When it comes to leaders of mega churches, I take the same view that Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart did in the Court’s 1964 opinion on obscenity. I can’t define greed for you, but I know it when I see it.
Bishop/Pastor/Spiritual Daddy Eddie Long of New Birth Ministries in Lithonia, Georgia has been in the news everyday since four young men have stepped forward accusing the married, muscle-bound 57-year-old of coercing them into performing sexual acts with him when they were teenagers. Sexual abuse at the hands of church leaders is unfortunately not unheard of, but even with those suspicious bathroom pictures, right now nobody besides Long and those boys knows for sure whether the allegations are true.
But one thing about Long that has also come to light (again) as a result of this scandal is something that doesn’t seem to require much investigation or a tearful confession to understand. The man lives a pretty fly lifestyle.
I don’t believe that pastors need to necessarily take a vow of poverty in order to rightfully lead a congregation. They should be able to provide a comfortable living for themselves and their families. But aren’t some things just a bit much? A Bentley, a private jet, a lavish home, unlimited access to muscle shirts and S-Curl hair pieces? All of that is on top of a hefty salary. According to a 2005 profile of Eddie Long by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Long took in over $3 million in salary from one of the church’s charities between 1997 and 2000.
That’s just his salary from that charity, not including money he gets directly from the church. Of course the church does not just feed and clothe Eddie Long, it also has a private school, a transitional housing program, a fitness center and some other charitable programs, but if I were part of New Birth’s 25,000-member congregation, I might have some questions about exactly where my tithes were going.
Folks seem to like to see their pastor looking good in a nice suit, clean gators (for the Detroit playas) and a freshly waxed car and I can dig that. You want to follow a person who seems successful and presents himself well. However, at what point, if any, do you draw a line?
I’m not religious myself, but I have a great deal of respect for people who use their faith to try to make other people’s lives better. I like the people who offer an open hand as opposed to a wagging finger. That said, when I have had occasion to be in certain (not all or even most) churches, I wanted to take a shower immediately afterwards. Some of these suited and booted pastors sound like they are just running spiritual game, which is sickening. It’s like “Pay me to say something slick and I’ll take that money and buy a new plane/suit/Caddy for you to envy.”
For those of you who are the church-going kind, how much does a pastor’s lifestyle influence your decision to join a church? If you were a member of New Birth right now, would you stick it out or find a new church home?
