Head and Heart Issues

SCANDALS OF THE PULPIT.

Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

      

A familiar face .... a man of power and might.... a prominent pastor and leader in the charismatic church world .... now another scandal .... another media frenzy .... four young former church members have filed lawsuits, accusing their pastor of 'abusing his power' to lure them ... to abuse them....  I was sitting in the overflow section a few weeks ago at this man's church (the crowd was so large), numbering in the thousands, when he said to the congregation and the world, "I am not the man" that the TV and media was making him out to be.

The Sanctuary of New Birth Missionary Baptist.

Oh, how I hope so.... how I pray that there is no truth to any of the charges ... that this man will be vindicated.  We don't need another scandal!  On that same Sunday, the local newspaper listed all the recent "fallen preachers".  How sad.

I'm reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah, when in the first chapter of his sermon he quotes "the Lord has spoken" -- the accusation can be summarized in the fifth verse:  "...the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."

Two problems:  Head and Heart.  Isn't that the problem in the church world today?  We have HEAD problems.  We are so enamored by the 'popularity' contest in the church.  Who has the best suit? Who has the best car? Which preacher has the bigger crowd?  Which one has the biggest TV audience?  We are guilty of worshipping IDOLS!  We've made our pastors idols.  Where's the humility of Jesus?  We have elevated men to the status of 'gods'.  And from this lofty position, they will ALL fall!  The old adage is true:  "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"  Remember this:  JESUS CHRIST IS THE HEAD (THE ONLY HEAD) OF THE CHURCH!  It's time to re-focus our attention to our Lord. 

We have also HEART problems.  We've become "faint".  Our affections are not on Jesus as they should be.  We are trying to get rich -- trying to be successful -- trying to have significance in this world -- at the expense of our love for God.  Jesus summarized all the Law and the Prophets, when he said there are really only 2 commandments:  1. Love God, and 2. Love your Neighbor.  Our hearts become 'faint' and we stumble when we get our affections on other things, other than HIM.

Head and Heart.  That's the problem.  The solution?  The same solution as always -- Jesus Christ has the cure for our sickness.  God forgive us!  God save us!  God help us, NOW !

CHECK OUT THIS CLIP LIVE FROM NEW BIRTH!