Bishop Eddie Long is pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church which has accumulated over 25,000 members since he began in 1987. From Georgia. He is televised to 170 countries. Long has been married twice having four children. Long has a Bentley ($350,000) with bodyguards. He wears clothes that display his prosperity theology. Long who once wore a Jewish star necklace around his neck instead of a cross and had a handkerchief sticking out from his suit pocket in the shape of a crown (TBN Sept. 7, 2003) is adorned with expensive tailored suits, a Rolex watch, gold necklaces, and diamond bracelets he steps up to the pulpit to show them how it works.

“The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published tax records showing that from 1997 to 2000 Bishop Long had accepted $3 million in salary, housing, a car and other perks from a charity he controlled” (Sex Scandal Threatens a Georgia Pastor’s Empire By James C. McKinley and Robbie Brown: Sept. 25, 2010).

In Nov. 2007 Long was named as one of six well - known tel­evangelist ministries to be investigated for possible financial misconduct by Sen. Charles Grassley.

Recently Long made the news because four former members of his youth group, his own church members are bringing suit against him accusing Long of sexual relationships that I will not mention (this can be read by news services).

“Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship,” the suits allege.

“Defendant Long would use Holy Scripture to discuss and justify the intimate relationship between himself and Plaintiff Robinson,” Robinson's suit alleges. Long has called the accusations false. Besides all the offensive allegations that have surfaced, whether these are true or not remains to be proved. This should not prevent someone from looking further into this mans teachings. One needs to look at his theology to understand what this man and ministry is all about.

Long is considered one of the nation's top black preachers. Like other prosperity teachers long has a large opinion of himself and man. He was one of the main speakers at Mega Fest 2004 with: Creflo Dollar, Paula White, Juanita Bynum, Bishop Eddie Long, and Bishop T. D. Jakes.

Long has stated, “Bishop Jakes, my spiritual father” (Bishop Eddie Long, Interview Black Gospel.com)

“He also adopted what has become known as “muscular Christianity,” a male-dominated view that emphasizes a warrior like man who serves as the spiritual authority and protector in a family. His books on relationships suggest that men get in touch with their inner “wild man” and channel their fighting instincts into taking responsibility for their lives. Women are to submit to their husbands, he says. (Sex Scandal Threatens a Georgia Pastor’s Empire By James C. McKinley and  Robbie Brown Published: September 25, 2010)

This is what I’m going to focus on -- Bishop Eddie Long teaches unabashedly, “We don't want to accept that God calls us gods!...But just as soon as you realize that, 'I am a god.'  And as revelations reveal, 'I am a king.'  He is King of kings.  He is God of gods!”  …”Yes!  Ye are gods!” (Bishop Eddie Long, “You are Mighty,” ministry tape)

In style liken to Creflo Dollar Long declares “I know who I am!  And, and, and, see, when you know who you are-- wherever you go, as a god, as a king-- you have an entourage.  You have security.”

“I don't make poor gods!  You know why some of you haven't got a financial breakthrough?  It's because, first--You ain't recognized who you are.  And you don't recognize as a god you have territory.  So God cannot release your wealth because you still don't know you have a territory.. But just as soon as you realize that, 'I am a god.'  And as revelations reveal, 'I am a king.'  He is King of kings.  He is God of gods!  But you know what?  Some of you still, you will go to work and mess this up in a testimony.   'I was at church and Bishop Long said -- I ain't say you were gods!  God said it!  Show them the Scripture.” (Bishop Eddie Long, “You are Mighty,” ministry tape)

Exactly where would God, who is the only true God say man is a god? The God of the Bible teaches that all other gods large or small, human or demonic are false gods, so this teaching is not from the Bible but from Mr. Longs own desire.

“You need to understand when folk start talking about stuff and how evil things are.  You'll look at them and say, 'But, I ain't going out like that!'  Well how come?  Because, I'm god!  I'm little 'L.'  I'm not going out like men.  I believe what God said about me!  How you going to kill god?  That's a good question.  How you going to kill god?  How you going to kill him?  So if you look like Him then you'll talk like Jesus.  What did Jesus say?  'Ain't nobody going to take my life.  When it's time to go I'll lay it down.'  But ain't nobody taking my life” (ibid.)

Jesus was the only one in history to dismiss his life, John 10:18 I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Long: “He said, 'Did I not say you are gods?'  Son of the living God.  I didn't say you were God. Little 'g'.  See you're gonna go out here and just mess it up...He said if you don't understand that you're mighty!  And Elohim (gods) stands in the congregation of El (God)...But God said if you can believe that you're a king.  If you can believe you're my chosen.  If Elohim could get you to act like El...” (Bishop Eddie Long, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, Mar. 29, 2004)

Yes and God also said in Ps 82:7-8 “But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations.” This particular teaching was from Creflo Dollar another little god/man “wanna be” who is practicing walking on water.

“The doctor can X-Ray you and say, 'You got cancer.'  And then you go home and God let me see, does Christ have cancer?  If Christ don't, I don't have cancer.  All I need to do is get a picture of what he looks like.  Because, if I can see Him I become like Him.”(Bishop Eddie Long, “Manpower 2003,” BET Aired June 27, 2004)

This is vain imagination, bordering on visualization within the application of word faith. One can easily transfer this to any other problems that surface. How many word faith teachers have died promoting these unbiblical healing techniques?

On Gen.1:26 Long teaches “when God created us he couldn’t be seen by anything, we were spirit. We are still spirit with a body. When it says God created, its like God tore off himself to create us, we are a piece of God. Spirit to spirit, male and female spirit and we dwelt with God in spirit. Got to get this (says this several time) How? In his image, in his likeness. What does he look like- spirit. Got to get this (says this 4 times). Up until now nobody could see me or know me, to know who I am, so I have to form myself and get some duplicate of me to serve me so folks can see what I look like.” “ Your not getting’ this he repeats .

"That's the reason why when you look in the mirror and you ought to say, 'Good morning God.'  Now, I ain't talking about your flesh.  I ain't talking about you.  But inside of you there is a piece of God.  And if you don't recognize that, you'll call yourself wretched..." God gets upset, I am inside of you.”

Even if this was true which it is not, if only Adam and Eve were alive who else had to see this God? This is what Gnosticism teaches not Christianity.

Long continues: Gen.2:7 be fruitful and multiply… up until now there was no God formed ( you got to get this said several times) Man was made from the dust of the ground… Now I know you thought this but I going to help clear this up, look at me y’all.”Watch this (repeated 4 times)“When God formed in Gen.2:7 I had the egg and the sperm in me, everything that a woman and everything that man is was in one. So he formed a body and put himself in you” your not getting this, you gotta get this, he called it man. In Gen.2:21 took a rib, he did this because God wanted to reproduce himself.” (broadcasted Sept. 7, 2003 TBN)

Besides the clear copying of Creflo Dollar on this, it is flat out heresy to teach that man is a duplicate so others can see God when throughout the Scripture he says

Isa 43:10 Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.

No one can see God who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, (1 Tim 6:16) Until the New Testament has God becoming man and shows us his nature. John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory” V.18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

No one, not Adam not Eve and certainly not Eddie Long.

Long states “My whole objective in life is to be His image, His duplicate, His witness and to show folk what He look like because, before nobody seen Him.  Somebody say, 'I want to see God.'  Here He is, look at me!” (Bishop Eddie Long, “God Is After Himself,” ministry Tape)

“When you understand the Greek of that and understand that word means duplicates.  That we be duplicates of Him” (Eddie Long, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, Mar. 29, 2004).

So if I look at Long I’m going to see God? Interesting that Jesus was asked this question by Philip (Jn.14:6-8) and said if you have seen me you have seen God (the Father). Jesus never pointed to man to see God because He alone is the incarnate God.

“If we are the true children of God and the reason why the Holy Spirit had to fall on us, He said that you would be witnesses.  When you understand the Greek of that and understand that word means duplicates.  That we be duplicates of Him.” (Bishop Eddie Long, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, March 29, 2004)

I suggest you look up Greek word for witnesses, it means martyrs. It does not mean duplicates, it means one who bears witness by his death. As with all these dominionists teachers, one has to check “EVERYTHING” they claim the Bible says. Often it does not!

In typical word faith teaching “That connection is declared and because we're like God it has to happen!  Declare it!  'We're like God!'“ (Eddie Long, “Rise To A New Dimension I,” International Gathering of Champions 2004.)

All of us together, say it!  All of us together, you didn't do that right!  Slap somebody, say, 'All of us in this place now together are like God!'  [Claps and cheers]” (ibid.)

Apparently you have to convince people they are like God. And those who know how to act like a little god get the goodies.

In his book Taking Over. Long writes, “Jesus took away Satan’s keys and power at Calvary, and it is up to us to come along behind and subdue and have dominion over every evil work and every servant of evil.”

“I am subduing!  I have dominion and I walk in royalty!  Because, guess what?  For all you that think I just preached blasphemy, my Bible says, 'He is King of kings.'  Which means there has to be some kings.  He is, 'Lord of lords.'  Which means there has to be some lords” (Bishop Eddie Long, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, Mar. 29, 2004)

Yes HE is lord over them, not us. Dominionist love to speak on control over evil but what they teach is evil about themselves having control.

“You're not a king if you don't have any spoils!  You're not a king if you're not ruling and conquering and having dominion!  Where you're taking finances out of the world's system and bringing it into the Kingdom! …Praise-A-Thon is not a telethon!  It is a reporting of the kings of what the have done!”(ibid.)

Long has it all, he is a dominionist, who teaches prosperity and the wealth that little gods on earth deserve. Unfortunately it may be short lived, even if he speaks: “Watch this. Watch this... There is power in your words.”

“Everything that you have been speaking is coming”

(Bishop Eddie Long, “There's Power in Your Word,” Part II.  Ministry tape)

“Watch this, because when Jesus said, 'I have come to get 'That' which was lost.'  It was not those, it was 'that'.  We try to make it 'Those', but He said, 'That.'  I got to get closer to you.  What is 'That'?  I'm going to tell you.  What was lost with our identity?  It started in Genesis 3.  And when God spoke and then the Devil talked to Eve and he said, 'If you do this, He's afraid that you'll be like God.'  They were already like God! [audience claps]  And because they didn't believe what they were already they got robbed of who they were” (Bishop Eddie Long, “Rise To A New Dimension I,” International Gathering of Champions 2004.)

So God punished Adam and Eve with death because of something they already were but didn’t know. This teaching is an excuse for the fall. It is spoken like the teaching came directly from the one who caused the fall. I agree that one should “watch this” very attentively.

“Whenever God sends you somewhere you are him” “If God sent you it ain’t you going it is him “I am he sent, arise and shine for your light has come” (TBN Nov.5, 2004) Yeah, sure it is.

Long preaches on social transformation to get people to believe that through him they will become wealthy and powerful. Long like Creflo teach that Jesus was rich, very rich.

“I would love to sit with you and walk with you through the Bible to show that Jesus wasn't poor,” he said.  (“Bishop's charity generous to bishop,“ New Birth's Eddie Long got $3 million.  By John Blake, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Published on: 08/28/05)

“You have been saved too long to be broke!...You wanna know why you broke?  Cause you're friends are broke and you assemble around that problem...The door was open.  Which means you already rich.  You decided to live poor!  You already healed!  You decided to be sick!...God ain't broke!...And it won't, it does not take Him a long time to fill your pockets.”

So someone is broke because they want to be! That certainly is inspiration from the Holy Spirit who is to comfort us.

The Bible makes it very clear that we should be content, we should not desire to be rich, which is to covet. Some of the most faithful people in the Bible were poor, not all but the majority. Old Testament faithful (Heb. 11:37). Paul (Philip 4:11-12 ;1 Cor 4:9-13).

Long has receive more than $1 million in salary, Bishop Eddie Long Ministries, Inc. provided him with more than $3 million in salary and benefits, including a $1.4 million 20-acre home.

Those who desire riches are an enemy of Christ not a friend and certainly not a true minister  1 Tim 6:9-11 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Long teaches that God wants people to prosper by what they speak.

“Do you believe that this situation can change?  Then speak to it!...Talk your way out of it.  Prophesy your way out of it.  Stop looking at what you see and call what you want it to be.  You're on fertile ground and whatever you speak got to happen!  Whatever you say got to happen!”

(Bishop Eddie Long, “There's Power In Your Word,” Part I.  Tape from his ministry)

Long believes that prophecy can come from man to be spoken to change ones situation

“We have power in our mouths.  Life and death is in the power of the tongue.  And in a moment, touch somebody and say, 'In a moment.'  No, I said, 'In a moment,' we are about to change this world.  In a moment, there's going to be an opening of your mouth--not like church service!  … we are going to set the atmosphere for this city that will touch this state and nations abroad.” (Bishop Eddie Long, “Historic Edition: Silent No More,” TBN, April 3, 2005)

where have I heard this lie? From every word faith prosperity teacher, if one only needs to declare what they want changed then why try to teach people to do this?

“I command healing in your body and continued prosperity” (Bishop Eddie Long, BET Aired June 27, 2004)

Long is one of the many prosperity bleeders sought after to bring in the money for TBN’s Praise-A-Thon.

“You need to get up and understand that you are mighty in God.  You need to get up and understand that Elohim (gods) stands in the congregation of El (God).  You need to get up and understand you are, He sent!  And if all you got is $5.00 to give now, give $6.00!” (Bishop Eddie Long, TBN, Praise-A-Thon, Mar. 29, 2004)

We don't want to accept that God calls us gods!  Because, if you accept being, don't, don't--I'm not starting a cult!  I'm reading Scripture.  The Almighty sits in the congregation of His reflection--El (God), who is mighty.  Watch this, and we can't accept God calling us small g-o-d.  (Bishop Eddie Long, “You are Mighty,” tape from his ministry)

He may not be starting a cult but he is enforcing one. I have watched Long several years ago and was shocked at the manipulation and worship he was receiving from his church, it was one of the worst displays of blind loyalty I have ever seen. Bishop Long stood on the stage as a conductor and has everyone speak out what is wrong, repeating after him poverty, sickness, shame and then has them motion their hands away from themselves giving away what they repeated. Mayhem breaks loose as people jump around revelry in doing this action together (June 2, 2004 TBN)

“You wanna know if you are a man or a woman?  Present your body [Bishop Long stood in front of the congregation and spread his legs and puts his left arm to his side]!  Look [Bishop Long bends forward and looks at his private parts]!  It's either one or two things!  One or two things!  Just one or two!”

(Bishop Eddie Long, “Back to Basics,” TBN, October 24, 2004 posted on myfortress) I’m not going to comment on any x-rated teaching of which there is more.

“We go to church buildings that still have a mortgage.  Which means the bank owns God's house.  Which means that we go and make love to God in a house that Satan owns!” (Eddie Long, “Spring Praise-A-Thon,” TBN April 4, 2005)

So if you live in house you are paying off this is what Long thinks of you. So he has made himself the standard, because the lord is the owner of all we have not just a church building. Does Long ask before he enters any church or building who owns it? What of his building before he paid it off?