Since when have LGMers been scarrred...

[ReddGirl]

So impressively well-said, LL. Wow. Love it. And I wholeheartedly cosign.

Redd, with all due respect, neither you nor anyone else who has contributed to this thread, has enough information to righteously judge anything. Right now, you're all just chit-chatting, gossiping, meddling, minding others' affairs, or unrighteously judging. (Notice I said "or" because I'm not suggesting that everyone is doing everything I mentioned). Either way, I agree with what LL said, and with all the scripture mentioned, it doesn't negate that the Word still said for us to mind our own business. It also said for us to be slow to speak. It also said for us to keep a meek spirit (which is DEFINITELY not displayed here). It also said for us to work on removing the beam in our own eyes before trying to pick out the mote in someone else's eye.

I'm not trying to attack or judge or chastise anyone. I just want us all to keep our hands clean. I don't think anyone can deny that the best, most fruitful thing all of us can do right now is just to be silent and pray. It is flesh, not spirit, that desires to discuss, debate, analyze, judge, discern, determine, and figure out this story. It's sensational. It appeals to our flesh's desire to discuss another person's drama. It appeals to our flesh's desire to gossip. It appeals to our flesh's desire to focus on someone else rather than ourselves. It appeals to our flesh's desire to meddle in others' affairs.

I got your warning, but I would be a lot more cautious about running my mouth too much (especially after reading James 3) than I would about being "mixed up" or "tied up" in sin because of a pastor that doesn't know me from Adam. If a person is that concerned about Eddie Long's influence on their own life, all one has to do is not partake in his ministry. It really is that simple. Gossiping about it on a message board doesn't benefit anyone at all. I know no one wants to hear that certain statements and comments are of a gossiping nature. But they are. And that's really all I'll have to say on the matter. I believe I've already said too much.

After reading I Thess 4:11, all I could ask myself is "is this YOUR business, LaRue?" The Lord shone the light on the innermost parts of my heart, and with Him all up in my face, I had no choice but to answer truthfully: no. It's not my business at all.

It is all good! I think you are missing my points but that is okay too. Your opinion is welcome here.

[berbie]

You are so right, funkStrat. To me, the implications are the same as Charles Barkley's saying,"I am not a role model". The truth of the matter, he is.  Whether good  or not is the question.  A bishop, priest, minister, especially as out front as some we see, are professed good role models and should be able to say, follow me.  Even if they say I once was lost but now I'm found.  The messages given by a minister only start in the pulpit and have to be and are continued as life sermons whether they believe it or not.. Their personal lives are absolutely a message even as strong as the one they preach. They will make mistakes, but should be seen and known as trying to do the right thing. When someone who is as visible as Bishop Long is involved as is accused, believe me, it is your business and bears discussion. It affects your youth. (and just as important,you)  The way that we deal with these problems go directly to the credibility of the church. Neither the minister in the 6 member church nor Joyce Meyer or Creflo Dollar is exempt.   Incidentally, would you let a known pedophile remain in the pulpit over your youth, or send(or let them go)to another church where unsuspecting parents didn't know them?  Not your business?

[LaylaMonroe]

It is all good! I think you are missing my points but that is okay too. Your opinion is welcome here.

I understood your points (it IS our business because it affects the body of Christ if Eddie Long is guilty and it brings reproach and makes us look bad and he might be a false prophet, and we should be on alert, etc).  I got your points. I just have a different perspective.  Thank you for welcoming my opinions.

----------------------------

Another general comment I wanted to point out (not directed at anyone): it is impossible to test the spirits in the flesh. In order to try the spirits to see if they are of God, you must be IN the spirit. This is something that is done with prayer and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Not something that is done with information passed along from media or second-hand knowledge, or even by observation and experience. It is ONLY done in the spirit. I just felt led to clarify that.

You are so right, funkStrat. To me, the implications are the same as Charles Barkley's saying,"I am not a role model". The truth of the matter, he is.  Whether good  or not is the question.  A bishop, priest, minister, especially as out front as some we see, are professed good role models and should be able to say, follow me.  Even if they say I once was lost but now I'm found.  The messages given by a minister only start in the pulpit and have to be and are continued as life sermons whether they believe it or not.. Their personal lives are absolutely a message even as strong as the one they preach. They will make mistakes, but should be seen and known as trying to do the right thing. When someone who is as visible as Bishop Long is involved as is accused, believe me, it is your business and bears discussion. It affects your youth. (and just as important,you)  The way that we deal with these problems go directly to the credibility of the church. Neither the minister in the 6 member church nor Joyce Meyer or Creflo Dollar is exempt.   Incidently, would you let a known pedophile remain in thr pulpit over your youth, or send(or let them go)to another church where unsuspecting parents didn't know them?  Not your business?

Nope. Definitely not my business. I could make it my business if I wanted to, but I care not to.

[lordluvr]

You are so right, funkStrat. To me, the implications are the same as Charles Barkley's saying,"I am not a role model". The truth of the matter, he is.  Whether good  or not is the question.  A bishop, priest, minister, especially as out front as some we see, are professed good role models and should be able to say, follow me.  Even if they say I once was lost but now I'm found.  The messages given by a minister only start in the pulpit and have to be and are continued as life sermons whether they believe it or not.. Their personal lives are absolutely a message even as strong as the one they preach. They will make mistakes, but should be seen and known as trying to do the right thing. When someone who is as visible as Bishop Long is involved as is accused, believe me, it is your business and bears discussion. It affects your youth. (and just as important,you)  The way that we deal with these problems go directly to the credibility of the church. Neither the minister in the 6 member church nor Joyce Meyer or Creflo Dollar is exempt.   Incidently, would you let a known pedophile remain in thr pulpit over your youth, or send(or let them go)to another church where unsuspecting parents didn't know them?  Not your business?

I would have an easy time agreeing with you and others except for the fact that the basis of this argument is an accusation- not an admission of guilt, not facts pointing to guilt, but rather a mere set of accusations.  Charles Barkely was a fool, knew he was a fool and admitted he was a fool.  So, discussions relevant to his impact on kids was relevant.  Discussions about the negative impact of Bishop Long's influence is premature, as little to no facts have come forth up to this point.

Is the subject of Pastors (mega-church pastors and others), and their influence on the people of God a relevant topic?  Indeed.  But, we can talk about that without 2nd-guessing the guilt or innocence of Bishop Long.  And, when the facts of Bishop Long's case come out, then discussion of that is fair game too, frankly.  But, I think it's wrong to specualte or falsely judge without any evidence one way or another. 

[nessalynn77]

CS: Chuckling to myself at the realization that discussing whether or not to discuss Bishop Long's situation inevitably leads to more discussion of it.  Kinda like my Axe Detailer thread, LOL!

[lordluvr]

CS: Chuckling to myself at the realization that discussing whether or not to discuss Bishop Long's situation inevitably leads to more discussion of it.  Kinda like my Axe Detailer thread, LOL!

It's funny how things work sometimes, ain't it?

[sjonathan02]

CS: Chuckling to myself at the realization that discussing whether or not to discuss Bishop Long's situation inevitably leads to more discussion of it.  Kinda like my Axe Detailer thread, LOL!

 

[Arkhams Finest]

CS: Chuckling to myself at the realization that discussing whether or not to discuss Bishop Long's situation inevitably leads to more discussion of it.  Kinda like my Axe Detailer thread, LOL!

Sight Beyond Sight.

Nessa has it.

[Arkhams Finest]

I would have an easy time agreeing with you and others except for the fact that the basis of this argument is an accusation- not an admission of guilt, not facts pointing to guilt, but rather a mere set of accusations.  Charles Barkely was a fool, knew he was a fool and admitted he was a fool.  So, discussions relevant to his impact on kids was relevant.  Discussions about the negative impact of Bishop Long's influence is premature, as little to no facts have come forth up to this point.

Is the subject of Pastors (mega-church pastors and others), and their influence on the people of God a relevant topic?  Indeed.  But, we can talk about that without 2nd-guessing the guilt or innocence of Bishop Long.  And, when the facts of Bishop Long's case come out, then discussion of that is fair game too, frankly.  But, I think it's wrong to specualte or falsely judge without any evidence one way or another. 

This post is full of win.

[under13]

@U13 exactly. Some people just exude excitement when stuff like this happens. I Corinthians 13:6 says not to rejoice in others' failures. If we're gonna discuss it from a constructive place, I'm all for it. But I have yet to see anyone raise (or spread) this topic who wasn't just trying to be messy or engage in gossip.

Y'all have a blast with this one. I'm too classy for it. Thank God for growth.

thought you left .....

[ReddGirl]

I understood your points (it IS our business because it affects the body of Christ if Eddie Long is guilty and it brings reproach and makes us look bad and he might be a false prophet, and we should be on alert, etc).  I got your points. I just have a different perspective.  Thank you for welcoming my opinions.

----------------------------

Another general comment I wanted to point out (not directed at anyone): it is impossible to test the spirits in the flesh. In order to try the spirits to see if they are of God, you must be IN the spirit. This is something that is done with prayer and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Not something that is done with information passed along from media or second-hand knowledge, or even by observation and experience. It is ONLY done in the spirit. I just felt led to clarify that.

Nope. Definitely not my business. I could make it my business if I wanted to, but I care not to.

I disagree with a few things you mentioned- One tests the spirit in various ways and one sure way is what comes out of the person's own mouth. Out of one's mouth speakth the abundance of one's heart. Not isolating Bishop Long but ANYBODY. Also, it can be done by observation because that it how we see the evidence of the "fruit" of the Spirit. Otherwise it leads that your description is some "hunch" not evidential through actions.
 

[LaylaMonroe]

thought you left .....

I didn't say I was leaving.  

I refuse to get my hands dirty with the discussion of his guilt or innocence (especially with people that are so far removed from the truth of the situation that they have nothing to go on except reports from the oh-so-trustworthy media and their own imagination and assumptions).

Still too classy for the dirt.

CS: Chuckling to myself at the realization that discussing whether or not to discuss Bishop Long's situation inevitably leads to more discussion of it.  Kinda like my Axe Detailer thread, LOL!

I said the same thing as I typed my first response this morning.

I disagree with a few things you mentioned- One tests the spirit in various ways and one sure way is what comes out of the person's own mouth. Out of one's mouth speakth the abundance of one's heart. Not talking about Bishop Long but ANYBODY. Also, it can be done by observation because that it how we see the evidence of the "fruit" of the Spirit. Otherwise it leads that your description is some "hunch" not evidential through actions.
 

I'm going to reply via PM. I want to use a personal example and there's no point in dragging out dirty laundry here. But for anyone else reading, my point is that we can make observations with our eyes and ears and experiences, but it is dangerous to make a determination of a spirit (test/try/discern a spirit) in the natural eyes and ears... or in our "flesh." Very dangerous. Our own logic and intellect is no match for what we can see and discern when we walk in the spirit. We can make very dangerous, harmful mistakes with our fleshly observations and opinions under the guise of "testing the spirits." I know because I've been a victim of it myself. 

[ReddGirl]

I didn't say I was leaving.  

I refuse to get my hands dirty with the discussion of his guilt or innocence (especially with people that are so far removed from the truth of the situation that they have nothing to go on except reports from the oh-so-trustworthy media and their own imagination and assumptions).

Still too classy for the dirt.

I said the same thing as I typed my first response this morning.

I'm going to reply via PM. I want to use a personal example and there's no point in dragging out dirty laundry here. But for anyone else reading, my point is that we can make observations with our eyes and ears and experiences, but it is dangerous to make a determination of a spirit (test/try/discern a spirit) in the natural eyes and ears... or in our "flesh." Very dangerous. Our own logic and intellect is no match for what we can see and discern when we walk in the spirit. We can make very dangerous, harmful mistakes with our fleshly observations and opinions under the guise of "testing the spirits." I know because I've been a victim of it myself.  

LaRue be well. This discussion does not have to be personal. I respect your opinion. I may not agree but that is okay

[Arkhams Finest]

I'm going to reply via PM.

Yea, I think that's a good id....wait....

But for anyone else reading, my point is that we can make observations with our eyes and ears and experiences, but it is dangerous to make a determination of a spirit (test/try/discern a spirit) in the natural eyes and ears... or in our "flesh." Very dangerous. Our own logic and intellect is no match for what we can see and discern when we walk in the spirit. We can make very dangerous, harmful mistakes with our fleshly observations and opinions under the guise of "testing the spirits." I know because I've been a victim of it myself. 

Oh, ok.  Nevamind.

[LaylaMonroe]

LaRue be well

LOL thanks Redd. There you go. LOL!

smh

[Arkhams Finest]

LaRue be well. This discussion does not have to be personal. I respect your opinion. I may not agree but that is okay

LOL thanks Redd. There you go. LOL!

smh

[ReddGirl]

LOL thanks Redd. There you go. LOL!

smh

LaRue,I offended you and I am truly sorry. I hope we can disagree without being disagreeable.

[LaylaMonroe]

It's all good, Redd. I'm cool if you're cool. No hard feelings on my end. 

[THE WOLFMAN]

[Arkhams Finest]

I WAS going to offer you ladies bikinis and an inflatable pool full of mud in an effort to help you settle your differences but...it seems my window of opportunity has closed.