My first question is this: Should we really be surprised? First off, I am not a big fan of mega churches and mega rich pastors. If the news were that he had ripped his congregation out of millions of dollars, I would not have batted an eye. I would have expected it. Undoubtedly, this news did come as a big surprise. Bishop Eddie Long, gay? Hold up, let's rewind. I have watched the Bishop on tv in the past, and he looked like a macho man to me. He didn't seem effeminate at all, I mean, he's married for God's sake!
I don't want to jump conclusions. There is a chance (though slim) that this is merely a publicity stunt, or a way to make some quick cash. Word has it that the accusers do not have pristine track records. The silence from Eddie, however, is definitely adding fuel to the fire, and raising more than a few eyebrows. Where are you Eddie? We are waiting for you to state your case. Hiding away, trying to get your story together, is making you look very bad.
The biggest question, if these allegations prove to be true, is where does this leave the church now? I'm not talking about the black church or the white church, but the Whole church? We live in a time when people are losing faith in Christianity and Christian people. We are ridiculed, reviled, and made to feel like hatemongers because we have morals and are not (most of us anyhow) concerned with political correctness. In general, we aren't liked or respected very much. I have to say, considering the state of our churches, and the people who are supposed to be our leaders, I can't blame non-Christians for not holding us in high esteem.
Pastors with mega churches plopped in the middle of poverty and ghettos give the church a bad name. Pastors with mega mansions, who have a congregation of poor and needy people are open game to jokes and ridicule. I know, I know...God wants to bless us, God wants to give us our hearts desire, but does the Bible not say, "Give me neither poverty, nor riches-feed me with the food allotted me." Proverbs 30:8? I truly believe God wants to bless us, but I think too many people are concerned with monetary blessings and not spiritual blessings. Mega pastors perpetuate the myth that church leaders are sneaky, insincere, money grubbing frauds. So I ask again, where does this leave the church?
If people can't trust pastors, our spiritual leaders, who can they trust? I am not implying that pastors need to be perfect. I am smart enough to not put all my trust in a human, no matter how snazzy a suit they are wearing or how great they are at creating a good sermon. What I do expect is that pastors have the basic components that make a good Christian-compassion, sincerity, moral values, a heart to help the needy, and a yearning to do right by Christ. Minor misgivings, like smoking a cigarette or having the occasional drink are expected, but running around making babies with someone you aren't married to, or having homosexual sex? Get real! If you know you aren't living a decent Christian life than get off your high horse, and turn the church over to someone who hasn't been poisoned by greed and the need to be admired by people.
You know, I think these leaders start off with the best of intentions, I really do. I think they start off with a desire to serve God and do his work. But something happens when a church starts to grow and multiply. When a person looks out at his congregation and sees the rows filling up week after week, when the church has to keep expanding to keep up with the hungry souls who are flocking in, this does something to a church leader. Somewhere along the line, they lose sight of the reason they became pastors. They begin to like the admiration, the flocks of people looking up to them. They become full of pride as people come to them for help with their problems, or when people are eager and desperate to be in their presence. As the money rolls in they might start thinking, "Hey, I kind of like this. Him, God wants me to be wealthy!" And so the fall begins.
Only time will tell if the serious allegations against Bishop Eddie Long are true. Even if they prove to be false, I think the church as a whole needs to take this as a lesson. Members of churches must stop lifting pastors onto pedestals. They must have the wool ripped from their eyes. They must stop giving away their money, without asking for accountability. It doesn't make you a bad Christian if you want to know what your tithe money is being used for. It doesn't make you a bad Christian if you find something odd about a pastor having a jet plane or charging people to come see him preach. We need to come back to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Bless those pastors and preachers who are doing the work of God faithfully, and for all the others, I hope God forgives you for deceiving His people.
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