Episode 296 – Is It Right to Accuse an Elder-Pastor?

Disciple Up # 296
Is It Right to Accuse an Elder (Pastor)?
By Louie Marsh, 2-27-2023

Link to podcast on YouTube.

Youtube.com/@discipleuppodcast9019

Response to last week – name redacted.

“Oh Lucifer, the great accuser and slanderer. Praise Jesus Christ the living Son of the living God. I’ll stay focused on the cross and Christ’s redeeming blood, I suggest anyone…
“Oh lofty one, you’re not an elder in this church, merely a Karen seeking for yourself your own vanity.”
“Your post is in direct rebellion against the will of God, Mr. Pastor”
“Forgive me, I’m arrogant. But nonetheless, this doesn’t belong on public platforms for all to see.”

What the Bible Says:

“¹⁹Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:19, ESV)

Against an elder (κατα πρεσβυτερου [kata presbuterou]). In the official sense of verses 17f. Receive not (μη παραδεχου [mē paradechou]). Present middle imperative with μη [mē] (prohibition) of παραδεχομαι [paradechomai], to receive, to entertain. Old verb. See Acts 22:18. Accusation (κατηγοριαν [katēgorian]). Old word (from κατηγορος [katēgoros]). In N. T. only here, Titus 1:6; John 18:29 in critical text. Except (ἐκτος εἰ μη [ektos ei mē]). For this double construction see 1 Cor. 14:5; 15:2. At the mouth of (ἐπι [epi]). Idiomatic use of ἐπι [epi] (upon the basis of) as in 2 Cor. 13:1.

– A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), 1 Ti 5:19.

A Red Herring:

“¹⁵saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”” (Psalm 105:15, ESV)

In the verses leading up to God’s command “Do not touch my anointed ones,” we read this:

“¹⁹When you were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, ²⁰wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, ²¹he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, ²²saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”” (1 Chronicles 16:19–22, ESV)

This passage refers to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When “they” (the patriarchs) were few in number, they lived as wandering strangers in a strange land (see Hebrews 11:9). Through all their travels and travails, God protected them, increased their number, and prevented the powerful rulers of the lands where they stayed from harming them.

David applied it to himself:

1 Samuel 26:9–11 (ESV): 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”

Remember: There’s a big difference between questioning what someone says, and questioning their character.

“¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies, ²¹but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–22, ESV)