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This is a personal weblog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, friends or associates who may visit this blog or post their own opinions. In addition, my thoughts and opinions change from time to time…I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind and student of experience. This weblog is intended to provide a semi-permanent point in time snapshot and manifestation of the various memes running around my brain, and as such any thoughts and opinions expressed within out-of-date posts may not the same, nor even similar, to those I may hold today. I consider the human race to be an evolving entity. Our views and standings in life are equally subject to our experiences, future knowledge, readings, and associations with other members of the human race. We should be allowed to be human and to be as the Creator intended, a free-will and independent entity who will err from time to time. Enjoy a trip around my brain.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Do We Save the Bishop?

At the time of the Jedi's writing on this blog, a fourth young man has come forth claiming the Pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church located just outside of Atlanta, Georgia coerced him into sexual acts while he was a member of the mega church. The Bishop has since denied the accusations and has hired an attorney to defend him in the mounting civil suits. A separate civil suit has also been filed against the New Birth church claiming they knew of the Bishop's behaviors over the years and failed to inform them of the potential risks. Surely this will be a tale of talk for some time to come. SO where do we go from here? Well, here's how I see it.

The Bishop presides over a 25,000 member church and has directed the paths of thousands of followers over the years. He has counseled them, prayed with them and for them, he has lifted them up from the worst areas of our society and he has offered salvation to many who did not have it upon joining New Birth. There are literally thousands of individuals today who are living a life style that many would consider upstanding. They are at the very least "better" than they were prior to the Bishop. Undoubtedly, there are just as many who will denounce the Bishop for the allegations levied against him today. They will find (and have found) ease in a quick condemnation and perhaps time will show them correct. But what if it doesn't? Will those same people rush to ask him for forgiveness as they rushed to classify him as a sex offender or a predator? I think not. There are those who are saying he should step down, that he's not qualified to lead the flock any longer. People say he's a hypocrite and should go away before he causes any further damage. People are very quick at distancing themselves from trouble. When you are doing well or earning money you are the best thing since sliced bread and everyone sings your praises however, once you step in it you are the plague or the Anti-Christ. This is not new, it's the nature of man. We like to blame others to overshadow our own insecurities and to keep from dealing with pain. It's a natural process for us. The Lord knew that when he created us. He gave us free will because he didn't want to create blind followers. He allows us to deal with our short comings in order to grow.

But what about the Bishop? Is he somehow less qualified to lead New Birth than he was last week or last year? Is he less qualified to inspire greatness because of these four young men? Does this accusation magically take away his knowledge of the Word and leave him less of a man of God? If the allegations turn out to be true, does that mean all the lives and all the people he and New Birth have saved and have given brighter outlooks are negated? Is the man who was a drunk and a drug addict and is now living upstanding and a family man because of his attendance at New Birth or from his hearing the message delivered by the Bishop supposed to recant his gift? Should we declare all the good insignificant because of this action? I don't think that's right. In fact, I think it's anti-christian. I think now is the right time for the people who have been shown the glory of God and what he can do (and has done) to stand up and say we support the Bishop guilty or not. He has done wonderful things for us. If he is determined to be guilty, they should (we should) give him the same guidance, support and love he (and New Birth) has given those whom no one else cared about.

Now, I'm not one of those bleeding heart types who believes everyone is capable of redemption. I mean there are those of us who are just too embodied with evil to turn away. After all, the devil has his army as well. The point is, however, this world is too filled with the "what have you done for me lately" mentality. You can be a hero for millions for years and then fail to pay your taxes or you run a stop sign or you hit your wife or you are found guilty of BEING A HUMAN BEING with occasional lapses in judgment, then you are placed in the category of loser. I don't think this is fair. We are all human and we are born with imperfection so we should be allowed to err once in awhile.

This is just my $.02 as the CHICAGO JEDI! What's yours?

1 comment:

  1. Your perspective and compassionate but I respectfully disagreement in part. Mr. Long's transgressions (if proven true) are in my rationale too egregious to just be waived off as human failings. Yes we all fall short of the glory of God and we will have a price to pay for our sins. However, Long was placed in a position of power like all religious leaders. His duty to his congregation and the delivery of the Word is of the highest calling. Yes he has done good work for thousands I'm sure, but to have used his position of leader, and in some ways father, to manipulate those young men is not only abhorrent to the church he represents but also appropriately illegal. Yes we all have been "found guilty of BEING A HUMAN BEING with occasional lapses in judgment," but this was more than a lapse. The allegations assert that his behavior was continuous and a persistent abuse. This is something I am not ready to waive off as just as being human.

    I am no saint, far from it, but I do believe in the old fashioned right and wrong. For full disclosure,I am especially sensitive to the type of crime he is accused. I am a survivor of sexual abuse and I know the hell that a person has to go to get reasonably well and whole. Any man or woman who uses a potentially beautiful thing for evil is low and deserves persecution to the fullest extent of the law. I will pray for the truth and that God heals all his victims... the boys, the church and its followers.

    Thank you so much for sharing this well written piece.

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