Touch Not God’s Anointed

When I’m sharing the gospel with people, an objection that occasionally comes up is bad behavior by certain ministers. Unfortunately, a few “men of the cloth” have done despicable deeds such as committing adultery or abusing children. But non-Christians cannot use those incidents as excuses to avoid their need for salvation. When they stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, He won’t examine other people’s lives but only their own.

Years ago, I knew a woman who claimed our then-pastor was involved in an immoral relationship. Believing her story, I brought up the issue with an associate pastor at our church. The resulting friction made me realize I didn’t rightly handle the situation. 1 Timothy 5:19 says, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.” 

In court trials, defendants are supposed to be presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Numerous people are called to the witness stand to give testimony before the jury reaches a verdict. Why then do some Christians quickly assume a preacher is guilty of something based on claims of one person? Rumors spread through social media and satirical sites like Babylon Bee certainly doesn’t help.

In Numbers chapter 12, Miriam became leprous after criticizing Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. There have been more modern incidents of people who suffered devastating consequences for discrediting men of God. One that comes to my mind involved William Branham, an evangelist used by God during the “Voice of Healing” era of the 1940s and 50s. Two preachers and their wives plotted to expose Brother Branham as a fake at one of his meetings. One of the preachers came up with a prayer card falsely claiming he had various diseases. The Holy Spirit revealed this scheme to Branham. He then confronted the preacher for being a fake himself. The preacher left the meeting with the same diseases he claimed to have! 

So how should people respond to ministers who have truly sinned against them? Jesus taught us to proper way to confront any erring Christian in Matthew 18…

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

The next time somebody starts talking to you about a sin supposedly committed by a preacher, advise him to keep quiet about it unless he has proof and his motive is restoration (Galatians 6:1). Ministers encounter enough persecution from the world. Christians don’t need to be siding with the accuser of the brethren.

“Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” - 1 Chronicles 16:22

Why Do Churches Close?

During the winter, I often reside at a missionary house in Tampa, Florida. Not far from there are two churches that recently closed its doors. One of them focused on meeting the needs of the homeless. The pastor vacated the property after the landlord announced the rent was doubling. For now, the pastor and his wife will conduct park outreaches like they’ve done before.

The other was a small Assembly of God church where I sometimes attended services and Bible studies. After being there for over six years, the pastors decided to sell the property to a Hispanic fellowship. While it may have been disappointing for these pastors not to oversee a growing congregation, souls still got saved there. Three months ago during a Bible study, I got to lead an occasional attendee to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Four years ago, a megachurch in Minnesota that I visited a few times had temporarily shut down. North Heights Lutheran Church in Arden Hills was founded in 1946 with a 450 seat sanctuary. NHLC had grown to a peak of 3,400 weekly worshippers that met at two locations. Attendance then dwindled down to a few hundred. Various reasons surfaced regarding the church’s brief demise: financial problems, downsizing and congregation members not approving of a woman that temporarily became the senior pastor. 

Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “…and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Churches often close not because of outside persecution but from problems within. One survey cited the number one reason people leave a particular fellowship is conflict and gossip. Some church folk can be hard to love just like certain family members. Nevertheless, John 13:35 says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Then again, I have a friend in North Dakota who pastored a church there for a number of years but then felt led to shut it down and move his family to Oklahoma for a season. Instead of handing the reins over to another minister, this pastor encouraged his congregation to connect with other local fellowships. He later attended one of those himself.

Still, I believe it’s God’s best for all His churches to grow so they have a greater influence in their communities. However, if a church strays from sound doctrine and teaches things contrary to Scripture or don’t allow the gifts of the Spirit to function, then it should close its doors.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it” - Psalm 127:1

If You Can’t Say Something Nice...

Three pastors met privately one day to share their major weaknesses and to pray for one another. The first pastor confessed he had a serious lust problem and many times found himself in compromising situations. 

The second pastor, encouraged by this display of candor, admitted that he had stolen money from the church and needed help in managing his finances. 

The third pastor then said, “My weakness is gossip…and I can hardly wait to get out of here!”

While the above story is meant to be humorous, it’s unfortunate some ministers don’t tame their tongues. Once I sought counsel from a pastor regarding a personal matter and assumed he would keep the details of our conversation confidential. A couple of weeks later, a woman who attended this pastor’s church called me asking questions about my situation. The pastor had told his whole church about it! 

From that point on, I avoided contact with this pastor. Proverbs 20:19 says, “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.” A few weeks later as I was walking home, this pastor happened to see me while driving down the street. He immediately pulled over and offered to take me out for coffee. I went along hoping to receive an apology. Unfortunately, most of our conversation consisted of him talking about other people's problems.

Another time I briefly stayed in a house owned by an elderly woman who went on missions trips and previously hosted other ministers. Realizing she was a chronic complainer, I kept my contact with this woman to a minimum. One day in her living room, she insisted on describing to me bad things another missionary had done while staying at her house. After repeated attempts to change the subject, I finally said, “I don’t want to hear any more gossip. It’s ungodly.” In response, this woman mockingly asked the Lord to forgive her for being ungodly. Sadly, she was starting to falsely accuse me of saying certain things to her. 

Whenever someone does us wrong, we should first pray for that person (Matthew 5:44). Then if possible, we should make an effort to reconcile with that person instead of blabbering about the problem to individuals who are not part of the solution. In Romans 1:29-30, gossips and slanderers are compared with God-haters and inventors of evil. Christians who repeatedly talk bad about others are treading on dangerous ground. Jesus said in Mark 11:26, “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

While I was growing up, my mother often told me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I later learned that phrase originated from Thumper in the old Disney cartoon “Bambi.” Whenever we encounter someone used by the devil who gets on our nerves, sometimes not saying anything is the best answer. Silence can never be misquoted.

Christian trash talkers need to repent. God wants our words to edify people, not tear them down. 

“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy.” - Psalm 101:5