"Against An Elder Receive Not An Accusation"
I Timothy 5:19
Wicked men, moved with
envy, jealousy, and malice, by the instigation of satan,
are always anxious to slander the servants of God. They would not use a sword
to spill a man's blood, because society would not approve and the penalty of
the law is too great. But they use their tongues, the sword of spite, to slay a
man's character and reputation. This form of murder almost all men enjoy and
actively pursue, but God does not. Such violence is not to be tolerated among
God's people.
NO ACCUSATION IS TO BE
RECEIVED, IN PRIVATE CONVERSATION OR IN THE CHURCH, AGAINST ANY PASTOR WHO
PREACHES THE GOSPEL OF GOD'S FREE AND SOVEREIGN GRACE IN CHRIST, UNLESS THE
ACCUSATION CAN BE PROVED BY INDISPUTABLE FACTS, WITH CREDIBLE EYEWITNESSES.
Civilized men and women even allow common criminals justice in courts of law.
Surely, in the
No man has ever been
used of God in the service of Christ's kingdom without incurring the wrath of
some. The Jews called our Lord a glutton and winebibber. The Judaizers called
Paul an antinomian. And I have had a good many accusations hurled at me over
the years. When I hear of a man, whom I know to be a faithful gospel preacher,
being slandered and accused of evil deeds, I always come to his defense, for
his sake, for the church's sake, for the gospel's sake, for Christ's sake; and
you should too. If we are proven wrong, there is no shame to bear in being
defenders of other men's reputation. We have only done what God, the love of
Christ, and personal experience demand that we do. God will set all things in
their true light in his time.
Don Fortner