Haggard, Sanders Weigh Long

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Written on September 26, 2010 at 10:30 am by God Discussion Reporter

Oppressive Theology: Haggard, Sanders Weigh In On Bishop Long Allegations

Three Four young men are suing Bishop Eddie Long, alleging that he had enticed them with money, cars, clothing, and expensive jewelry for sexual favors. Long preached anti-gay rhetoric to his 25,000 member mega-church. As CNN's Anderson Cooper pointed out, the Southern Poverty Law Center has profiled Long's virulent anti-gay preaching (see SPLC report here).

SPLC reveals that Bishop Long has preached that the erosion of strict gender roles is contributing to society's problems. He claims that "men are feminized" and that "women are made masculine" because they are allowed to wear uniforms and other clothing that at one time were considered menswear. As to gays and lesbians, Long has preached that "you cannot say you were born this way." He doesn't care what scientists say, he told his parishioners in one of the clips shown by Cooper, because homosexuality can be changed by faith.

Long's accusers have claimed that they were called "spiritual sons" and that they were 17 and 18 years of age when the incidents allegedly took place. They claim that Long quoted and discussed Biblical scriptures to justify the activities.

Ted Haggard and Troy Sanders weighed in on Cooper's program. Haggard had left the megachurch he formed after allegations of his drug use and visits with male prostitutes hit the national scene. He has since formed a smaller church. Sanders is an openly gay minister who was once part of Soul Force and now a pastor of The Fellowship.

An Examination of Oppressive Theology.

In making their allegations about Long, the young men have produced photos of Bishop Long, all buffed out and wearing tight clothing. Haggard said that this does not necessarily prove anything. He said that there was a movement within the church several years ago when people were concerned about the direction of the church and pastors became more masculine. When he met Long in the past, Haggard did not have the impression that he was homophobic.

Sanders had also met Long through Soul Force, which would take gay and lesbians to the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He said that the church was hospitable, but there was a clear difference in theology.

Sanders' issue is that pastors who preach oppressive theology need to be more truthful. He also believes that ancient and oppressive text must be critiqued, pointing out that the same scriptures that condemn homosexuality also dictate that women cannot preach, prohibit eating pork, and endorse slavery.

Scandals and Honesty: Internal Conflicts Played Out in the Public Eye.

Haggard admitted that every Bible teacher struggles with some scriptures in the Bible, but that they all teach sexual fidelity and marriage. As to the issue of truthfulness, he said that it's part of the human condition that people hold ideals they do not always live up to, using examples of police officers getting speeding tickets and congressmen who write tax law failing to pay taxes. Haggard says that everyone is in a process with God and holy spirit and that calling people out on the carpet is not helpful, at least from the perspective of his personal experience.

The internal contradictions of major preachers are playing out in the public eye, according to Sanders. This can be avoided by walking in truth. He pointed out that it did not take a scandal for him to come out and be honest.

Haggard said that part of freedom of religion is to choose whether or not to attend a church that preaches the oppressive theology cited by Sanders, but that religion cannot be used to terrorize others.