Below is the text of a letter sent to Bishop Eddie Long and his accusers.  The letter was sent September 23, 2010. 

 

Brethren,

 

First, I bring greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter, for it is dealing with a matter that has been brought to national attention, and has caused many in  the body of Christ to begin taking sides with the men involved, rather than seeking and obeying the truth.  Many in the body have had their attention diverted from Christ and toward these men without regard to the error involved in the handling of this matter.  The Holy Spirit spoke about this issue expressly through the beloved apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 6:1-7:

 

1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

   2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

   3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

   4If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

   5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

   6But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

   7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

 

When you take this matter to a court of man’s law, you bring the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to an open shame.  Is there not one among a congregation of what is reported to be 25,000 that cannot judge this matter with righteous judgment?  Taking this matter to a worldly court in order to win shows that those among you are not strong enough to take wrong and keep the matter within the spiritual family.  This is not a criminal matter; if it were, then Eddie Long would be subject to the civil authorities and all consequences that accompanied the violation of any law.  Yet, the authorities themselves have acknowledged that no laws have been broken.  If there is no one there that can judge wisely, I know sons of God that can do so, and would lay their lives down to bring this matter to a Godly conclusion.  I would certainly offer to be a part of that solution.

 

Now, we see that all parties are prepared to defend themselves in this worldly court with representation.  Brethren, this is nothing more than self-preservation, which is the exact opposite of what the Lord Jesus Christ demands of us.

 

Luke 9:23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 

Is obeying the commands of our Lord less important than self-preservation?  Is it truly more important to win than to risk putting the name of Jesus Christ to an open shame? 

 

I am not familiar with the structure of your local fellowship; however, the word of the Lord is clear on how to handle matters involving elders:

 

1 Tim 5:1, 19 - Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; and Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

 

If the these men were offended by brother Eddie Long, then the Lord Himself has given specific instruction on how that offense should be handled:

 

Matt. 18:15-17 - Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

 

If there is any fear among the men in approaching brother Eddie Long in this manner, then they fear man more than they fear God.  If this matter was not addressed according to the manner that the Lord Himself prescribed, I admonish these men to lay aside their agendas and humble themselves, that the word of God be not compromised.  How much more can God be glorified than through your obedience to him and his word? 

 

This national attention that is being brought to the situation is doing damage to the body of Christ.  Must we now defend you brothers as hypocrites? 

 

What shall we say then?  If one party wins, shall it be said that the Lord was with them?  If the other party prevails, should it be said that the Lord fought for them?  Will the Lord then give favor to one of His children and not the other?  The Lord will rejoice in the truth, not in personal victory.  It is the truth that will bring God glory, and nothing else. 

 

Finally, brethren, if it be so that Eddie Long or these young men are overtaken in a fault, again, the Lord gives us specific instructions on how the matter should be handled:

 

Gal. 6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

Again, is there not any that are spiritual among you that can restore the parties involved?  We are in an age and time where unbelievers will use any method to spread doubt about the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I appeal to you as brethren not to provide them with ammunition.  Our matters can and should be handled within the family of God, and not in the world. 

 

I implore you to remove these matters from a court of man’s law, and handle them in the way that the Lord prescribed in His word.  If Eddie Long has truly done wrong, I am confident that, as a man of God, he will do the honorable thing and take time to heal.  If these charges are false, I am also confident that he will forgive, and help these young men heal.  It is now time to submit ourselves to the true head of the church, and bring order back to the body of Christ at that local fellowship.

 

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with each of you.

 

Ron Mosby

Elder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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You believe these accusers were gay groupies trying to lure Long into relationships, eh? If that was the case, I wonder why the Long supporters haven't found more evidence of their wantonness in order to impeach their witness? Well, I must admit I don't know any of the young men, so I cannot attest to their honesty. I just know I found the videotaped interviews with Parris and fourth victim Spencer LeGrande compelling. I believed the young men when they said they were seduced, and that is an abuse of power for a pastor.
amen

If this information was to get out you know how many other preachers in Atlanta would be "outed?"

Two of the young men are VERY well known in the Atlanta black gay community and that is another reason why I know this was nothing but a plan hatched to get back at Bishop Long.

 

Parris' interview looked very rehearsed and poorly delivered.

 

 

 

 

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