Monday, September 27, 2010

Eddie Long Schlong

If you have been living under a rock for the last week, let me clue you in on what is going on. Eddie Long is the “appointed pastor” of a huge Baptist Church named New Birth in Lithonia, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta. This week the breaking news about Eddie Long Schlong is: he has participated in some sort of sexual activity with at least four young men at his church....allegedly. Now these young men are suing Long AND New Birth, asserting that the church had a duty to warn them about Long's proclivities and that Long convinced them that a sexual relationship was “a healthy component of their spiritual life.” OK, wow.

If that is not disturbing enough, this...man... got up in front of a cheering church today to say that he is fighting these allegations. He then compared himself to David, going up against Goliath, five stones available for his fight and he “hasn't thrown one yet.” There are several problems with this. Let me rephrase that: I have several problems with this. For one moment, let's all forget that he may have plied four young men with electronics, cars, money- church money- and clothes so that he could get some sexual gratification. Maybe he didn't do it. It is possible- I guess. Maybe he didn't send those now infamous pictures to teen-aged boys, so they would continue their sexual relationships with him. Maybe he didn't take advantage of his position as the “pastor” of a mega church, gleaning from the flock who he could devour. Let's even forget that if he DID have sexual relations with the four men that have come forward he could have swayed their life in ways unseen. Let's just focus on the David comparison and the cheering.

Here on our local news there was coverage on the people who actually attend New Birth. One lady said from inside her car that “even if he is guilty, we will stand by him no matter what.” What the hell did she say? I don't care who he is, or what inspirational phrases he says in church, if it is proven that this man used his position to prey on young men, this chick will stand by him? Is this a repeat of Jonestown? Listen carefully people- the only person that deserves that kind of dedication is the God you serve. I guess through her statements, we know who this lady's God is. While I am not one to second guess anyone's religion choice, I am super suspicious that there seems to be an undying devotion to this man- from this woman, and what seems like the whole church. What about the young men coming out against him? I mean he walked into church service this morning and it was standing ovation time. Really? That reaction is exactly why more men of the cloth are participating in and getting caught up in sex scandals throughout the world. Where is the doubt? Where are the questioning people? Where is the outrage? Where are the parents that are unwilling to turn their children over to pedophiles? How is it that church members that were marching with this man, protesting homosexual acts and same sex marriage, are now marching in defense of his homosexual acts? Does that make sense? Of course not. Am I surprised? Of course not. Let me state this plainly: blind faith in a man does not guarantee you a place in heaven. You can't buy your way in and the man you are following is not who you need to impress. Priest, bishop, pastor, reverend whoever- they all work for someone else... well, they are all supposed to be working for someone else. We should all keep that in mind.

The reference to David did not go unnoticed by people who know the Bible. Now I am not claiming expert status, but I do know the story of King David- and I will paraphrase it for those of you who don't know. David was known for following his penis into less than noble places. He lusted after another man's wife (Bathsheba), fornicated with her and impregnated her. If that was not enough, he arranged to have her husband killed in battle, so he could have her all to himself. (2 Samuel chapter 11) So, are we to conclude that the latest young man who came forward and said that Long Schlong helped him move to Atlanta to be closer to him, gave him a car and cash AND told him not to have any girlfriends would be Bathsheba in the story? Is Eddie Long Schlong's Goliath the truth? Who has he eliminated so that he can take advantage of these boys? Their parents? Schlong should tell everyone what happened after David displeased the Lord. Calamity came upon his house and what he did in secret was brought to light... and the first son he and Bathsheba had died. I wonder if this scandal will kill Schlong's child (New Birth)? {Side note: New Birth is definitely Long's child. When he was appointed in 1987 there were 150 members, currently membership is bordering on 30,000.}

David paid a steep price for disappointing God, and although we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory, I truly believe that if pastor Long Schlong is indeed guilty of these acts the price he pays will be steep- and justifiably so. What are your opinions? How do you think this will pan out?

3 comments:

Tiffany said...

First off, love the "Long Schlong" nickname. Its perfect for such a tragic, vain-glorious story. I'm not surprised by either the background story or the reaction of the congregation. Our "culture" (read: traditional black folk) is trained (read: brainwashed) to put "leaders"/or just about anyone with prominent cultural positions on pedestals and turn the other cheek when scandals/misdeeds/ and just plain wrongness arise. It extends beyond the pulpit-entertainment (R. Kelly), sports (O.J.), and there is another arena that I won't mention for my sheer safety....but its tried and true...and sad.

Faith said...

Thanks for the link. I'll just be blunt - these people do NOT know God. Or should I say God doesn't know them? This is a microsm of what ails the black community. They don't want to hear nothing about nothing. These are the people going to hell in the afterlife for being willfully ignorant while watching the entire collective go down the tubes. God can only do but so much when we have free will to ignore ALL COMMON SENSE. Those males he abused are just the tip of the iceberg.

Miss Mox said...

@Tiffany- Thanks for the comment, lovely. I agree. I think that blacks are brainwashed into believing whatever is fed them by those in "charge" but here is the plain and simple truth- you have to live life for nobody but you. If Eddie Long Schlong was being accused by MY son, I would be in jail!!

@Faith- thank you for the response! I hope these men are not the tip of the iceberg... I hope there is an end in sight for the suffering at New Birth. All we can do is keep them in our prayers and make sure that we continue to let our light shine, so they can figure out the right things to do!! :)

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