Well, yes, it really does say it. But in what context? Yesterday, I blogged about Ese Walter and the robust Pastor Biodun, to which my very own Funmie gave us the classic Nigerian response (yes, I’m calling Funmie out here. What are friends for?). Read her comment and my reply. It’s the part in capital letters that we’re focusing on today.
Funmie’s First Comment
My reply and Funmie’s second comment
See, this is part of why I’m suspicious of Pastors. Even when I didn’t know much else about the bible, I knew that it said to touch not the Lord’s anointed and to do His prophets no harm. From every Pastor that I have ever, ever heard this from, they were always referring to themselves or other spiritual leaders as God’s anointed. But if we would just take the time to read the entire passage and understand it in its context, instead of just that one verse, we’ll understand and appreciate more that Jesus didn’t die for only Pastors, nor are Pastors the only ones who are allowed to call upon Him. He died for us all. Now, read with me.
1 Chronicles 16:22 (also in Psalm 105:15) “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my phophets no harm.” But how about we read more than just this verse? This is David speaking to the Israelites and telling them how to praise God for all He has done for them. He reminds them of how the Lord saved them from the land of Egypt. Read the verses below.
What the bible actually says
Basically, David is reminding the Israelites of when God saved them from the Egyptians and did not let even the Egyptians’ Kings to get them. That was when God said to the Egyptians, touch not my anointed … In other words, God is referring to the His people, the Isrealites as the annointed ones, and we are all descendants, no? That makes all of us anointed.
So Sister Funmie, you and I are the anointed, no just Pastor Biodun. That said, even if the Bible was speaking only about actual Pastors, I’m sure it was not implying that when the so-called anointed one bones a member of the church, you should sit silently and wait for a robust response from him and his team. Life is simply cause and effect. Whenever there is an action – good or bad – expect a reaction. It is not fair for a Pastor to get to sleep with the women in his church and for said women and the general public to not be able to ask questions.
Because this thing happened in Nigeria, I pretty much don’t expect anything to come out of it. There is no accountability or order in Nigeria, so who will hold Pastor Biodun accountable? He is the Oga at the top, and no one – not even the government – can come after him. Why? He is a Pastor, and people think he walks on water and turns water into wine.
For all this preaching I just gave, I feel like I should be collecting a robust offering. And I love you, Funmie.
Preach Pastor Vera I agree with you! Let me go and prepare my robust offering for you:)
Looooooooooool. Thank you, Pendo! Please send that robust offering shap, shap. Pastor Vera needs
new shoesto start building a church.I think Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo WASTED a wonderful opportunity at his church service on Sunday. He will never get that opportunity again.
I’m talking about the opportunity to say, “Yes, I did it. I’m sorry, and it will never happen again”, or say, “No, I never did that. I don’t know why she’s making these allegations, but I hope she will eventually retract them.”
Experience teaches us that when you are accused like this, these are the only two safe statements to make. Anything else is severely damaging in the long run.
You’re right, Mike. But unfortunately, this is Nigeria (and Nigerians) we’re talking about. Church members will follow their pastors into hell, if he told them that that was the way.
You know what Mike you are so right he would have earned back people’s trust and maybe even respect by owning up (I am assuming the allegations are true), admitting he has a problem and working towards getting help for that problem but sadly it seems he is either in denial or has very very very bad advisers.
Pendo, that’s what’s ideal. But this case, I highly doubt will ever get there. If he ever does come back with the robust response, it won’t even matter anymore. Eventually, peeps will move on and everyone will pretend not to see the big pink elephant in the room. And it’ll just be a gist from the archives: hey, remember when our pastor was accused of having an affair?
SMH.
That verse is the most abused verse in the bible. Even politicians flanked by their ‘pastors’ would use it on the campaign lies train. A pastor caught on top of a church members wife claiming he was exorcising demons used same.
PS: His fans (church members) would soon find ur blog and bomb it with twisted bible quotes. no be the same ‘church members’ that claim to love their pastor and bought him a 2011 abi 2012 range sport (vera ur one time dream car) when it just go released for his bday all under the umbrella of our pastor likes cars so we got him what he loves as a gift.
ChiefO, I’m still dreaming about the Range Rover oh! No be small matter at alllll! If you count the members of the church that can afford Range Rover for themselves now, it’ll only be a handful. But for the Pastor, of course …
I love you too Verastic.
Wow, this your explanation makes sense sha. We are all anointed, halleluyah and even better.
So since Pastor Biodun is one of the anointed many, and you have confirmed that the bible says “Touch not my Anointed”… I/we still shouldn’t touch him.
You already aren’t touching him because you clearly pointed out the weaknesses of everyone (lady mistress, pastor man, follow-follow church members and Nigerians as a whole). So you see? We dey yarn the same same naaa.
I can’t even argue that most christains are brainwashed – we worship our pastors more than we worship God.
I have attended my current church for almost or over 8 years now and I can count the no of times I have been to pastors office or gone to see pastor or his wife or the assistant pastors…. Why? No 1. I believe those poor humans are already being over -worked and weighed down with a lot of church members problems. No 2. I believe they are too busy, and I refuse to be 1 extra burden. No 3. I belive that MY GOD has got my back. The anointing/messages/ministrations I get during service is more than enough for me.
But I’m just one person compared to a whole nation. Nigerians, we are very cultural, and some might be right when they see their pastors as reps of God… But everyone should be able to strike a BALANCE. Your darling pastor is a man/woman first…THEN a messenger of God.
People should stop being overly emotional/ pointing fingers when things like this happens.
I understand that its a bad bad situation, but aint nothing new under the sun.
Everyone(including me) should endeavour to have a PERSONAL relationship with God, this way, the Holy Spirit is ever present in our within and we enjoy the spirit of discernment.
The things of the spirit(religion, devil, temptations, attacks) are not canal. So talking about such with canal minds can be likened to lack of wisdom.
Let us all seek wisdom. May God grant us wisdom (NOT stupidity) Amen.
Shalom
(LOL, I just had to…)
True this is nothing new under the sun. The fact is this is a pastor, that is a position of high regard. He suppose to be living as he preaches. It more than the act itself, it the fact that he still has his position with people supporting him. Logically what he should have done is admit and step down and be with his family. There no accountability.Yes we make mistakes, but there nothing wrong with having expectation of people and expecting them to upheld it. When they dont we should hold them accountable. This situation could have easily been a child without a voice. Then what? We leave it God? These people need to be touched, flipped, turned up side down, kicked, shaked …………. Discipline is not meant to be joyous, but he learn not to try such thing again.
Ere, I’m with you. The key word here is accountability. A person who is not accountable to anyone, for anything is a god. And we all know that there is only one God. But this man isn’t being held accountable because he is a god among his people. Gbam.
Funmie, so you just gon’ come here and say that we’re saying the same thing? Hahahaha. You’re a yeye person. I don’t even know what to say to you. I’m not usually speechless, but this time, I am. I tire for you ooo!
But seriously, I still don’t agree with what you’re saying. We still shouldn’t touch him because he is one of the anointed? So, shall we extend this level of grace to everyone else? Adulterers, rapists, murderers, thieves, fraudsters, liars, cheats —- because they are all children of God?
Or let me ask you this: if you husband cheats on you, then what? You don’t “touch” him because he’s anointed? Or if someone steals your car? What would you do?
Erm, Vera I think that we should give Funmie a million and one Gbosas for her comment above. She said it as it is. The most important thing is first having a personal relationship with God himself and to know without a doubt that Pastors are first men/women… 🙂
Ife, I can give her the gbosas for that one, but I still disagree on not touching the pastor.
Vera since we are having church, let me throw in another bible verse
1 John 2:27
New International Version
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him.
That is to say …. we are all anointed. Nobody had better touch me.
Yes, yes, thank you Sister Manny *pats Manny on back* It is imperative to know and remember that Jesus died for every single one of us, not just pastors, deacons, elders, etc. And so, his grace and anointing also rests on all of us.
Somebody should ALLELUIA!
Lololol!! @ collect offering!! Thank you Vera, you hit the nail on the head. Just what I was saying in the other post. We as Christians who follow God and his commandments are all anointed and prophets. Infant, we have so many other names like ‘friend of God’, ‘heirs to God’s Kingdom’, God’s children, ‘kings’, ‘priests’, etc. It is sad to see things like this happening but it is happening everywhere in the world. I can’t tell you how many stories I have heard of pastors sleeping with others from African Americans, Indians, Caucasians, etc The bible says that not everyone who calls him Lord is of Him so that is why we need to be vigilant and discerning ourselves. When it is time for judgement, we cannot say ‘oh I didn’t say anything because pastor so and so said not to or pastor so and so said this’. What does the bible say? What does the Holy Spirit say through your conscience? It is time to wake up oh! I have to confess, that i think everyone in this situation is to blame, from Ese to the ‘pastor’. Which lady actually goes to a hotel with a married pastor out of state unless she wants to gbansh? However, no one is perfect! We are all sinners and no sin is above another. I am so happy that she spoke out and i believe others should to as led by God. I am a Christ following Christian and I go to church but believe me when I say that everything that the ministers and pastors say, I cross check with the bible and my conscience. It has saved me so many times. My aim is to get to heaven so I am not focused on pleasing any mortal being, no matter what they say to me. God is in control sha!! Vera, to your question about who will hold him accountable, God will, and I pray he and all who have done this change before it is too late.
Enitan, I just finished typing the post, I thought to myself, nawa o, Vera, abi na pastoral calling be dis? Lol. Anyway, let me not repeat every single thing you have said, but just say that you and I are on the same page. And like you said, I blame them both, too. The only difference is that one of them (Ese) is coming out and confessing. The other one is waiting for a robust response. *hiss*
God surely will hold all of us responsible.
Sorry Vera, I had to come back and talk about this…Christians are supposed to try to correct a fellow Christian. And this is so that repentance and restoration to the erring brother or sister in Christ can occur, because that is what Christ came on this earth to do after all.
In Galatians 6:1, the bible says “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently…
In Matthew 18 verse 15 to 17, the bible also says “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector”.
Another verse taken out of context by most people is Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, lest ye be judged”. This verse actually refers to the hypocritical, unfair kinds of judgment, where the person judges to condemnation and especially where the confronter is guilty of the same sin as the one being confronted.
And last but certainly not least, Ezekiel 33:7-9 says 7“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
As selfish as this may sound, I refuse to go to hell for anyone.
Enitan, thank you oh!!! I should do a post sef on bible verses that are taken outta context. Dem plenty!!!!!! Before you talk one, dem go carry bible slap you for face. Lol. As I type this now, several verses come to mind. In fact, you have just given me an idea sef. This would cause me to read my bible more, too. Thank you, Enitan!
Vera…where is the like button already????? take your time o.
This comment has just encapsulated every thing all of una de talk…GBAM Enitan, GBAM!
Sweerat Izzie, I don find this like button tire. Can’t find it. There might be scarcity right now, you know? Lol. But I’ll keep looking
Chei! Evangelist Vera oooo!!! Yes we are all anointed, lol! I love your take on this. 😀
I haven’t written any blog post on the whole Ese Walter thing because I’m thinking of typing up a liberal and conservative view, plus my own pastor’s response, lol. That said, I must say I’m disgusted by the numerous comments online that suggest that Ese “planned” to seduce and blackmail the pastor. She might have planned this whole fiasco, but the fact that our concern is the wrecked “image” of what we think the body of Christ is, while refusing to address the alleged affair is really depressing. Yet another reason why many incidents of abuse go unreported. Maybe many Nigerians do not understand what abuse really is, and that it need not be sexual. Or maybe they do and men of God are exempt by default. (Again, never said COZA pastor is guilty of this o! Back off #COZA fans, lol!)
So does this mean that churches in Nigeria will become desolate??? Mba, in fact, people will have revival to curse the likes of Ese! Lol @ our twisted concept of touch not my anointed.
See, the fact that they are being referred to as COZA fans instead of COZA members shows that there is a big problem. And “Men of God” are definitely exempted from all rules and regulations, as they aren’t part of this world. They are part of heaven.
LOL at Evangelist Vera. Tehehehe.
Thanks for this piece! More verses that authenticate your position about all believers been anointed.
1 John 2:20; ‘You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things’
1 John 2:27; ‘But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him’
Now that was the Great Apostle John telling believers they’ve been anointed.
Thank you, Ibk! As I get older, I become more appreciative of the God and His grace over my life, and the more I know, the more I know how much I don’t know. But I’m learning everyday that this race is mine alone, and only between me and God. Thank you for these verses.
You’re most welcome! The issue is many don’t even read their bibles and christianity to many is one of those things we do every week just like schooling, working….
So, most don’t know there’s a relationship with God in the first place. They go to church, mark the attendance, pay my offerings, network and they’re good. Their Pastor prays and even fasts on their behalf. God is not asleep sha…Thanks
Ibk, I guess it’s because we have developed a laziness toward studying and researching on our own (and I’m guilty of this, too) and instead we have replaced that zeal with an over dependence on our pastors. Clearly, it’s not working.
God is really not asleep. It’s comforting to know that.