YOU CAN'T STOP BIRDS FROM FLYING OVER YOUR HEAD, BUT YOU CAN KEEP THEM FROM BUILDING NESTS IN YOUR HAIR!
Friday, September 24, 2010, 8:55:54 PM Ray Hagins
This past week has been a time of reckoning for many thousands of "believers" and church goers! The alleged claims of sexual misconduct against Bishop Eddie Long has caused many people to adopt several postures in order to appease their need for peace of mind.
One of the postures that has been taken by many people is that of practical atheism. A practical atheist is one who knows that God is, and has a deep love and devotion for the things of God; but because they have been disillusioned by, or disappointed in, the behavior and conduct of one who they perceive as a "man of God" (God's messenger or representative), they compulsively decide that they don't want to have anything else to do with God, church, or church folks! Unfortunately, there are more practical atheists in our society than we realize.
Another posture that is being taken by many is the "no one is perfect" defense. I have heard more references to David's sin of murdering Bathsheba's husband (Uriah) this week than I have heard in my entire life. Of course, people have a need to secure their indoctrination (their faith) because this is the very foundation of their existence, and therefore will find a way to explain that God's "mercy and grace" looks beyond (and even excuses) the wrong things that we do. After all, David was "a man after God's own heart." But what is NOT emphasized is that even though David was supposedly "a man after God's own heart," God had some very harsh consequences for David's actions. These were: (1) "Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house..." (2)Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun." (3) "because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." The ONLY thing that God did do for David was spared his life (because he was "a man after God's own heart"). (And of course, this is from the premise that there was really a David and Bathsheba to begin with!)
And yet another posture that many are taking is "we ought to be walking in truth anyway." What is meant by "truth" here is coming out of the closet and no longer hiding what you know is and will be unacceptable to others.
So understand that when I say, "you can't stop birds from flying over your head," I mean that people are going to think whatever they want to think and say whatever they want to say. There is absolutely nothing that anyone can do about that. In fact, if people didn't do that I would think that there is something wrong with us. People running their mouths is just as natural as fish swimming...that's what they do! This is why publications like The Globe and The Enquirer are strategically placed at check out counters in every supermarket in the country. So, to expect people to be silent about what is going on in the lives of others (especially those who are considered to be "leaders") would be denying reality.
One of the lessons that my parents taught me during my teenage years was, "as soon as you stand above the crowd you become a target for those in the crowd...simply because you are above them." Every "leader" needs to understand this fact. As long as you are among the crowd, people are not aware of you or what you do because you are just another person in the crowd! In fact, people are not even really interested in you on that level. Think about it! Have you ever been in a crowd of people? Were you really concerned with the life, deeds, activities, etc. of the other people in the crowd? No, you weren't! In fact, you were most likely concerned with one thing...and one thing only...and that was navigating your way through the crowd. But now imagine your seeing someone (literally) hovering above the crowd that you are in! Immediately all of the attention gets focused on the particular individual because he (or she) is above the crowd.
Being above the crowd is a laudable position to be in. It is a place of honor. And it should be a place of humility. I say this because even though being in a position of leadership is considered to be an "above the crowd" position, it is the crowd that is responsible for your being in a position above the them! Many "leaders" today have forgotten that the only reason why they are "leaders" is because people have chosen to follow them. It's not because they are so great or intelligent, but because someone saw a quality in them that caused that person to choose to put their trust in that other person's leadership. This is something that is sacred and should be taken very seriously.
So, what is our responsibility as "leaders?" And for the sake of clarity, when I use the term "leaders" I mean those who operate in the capacity of being an example for others to follow by the life we live and by the things we say (e.g., being above the crowd). Every boy needs a man to provide an example of manhood for him to emulate. Every girl needs a woman to provide an example of womanhood for her to emulate. That is God's design for our development.
In like manner, those who have accepted the challenge of leadership must remember the fiduciary responsibility that we chose to accept. A fiduciary is someone who, of his own free will and accord, has undertaken to act for and on behalf of another in a particular matter in circumstances which give rise to a relationship of trust and confidence. Even when those whom you have chosen to devote your life to doesn't return such devotion, the obligation to maintain character is still there! I will never forget the day that my mother and teacher said to me, "Ray, being a pastor means loving people enough to let them hurt you so that you can help them." That was a period in my life when I wanted to lay aside my character and say a few words to some backstabbers (birds flying over my head BIG TIME). But my character as a leader mandated that I not lower myself in such a way.
When people make their allegations (and they will), that is simply birds flying over your head. But when they actually build nests in your hair that means that their allegations are true (or at least based in fact). One of the requests that I have continuously made of the members of The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center International is "please do not give our enemies any ammunition to use against us." All leaders have enemies! I repeat, ALL LEADERS HAVE ENEMIES!" It comes with the territory! And there is one common characteristic that enemies have...they want to destroy you! They WANT to see you fall. The most common method of enemy activity is called character assassination with (usually) bogus and unfounded allegations. And trust me when I say it can come as an onslaught. And it sometimes causes damage to those who are weak minded enough to listen and feed into this kind of enemy activity. So, all leaders should prepare for and expect the birds to come.
But, once the birds have built the nests in your hair...meaning that the allegations are, in fact, true...then THAT'S another thing all together! In these situations, it is the crowd that I am most concerned with! Not the person who violated the crowd's trust, but the many thousands of people who may become wounded to the point that they will never trust another "leader" again. This is the message in the story of David and Bathsheba. David had a responsibility to those in his kingdom, and that was to protect them...not use his position and power to strategically orchestrate the death of a man so that he could have his wife. This type of planning revealed what kind of heart David had.
Many people have asked me what do I think about the situation with Bishop Eddie Long. My answer to the question is I think it is tragic! I have talked to several people who have first hand knowledge about many of the things that have been going on there (I was told) "for at least the last 18 years." And each of them have said to me that this stuff should have come out long ago. And if what I have been told is true, then I agree that this should have come out long ago.
Nevertheless, my concern is for the thousands of people who will be wounded by this travesty. It's time for change! But, unfortunately it often takes a tragic event to propel change into our environment. Like it or not, a change is coming and many people will never be the same again. I think that the rippling effect of this issue is going to reach far beyond Bishop Eddie Long to other prominent ministers and musicians as well. But the thing that terrifies me the most is that the result will only be an eye opener for thousands of people and nothing more. Sometimes things happen to force us to see what we previously chose not to see, but that does not necessarily mean change. It simply means that certain things cannot be denied any longer. If there is one thing that I have learned over the last 12 years it is that there is none so blind as he who WILL NOT see!
In closing, never forget that your enemy has a gun aimed at your head just waiting for you to give him the ammunition that he needs to blow your head off. Therefore, your task is a very simple one...don't do ANYTHING that will give them the bullet that they want. Be sure that they are only shooting blanks (making noise). That's a good thing because it is the best and most effective form of advertisement. Your enemy thinks that they are hurting you while they are shooting blanks (even though their ignorance makes them think its real ammunition). They don't even realize that they are drawing more attention to you. So, as long as you KNOW you haven't done wrong, then take advantage of their focus on you so that people can see what you are really about.
But when the allegations are true...then it's time to step away...make restitution...get whatever treatment you need for how ever long you need it...and then get yourself back on track. And after all that...if it's not too late...then come back
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