Two years ago, I was watching an interview of a Christian author from Europe. He was talking about his new book. In the interview, he stated that in his research he discovered that American Christians know less about the Bible than Christians in developing countries and that American Christians are the most ignorant Christians in the world. You Think?! He stated that, though Americans shout Hallelujah, they will not read the Bible for ourselves. We rely on a man or a woman to tell us what the Bible says that we ought to do, rather than reading and studing it for ourselves. "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2:40)
When I was three years old, the first Bible verse my mother taught me was 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. When asked, why she would she teach me that scripture, she stated that "That's what God told me to do." I am forty years of age, and since I can remember, I have always had a passion to seek out, to study, to reveal and to inform. Even as a student in high school and college. I have a passion for the truth, especially when it comes to the Word of God.
On yesterday, I received an e-mail from someone accusing me of "defaming our Man of God" in my new book, "Clever Lies and Assumptions." Note the last word of the title of the book. Also note that my book has not been released yet and this person has already assumed. In the e-mail, they mentioned the scripture 1 Chronicles 16:22. So, lets talk about the issue "Touch not my Anointed," a subject that I talk about in my forthcoming book.
Throughout the Bible, the prophets and the apostles cried out against not only the enemies of God, but those who served Him and got off track! Jesus warned us about such people. Like Paul, I will not have you ignorant!
Why do many Church leaders believe and teach that 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalms 105:13 applies only to them? "Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm.” It is for many reasons. Outside of mere ignorance, controlling ministries use this passage to keep their sheep afraid to question them, even when the leadership is wrong. I have discovered that many in Church leadership have no idea what this scripture means.
The context of these scriptures refer to God's protection of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and particularly to an episode in Abraham's life in Gen. 20:6 when Sarah was about to be taken into Abimelech's harm, but God reproved him for Abraham's sake. God was protecting his covenant people from heathen interference. These two scriptures should never be used to imply laity should not or can’t question church leadership. As a matter of fact, all spirit-filled believers are anointed with the Holy Spirit, thus God will protect them from the ungodly just as much. I think that a good shepherd should be honored and respected, but we are instructed to prove all things (I Thess. 5:21). Deacons must be proved (I Tim. 3:10). Even apostles should be tried, (Rev. 2:2;) how much more should pastors be proved. We are to follow them, only as they follow Christ. By – the - way, God has always been more concerned to warn shepherds not to abuse His sheep (Ezek. 34).
A pastor is supposed to be more mature than his flock. Often, he is the spiritual father of some of them. This touch not mine anointed idea, is a clear case where Church leaders use fear, guilt and intimidation to control God’s people.
When I was three years old, the first Bible verse my mother taught me was 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. When asked, why she would she teach me that scripture, she stated that "That's what God told me to do." I am forty years of age, and since I can remember, I have always had a passion to seek out, to study, to reveal and to inform. Even as a student in high school and college. I have a passion for the truth, especially when it comes to the Word of God.
On yesterday, I received an e-mail from someone accusing me of "defaming our Man of God" in my new book, "Clever Lies and Assumptions." Note the last word of the title of the book. Also note that my book has not been released yet and this person has already assumed. In the e-mail, they mentioned the scripture 1 Chronicles 16:22. So, lets talk about the issue "Touch not my Anointed," a subject that I talk about in my forthcoming book.
Throughout the Bible, the prophets and the apostles cried out against not only the enemies of God, but those who served Him and got off track! Jesus warned us about such people. Like Paul, I will not have you ignorant!
Why do many Church leaders believe and teach that 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalms 105:13 applies only to them? "Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm.” It is for many reasons. Outside of mere ignorance, controlling ministries use this passage to keep their sheep afraid to question them, even when the leadership is wrong. I have discovered that many in Church leadership have no idea what this scripture means.
The context of these scriptures refer to God's protection of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and particularly to an episode in Abraham's life in Gen. 20:6 when Sarah was about to be taken into Abimelech's harm, but God reproved him for Abraham's sake. God was protecting his covenant people from heathen interference. These two scriptures should never be used to imply laity should not or can’t question church leadership. As a matter of fact, all spirit-filled believers are anointed with the Holy Spirit, thus God will protect them from the ungodly just as much. I think that a good shepherd should be honored and respected, but we are instructed to prove all things (I Thess. 5:21). Deacons must be proved (I Tim. 3:10). Even apostles should be tried, (Rev. 2:2;) how much more should pastors be proved. We are to follow them, only as they follow Christ. By – the - way, God has always been more concerned to warn shepherds not to abuse His sheep (Ezek. 34).
A pastor is supposed to be more mature than his flock. Often, he is the spiritual father of some of them. This touch not mine anointed idea, is a clear case where Church leaders use fear, guilt and intimidation to control God’s people.
1 comments:
I am not a minister but find myself in God's word and in agreement with so much that you teach. You confirm many things that I write about in my novel.
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