Prosperity or Punishment?

I wasn't gonna post another blog for a while... Nothing was really stirring me. The elections this season were lackluster, to say the very least. My book, though finished, I didn't feel that this was the proper place for advertising ("The El-P" available for digital download and physical purchase December 2010!!! BUY BOTH COPIES!!! HELP FEED MY BABIES!... sorry...). Anyway, I was calmly stalking through my Facebook news feed a few days ago when I stumbled across a link to a CNN story about the right reverend Bishop Eddie Long. For my faithful readers, my last post was about him and the legal issues he's been facing lately. Well, I don't like giving other folks shine for ignorance, and I won't start now, but the journalist of said piece... how do I put it... he or she (okay, it was a HE for you nosey types) was attempting to piggyback on the recent attention any writer has recieved by mentioning (and tagging) Bishop Long in an online story, and his story started off attempting to dissect a past sermon of Bishop Long's where he preached "sex from the pulpit." That's not my beef... well, not ALL my beef. Since I began preaching, and honestly even before then, I knew that the absolute WORST thing someone could do is attempt to take a controversial part of a sermon and expect someone not in attendance, and especially people who may or may not have a relationship with God, to not draw negative conclusions from sound bites and exaggerated blurbs. Case in point, my pastor preached a sermon a few weeks ago about proper sexual relationships (primarily those between married men and women) to which point he said, "It's your DUTY, to please that BOOTY!" Now, to an outsider, not knowing the context of scripture, the mood in and of the congregation, the purpose or biblical reference of the statement made, not to mention if he the person reading has had an unforunate and traumatic experience with a person of the cloth, or if that person of the cloth is embroiled in a very public, very biased sexual misconduct legal situation, that makes it quite difficult and confusing to understand, right? But, I digress... what really grinds my gears is the conversations and comments that resulted from the post. Now, any other time in my life, I wouldn't have give a second thought to the ramblings of people who don't like preachers. I don't like a lot of preachers, for varying reasons... But what I had a problem with I shared with my brother, and now you, as a reader. When did being well-off become a crime? I'll have biblical reference to back up any claims I make, but, I'm honestly a tad lost at the initial thought behind that question. In a country where we pay athletes hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars to run up and down fields and courts, where we shell out billions to let the music and movie industries push crappy music and movies into our homes, where people like this >>>>>> <<<<<<< (or this) get famous without having any ascertainable skills or talent... IF AT ALL!!! You mean that Diddy can make 6 adults walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn for cheesecake, or Flavor Flav can have a house full of scantily clad (I mean lacking dignity, but the other way fits, too) women physically fighting and embarassing themselves on national television, all to gain HIS affections... or Donald Trump can hire and fire other rich people all for the sake of the mighty dollar, but a preacher can't own and drive a nice car and have a beautiful home to live in?!? Seriously, folks, (especially my fellow believers) even the Bible says "... the worker deserves his wages." (1 Timothy 5:18) Now, don't misunderstand the text, as preachers we are instruments of the true and living God (If you disagree, we can talk later), and 90-99% of what we do on Sundays, Wednesdays, or whenever you need to hear a Word from Him, is Him working THROUGH a flawed vessel. But, don't underestimate that 1-10%. That is the time we spend on OUR faces, praying on YOUR behalf! That is time spent fasting, denying our PHYSICAL well-being for your SPIRITUAL well-being! That is time studying to gain a greater understanding of the parables God has given us to decipher for your breakthrough! And that requires work! "But Rob, that's just a cop out!" If that's what you believe, then why is it that 57% of pastors would leave the pastorate if they had somewhere to go or a vocation of ANY kind? The stress that accompanies the ministry doesn't only affect the minister, but his/her family as well... What sane person wants to put that kind of trauma on the people they love? 1,500 pastors leave their ministry every month... and this isn't a job that offers early retirement packages, 401ks, etc... Along with doctors and lawyers, the CLERGY has the most problems with drug and alcohol abuse, as well as high suicide rates. That 1-10% sound important, yet?

But, I digress, yet again...

I was upset at the fact that people use the basis of a minister's income or net worth as a barometer of whether or not he is an effective or ineffective vessel. I heard an influential pastor preaching a while back, and his analogy struck a chord with me. He said that people are never satisfied with the money a minister has... If you stand before a group of people, wearing a beautiful tailored suit, gators (or whatever shoe they wear), drive a Mecedes, and live in Geist (an affluent area in my hometown where athletes, politicians, business owners, and the like reside), then the people are already tuned out because they've made up their mind about what kind of preacher you are and they are expecting you to preach exclusively about money. But, on the flipside, if you're wearing an ill-fitted or shabby suit, shoes beat up (or you're wearing gym shoes with a dress suit), drive a Dodge POS (Al Bundy status), and live in some shack of a house/apartment, then you're not BLESSED?!?! Ain't that a kick in the head? My brother told me that he personally isn't against a preacher having money, but why does he have to have EXCESS? I chuckled at that comment. Most preachers have families... children, wives, possibly grandchildren, which means they want to provide the same opportunities and chances to future genertions that any sound businessperson would. Does Bill Gates need 50+ BILLION dollars?!? Does, Facebook founder (and 26 year-old mogul) Mark Zuckerberg need 6.9 billion? The bible calls us to be good stewards over what we have been blessed with, and if I make my provisions work for me, and reap the benefit of my additions multiplying, is that sin? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Okay, maybe the pic is a bit overzealous, but, I do believe God when David said that his cup runneth (or past tense "ranneth") over or, "Test me in this, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." (a little Malachi 3:10). My obligation to God lies in my obedience to His command of tithing (giving back 10% in firstfruits) to Him, through the "storehouse" aka, the church. Now, I don't stop there, either, because I am commanded to give an offering (sacrifice) as well, not in atonement for sin, but for charity and the better serving of the community by the church. In order for me to be in a position to recieve immeasurable blessings, I must BE an immeasurable blessing... See what Divine math will teach you? You gain based on how you give. And I'm not talking immediate return, but I do know that God makes provisions happen, when they NEED to happen! But, you're thinking, "Rob, what does that have to do with prosperity?" Everything! If I preach a message of reaping, I must mention in that same message about sowing, because who harvests fruit without first planting a seed?

Look, this is how I've grown to feel. As always, it's my opinion first, and much like any one of you reading, we're ALL entitled to one. I welcome your comments, questions, and discussions about how "preachers preaching money is wrong", and "preachers having more money than the church is horrible." Ultimately, it's a level that not all will understand or experience... But one thing I will NEVER, EVER do is complain, supress, depress, and not celebrate the blessings my God has given me. So, if you don't agree with how I celebrate God's goodness, take it up with the Blessor, not the blessee...

Peace+Love

Who Are We?

It was bound to happen... Two weeks of hearing about it, constantly conversing about it at work, even engaging in different discussions at work was bound to have me take to my personal spot and start venting, espousing, and generally rambling about the Bishop Eddie Long Scandal. Now, before I get too deep, I want to remind all of you reading this, that, despite what I think, ultimately God is the only one in complete truth about this ordeal, and He and He ALONE is the only one in authority to pass judgement on those guilty or innocent. So, even if proven guilty, Bishop, you and your family are in my prayers.

Now, I, like many, am left in the dark, asking so many questions about this predicament. Bishop Long has stated, personally and through his attourney, that he will not allow this to be judged in the court of public opinion... I'll start right there. Bishop (I'm pretending that he is a loyal reader of my blog, here...), as a minister of the faith, I understand why you feel that way, but, I don't agree with it. Let's face facts, you're the leader of a globally reknowned church, with both political, spiritual, and entertainment ties to the public at large. You are a charming and charismatic figure, who, though known in circles as a humble servant, has not escaped the slings and barbs of public critcism based on the flaunting of wealth, as well as your penchant as minister of the "prosperity movement." Bishop... (prayerfully he's still reading), this went to the public jury two hours after CNN broke the story. Damage control needs to be in order, though, I must admit, you and your staff are handling this with the utmost class and tact. I know, I know you made statements to the New Birth body... that was appropriate. They are the ones who will be affectedly directly by the outcome/resoltuion of this, but, for those outside of Lithonia, GA... those of us who feel ministered to via internet, radio, and televison, we need a statement. We need a wod of consolation, a simple word, "I'm fighting this; this is untrue..." Something not read from an IPad or dictated to a paralegal. Sincere words that will help us keep confidence in your innocence. You don't wanna talk to Don Lemon or Anderson Cooper, definitely not Bill O'Reiley, fine. Mo'Nique is probably salivating to get you on her couch... toss the fluffy female Arsenio a bone (she reminds us of why we loved Oprah at first)... Tom Joyner has called... for our Caucasian friends, Larry King or Barbara Walters are pretty tame these days! But, please, get out and say SOMETHING!

As a great segue, Brother Jamal... (I'll pretend that he's reading, too) I'll share this simply with you: Listen to your legal counsel. She's trying hard to win you a lot of money (be it fairly or unfairly), and if you and your co-plantiffs lose, based on you getting caught outside a Walmart and basically giving statements about Bishop Long, to a news crew, instead of saying "no comment" and walking away, then you will a.) Get destroyed in the aftermath by the public outcry, and b.) jeopardize the safety of others in the position you claim to have once been in. I'm not a lawyer nor journalist by trade or schooling, but, I saw so many holes in your comments that this guy (see below) could relocate the lake of fire inside it. In other words, brother, your

story by itself, is pure hell. It has no grounds to stand on, aside from some questionable photos, which were almost immediately shot down by members (both the prominient and the not so influential) of New Birth, both curren and former. And, since I'm already here, why not speak of the why we WOULD believe in a group of guys concocting a story of molestation against a famous preacher? To be transparent, many (both in and out of the body) have a very low tolerance for preachers, imams, priests, rabbis, yogis, and anyone else who claims to have some authority (especially in a religion) because of the sins of the past. Whenever claims of this nature are raised, we immediately deem the accused party guilty, based on the fact that the last one got away! So, (given the info available) a young man is arrested and prosecuted for breaking and entering into Bishop Long's home and stealing jewlery, gadgets and gizmos, totaling somewhere around the 100k range... THEN all of a sudden, he and his friend were molested by the bishop when they were teenagers... and later in the week, one of their friends, and one other member of the church who claims to have no prior knowledge of any of the suspected victims, come out of the woodwork claiming the EXACT same story. "But, we're boys! Why would boys make up a story as traumatizing, as humiliating as this for moetary gain?" Good question brother... Quick poll... anyone remember how much the 13 year-old little boy who initially claimed to have been molested by Michael Jackson settled for? $20 MILLION dollars. That's not a typo. Now, Eddie Long (personally) has nowhere NEAR the money that ol' MJ had, but that must be the reason the church is named in the suit, right? The suit, that's not about money, names Long's ministry and and New Birth MBC as co-defendants... Things that make you go, hmmm...

Back to you, Bishop... (you're still with me, right?) Now, I left you with damage control, which leads me to the infamous photos... *Sigh* Bishop, I remember the old photos and video clips. We know that you were "healthy" (translation: chubby) back in the day, the S-Curl was even thinning out a bit... But then, I see these cellphone pics of this YOKED bishop that drastically resembles the Bishop Long I use to see. And these pics come out as a part of this scandal with these boys and I think, as a minister: C'mon Son!!! >>>>>>>>>>>

Now, granted I'm still a babe in the preaching aspect of the ministry, but I knew when I was yet an ACTUAL babe, that men (and women) of the cloth are held to a standard, and that they should not forget to remain above reproach. Is there anything implied by the photos? No. Are they, even vaguely, sexually subjective or any sexual overtones implied? No... (thankfully). So what's the big deal? They're just a bad character reference at this point. Unless you can CONVINCINGLY argue that you thought you were sending those to the folks at P90X, and mixed up the addresses and or cell phone numbers, then it just makes you seem a little creepy and just as conceited as some assume you are. I mean, I like to work out. I need to do it more, definitely, but I would never send pics of myself posing in a bathroom mirror, in Under Armor... glistening about the arms and thighs, to another dude. Not even family. Not a workout buddy, not a fitness guru. Definitely not to a member of my congregation who looked to me as a "father-figure", and could possibly use them as weak evidence of sexual misconduct. Bishop: bad move.

All in all, folks, what does all this mean? As a Christian, I am duty bound by God the Father, and by Jesus Christ to be forgiving. Murder a family member, I MUST forgive. It's not an option, it's a prerequisite! I don't get to pick and choose whom I forgive, I forgive ALL! As much as it pains my flesh at times, I still do it. You probably wondered as you read through this blog post why the title was "Who Are We?" and the anwer is here. I spoke with a fellow (but greatly seasoned) minister this past Sunday about this whole scandal nonsense, and he spoke something that I have yet to see take place: When do we, as a body of believers, come together, pray, stop gossipping and forgive him? Guilty or innocent, when do we say, "As charged by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, brother, we accept your humble and sincere apology, and embrace and forgive you for your transgression." We spend so much time tearing down, get so involved in finding fault in other human beings, that we forget that we are just that! Many like using the excuse that we as ministers and evangelists, preachers and pastors, apostles, bishops, prophets and the like, are "supposed" to be the living representations of Christ on earth, that we forget that ALL Christians are called under that same definition! So if we stand in line to cast stones, we must expect to receive the same punishment and judgement when we have shortcomings and suffer with sin. I don't personally know nor have a relationship with Bishop Eddie Long, I've stated this numerous times, but what I do have is a spiritual kinship with him, as when I accepted Christ as my Savior, I was accepted as a spiritual son of God and made joint heir in an eternal inheiritance with my spiritual brother, Jesus Christ. I will support him, not because I feel I have something to gain behind it, but simply because I am held to a standard, charged by Christ Jesus to do so. So, I simply finish by asking a simple question: Who are you? Are you a Christian, in the spiritual sense of what you are expected to be, or are you a christian in the religious word only?

Peace+Love

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