What Have We Become?
Monday, September 27, 2010, 10:36:35 PM Ray Hagins
Sunday I tuned in (as did thousands of others) to hear what Eddie Long was going to say. After having to watch more than an hour of what I didn't tune in for, he finally emerged with his wife. This, in and of itself (in my opinion), was an act of disrespect to the thousands of people who were there because (if we would be honest) EVERYONE wanted to hear only one thing...and one thing only...and that was what they had waited all week to hear him say. This man talked for almost 25 minutes and STILL DID NOT SAY the 4 words that his audience was craving to hear. He knew that these thousands of people, who love him and arrived as early as 5:00 a.m., stood in line for hours to be sure to get a seat up close and personal. They did not come to hear a sermon! All they wanted to hear him say was..."I DIDN'T DO IT!" If he had said just those 4 words, his followers would have left with the strength and determination to stand with their leader. BUT HE DID NOT SAY IT! And based on what I have come to learn...HE COULDN'T SAY IT!
As I watched and listened to Eddie Long making his comments to (as he said) "the world," I was absolutely infuriated by the words that he had the unmitigated audacity to say. After a rambling discourse on "How To Handle Painful and Difficult Situations," this person opened his mouth and said, "I have never in my life presented myself as a perfect man." WHAT!?!?
It's real simple Eddie Long! You have been accused of molesting 4 young males. (Only you and God know how many others. According to discussions that I have had with people who are very close to this situation and its history, it is expected to be as many as 35 to 40 others who are expected to come forth. But, FOR NOW, it is only 4!) And the first thing out of your mouth is..."I have never presented myself to be a perfect man!?!?!?" It would have been more appreciated and not as insulting to our intellect if you had pleaded the 5th and said, "Due to the fact that this matter is in litigation, I decline to make any statements at this time on the grounds that it might incriminate me." At least that would have been a more intelligent statement than..."I am not a perfect man." Eddie Long incriminated himself with those words alone and everyone knows it!
Now, let's deal with the words "a perfect man" for a moment...
According to the theological perspectives that are taught in Christianity, the idea or concept of being "perfect" (teleios) means being "full grown, adult, of full age, mature." It has absolutely nothing to do with being flawless. So, by saying "I am not a perfect man," Eddie Long is saying that he is NOT "full grown, adult, of full age, mature?" According to the precepts of theological thought, the very position that Eddie Long (and every other pastor) holds mandates him to be "perfect" (teleios). Now, Eddie Long (as well as every other pastor) is fully aware of what I just explained in this paragraph. The average church member may not know this...but pastors do! So, his own words have disqualified him to hold the position that he now holds.
Furthermore, we all need to understand that there is not a "man" on this planet who, if accused of molesting 4 male youth, would not IMMEDIATELY say, "I did NOT do that." He would say this first and foremost...NOT..."I am not a perfect man!" Come on people, if you would only stop idolizing for 3 seconds, your spirit would say to you, "there's something wrong here, and it's not these young males who have filed these charges."
Now, with reference to these young male victims (because this article is really not about Eddie Long), let's take a closer look at these young males and the unjust attacks of "church folks" toward them! All eyes are on Eddie Long...but what about the young males who have come forth and unveiled the embarrassing, horrific, tragic, and damaging acts committed against them? What about the emotional and spiritual state and well being of these young males? How dare ANYONE say..."WE ARE WITH YOU BISHOP?" Who is with these young male victims? I have heard people (young and old) in support of Eddie Long say, "I believe him" or "That man loves his wife" or "We shouldn't be judging him." WHO IS SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THE YOUNG MALES WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DAMAGED BY THIS PREDATOR? WHY AREN'T YOU "SAINTS" REACHING OUT TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU! THESE ARE OUR CHILDREN! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF AND WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT ONE OF HIS VICTIMS WAS YOUR SON OR GRANDSON? (Okay, let me stop shouting...)
As a pastor and therapist, I have counseled far more young men than I care to remember who have been victimized by religious leaders or people in leadership positions in the church. Many of the victims that I have counseled became perpetrators of the very horror that was inflicted upon them. In fact, 7 out of 10 sodomizers were sodomized in their pre-teen and teenage years by someone they trusted? So, when it comes to these young male victims of Eddie Long...Are you concerned about their healing? Or are you so blind that you think that these young men brought this on themselves and they got what they deserved?
This evening I was in a restaurant (not to far from Eddie Long's church) and overheard one lady say, "These young people today are so fast and loose that they probably brought this on themselves because Bishop is a man of God." I was glad that I had already eaten my meal because at that point I had to leave. This is why I am angry --- because of people like her who compulsively see Eddie Long as their Christ (even though they would never admit to such).
As previously stated, I have talked to several people who have first-hand knowledge of the events and tragedies that have been taking place at New Birth for "at least 15 years or more" (to quote a former member). So, I am not writing this without a strong base here. Not too long ago, I spoke with a person who shared with me how a particular young male (that we both know) "travels with Bishop (Long)." When she told me this, IMMEDIATELY my intuition said, "not good." But I couldn't say anything to her because she is a proud member of New Birth and she loves her "Bishop." She was so proud over the fact that this young person "travels with Bishop" that if I had shared with her what was taking place in my intuition she would have seen me as the enemy.
People, what have we become? When a religious leader can build and establish an academy (that seems to me to be nothing more than a facade for a breeding ground) that grooms young males to live on the down low...what have we become? What about the single mothers who entrusted their teenage sons to an academy with a sexual predator at the helm (along with those who work with him); all the while hoping that her son will receive the guidance and support that he needs to become a young "man," but instead he is preyed upon by someone who strategically gains the trust of her innocent teenage son, only to pounce on him when the time is right, while showering him with a Range Rover, a BMW, a Hummer, a condominium, expensive jewelry, and inter-continental trips where this predator commits all kinds of unthinkable sexual acts on these teenage males? And then we dare to vilify these young victims? What have we become? What happened to us?
At present, FOUR different young men have come forth! Are all of these young males lying? Why would they do that? People it is no secret (at least here in the Atlanta area) that New Birth Baptist Church is the "palace of homosexuality" (to quote another former member)!
TAKE THE BLINDERS OFF YOUR EYES! FOR THE SAKE OF OUR YOUTH...PLEASE TAKE THE BLINDERS OFF YOUR EYES!!! How many more teenagers will have to come forth before you realize that you have been under the leadership of a sexual predator on our children? How many? Will 1 more do? Or maybe 2 more? How many? So that you can say to each other, "Well, you know, Bishop said he wasn't perfect." Next, you will be saying if he is that way, his behavior is covered under the blood of Jesus Christ! After all, that IS what is taught in Christianity! ALL your sins (oral sodomy, child molestation, sexual coercion, etc.) have been covered by the blood and "there is therefore now no condemnation" (judgment) because he has been "justified by faith." I bet if it happens to your child all of those bible verses will completely disappear and become absolutely meaningless.
Parents, if you don't wake up and open your eyes, you will have no one to blame but yourselves. Our children deserve to be protected better than this. What are we to do, when our children think that we are NOT going to protect them? But rather attack them, and assassinate their character because they have been victimized by a sick, twisted, socially and politically powerful religious leader, who is a multimillionaire with friends in high places. Do we just throw them away because they are unknown and insignificant young people? Do we just let them suffer without coming to their rescue? If that is the case, then be prepared for damnation (because you will certainly deserve it)!
Let me warn you now! If we do not hear the cry of these young people who have been victimized by (what is in my opinion) a cross-wearing sexual predator, then stand by and prepare yourself for their retribution. Imagine what might happen when their anger can no longer be contained because they lived with the agony of after having opened up and asked us to protect them...we didn't!
In my previous post I stated that the rippling effect of this matter with Eddie Long is far reaching. The tentacles of this sickness are not just limited to Eddie Long, but several other prominent and renown religious leaders and gospel musicians as well. I encourage you to listen to Carlton Pearson's interview on CNN about this matter and homosexuality in the church. Carlton Pearson (who knows Eddie Long quite well) stated, "Bishop Long is just the tip of the iceberg." He actually said that! Listen to the interview for yourself at: http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/27/pastor-preaches-inclusion-of-gays/?iref=allsearch or go to: cnn.com and type in the search box "Pastor Preaches Inclusion Of Gays."
As Eddie Long concluded his comments, he said (a second time) "I am not a perfect man, but this thing, I'm gonna fight;" and everyone leaped to their feet cheering him on. Then he said, "I feel like David fighting Goliath. And I've got 5 stones and I haven't thrown the first one yet." Then he arrogantly threw the microphone down and walked off the stage. The congregation was about to go into conniptions at that point. I wanted to know who was thinking about the innocent victims and their families?
Let me tell you my version of David & Goliath in this matter. I submit that the giant, "Goliath," is Eddie Long! For he's the one who is so powerful, with plenty of money for the best lawyers, influence with the right people, and fame that makes others not see him for what he really is. Yes...Eddie Long is the giant in THIS situation. The young men who don't have 25,000 members to stand with them are "David" (in my mind). And according to the story, David picked up "5 smooth [young] stones" to slay Goliath with. Well, maybe when the next victim comes forth...that will be the fifth stone for this Goliath known as Eddie Long.
As Carlton Pearson made VERY clear in his interview, Eddie Long is just "the tip of the iceberg" of the homosexuality in the church (and he certainly would know). But, personally, I am not concerned with what gay adult men and women do with each other. That's their business. As long as they don't present it to me, we won't have a problem. But under NO circumstances should we tolerate our youth being victimized by such activity without maximum retaliation (from the warriors in our communities) against the perpetrator(s). If we don't come to the defense of our children...who will!
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