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The Nov/Dec issue of faith-based glossy Gospel Today is catching flack from some of its subscribers who take issue with Bishop Eddie Long being featured on its cover.With a headline that reads: "Bishop Eddie Long At The Center of The Scandal That Rocked The Church World;" the magazine is being accused of downplaying the allegations against the pastor of the New Birth Missionary Church in Lithonia, Georgia, who was accused in Sept. of sexual coercion by four consenting-age men from his church.
Additionally, some readers believe that Gospel Today lacks objectivity as Long serves as the chair of the magazine's board.
One unedited subscriber note read: "I got my latest issue of Gospel Today; with [Bishop] Eddie Long on the cover. I read the article and said to myself hmmmm seem like some sugar coating going on. Turned back to the 1st page and saw where the Bishop of his Church in NC is on your Board of Directors, I looked down and also saw that Eddie Long is on your Board of Advisors, I said all of that to say this. The best thing your magazine should have did was to not comment, but I do understand why you did. God is not pleased with all of the hypocrisy going on with these leaders and the things people will say and print just for MONEY!!!!"
Gospel Today publisher Teresa Hairston is facing the criticism head-on. She posted a letter in response to reader comments on her website.
"The Word of God teaches us that God is love; and far too many times we have been unbalanced and unloving-all in the name of a God who not only loves, but loves unconditionally and restores sinners-us included. Whether Bishop Long is guilty or not; whether the young men are guilty or not, the BODY OF CHRIST must handle this situation according to the Word of God! The mainstream press has painted a hideous picture; some have even called for Bishop Long's resignation! They're not even members," she replied.
Some believe that Hairston took a softball approach to Long by purposely omitting his legal woes from the story. She believes her stance was a spiritual one.
"Gospel Today did not explore the legalities or the issues; we presented a biblical perspective-something no other outlet gave," she countered. "For those who don't want to 'deal' with or look at this situation; I encourage you to read this story so that you can have a BIBLICAL perspective to help you 'answer' the mainstream perspective. Yes you should pray and speak about the 'hope' that you have that God will turn this situation into something that will be used for His glory! Yes, you should respond! You should 'Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.' (1 Pet. 3:15)."
Gospel Today magazine has been in business for more than 21 years.
In Feb of 2009, the magazine announced it would end pub
lishing the traditional magazine and become a digital-only publication because of the bad economy. (Read: 'Economic Woes: Gospel Today Magazine Suspends Printing.')
In June of that year, it resumed printing in magazine format with a cover featuring President Barack Obama.
(Read: 'Back In Print: Gospel Today Magazine Returns.')
Over the years, the Christian lifestyle magazine has featured gospel luminaries and celebrities like Star Jones, Steve Harvey, Bernice King, Kirk Franklin, Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child, Marvin Sapp, and Kenny Lattimore and Chante Moore on its cover.
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Comments: (125)
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By: hattie on 11/28/2010 8:35AM
I will never purchase the magazine again. The problem is not love the problem is sin and he is still sitting on her board, we as christians must never let the person cover his sin with sin, i am shocked at her response she will love thousands of readers because of her cover up these were young teenagers. HOW DARE SHE? what if it was her children. God will make her answer to.
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By: ADMR on 11/28/2010 9:07AM
AMEN...The Wrath Of God.......
Have An Informed Day True Blue CHRISTians.....
With GOD, All Things Remain PERFECT....
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By: Mechie on 11/28/2010 8:49PM
As a Christian you are to love and pray for the individual. God said in John 8:7, "He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone".
You should not stop buying a magazine all because they put a man (I repeat a man) on the cover, who is going through some situations. Why? When people do you wrong, do you disassociate yourself from them? Or when a close friend or relative call you out of your name, do you stop talking to them? You pray for them and let God handle it.
Please do not be so quick to be judgemental. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you", (Matthew 7:2).
Be Blessed
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By: elle40 on 11/29/2010 12:25AM
Hattie,
If you're a Christian, then your post is non-reflective of Christ's MERCY. If the allegations against Bishop Long are true, then legally, he MUST suffered the consequences - - no question about it. However, s he is experiencing his on hell, etc., we're to pray for him and not disown him. That's what Christians do. NO, not act as if his sin does not exist, but to help him to be restored through God's love & mercy. Did you you skip those parts in the bible when that was being taught at church? Do I need to list how David slept with Bathsheba and killed Uriah; Peter denied Jesus while cussing and cutting off ears; Moses killed an Egyptian; Judas betrayed Jesus; the woman at the well, and most importantly- - Jesus being crucified on the cross (way worse than any sin man has committed - - and the list goes on and on. I could list more if you need me to, Hattie. Jesus loves the sinner, but hates the sin. He is about forgiving and restoring, not discarding, destroying, dismissing, and abandoning. You do not have to agree with me, but that's the God I serve. And if you do not believe it, then my prayer is that God will allow you to experience some type of exposure (doesn't have to be the the same degree as Bishop Long, just something you would rather others not know), then let's see how you respond and watch how God will send others to keep you encouraged, while many will condemn you. You'll get to see up close and personal what it means to extend mercy to our fellow Christians. DO NOT GET ME WRONG. THERE ARE CONSEQUNECES FOR ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLEGED AGAINST BISHOP LONG, AND HE SHALL PAY FOR THEM IF THEY ARE TRUE, but don't be angry with Gospel Today for trying to extend grace and mercy in their own way.
NOTE: God is sooo FAITHFUL, that He will forgive us with the evidence, while people will convict us on speculation, rumors, and gossip. Although I acknowledge these allegations may have a great percentage of truth to them.
Hattie, let's see more of your Christ love walk.
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By: KT89 on 11/29/2010 2:39PM
This video shows the pastor and the 'alleged' victims-
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By: vdog on 11/29/2010 9:00AM
He in fact does represent an aspect of some of GOSPEL TODAY. The HARMFUL EFFECTS ON THE CHURCH WHEN BLING AND THE BIBLE COME TOGETHER.
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By: vdog on 11/29/2010 8:19AM
The cover should have read WHY WE MUST NOT LET BLING AND THE BIBLE COME TOGETHER.
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By: cambie on 11/29/2010 12:39PM
I am not judging Eddie Long. I read what he said when this thing first came out. His own words spoke volumes. he did not vigously deny the accusations made by the young men. He seemed rather timid standing in the pulpit. It was obvious to me that he was standing on shaky ground. He did not want to perjure himself.
He was hiding behind his lawyer. We can use all the chiches that we want."Let us not judge, let's pray for him and none of us are perfect."
The truth of the matter is that this man betrayed the trust of many. He has not been transparent in his dealings with these young men or his congregation.
Christians look either gulible or stupid when they stand behind a man like Eddie Long. The pained expression on his wifes' face spoke volumes.
Gospel today makes christians look like a joke.
New Birth will not go out on a limb for Edie Long. What does that tell you.
Eddie Long is manipulating people as he attempts to maintain his high standard of living.
This episode and how it has been dealt with points to the secularization of the church. The church no longer presses towards the mark of high calling as it once did. Our behavior now mirrors that of the world.
To those who say we must not judge I point to the following. We have to judge people and their motives every day. Have you ever had to find a day care for your kids? We look around and we speak to the staff at the day care. We want to place our children in a safe neurturing environment. We owe our children no less. We cannot and must not follow those who claim to be shepherds because they seem flashy and say all the right things.
What we do and what we don't say is more important than how charismatic we are.
Cambie
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By: patti777 on 11/30/2010 5:08PM
Amen to that, well said. God will be his judge, but he should not stink up a church while he is working out his salvation. He has shown himself unfit, and should slink away quietly.
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By: Khelama on 11/30/2010 9:38PM
Gospel Today said: "but {God}loves unconditionally and restores sinners-us included."
The problem with these nominal Christians is the picture they paint of God as a weak acquiescent passive Deity so desperate for the love of us wonderful creatures, that He'll pretty much put up with anything we do just so we can praise Him. God loved David too but still punished him for his sins. We are so far from the God of the Bible who didn't hesitate in the Old Testament to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, to send a flood on the ante-diluvian world which had become so sinful that "It repented God that He made man on the Earth,and grieved Him to his heart" because "every imagination of man's heart was only evil continually." So he told Noah He was destroying "everything, both man and beast and every creeping thing that crawleth on the earth." In the New Testament, the weakly Jesus they paint a picture of just doesn't exist and never did. Christ was a revolutionary who challenged the sinful greedy religious leaders of his day, those who would today be the fat calves of the mega churches and temples and so forth. He called them "whited sepulchres full of dead men's bones" who "make clean the outside of the platter." He called them "vipers, snakes and hypocrites" who wouldn't lift a finger to carry the burdens they place on others, and in Matthew 23rd chapter "devour widow's houses and for public pretense make long prayers" and "do their alms to be seen of men" and "love to sit in the high places, sounding a trumpet before them" and "in Moses seat." For someone to plot your death and murder you in the most vicious way possible while claiming to be God's chosen, you are not speaking tender words of love and happiness toward them. You are exposing their wrongs and they hate you for it. Which is why they killed Christ. God by today's Christians, some of them, has been turned into a wimp who will let them get away with anything. While demanding of others perfection as it relates to humans. No mention of hell or judgment except in the movies by mainly unbelievers, the devil? Who's he? Though we have more people in jails and on death row than any country in the world we frown on the mention of God's justice. Someone does something to us we want them punished. We do something to God we want forgiveness and no mention of the crime. What hypocrisy! Exactly as Jesus accused those of in His day. If Long is innocent may he be exonerated. If he's guilty may he repent and be delivered, but he needs to be held accountable. If you cover your sins, the bible says you "will not prosper." David didn't hide. He said "I acknowledge my transgressions." Period. For the magazine I close with this, you are admonished as Christians by Isaiah the Prophet to "Cry Loud, Spare not. Lift your voice as a trumpet. Show my people their transgressions and the House of Jacob their sins." If you don't "their blood will I require at thine hand." Shalom!
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