Eddie Long, Pastor of New Birth accused of being on the "down low" (Bishop: airplanes, park)

[xxbabeechick]

Originally Posted by J2rescue

And surely you realize that the passages mentioning slaves is not about blacks don't you?

What a laughable comment. Like that makes a difference.

[northstar22]

The Bible doesn't "support" slavery. The New Testament spoke to slaves because that was a condition that many early Christians were in. Scripture commanded them to obey/respect their masters (to win them to Christ), but also to try to gain their freedom. Old Testament slavery was a voluntary, temporary arrangement. Hebrew slaves were required to be freed after 7 years unless they wanted to stay by choice. Gentile slaves weren't under that requirement, but the Bible still commands that they should be treated with respect and decency. There was NOTHING Scripturally-justified about 19th century American slavery. It was a great evil that God did not condone.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

The Bible doesn't "support" slavery. The New Testament spoke to slaves because that was a condition that many early Christians were in. Scripture commanded them to obey/respect their masters (to win them to Christ), but also to try to gain their freedom. Old Testament slavery was a voluntary, temporary arrangement. Hebrew slaves were required to be freed after 7 years unless they wanted to stay by choice. Gentile slaves weren't under that requirement, but the Bible still commands that they should be treated with respect and decency. There was NOTHING Scripturally-justified about 19th century American slavery. It was a great evil that God did not condone.

There was slavery in other areas of the world in the 19th century...I know this is off-topic and it can be laid to rest right now, but I certainly can't let it go when Americans are blamed for slavery. Slavery is a human evil that has been around since the beginning of recorded history...and many more countries than just America were involved in the African slave trade! There was an attempt to support slavery with scripture way back when by those who tried to justify it, but you're exactly right in stating that it was just that - an attempt and nothing else.

Anyway, back to monsters and other evils...

[TakeAhike]

Should Bishop Long step down? Here's what Predicto users say... *| ajc.com

FWIW--
'The Washington Post recently conducted an "unscientific" poll asking readers whether Long should step down from his position as senior pastor of New Birth.

Of 5,100 respondents, 79 percent said he should go and 21 percent think he should stay.'

It is more complex, of course.

[blkgiraffe]

Originally Posted by xxbabeechick

What a laughable comment. Like that makes a difference.

It's perfectly acceptable to speak down on the Jews.

At least, according to J2rescue

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

The Bible doesn't "support" slavery. .... There was NOTHING Scripturally-justified about 19th century American slavery. It was a great evil that God did not condone.

The Bible certainly doesn't condemn slavery anywhere. Yet it does give a number of explicit instructions to slaves to be obedient, to not talk back, and to really put their hearts into into their duties. You may not consider that "support" but it's why scripture was used for centuries as a justification for slavery.

Personally I believe slavery was an unimaginable crime against humanity. But you won't find anything in the Bible condemning it. That's why it's hard to fathom folks who go around quoting the Bible as some kind of authority to bash gays while ignoring its countless other teachings that they find inconvenient. Are they buying the whole Bible as the word of God, or just the sections they like?

[NorthDeKalb]

I have to say, this was so damn funny on the news!

I'm just so shocked that Jamal was willing to come forward and admit that he's been laying up with this man for all this time. And the pictures that the Bishop took of himself in the mirror with the body shirt on...ROTF!!!! How do you explain your way out of that one? Why are you taking shots of yourself in the mirror then sending them to other men?

We were cracking up watching it all unfold, but I commend the guys that put him on "front street" for whatever it's worth. Maybe he'll know better next time.

[J2rescue]

Originally Posted by jluke65780

It's perfectly acceptable to speak down on the Jews.

At least, according to J2rescue

Talk about missing the point.

My point to arjay57, who apparently has visions of Roots every time the word slave appears in the Bible, is that it should be viewed in context of the circumstance in which it was written. No the scripture was not "speaking down" to anyone. It was practical instruction to early Christians of all races (most of whom were NOT Jews) who in fact were indentured servants, most commonly to people of the same race. The mistake is viewing Bible passages through the very narrow prism of recent US history.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by J2rescue

My point to arjay57, who apparently has visions of Roots every time the word slave appears in the Bible, .

That's kind of a smart-alecky remark, since I haven't said or implied any such thing. If you actually read my posts, you'll see that I've cited the Bible verbatim. Obviously the Bible predated African slavery in the New World by at least 1500 years, but it would be silly to contend that these passsages weren't used to justify slavery for hundreds of years.

If you're reading something into it other than historical fact, that's your projection, not mine.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by ATL_Aficionado

And the pictures that the Bishop took of himself in the mirror with the body shirt on...ROTF!!!! How do you explain your way out of that one? Why are you taking shots of yourself in the mirror then sending them to other men?

It's possible he was simply proud of his manly physique and felt that young men would be interested in seeing it. Pro athletes show off their bodies all the time and millions of men glue themselves to the TV watching every move they make. Many rappers also like to show off their physiques and young men often admire and seek to emulate them.

Men often flash their physiques to women as well, although the reasons are less clear.

I agree that it was odd for a man Long's age to target these particular boys but there's a possiblity it was good clean fun.