Touch not the Lord's Anointed

When pastors, clergy or church leaders have been badly caught for their erroneous teachings and actions they seem to be using the scripture to counteract those who criticize and speak against them. “Touch not the Lord’s anointed” is a famous phrase uttered by certain servants of God as well as those who hero-worship them. Human beings have an instinct to self-defend when exposed and uncovered. Some servants of God seem to be using scripture wrongfully to defend themselves and go to the extent of pronouncing a death sentence.

Who are the anointed ones?

The anointed persons as taught in the Bible cannot be narrowed to the preachers, teachers and prophets only. An anointed person is someone who has been called by God and set apart for God to work through them. This happens when the Holy Spirit convicts of their sin and then they accept Christ into their hearts. Such individuals have a new viewpoint and a new attitude on life. They become followers of Christ with a calling and an anointing to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). According to St Paul all such followers of Christ have this experience – “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1: 21,22). “The entire body of Christ is ‘anointed’, not just certain people only in the body. All Christians have the same anointing… the same Holy Spirit.”

Anointed ones are nothing but dust

People look for the anointed ones and tend to have them placed on high pedestals. Unfortunately, such tendencies tempt the anointed one also to behave like superheroes. I do not consider myself a great man of God. However, there are people who love and appreciate the work I do. When they express their sentiments about me, it tends to put me up on a pedestal of self-glorification. It is a very tempting place to be! I feel as if wings have been fixed on me to fly high. However, I thank God for his grace that has kept me from falling into that temptation. “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14” It is my humble belief and experience that God’s grace keeps reminding me of this truth and it saves me from taking glory for myself. 

 

One cannot physically harm the Lord’s anointed

Yes, this is a Biblical Teaching. When young David had the opportunity to physically harm King Saul

who was threatening to kill him, David prevented himself from harming Saul because Saul was the anointed King. (1 Samuel 24:9,10). Physically harming any anointed person is prohibited in the Bible. However, the phrase, “touch not my anointed,” is used by some anointed persons today to say that no one should criticize anything they say or do, or God will make that person pay for it. Such persons are taking this verse completely out of context.

Pointing out the wrong to the anointed one is allowed in the Bible. David did the same to King Saul by questioning King Saul: "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?” (1 Samuel 24: 9).

Prophet Samuel, who anointed Saul as King later on spoke openly against the disobedience of Saul to God’s instructions (1 Samuel 15:17-26). When the Lord’s anointed one commits wrong, the responsibility is given to another to point out that wrong. No anointed person can escape it by claiming that he is the Lord’s anointed.

Be discerning

We are not called to judge the anointed of the Lord but we are called by Christ to be on guard against the false prophets - “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:15,16). That cautiousness through discernment is not only for me but for others too. Though we are not to judge any person we are also called to identify, recognize and spot the

“wolfs in sheep’s clothing” This is done not only to protect ourselves but for the protection of others too. We must carefully observe and analyze the plant and the fruits. We must be quick to identify the “corruptions of the faith” - If grapes are found in the thorn bushes there is serious trouble and we have to blow the whistle!

Today’s people of God in Sri Lanka specifically need the gift of discernment through the Holy Spirit. In the face of false prophets and teachers, a prayerful quest of asking “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10) with openness, generosity and courage is the need of the hour.



Rev. Asiri P. Perera
October 1st, 2022

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BISHOPS IN METHODISM

Image
                                                                                           BISHOPS IN METHODISM “Methodists don’t have Bishops. They have only Presidents, Chairmen and Superintendents.” This has been the general understanding among the Christians in Sri Lanka until very recently. Is it true? Partly true and partly false. According to the statistics available from the World Methodist Council, out of 73 Methodist Churches around the World, only less than half a dozen churches still follow the British model of President as the title of the head of the Church. Even the British Methodist Conference, the Mother Church of Methodism has agreed with the Anglican Church that soon the head of the Methodist Church will be titled as President-Bishop exercising an Episcopal Ministry . What I share with you is from my study and experience having served as President Bishop of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka. You are welcome to raise questions, make your comments in response to what is s
Read more

REV. DR. KINGSLEY T. MUTTIAH AN OUTSTANDING CHURCH LEADER

Image
  Kingsley Thesiganesan Muttiah was born on May 7, 1935, as the 3 rd Son of Rev. and Mrs. D.N. Muttiah of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka. He was Inducted as the President of the Methodist Church Sri Lanka in August 1990 and led the church with distinction. His untimely death took place while he was in office in the final year of his term as the President of Methodist Church Sri Lanka. The 29th Death Anniversary falls on the 29 th of October. This article is written in celebration of our personal friendship with him, Grace his wife, David, Niruban and Jessica. In January 1984 I was stationed in the Kandy Circuit of the Methodist Church. This was my second posting and the final year during the three-year probationary period before ordination. Having worked under a strict but very caring superintendent minister like the late Rev. L. Victor Salgadoe in the first two years of probation, I was rather apprehensive about how things would turn out between me and Rev. Kingsley Muttiah the ne
Read more

Why I do not support Christian Zionism

Image
  With the current war going on between Israel and Hamas of Palestine, Jews, Christians and Muslims around the world have begun to show their support to either Israel or Palestine. The sad part is that these groups have pulled out their daggers at each other believing that they do so in the name of their God. They hardly realize that they do so as followers of the same God worshipped and served in three different traditions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. I strongly believe that it is not the will of God to have an armed struggle between them, seeking to annihilate the other. I do not entertain the antisemitic feelings as some would do especially the extremist terror groups like Hamas. I also do not condone the merciless retaliatory actions of the state of Israel against the unarmed civilians who are vulnerably sandwiched between Hamas and the Israeli army. In this article, I state my stand on Christian Zionism which is heavily lobbying unconditionally to support the current state
Read more