No, no, no! You've got it all wrong. Just look at the pics CBS chose to use:
LOL. Five of the 15 pics show George or Laura Bush.
That's Rather strange.
Posted on 09/22/2010 9:09:18 PM PDT by DesertRenegade
New photos purportedly show Atlanta megachurch pastor Eddie Long posing in a bathroom mirror with muscle shirts. The photos were allegedly sent to at least one of the three young men who have filed lawsuits against Long in recent days for sexual harassment. In one photo, Long is shown wearing a sleeveless black muscle shirt and tight black shorts. In the other, he is wearing a short-sleeve red muscle shirt with jeans.
The photos themselves do not prove the plaintiffs' allegations, but they do raise questions about the minister's conduct and his relationship with the young men at the heart of the case.
Long, a married father of four, is known as a fierce opponent of gay rights and same-sex marriage and led a march against marriage equality rights from the site of Dr. Martin Luther King's gravesite years ago.
The new images were first released by ABC News in its Wednesday evening broadcast and have been circulating across the Internet since that time.
The men involved in the suits claim that Long wined and dined them, took them on expensive vacations across the world and sexually abused them during his relationships with them. Long, the church and his lawyers deny the allegations.
Long pastors the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, a church he built from 300 members to more than 25,000, according to recent reports.
But members of the church who were interviewed by reporters expressed their continued support for Rev. Long and denied allegations against him.
The story has made major headlines in the Atlanta area, and Long has already suffered at least some fallout. At least one prominent political official, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes, has reportedly canceled a fundraising event scheduled to take place with Long.
I think they've already tried each other.
Eddie Long seems mainly concerned with holding his Bishopric.
For every flamer that talks funny, there is a guy that pumps iron, goes fishing, and looks like anybody else. You can't tell just by looking.
This is what all the PR is about. If he had taken the right (i.e., the left) position on these so-called rights, there would not have been a lawsuit at all, much less non-stop CNN coverage of it.
But the media keeps telling me only Catholic priests do things like this. Whom to believe hmmmmmmmm?
This is a civil lawsuit as the two were not minors when this allegedly happened.
Eh, and this is an opinion forum...:D
For example, recall how the media hopped on Tom DeLay?
Based on...what?
The OP is clearly erroneous, what facts do you base that on?
Hope? Dislike the guy? What?
This way of thinking seems to be endemic in certain Charismatic/Pentecostal circles. I remember how Jim Bakker was staunchly defended by those who proclaimed: "Touch not the Lord's annointed!" The error lies in the attitude that their defining doctrine regarding being "spirit-filled" trumps all else - unfortunately even the responsibility to live morally upright lives. This leads to turning a blind eye to the abuse of power, financial, moral and otherwise.
This pastor's self-perception as to his "calling" must not be considered the determinative factor. The charges constitute grave moral failure, and if they are substantiated, he has proven himself to be a wolf in sheep's clothing, and should not be in a position of church leadership.
“..the CHARGES constitute a grave moral failure..”
Since when do mere accusations equate to any sort of proof..of anything immoral?
Assuming one is a Christian (as I cannot assume one way or another) what was Paul’s reaction to being falsely accused?
Did he stop preaching the gospel? Hire an attorney?
What did he tell the warden who had him whipped?
Others fleecing the flock is as questionable as well, I suppose...
Theres much sin available to the verbal sneak thieves evidently..
Used Jesus Salesmen must kick the tires to make a sale.. to the unwary..
It was a play on the words of a punchline of a joke I heard 48 years ago. It wasn’t about evidence. I don’t take it nearly as seriously as you do.
I will say, however, that I enjoyed this issue a lot more when it was still in the closet. I am fed up with the fact that this issue is placed front and center, almost daily, when its principal adherents comprise such a miniscule segment of our society.
You quote selectively. I continued: "if they are substantiated..."
Of course accusations do not equal proof. Let the man have his day in court.
My question for you would be: What will you have to say if the charges are proven, or if at some point the pastor admits they are true? Will you defend his "right" to continue in the ministry?
As for the Apostle Paul, I am quite certain he would not for a moment have countenanced someone guilty of such egregious sinful acts (if he is indeed guilty) to remain as a church member in good standing, let alone a shepherd at the head of the flock.
In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 Paul addresses a situation involving sexual morality that is remarkably applicable to this situation: "It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife."
"You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst."
Sadly, all denominations have been guilty of failing to deal with open, blatant sin in their midst. By way of clarification, all Christians - including pastors - continue to sin, but there is a difference between, say, a pastor admitting to occasional feelings of jealousy, envy, anger issues, etc., and admitting to having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a person other than his wife. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know the difference.
I referred in particular to some in the Charismatic/Pentecostal tradition being guilty of "arrogance" in failing to remove pastors/leaders who are guilty of moral failure. They excuse such behavior because the individual is believed to be "annointed" because they have "given evidence" of having been "baptized with the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues", etc."
Unfortunately, they wrongly elevate their particular doctrine of the Holy Spirit over all other doctrinal or ethical considerations. I speak from personal experience, having spent many years attending pentecostal/charismatic churches. At the same time, I know of many dear, devoted Christians in that tradition who would nevertheless have sufficient spiritual discernment in such matters.
Jim McGreevey was married with 2 children ...
Please, one uses the invective of guilt, insert a 5 word “if” clause then act as if your other words are of no account.
“if” these charges are substantiated, whether in court, or in a out of court settlement, there should be a meeting of Elders to decide whether to depose him or not, as Paul stated in the very passage you reference.
I have -0- problem with that happening in fact it has to happen if the man is guilty as the Church is supposed to handle issues and scandals among it's members or Hierarchy inhouse and not “be judged by pagan judges”.
We are to decide matters such as these among ourselves, certainly the instructions in Timothy would call for his disqualification from Ministry in that Church.
As for stepping aside, Paul said simply he did not care if Christ was preached from selfish motives (Philippians 1:15-19) as long as Christ was preached.
And I do find myself in agreement with your view that Pentecostal/Holy Spirit Churches have been lax in dealing with members who clearly go out of bounds, I suspect, but do not know, that the reasons for that are largely financial.
Some are more Entertainers than Righteous Leaders and sell the gamut of products from DVD’s to Books and that is a shame on those Congregations in my view.
Of course such members would probably simply smile and say:
“King David had Uriah killed so he could lay with his wife and the Lord restored him”
Truly it is a bad situation.
Excuse the length of my response, I felt it was needful to explain where I am coming from. Imho to often Christians are willing to toss other Christians under the bus far to hastily and it troubles me.
That is what the World does.
It’s difficult to imagine why a straight man would send a picture such as that to another male, regardless of age.
No, no, no! You've got it all wrong. Just look at the pics CBS chose to use:
LOL. Five of the 15 pics show George or Laura Bush.
That's Rather strange.
CBS version of the story with Bush pics: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20017430-504083.html
I appreciate your comments. My concern is with big name (and not so big name) ministers who become involved in serious sin which, instead of being dealt with, is minimized and covered up by their adoring flock. I agree that financial concerns may be somewhat at fault here, as church members do not wish to jeopardize their big beautiful church with its successful, charismatic pastor (”Who is going to fill the church if he is gone?”)
I would interpret Paul’s statment about desiring to see Christ preached regardless of motive to refer to issues of pride, self-exaltation, etc. rather than someone involved in serious moral failure. Paul addresses those kinds of situations in the I Cor. 5 passage, and discusses the requirements for pastors elsewhere in I & II Timothy.
I am very concerned about the attacks of non-Christians on Christians. However, fulfilling our responsibility to “clean our own house” is not at all to be compared with such attacks, which are motivated by hatred and opposition to the Gospel and our Lord. In fact, when we fail in our responsibility we only give ammunition to our enemies to use against us.
All the best.
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