Since when have LGMers been scarrred...

[under13]

Right.  I understand that, we all do.  Doesn't minimize the hurt that you feel when it happens.

Yeah, nothin wrong with hurting for a while, but he was talking about people turning away from God....

[Arkhams Finest]

Are we playing that game where we basically agree, but still go back and forth?

I LOVE that game!  Played it all the time.  Can I play?

[nessalynn77]

Nope, not me.

[under13]

Are we playing that game where we basically agree, but still go back and forth?

I LOVE that game!  Played it all the time.  Can I play?

I thought we were still disagreeing.

[kingrhollo]

Even then it's a mighty big blow.  Whether people want to realize it or not, the pastor plays a very important role in the lives of the people he is over.  It would be similar to something like this coming out about my dad.  I still love God, but that would represent a difficult trial for me personally.  Not only that, but we're talking about the person that has helped to encourage me when I was weak in the faith or when I wanted to quit, the one who convinces people every sunday that this gospel is real and its principles are truth.  For that person to demonstrate otherwise is not an easy pill to swallow.

I often feel for pastor's in general and this only reminds me to keep my pastor and his family lifted up in prayer more than I do. Everyday they have their own struggles and concerns, but who do they go to after they reach a certain point.  Who can they trust to tell that they are struggling with sinful thoughts and actions but God.  We can go to God too, but we also go to our pastor.  And when he struggles, he is left out in the cold by people who depended on him far too much and who thought of him way too highly.

It hurts me to see so many men of God and their families hurting many times in seclusion with no outlet.  Because they know the first time it gets out that they are dealing with lust or anything else, then the same people that shouted at their every word will begin to call for their head and begin spreading their dirty secrets.  Yet, they are expected to keep the secrets of all the people that they counsel.

My prayer is that we all would be mindful to pray more for our leadership.  And that us in leadership would do more to reach out to others in our positions and show ourselves as trustworthy accountability partners.

[Arkhams Finest]

I thought we were still disagreeing.

You're better at this game than I thought!!! 

[Arkhams Finest]

Are we playing that game where we basically agree, but still go back and forth?

I LOVE that game!  Played it all the time.  Can I play?

Nope, not me.

Oh. Oh, ok.  Maybe another time then.   

[ssabass]

A fourth young brutha came forward. I guess these cats think, we are suppose to feel sorry for them. I just don't get it. I was once 17 & 18 & all the money, gifts & trips in the world, would not have enticed me enough to have a sex with a man. I would have broke his jaw, just for him thinking about it. If these allegations are true or false, these young bruthas just don't understand how bad it also makes them look. It's not like they were little boys, these were grown or almost grown men. So either they were already gay or a finger snap away from being one.

[THE WOLFMAN]

interesting thing is, cats are bringing LAWSUITS.........not "i wanna see him locked up" but "i wanna git paid".....



Troof.....if a dude offer you $$ for some man to man nookie, and you dont immediately say "NAW." but you go for it? then you wanna flip talkin bout lawsuit

[under13]

If these allegations are true or false, these young bruthas just don't understand how bad it also makes them look. It's not like they were little boys, these were grown or almost grown men. So either they were already gay or a finger snap away from being one.

wow.

[kodacolor]

interesting thing is, cats are bringing LAWSUITS.........not "i wanna see him locked up" but "i wanna git paid".....



Troof.....if a dude offer you $$ for some man to man nookie, and you dont immediately say "NAW." but you go for it? then you wanna flip talkin bout lawsuit

+1

My local gospel station gave a link to a video that came out yesterday on youtube under the title:  Bishop Eddie Long, Anthony Flagg & Maurice Robinson by kimoracochran.  The creation date isn't noted but they say it reveals major character flaws in the young men.  The video does have vulgar language in it.  Other than this video I haven't seen the guys so I don't really know if that's them or not for sure.  I kinda feel like after the first two guys got a bunch of people on their side they went to their friends and said, "Come on.  Get in this.  We're about to get paid!"  Or maybe they were abused.    It's a possibility.

[6stringapprentice]

I read through Robinson's complaint and scanned through Flagg's as it seemed nearly identical to Robinson's. Both are Civil suits for punitive damages. They are both suing the Pastor the Church and the Academy. They have around ten allegations but the mains are Breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, fraud, and emotional distress.

I'm no lawyer, but I do watch Law and order from time to time. Honestly I think they are going to have a hard to proving many of the allegations.

Well despite guilt or innocents this whole thing has already had several ill effects.

1. Given the media more fuel to publicly scrutinize black churches. I saw something on CNN the other day about the black church keeping black women single. Like really??

2. Given heathens another reason to say. "You see that's why I don't go to church"  Yeah.... thats the reason.

3. And three given more fuel to this whole so-called huge number of black men that are on the "down low"

We'll we see how things plays out.

[thunderkat]

The story has been circulating for about 3 days now and it seems like no one wants to bring it up in here. It's starting to become an "elephant in the room" kind of thing.

For those that don't know Bishop Eddie Long is being accused by 4 men now of having sexual relations with them a few years back when they were about 16 and 17 years old. They claim that in return for the relationship that they were showered with a lavish lifestyle including money, homes, and trips around the world.

Now they are saying that their psychologically screwed up, so to speak, and they are blaming the bishop for it.

When I first heard the story I said I don't believe it was true and that I would continue to hold that position unless strong evidence is shown. So far the only physical evidence shown has been some pictures that Long sent to at least one of the plaintiffs of himself via cell phone. He is fully clothed but in a muscle shirt and jeans in one and an Under Armor body suit in another in a bathroom.   

Anyway I was just wondering what your thoughts were on the matter. I'm hoping it ain't true but it's not looking good right now.

[under13]

http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,76165.0.html

[thunderkat]

My bad. I didn't catch that thread.

...And just to put it out there, I'm not trying to kick the man when he's down. Just really hoping it's not true.

[Fenix]

Thunderkat I totally understand you. Don't worry.

I barely know the fellow and I am so surprised by how reluctant people are to talk about it. I think its more of a "I'm not usre what to think!", than some feeling of not wanting to kick him while he is down. I wish folks would not pretend.

True or not, I really feel for him. I would certainly not want my stuff out there for the whole greedy, mocking world to see.

[funkStrat_97]

Wow.  The number of accusers has grown to 4.

[malthumb]

A fourth young brutha came forward. I guess these cats think, we are suppose to feel sorry for them. I just don't get it. I was once 17 & 18 & all the money, gifts & trips in the world, would not have enticed me enough to have a sex with a man. I would have broke his jaw, just for him thinking about it. If these allegations are true or false, these young bruthas just don't understand how bad it also makes them look. It's not like they were little boys, these were grown or almost grown men. So either they were already gay or a finger snap away from being one.

Regarding the part in bold.....at 17 or 18 years old, some people are still forming their own identities.  Young people are very impressionable at that age.  If they are influenced by a person of high influence and or power, they may have more of a tendency to act in a manner to maintain the connection with someone they admire.  And if they are at a point in their maturation process where they are at some level unsure, that makes them that much more vulnerable.  Just check in on all the Catholic Church mess for clear examples of this.

That's why IF this is true, it is that much more serious.  It becomes an issue of violating the trust of a vulnerable psyche. 

Do not underestimate the influence that wielding a position of power over an influential mind can have.  Happens regularly with GROWN FOLKS in politics and in the work place E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y.

 

[ssabass]

Not buying that one malthumb, not in this case. Like I said, I was once 17 & 18 & so were all my friends. I coached little league ages 10/12 & 13/15yrs old. I was a youth advocate &  I have mentored many young brothas, just in the neighborhood. Over the past 25yrs, I have dealt with many impressionable young brothas & the 17 & 18 yr old brothas that I've dealt with, would have blew his brains out. Naw, these cats were already walking that gay tight rope. The hunter knows who to hunt.

[Fenix]

I am in agreement with the poster above. Boys of 17 and 18 are very sensitive about their sexuality. They would never EVER agree for money, especially from some "church man".