Bishop Eddie Long has addressed his congregation for the second time since he has been accused of luring young men into sexual relationships and using church funds to give them cash, gifts and cars. The embattled pastor delivered his usual Tuesday night sermon and again did not deny the allegations. "I'm not talking about specific individuals, this is spiritual warfare," the pastor claimed.
"You're not talking about me," Long said later in his sermon. "You're touching God's order!"
Tuesday night's service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church began with a group prayer from fellow ministers who are beginning a week-long prayer for the embattled pastor. And to continue a trend we first saw on Sunday, thousands of churchgoers gave thunderous applause to the pastor accused of using church funds to buy cars and give cash to teenage boys. Watch CBS Atlanta's report plus video of the sermon AFTER THE JUMP ....
What bothers me about Eddie Long is that he never came out said I am not guilty...Additionally, if he had love for the congregation he would step down temporarily and handle this privately, letting the people in his church worship without the cloud over their church. Its a shame he has allowed his pride to destroy a ministry from what I read was doing some great work...but as I have been told, For whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad with power...Just my two cents...
Posted by: Charles | 29 September 2010 at 11:08
Classic strategy-- he turns this into "this is an attack on all of us!" This is how to get the troops in line, tell them that they are also under attack and that they need to fight for themselves.
As Rod correctly pointed out, why aren't these people asking the very sensible and tough questions about how their money was spent? Why were church funds used to employ these young men (were they doing church work)? Why would church funds be used to buy them gifts, establish residences, etc.?
Is anybody there paying attention!?!
Posted by: kevjack | 29 September 2010 at 11:13
Such ARROGANCE. He makes me sick. "Touching God's Order"? Is HE for real? Since when is touching God's order having sexual relations with young teenage boys? This man has no shame. No humility. This isn't a spiritual warfare Eddie. No one is questioning your spirituality, more like questioning your sexuality. When Ted Haggard was caught, he didn't have this air of arrogance like Eddie does.
Posted by: Fred | 29 September 2010 at 11:20
I know "I" ALWAYS pick my church and minister by the Underarmour shirts they wear.... WTF!!??
Posted by: Rodney | 29 September 2010 at 11:25
If Bishop Long is “God’s order,” then I will just have to be a happy heathen.
@Kevjack: You are so right. Long is using the strategy the rightwingers always use: “We are embattled. There is a powerful enemy out there who is attacking all of us.” He actually said in the video above, “The world is trying to put sheets over you and send you to the morgue.”
And he says this while he is the one with the money, he is the one with the power, and he has been attacking and causing suffering in a much less powerful community, all in order to acquire more money and power for himself.
Understand: To 25,000 people in his congregation, and now to many others who listen to this man’s sermons, we are not now merely sinners. We are the Enemy.
LOL @Rodney.
Posted by: Jim | 29 September 2010 at 11:51
He is utterly DISGUSTING!!
His arrogance and defiance is typical of a seasoned sociopath!
Posted by: Black Pegasus | 29 September 2010 at 12:19
The "fellow ministers" are really not there to pray for Eddie Long. They are there to pray that their collection plates will be full on Sundays to come. No longer can they use the Bible to talk about Gays. Once this ish is over with, people will look twice at any Pastor who talks about gays with a side-eye.
Also here in Atlanta, did you know that Eddie Long has a pimp, ooops I mean Penthouse and apartment in MIDTOWN Atlanta? Everyone one knows that Midtown Altanta Ground zeor for White Gay Atlanta.
Lastly, reports are coming out that staff said that only young black males were seen coming and going from the office.Posted by: AJ | 29 September 2010 at 13:05
Does anyone know what the word "enabler" means?
The people in that showplace are Mr. Long's enablers.
Posted by: chamblee54 | 29 September 2010 at 13:54
He is so ugly both on the inside and outside that I can't
Posted by: nathans | 29 September 2010 at 14:00
What's up with him and iPads?!?!? Does he have an endorsement?
Posted by: Alex863 | 29 September 2010 at 14:36
Amazing how gullible people are - I am dumbfounded.
Posted by: Ronnie | 29 September 2010 at 15:29
@Nathans: I agree with you. The muscle shirts, the zoot suits, the greasy hair, the big top and chicken-leg bottom. The whole package is just awful. He's even worse on the inside and surely an egomaniac. I'm throwing up in mouth right now.
Posted by: chris w. | 29 September 2010 at 17:25
LOL at expecting the Bishop to step down! Do you honestly believe that a twisted, selfish, calculating mind would ever risk stepping aside, albeit temporarily, to risk not regaining his throne? They will have to drag him outta there in handcuffs, kicking and screaming (like a big ol queen).
Posted by: tdmoderator | 29 September 2010 at 19:05
I've been reviewing this situation from the beginning and in my opinion I believe that this "Church" is no more than a cult where Eddie Long is the leader. This is very similiar to the Jim Jones situation where blacks worship the man and not the religion.
Posted by: slugger103 | 29 September 2010 at 19:06
I(blk myself) can't stand black religious folk. The follow blindly and easily brainwash but I get it why... the Bible speaks to straight folks. It doesn't speak to gays. It tells me I'm going to burn in hell and etc. Not one of these str8 folks have first hand knowledge of what happens when you die. Never will they be able to answer that question because NO ONE can come back from death to say where they been. Eddie long is using these brainwashed individuals to keep his great lifestyle cause the world operates by one thing... MONEY! And if you ain't got it, then you're going to struggle to stay alive, literally.
Posted by: blacknine | 29 September 2010 at 21:08
WTF??? "This ain't a time to be smart"?!?! I'm sorry, but I'm sick of hearing black men like this idiot saying these things that actually hurt the Black community as a whole. If we "took the time to be smart", we wouldn't have pastors like this idiot and con artist on the pulpit.
Anyway, his sermon sounded like a CEO, who knows he's done wrong, trying to save his job and brainwash his investors (aka the dumb sheep in his church) to have enough confidence in him to keep him employed. Actually, the more I think of it, he sounds like a CEO threatening his investors that if he's forced out of the corporation (church), that all hell will break loose and everything will destabilize.
By the way, is it me or were there a few obvious-looking queens in that audience eying and flirting with him.
oh and that shirt?? Who's he trying to convince that he's not some big old muscle queen???
Posted by: apres moi | 29 September 2010 at 23:00
If you guys wanna Laugh at the expense of Wig Wearing Eddie, then watch this video parody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef28sdiBaxQ
It's the sermon he really wanted to give...LMAO!!
Posted by: Black Pegasus | 29 September 2010 at 23:34
Totally tragic. This guy is insane and taking all these poor souls with him. I hope justice prevails and his victims find peace (the ones we know about and I'm sure there are many others we don't know about!).
Posted by: Alex | 30 September 2010 at 12:50
ignorant people will believe anything if you yell loud enough.
Posted by: anton | 01 October 2010 at 18:32
Cult of personality. The SHAME is on the "congregation" as well.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
You can't put *anything* past *anybody*
Posted by: Nevets Nonnacs | 01 October 2010 at 23:19