Bishop Eddie Long

(CNN) -- Two Georgia men have filed a lawsuit claiming that prominent Atlanta, Georgia, pastor Eddie Long coerced them into sex.

The suits, filed Tuesday in DeKalb County, Georgia, allege that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop to coerce young male members and employees of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church into sex.

"Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship," the suits allege.

Long is considered one of the nation's top black preachers. His church has more 25,000 members, according to the suit, and was the site of Coretta Scott King's 2006 funeral, attended by then-President George W. Bush and three previous presidents. King was the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

... more:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/21/georgia.pastor.abuse/index.html?hpt=T1

Let us pray. Eddie Long has a church that he helped plant less than 2 miles from my house. It is a MASSIVE church in this area.

If these allegations are true then this is indeed horrific! These allegations could also spark others to come out with more allegations against this man in time. "Be sure your sin will find you out;" if not in this world then that Great Day of Judgment. It is a promise of God that we reap what we sow. Let us not jump to judgment though friends; for these claims could also be false. For God's Name sake I hope they are.

Hopefully it's a false accusation. If it's not may the Lord bring true repentance and faith.

I am powerfully reminded of Art Katz' words after the 'Great' Paul Cain fell. He said the Lord Himself was unravelling a garment that has been created by men. As He unravells that garment more and more ministers and ministries will be seen for what they are. I vividly rememmber him saying, "and you can be sure that it will not in there"(the falling of Paul Cain).

Even the Apostle Paul said if he didnt keep under his body he himself would become a castaway after he preached to others. This I beleive is where many are falling. No seasons of fasting. No more seasons of late night tarryings before the Lord. No more seasons of early morning risings. Therefore the flesh rises up and takes position of the will. May we give ourselves to continually giving our flesh a black eye that we too will not become castaways. May the Lord heal and restore the breach in the mans life.

My brother,
I'm usually in agreement with your posts but this.....?

'This is one of many celebrity preachers who are habitually living in sin'

These allegations could be true or not but until the facts come out, I would hold off on making such a broad, sweeping comment.

Just my $0.02

Hi Theophila...

I don't think that Greg (SermonIndex) was necessarily speaking about the allegations of homosexual relations between Long and students from Long's school.

This "pastor" (Eddie Long) is one of the advocates of the modern "prosperity" message. It encourages individuals to covet the material things of this world. This covetous mindset is undoubtedly a sin. It teaches people to long for the things that people in this world enjoy -- and then claims that it is a godly attitude. It is a gross distortion of Scripture and the heart of God.

Eddie Long is a multi-millionaire who made millions of dollars every year from his "ministry." This fact was enough to encourage Congress to investigate his status as a "non-profit" ministry. Like Benny Hinn, Paula White and other advocates of this wicked nonsense, it has the potential of taking people's eyes off of the eternal and causing them to focus on the temporary things of this Earth.

Eddie Long might not be guilty in regard to the homosexual actions with students that he has been accused of by four young men. However, he has been preaching a sinful message for years. He has wallowed in greed and attributed such greed as a virtue. He literally preaches such greed from the pulpit. Believers are not supposed to be fixated upon a "want" for the riches of this world. We are supposed to be like Abraham who constantly looked elsewhere as he sought for a city whose builder and maker is God.

So, perhaps this is what Greg was alluding to?

HomeSkoolDad,

You an rest assured that if Eddie Long would be found innocent as charged there will be many on this forum who will be pleased.

No one is pleased when a Christian - professing or hypocrite - is found guilty of immorality. It will cause the ungodly to scoff at the Gospel. When David raped Bathsebath scriptures says it caused the ungodly to blaspheme. 2Samuel 12:14.

Then one has to consider the prosperity gospel Long has been preaching....apparently it is effective because according to the news reports he drives a $300,000 car...had no idea a car could cost this much unless it is gold plated throughout - maybe this report is wrong?

ginnyrose

Hi HomeSkoolDad...

You wrote: "If people wanted to discuss his doctrine, and show the error of his teachings that's one thing. But so far no one has."

I thought that I just did.

I don't know if he is guilty or innocent of secret sexual relationships with young men. I won't even make such a claim or pass judgment on that.

However, I did point out the sinful errors of his prosperity teachings.

Hi HomeskoolDad,

I felt you were a bit hasty in your criticism of some of the comments here. I did not detect that there was any self rightious attitudes in what was posted. I don't know anything about this preacher apart from reading a report the other day. The point is it does concern us as Christians as this man is proclaiming himself a representative of Jesus Christ. The thing is, if he is teaching a false gospel (properity) and living an immoral life, then this is very relevant and the church needs to take note. Mark them and avoid!

I remember it being pointed out to me (many years ago) that false teaching and immoral lifesyles always go together. Take a look at all the sciptures that talk about false teachers, whether in the gospels or the epistles and you will see that both go hand in hand. I have also seen this many times over the years; the immorality may not be evident for some time (even when the false teaching is), but it is later exposed and then you find out they have been practising it for many years.

I hope you do not think I am self righteously pointing the finger. That is not my motive. I do not think highly of my self and know of myself I am unrighteous and unworthy, but a receipient of God's mercy and grace.

I like what Ginnyrose said, we must not condone sin regardless of whose life it is in, we must search and seek for God's loving mercy no matter who has been either charged or found guilty.

Let every man be a liar, and let us allow God to be truth in everything.

I remember it being pointed out to me (many years ago) that false teaching and immoral lifesyles always go together. Take a look at all the sciptures that talk about false teachers, whether in the gospels or the epistles and you will see that both go hand in hand. I have also seen this many times over the years; the immorality may not be evident for some time (even when the false teaching is), but it is later exposed and then you find out they have been practising it for many years.

I never noticed this before...glad you pointed this out.

I did notice that if a person is guilty of one sin, there will be others present as well - they just may not be as obvious as the one that is glaringly evident. James 2:10. In other words, a body cannot be guilty of one isolated sin and be pure otherwise. For example, if one is stealing, there will be covetousness, strife, etc....

Thanks for sharing, Dave.

ginnyrose

I can't really comment much, I have only heard his name before, I don't know anything about him. I guess we will all know more about him in the near future, when he is run through our justice system, it's not the best system, but it's all we have. I will wait and comment on this again, after the verdict, because until after the verdict, who really knows what this person has done or not done. I do think regardless of the outcome, all parties involved could probably use some Prayer, and this is what I personally will be doing.
Mr. Bill