Bishop Eddie Long Crowned King

Click on the link below to watch a video that has gone viral within the past few days.  The video takes place during a service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, which Long pastors. I am not sure when this crowning ceremony takes place, for all I know it could be an old video that has just surfaced. When the ceremony takes place does not matter.  It is a perfect example of a problem going on in Christianity today, self-aggrandizement. The definition of the term is the act or practice of enhancing or exaggerating one’s own importance, power or reputation. It is for God to elevate, not man, yet we see this happen all the time.  How many times have you heard someone elevate themselves as a bishop when they do not fit the Biblical criteria of what defines that position?  The Bible defines a bishop in no uncertain terms, just read the book of first Timothy, chapter three for yourself. The latest fad is to be elevated as an apostle. If you want to take a closer look at what defines an apostle, read the first and second chapters of second Corinthians.  People are allowing themselves to be deceived mostly from laziness.  Many of us have become such lazy Christians that we do not read the Bible for ourselves.  Sunday might be the only day of the week we even touch the sacred word of God.  If you do not read and study the word of God and develop a relationship with Him, it is easy to fall for any false doctrine.  There is too much glorification of flesh and not giving the glory to the only one that deserves it, which is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  There is too much pastor worship going on.  This is a very dangerous practice.  Once again, Bishop Long is an example.  So many people had put him on such a high pedestal that when he fell,  as any man or woman is subject to do, their faith crumbled. Sadly, since his scandal, there will be many members of his church that leave Christianity altogether. To them I would have to ask in who did they base their trust?  Surely, if it is on God and God alone, you should be able to withstand the fall from grace of anyone including your pastor.

If you want to test yourself to make sure you are not guilty of pastor worship, check out the following list of symptoms:

1.  When someone is trying to talk to you about the Lord and you precede every statement with “Well my pastor says…..”

2.  When you are attempting to witness and do not mention the Gospel one time, or the name of Jesus, but mention your pastor’s name repeatedly

3.  When you can not recall what your pastor preached about or from what scripture but you can say “Pastor sure preached today”

4.  If your pastor is arrested, convicted of a crime or a scandal is revealed, you do not even question whether or not it could be true, but blindly follow without seeking the Lord for whether to continue to support his ministry.

5.  You discover your pastor will be absent from church and  that someone else is preaching and you choose to stay home because you will only receive a word from the Lord from your pastor.

These are only a few symptoms, but if any apply, there is a cure. The cure can be found by reading the Bible for yourself and develop your prayer life.  If you do not own a Bible, chances are you own a smart phone or computer.  There are a great number of free Bible apps that you can download and enjoy the convenience of having the Bible with you where ever you go.  Take this message with the love in which it was intended.  Whatever I say to you, applies to me first.  We can all step up in this regard.  Do not forget to click on the following link, because you have to see this video for yourself to believe it.

http://youtu.be/AVkoQHCXSK8