Sunday, September 26: Target practice

While “innocent until proven guilty” might be the motto of the judicial system of the United States, front page news makes a much larger impact than a page-34 retraction. This week saw major allegations against yet another televangelist/mega-church pastor, as Eddie Long, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church of Lithonia, Georgia, was accused by four, unrelated young men of sexual coercion. The leader of the 30,000+ member congregation vehemently has denied the allegations, though he has admitted to taking the young men on trips to Africa, South Africa and various places in an attempt to widen their world visions. Certainly, without more proof, Long should not be guilty in our minds, yet his lifestyle and “prosperity gospel” messages make him an easy target for Satan’s demonic host.


Every believer has a target on his head. Knowing that Satan cannot take away God’s greatest gift to us in our salvation, instead, demonic forces attempt to take away our greatest gift back to God, our testimonies of what He has accomplished in each of our lives. Paul writes to us in Ephesians of the spiritual battle that will continue for each believer while in this world:


10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13


With truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and God’s Word protecting us in different facets, God is the one who keeps us safe. If Long is guilty of the allegations, it is easy to see how he could have lost that protection. Can you imagine the additional harm to his congregation if he denies the allegations if guilty, much less the harm to the young men? Adding sin to previous sin by lying certainly does not glorify our God who forgives. Righteousness does not include walking in ways contrary to the teaching of the Bible. Peace cannot flow like a river when we disregard God’s truth. At the same time, faith involves God supplying our needs, while the hunger for earthly prosperity conflicts waiting on the Lord to resolve every conflict. Questioning a pastor’s salvation is God’s job, as only He can see inside the heart, yet if these allegations are true, at the very least, Long has lost sight of his own accountability. Lastly, God’s Word is at the center of it all. Satan knows the words of the Bible better than Long, and with years of practice, can trip any man not relying on God. Once again, preaching earthly prosperity when God only promises heavenly blessings demonstrates a desire to be like the world, and additionally, leads many others astray. Some sorrowfully say that thousands of people are relying on Long, yet therein lies the problem. If those people were trusting instead in Jesus, they would have enough spiritual acumen to see that following a pastor with a $3 million yearly salary, who drives a $350,000 Bentley and wears $5,000 suits, contradicts the words of Jesus:


For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Luke 18:25


Eddie Long is another member of a growing number of pastors, who (allegedly) have stumbled mightily, bringing to mind the well-known saying, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” With a long list of other pastors in similar positions, (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_evangelist_scandals), we should not lose sight of the fact that God allowed this to happen for His purposes. Either He is discrediting a charlatan, who is preying on believers for his own financial stability while leading them down a path of lies (not to mention preying on impressionable young men), or God has allowed the allegations in order to strengthen the flock against attack. In the midst of the process, though, the name of God is dragged through the proverbial mud, as unbelievers look at Long’s status and equate his message to that of all believers. Thinking we are all filled with the same hypocrisy, those unbelievers push further away from God. The difference between Christians and non-Christians is not the presence of sin in our lives; it is the forgiveness of that sin!

The lesson for all believers is the importance of our walk with the Lord. We can demonstrate God’s love for us in how we reflect His love. Certainly, we all are sinners, saved by grace, and will continue to fall. Yet how we respond to the failure of our own sin points to God. Lest we forget, we are accountable to Him for every decision that we make, and certainly, pastors carry a greater accountability to God, as their words can lead others astray. Follow God, not man! Read God’s Word daily to ensure that when pastors are not speaking truth we will not be led astray. Don’t glorify man, but glorify God. Lastly, don’t forget that there is a target on your head, as well. The more work that you are doing for the kingdom of God, the larger that target will grow, as Satan will send more powerful, fallen angels to do battle with you! Yet never forget, the battle is the Lord’s!


My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
James 3:1