Touch Not God's Anointed
May 30, 2012
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143,
fbns@wayoflife.org

One of the many tactics that some Independent Baptist preachers have used to remain above reproof and discipline is the misapplication of Scripture.

One of these is Matthew 18:15-20. We have dealt with this several times in recent articles. The context has nothing to do with warning about a public preaching and teaching ministry. It has to do with personal offense. If Paul Chappell had committed some offense against me personally, that passage would come into play. But even then, it could not be pursued beyond a long-distance private discussion, because I am not a member of Chappell’s church and he lives on the other side of the world and I have no way to take someone with me to discuss things with him or to present the issue before his church (or my church, for that matter).

Another Scripture that I have heard misapplied repeatedly over the past four decades is 1 Samuel 24:10, upon which is based the doctrine of “touch not God’s anointed.” David said, “Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.”
The context has to do with killing an anointed king of Israel. Apparently some Independent Baptist preachers think they are kings. And they must also think that someone who reproves them is trying to kill them.

Jack Hyles certainly acted like a king and put himself above reproof and discipline, and so does Jack Schaap and many others who are imitating this exceedingly unscriptural, ungodly type of pastoral model.

But even an Israelite king was not above reproof. David didn’t kill King Saul, but the prophet Samuel did not draw back from reproving the sorry old king, and the prophet Nathan did not draw back from reproving King David, and we could give many other examples.

A Baptist pastor is not an Israelite king, but even kings could be reproved by God’s preachers. And so can Baptist pastors.

Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

[Note: A different, but similarly named, report "Touch Not the Lord's Anointed," is found
HERE]



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