AT2W

Bishop Eddie Long Returns to the Pulpit on Communion Sunday After 5th Accuser Exposed

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is celebrating Communion Sunday on the first Sunday which most churches perform it. It was very interesting that Bishop Long performed communion on the first Sunday as he is known for doing it on the 3rd Sunday or really whenever. Guess he’s trying to give some kind of impression as he returns to the pulpit this morning.

As we watched the service, the choir moves on for some time singing “The Blood”. ‘Lord, the blood washes white as snow” is sung over and over and with video shots of the audience, it looks like they were just going through the motions. As we looked out over the congregation, they appear as lost sheep in the midst of lost shepherd. The blind leading the blind can’t make for any fortunate future. It only deprives the people of the real gospel of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday they make a big point to focus on the blood; though it is communion Sunday, we know it ties into making a impression on the church as Bishop Long returns to the pulpit. As the choir goes on singing, “the blood will never lose its power,” Bishop Long as a somber look on his face.

They take communion and “pass the peace” by hugging several people around them. It was amazing to see the church try and be very ‘holy and sanctified’ as some were singing along with tamborines and running and falling out in front of the church. We are not sure what they could be feeling from this hip hop church that dabbles in trying to appear holy but the church plays the role very well. We do know that this reminds us of how church was conducted at New Birth after the allegations hit the news last fall. They appeared to try and usher in a holy atmosphere after they felt rebuked by the accusations of sexual misconduct against their bishop then and they are doing it now.

Then Bishop Long stands proudly at the pulpit as he watches the congregation file one by one to the alter and drop their tithes into the baskets. Some personally hand him an envelope of what he calls a ‘love offering’ and he returns the favor with some gratitude of a hug and kiss. As we looked over the congregation, we feel like the people are totally brainwashed as it seems as thought the church as grown in size again and everyone follows suit. It just feels like worship of a flesh and blood man and not the worship of the blood of Jesus who truly gave his life for all of our sins.

Bishop Long states for everyone to pray for the students returning to school this week and he makes sure to plug in that his New Birth Academy is registering new students as well. Bishop Eddie Long told the church that they have made some changes in their school and have accommodated parents with assistance in paying their tuition. He has graciously blessed them with reduced tuition rates and payment plans for the parents.

The sermon focuses on 1 Samuel 30:3- “When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.” He went on to elaborate that the people wept until they could not cry anymore due to everything they had was stolen and destroyed. Bishop Long says: “God can use  you when you are sick of crying.” Just as he motivates the church as usual, he used this scripture to encourage the church and stated: “Encourage yourself. If you can’t get others to say ‘amen’ with you, then say ‘amen’ to yourself. I don’t care if folks turn against me.”

As he focuses on getting up and going back to get what was stolen from people, he role plays in front of the church as if he’s galloping down the road on a horse. Many of the members are following suit as they are moving their arms and elbows like on a horse. But they all look pretty silly doing so because it looks like they are doing some kind of ‘funky chicken’ dance instead. The scene just proves how much they have succumbed to the culture, lies and deceit of the New Birth phenomenon. They willingly risk appearing silly on camera just to fit into Bishop Long’s worship.

This was just another Sunday of buffoonery and all about the pure worship of a man and not the Man.