by: Pamela Perkins

A recent article entitled, “Why people stick by scandal-plagued pastors” posted on CNN’s Belief Blog, (John Blake, May 27, 2011), begins by discussing the “fallout” around the after-math of allegations of homosexual impropriety against Eddie Long, Pastor of the Atlanta-based New Birth Missionary Church. The article goes on to provide discussion around a list of ministers that have “fallen from grace” over the years for “talking the talk and not walking the walk”. You may know the names: Paulk, Falwell, Haggart, Bakker, etc. etc. etc…

There were a variety of different reasons given by parishioners, sociologist, theologians and others as to why anyone would remain loyal to a [blatant] misuse of church leadership. Perhaps you have your own opinions that are as justifiable in your mind as those shared in the article; well still allow me to add additional one, two or three cents…

What exactly is the role of the Christian Church, the ecclesia, the “called out ones?” Is it to attend a church where bastions of righteousness and piety are placed in the pulpit above the reproach of sin to lead us all to a sinless life? Is it a building where the righteous gather to shine their holy lights on one another? Is it a place where congregants constantly review their check lists of morality between themselves to make sure they will get into heaven? Is it a place where one is judged based on one’s wealth or poverty as agreed upon signs of God’s acceptance? Is it a place that once you receive salvation, you keep it by passing a daily litmus test of do, do and don’t, don’t? Whether the scandal involves adultery, fornication, lying, stealing, sexual harassment, extortion, pedophilia, or any of the dozens of offenses making the headlines today, it is obvious that the church is not a place filled with self-made-sinless people on the stage or in the congregation. Nor do the six and seven figure salaries, fine suits, cars and homes free these ministers from human failings.

When the “verdict” of the Long settlement was announced, a well-known, outspoken theologian and writer was interviewed on a syndicated news show where she stated that she felt Bishop Long “one of the most dangerous men in the pulpit”. Interestingly, this same theologian is a member of the LGBT community. What, this can not be right!? As it is written ... a house divided against itself can not stand…! So what could she possibly stand to gain by making such a statement against Long? I am not equating the two of them at all. Her point was to make her listeners aware that the Down Low culture is active in the Black community/church and pastors such as Long help perpetuate the problem with their closeted activities and hypocritical pulpit rhetoric. For her, the problem was not that Eddie Long may or may not be gay, (she does not believe being gay and being a Christ follower is an oxymoron), but that the Black church propagates a culture of extreme homophobia and denial to the hurt of the Black community, especially its women, the leading contractors of the HIV virus. This is not to say that closeted gay men are the leading transmitters of HIV. We understand the problems of incarcerated men returning “home”, intravenous drug use and other propagators of the deadly disease, but most definitely, Down Low culture is a very detrimental factor. However, it boils down to an entire segment of Black culture scared into silence to OUR OWN HURT! Why would the ecclesia have these concerns within its many-membered body? Only God knows!

Ok, so where am I going with this? Should Eddie Long release his position in the pulpit as a fallen sinner no longer righteous enough to lead his followers? Should he at the least admit any chance that he might be a sinner and throw himself on the mercy of his congregants? (This of course assuming he has already asked God for forgiveness and been collectively absolved by his purported victims.) I, of course, am not the one to answer this question; only God and his parishioners following Christ are. I would think many have left the church feeling that if he would have confessed his sins, then there may have been room for forgiveness, then maybe many have stayed believing God is not through with any of us yet. Is there a place for the community-at-large to cry out in righteous indignation? Time will tell.

The question I would like to ask is: What has happened to the gospel of Christ too often hijacked by the latest pulpit scandal or the current political scapegoat? How would Jesus describe the: hypocrisy, denial, sadness, depression, confusion, anger, lying, scamming, voyeurism, gossip, exploitation, hurt, pain, despair and fallen sinners? Well, if you are in Christ,

1. he would not be surprised,
2. would call you His not-yet-complete children, and
3. welcome you into a life where you do-no-other any harm as you spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is not to trivialize any infraction of one human being to another, being ultimately dealt with by the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Have mercy!

Let God and the ecclesia that learn from Pastor Long – deal with Pastor Long.

Let the rest of the body be fervently distracted with spreading the gospel of the GOOD NEWS and working out our own salvation. It is truly a difficult and different road for everyone called! For sure, something is wrong with the message far too many people around the world hear about Christian gossip and shortcomings, but just as true are the many Christ followers interested in getting about [back to] their Father’s business! Mathew 5:16

P.S. Perkins, Author
Human Communication Institute, LLC
www.hci-global.com