Am I the only one whose head’s still spinning from the latest news surrounding Atlanta’s New Birth Pastor Eddie Long? First it was rumored that he was going to step down after allegations came this May he had sexual relations with four young men in his ministry, then he stayed, with support from his congregation and his family,… only to announce this Saturday that he would step down – this time because of his wife Vanessa Long.
Vanessa Long created a media frenzy Friday after she announced, then retracted, only for her lawyers to announce again, that she was/is officially filing for a divorce from her Bishop husband who has also become known for wearing extra “smedium” shirts at the pulpit to show off his masculine physique and as if this wasn’t inappropriate enough, sending pictures of himself, wearing the same attire, to teen boys under his leadership.
Now, I don’t know how the rest of you feel about this – although I am anxious to read your comments and replies to this blog – but this is some ish if I’ve ever seen (or read about) it. These people seem beyond confused (in more than one way) to me.
But what’s even more mind-boggling or blowing (no pun intended to everyone, except Mr. Long) are the responses from “Christians” (Vanessa Long included) on the matter. Many have come out publicly to support Long (STILL) despite his obvious wrong-doings. They use the W.W.J.D. (what would Jesus do ?) ideology to justify this, saying “who are we to judge”; “we need to pray for him and ask God for healing”.
I say, what about healing for those young men and all those who have been molested, especially in the black community where the embarrassment from such occurrences and the stigma associated with being looked at as being “Gay” have kept our pride thick and mouths closed?
Why would our children want to tell what’s happened to them when society and the people they think they’ll be able to trust will just support the monsters that did this to them? Because they did it in Jesus’ wonderful name? And how can we as a people expect these things not to continue if we don’t blast our disapproval for the sin publicly? I mean, after all, most Christians usually have so much to say about everything and everyone else of the “World”.
Like the time I got an e-mail from members of my church asking me to boycott Madonna for her video where she supposedly committed blasphemy by using herself as an image of Christ in one of her music videos. Don’t get me wrong, I am a Christian and I do believe in forgiveness and trying not to commit the sin of being judgmental, but let these statistics do the judging for us.
More than 50 percent of sexual offenders (pastors or not) re-offend again. Sexual gratification is not a primary motivation for an offender. Power, control, and anger are more likely to be the primary motivators. In the majority of cases, abusers gain access to their victims through deception and enticement, seldom using force. Abuse typically occurs within a long-term, ongoing relationship between the offender and victim and escalates over time.
The members of New Birth, Vanessa Long and the Black Christian community need to recognize Eddie Long for what he has the potential to be (if he isn’t what he seems to be already)… and stop letting a so-called man of the cloth continue to pull his wool over their eyes.
I say put the brother out!
Written By: Frenchi Jones
