In what will be the conclusion of a mini-series and seeming documentary on a form of clergy sexual misconduct, and modern idolatry, the Bishop Eddie Long and his accusers have come to what appears to be an amicable settlement satisfying the unconditional approval of his New Birth, megachurch faithful and multiple extended followers all around the world.
"I am not gonna try this case in the media. It will be tried in the court of justice and dealt with in the court of justice"..."I've been accused, I'm under attack. I want you to know as I said earlier, I am not a perfect man; but this thing, I'm gon'e fight. And I want you to know one other thing, I feel like David, against Goliath but I got 5 rocks, and I haven't thrown one yet."
Privacy Is The Word
The bishop's words may have indicated "fight" and "court" but in the end, a court-battle was the last thing that the bishop wanted. As stated, the settlement avoided the disclosure of details and greater embarrassment on all sides. It appears to be a sealed affair at this point however, it is hard to tell as final agreements and conditions are being made (more than likely) for an undisclosed monetary amount and a measurable plan of action by either Bishop Long, the ministries involved or all parties. The young men, Anthony Flagg, Spencer LeGrande, Jamal Parris and Maurice Robinson , who brought the lawsuit may have been successful in their desire to stop Bishop Long from any further future perceived impropriety against others by exposing the bishop, but may have also, at the same time, lost credibility if monetary conditions are the only ones set forth as a result of the agreement.
As stated, we may never know the real requirements on either side of this agreement as it seems that the terms may actually be permanently closed. The lawyer for the plaintiffs B. J. Bernstein simply stated that there would be no commentary:
"...on this matter, now or in the future."
The Man Worship Continues 
When we first talked about this story in our podcast,
"What Has The Church Become?" I explained that the worshipful nature of how the church received Long especially in light of the scope of the allegations, was disturbing. At the 8:00 AM Service, the crowd cheered and praised him for almost a full 2 minutes and greeted him as if he had conquered the last villain on earth.
The members of New Birth persist in a form of idolatry of the bishop. What we can readily observe is beyond pure support for a member of the Body of Christ. Many of them have entered into a place of unconditional acceptance where there is clearly no standard of accountability required for the bishop. In other words, some of them have basically told the bishop, "we don't care what you do, we'll follow, believe, and support you no matter what!" Neither of these sentiments are biblical, nor do they display the nature or love of God. Yes, God loves unconditionally, but unconditional acceptance breeds responsibility. Where there is no responsibility in response to unconditional love, there is only abuse and excess which will always lead to greater evil.
The failure to understand the requirements of unconditional love is disturbing. Not just for New Birth, but for for all them that seek to define the difference between honoring their leader and standing by their church and worshiping an individual and exalting an individual over and above God, HIS standards and HIS precepts. Much of the commentary about the bishop from his members is almost indiscernible from worship directed toward God himself.
For example, the
Atlanta Journal Constitution reports members to state:
As it pertains to the undisclosed nature of the settlement:
"I'm still steadfast,"..."I know what he's done in my life, and I know what he has done in the lives of others." ~ member Rasheedah Oliver
This sounds like an individual talking about the God of heaven. Unfortunately, this sister is talking about Eddie Long and rationalizing what he has done in her life and done in the lives of others to be the standard by which she is committed to the ministry and ultimately the bishop. As it pertains to the possible improprieties and scope of the allegations themselves and private settlement, another member stated:
"It doesn't make me think he's guilty or anything,"..."I decided when this came out that I loved my pastor unconditionally. Even if he came out and grabbed the mic and said ‘I'm guilty,' it wouldn't change the way I feel about him. I wouldn't be angry like a lot of people are. You can't walk away after 15 years of being a member of a church."..."He's done 1,000 good things,"..."and he may or may not have done four really bad things." ~ member Kamelya Hinson
Once again, this sister states that it wouldn't matter to her if the bishop told everyone that he was guilty of all charges, she loves him and is attached to him without condition. She further states that no matter the 4 "really bad things" that he has done, he's done an insurmountable number of good things, therefore he and it is OK.
Now, the sad thing is that each of the
4 lawsuits contained over 100 counts of improper, unethical and ungodly behavior by the bishop against his victims. Most of the suits included coersion, misappropriation of funds and even one that claimed that the bishop not only performed oral sex on his victims, but that he also performed oral sodomy. This member skirts by some of the most low-life accusations that could be brought against a person and states that none of that matters, even IF he is guilty and reduces some over 400 counts of impropriety and clergy sexual misconduct to simply "4 bad things"...
This is unbelievable! This is IDOLATRY! This is having another God beside, before, and in the presence of, the ONE AND ONLY God of creation. Without doubt, this is against the word of the Lord God himself as he has outlined not only the 1st Commandment but the entire word of God as God mandates our object of worship to be toward him and him alone.
Isaiah 45: 5-6 ~ "5-I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6-That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else."
Where Is The Time Of Reconciliation And Restoration?
2 Cor. 5:18-19 ~ "18-And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19-To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
With the seriousness of the accusations against this pastor, which not only alleged ungodly behavior, but revealed severe and pervasive psychological issues for either the accusers (if lying) or the defendant (if accusations are true), one would think that at a very least there would be some time given and an extension for all sides and parties to heal.
What really drives this point home is that obviously, the bishop in his initial response, did not deny the core allegations against his person or ministry. What he certainly did deny was the allegations of sexual abuse and manipulation levied against himself. Remember, that the allegations included the bishop used money and fame to manipulate the environment, flash material possessions to impress, and use his status to gain access to emotions and feelings that were otherwise off limits. The allegations were also that the bishop used his influence, title and position in a manner unbecoming of bishopric and pastoral leaders.
However, the spokesperson for the church simply stated that the decision to settle as opposed to fight in court was made
"to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry." and that "This resolution is the most reasonable road for everyone to travel,"
What this means is that business regarding this was handled like any other business that should be handled to position the ministry to move on to the next grand adventure. Reconciliation and restoration were not goals of the settlement. "Moving forward with plans" was the whole objective. What this also could mean is that there was enough damaging information on both sides of the case that in the end it would more than likely resemble WW III as opposed to a church, a Christian leader and 4 abused and disappointed followers.
Either way, this is certainly much less than God would require of any and or all of us when confronted with this or similar issue.
Conclusion
We are thankful that this ordeal seems to be over, however neither the Body Of Christ, the modern mega church or any of the parties involved, nor members were edified as a result of this case. We were only brought to more of an open shame.
Some say, "why talk about it, let's move on". That sort of sentiment causes them that buy into it, to miss what God is trying to show us. I believe what he is saying is that our Idols are inadequate and anything built and established by flesh and materialism will not and cannot stand judgement of the Lord. Evidently, neither this pastor nor this church and ministry could stand the judgement of men, yet alone the judgement of God. However, believe me, he will judge.
Revelation 20:12-13 ~ 12-And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13-And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
Blessed!
