS EARTH and no organization can ever uphold.
The only thing that we can hope to do is to have an entity that has standards and erects a governing body to gravitate toward that reference model.
I can find you people who believe that Christianity in its WHOLE is a "pack of lies". Thus I can't accept that there is any point at which we will find everyone who would agree with a given point of reference.
The best that New Birth as an entity can do is to operate transparently AND in according with the Christian doctrine that it was chartered by.
Christians as a whole should make note of what is happening at any church (and INDIVIDUAL) that claims the Christian name and respectfully note to the people who have assumed this label - asking them to justify themselves accordingly. You will claim that this is what you are doing above. I respect this and would even agree with some of your assessments.
At the same time I am unwilling to treat the messages said from New Birth's pulpit as if they were lyrics said by Young Jeezy and Lil Kim with the same amount of contemptuousness.
In a conversation earlier this week a person close to me noted that Christianity is a personal relationship with God. Churches and the religious orders that attempt to envelope this personal relationship too often are diversions to the point of having evil intent.
>>After listening to the words said by Bishop I got the feeling that New Birth loves its pastor more than it loves its INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY. <<
Amen.
CF:
This is completely heartbreaking..
I have never liked the sensual character of Eddie Long, and always thought he would have issues with fidelity, but with women and money,.. not with young men. According to one of the young men, using the LongFellow Institute to coerce boys as young as 14.... very impressionable, some troubled looking for a father figure and the other just made to feel like he's special and chosen.
Unfortunately and with much sadness, I believe this situation is more prevalent than I can stand to believe, because of what you're saying "...NO...ACCOUNTABILITY...".
The respect that should be shown to all believers is placed aside, and worship of "leaders" is widespread, with such teachings that exalts men to "the MAND OF GAWD"... any criticism is seen as rebellion etc., and this is what I saw in the congregation today... applause instead of prayer... and like you mentioned earlier, a need for Eddie to take some time off as they investigate these extremely serious charges against him. The congregation seems to have been quick in determining the innocence of Long, which would also mean that have determined the charges against him false before the seeing the evidence.
I just pray there is not a big cover up or pay off... hopefully the full truth will come to light
"Now when he [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."
"The difference between 'wasted emotionalism' and the spark that allows someone to span that last inch of doubt is the management of the credibility and integrity of an institution."
I don't understand. The "institutions" are run by people. And you have seen the heart of the people. They will do anything to save their Leader, because they need him. They do not hear their own conscience but need his knowledge of good and evil, for he is their Programmer who makes them feel like they are Somebody. They are conditioned inwardly to follow the outward show. They difference between Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. They are like the people who believed in Jesus for the miracles he performed. He didn't trust any of them.
"13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
Jesus didn't give us religious institutions to be the spark that allows someone to span that last inch of doubt. He told us we had it within ourselves, every person. Anyone who doesn't realize this is vulnerable to believing someone else's lie because they are blind in one eye. Alot more is at stake than permanently fracturing one of the largest churches in Metro Atlanta. It is the hearts and minds of people.
Olive
Quote "At the same time I am unwilling to treat the messages said from New Birth's pulpit as if they were lyrics said by Young Jeezy and Lil Kim with the same amount of contemptuousness."
1. However, the "contemptuousness" IMHO is worse coming from the pulpit blaspheming GOD, deceiving many for "filthy lucre". As for GOD HE will judge preachers with GREATER CONDEMNATION. James 3:1
GOD says, let false teachers be ACCURSED! Galatians 1:8-9 False prophets--> Isa 29:13-14, Jer 23:16-17, Jer 14:14-15, Mark 13:22, 2Ti 4:3-4
GOD says, regarding Kim & Jeezy aka SINNERS Matt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: **for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.**
2. People (the 1:22's) who doubt and/or question GOD/Christianity does not change the truth of HIS Word, so their opinions are mute. Proverbs 1:22, Romans 1:22. - Nikki {in humility}
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