Saul doesn't obey God's command completely and is punished for it. But the punishment seems too severe for the sin. God has told him (through Samuel), "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." [1 Sam. 15:3]
Saul obeys God...except he spares "Agag [the Amalekites king] and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs -- everything that was good." [1 Sam. 15:9]
Does Saul in his mind really think he's done the right thing as he suggests? "I have carried out the Lord's instructions." [1 Sam. 15:13] When Samuel questions him, Saul replies the soldiers spared the best. Is he averting blame from himself? Since he's going to use what he saved from the battle to sacrifice to God, does he think the ends justifies the means? Because of this, God rejects Saul's kingship. Some will use this scripture to suggest -- "See, Saul didn't do exactly what the Lord said, he amended it a bit, and so we must be careful to do precisely what God has prescribed." And that's true. But is form or obedience the problem here? The problem is obedience. We concentrate too much on form.
Even Samuel says, "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." [1 Sam. 15:22] I think it would be a mistake to apply this scripture to the form we follow. And as far as obedience goes, we know that the greatest commandment and the second both deal with love. Loving God. Then loving others. Rather than argue over scripture or the form of our following God, let's love.
That's why I can worship with a congregation that's caught up in bigger buildings with more professional Christians as leaders because, of course, we serve God better with bigger and better facilities and trained professionals. I consider that a rather Catholic view. I think God intended us to use our resources in other ways -- to reach out rather than make ourselves more comfortable. We preach this from the pulpit as it relates to our personal use of resources but fail to preach it in our corporate use of resources. thus, we can suggest that the congregation spends too much time in front of its flat screen televisions in a church populated with flat screen televisions.
I disagree with the leadership but still fellowship because love is the higher calling of the day. I can accept what I perceive to be misguided as long as it doesn't violate the core of what I believe.
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