9/24/10
I found out the news of a recent scandal second-hand from a woman who declared herself to be a retired minister. Usually dignified in her stance and well-mannered, she called me over to her when I was in a secular office she works in and asked me if I had “heard the latest” news about someone I consider to be a godly, upright and successful pastor. Not much of a TV-watcher with my busy schedule, I said no. With the excitement of a gossiper with fresh news, she crouched behind her computer monitor and told me his name and the charges in brief. As she went on and on about it, the Holy Spirit began to bring to my mind the reasons why this pastor would be attacked… from jealousy over his great, God-given successes to the youth involved being wrongly counseled by non-Christians about the blessings they had received through the pastor’s fatherly demonstration, teachings and tangible expressions. I told the woman, “I don’t receive that about him”, to which she immediately responded with serious conviction, “I don’t receive it either”, but within seconds -- with that same excitement rising up in her again and a doubtful smile -- she said, “I don’t know. We’ll see”.
“We’ll see” what? I wanted to say but was not prompted by Holy Spirit to say anything further to her. And what don’t you -- and this is for all professing and especially “mature” Christians -- know who, by declaration of your call, should be well-versed in the scriptures enough to know the principals in the Word of God? How about not receiving an accusation against an elder? (While there were “three witnesses” here, the manner in which this was handled was incorrect.) What about knowing that Satan is the accuser of the brethren? Don’t you know that God hates lies and deceptions and that hell is the final stop in this life journey for a liar? (Revelation 21:8)
Still her response was wrong even if such a damnable thing were true, when we in the Body of Christ are responsible for supporting and strengthening our brothers if they be found in sin. Again I say, IF such a thing were true.
Christians should not be swayed by the scripture-ignorant media as well. I looked into the news reports myself. Some woman consultant or sociologist interviewed declared, “What Pastor would take a picture in a bathroom?” Well, one who did not want to present himself in workout clothing to the public. This pastor had lost weight and reaped the benefits of a rigorous workout program, and like many who are proud of themselves for a weight loss don’t mind taking a few pictures and sharing them…. If that was really his picture and not something doctored in some photo program. The location for the photo may not have been the best choice but it was not some seedy location. The “bathroom” was not the typical 3’ x 5’ bathroom as this was and is a man of means. It was not some bathhouse or other degenerate place.
The accused pastor’s finances were also attacked. The scripture says that the laborer is worthy of his reward. The secular world, along with many unwitting Christians, are still stuck in the conferment of poverty and all its “trappings” -- now there’s a play on words -- of what a “humble” pastor should look and be like. Such a designation is not of God nor found in the holy scriptures within that context. Christians must be the ones who steward great finances wisely, and the truly generous ones share them -- as David did with the spoils of a war. He sought out people to give gifts to.
The secular world is ignorant of right teachings from the bible and steeped in non-biblical traditions -- as are too many marginal Christians. How dare a Christian say, “We’ll see” and leave the door open to a spiritually unregenerate mind to provide “facts” and opinions as concrete evidence.
As for that retired pastor, I pray that she, like the men who sought to stone a woman who had indeed sinned, would drop her stone and be the first to walk away.
Prayers for support and the strengthening of the Bishop Eddie Long family, including his church family, need to go out round the clock until this damnable situation ends. Prayers also for the young men who made the accusations, who may have been goaded into doing so, also need prayer so that they may recant and drop their suit.
For those who “don’t have time” to review the scriptures mentioned -- and for babes in Christ who don‘t know where to look, they are here, along with some others:
“Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” I Timothy 5:19
“Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.” Proverbs 30:10
“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” John 8:7-9
“Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,…” 2 Timothy 3:3
“The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;” Titus 2:3
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
“For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward.” I Timothy 5:18
“Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” I Peter 3:16
“And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, [even] to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;” I Samuel 30:26
“These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10