Was Saul One Of The Elect?

Elder Ronnie Loudermilk is a young Hardshell preacher who seems to be headed for greatness in the Hardshell cult, taking the place of former popular leaders such as Sonny Pyles and Lasserre Bradley. Union Grove church here in Monroe, N.C. has recently called him to be the pastor and he has accepted. Perhaps this young elder would like to visit me sometime and find out about the real old Baptist faith?

In a sermon titled "Seven Signs of the Gospel of John" (see here) Loudermilk said:

"David enquired of the Lord."

"And Saul was certainly not a man that followed the will of God. He was a self driven, self centered, man of pride. Someone asks - was he a child of God? I believe he was. I can show the evidence but he was not a man that followed the will of God. He was a man that destroyed his own life to the extent that he was visiting a witch at Endor for destruction."

It is not surprising to me that Loudermilk believes that Saul was a saved and "regenerate" man, one of the elect, seeing that he and the neo Hardshells for whom he speaks are quasi universalists (see my posting Hardshell Quasi Universalism). They not only designate wicked living Saul as a saved man but they also do the same with others of like character, men such as the false prophet Baalim, the Jews who sinned and died in the wilderness, Demas, Simon the Sorcerer, etc. Even Judas!

A man who can say such a thing (as in the above words of Loudermilk) about what it means to be "saved" or "regenerated" shows that he does not have the foggiest idea about the definition of those terms. Who, other than Hardshell heretics, would say that a man who is "self driven, self centered," and a "man of pride," was "a child of God"? It is shockingly absurd. Every such sinner has just been given hope of salvation by these words of Loudermilk! (see my posting Offering Hope To Hypocrites) If I were a lost sinner, sitting in the congregation hearing Loudermilk, I would be comforted in my sins, and think that my chances of going to Heaven, in spite of my lack of conversion, are good. I would be encouraged in my sins.

Rather than being "self driven" and "self centered," a saved man, born of the Spirit, will have "self" crucified, put to death, and will have Christ in the "center" (heart or core of being). He will have "ego" dethroned and Christ enthroned instead. Further, rather than being a "man of pride," those who are the born again children of God are "humble people"; And, "humble" is not a mere meaningless adjective but a description of character and habit, of what is generally true of the persons.

About the evidence that Loudermilk says that he has that proves that Saul, in spite of the above description, was nevertheless saved and born again, he did not present it. But, I know the arguments even without him giving them in this sermon. And, those supposed proofs do not annul the description that Loudermilk has given of Saul (which was a correct description).

Saul, admits Loudermilk, was not only serving self, having self as god, and a man of pride, but he did not, throughout his life, "follow the will of God." But, Loudermilk assures us that men who do not follow the will of God will be saved anyway. Is that what he believes the Scriptures to teach? If it teaches just the opposite, then is he not the worst of heretics? I tell you, if I were a person who was not following the will of God, I would be comforted and encouraged in my sin and rebellion. Thus you see the evil in Hardshellism.

Arguing against Saul’s salvation is his record of jealousy, hatred, and murder. Saul’s rule as king was characterized by failure and rebellion. He directly disobeyed God (1 Samuel 15:1–35) and broke God’s law by offering a sacrifice that only priests were to offer (1 Samuel 13:1–14). Saul was visited by evil spirits on several occasions (1 Samuel 16:14; 18:10; 19:9). Saul spent much time and energy trying to murder David (1 Samuel 18:10; 19:10; 23:14); he even tried to murder his son Jonathan once (1 Samuel 20:33). Incredibly, King Saul ordered the slaughter of eighty-five innocent priests and their families (1 Samuel 22:18–19). He consulted a witch and asked her to conjure Samuel up from the dead—another direct violation of God’s Law (1 Samuel 28:1–20). Saul ended his life by committing suicide (1 Samuel 31:4).

How Are The Saved Described?

They are described by their faith and conduct.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 8:1 KJV)

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14: 23 KJV)

"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother." (Mark 3:35 KJV)

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." (I John 5:18 KJV)

How a person can read such verses as these and conclude that saved people are people who do not generally keep themselves, nor do the will of God, nor walk after the Spirit, nor keep the words of Jesus is bewildering. It shows how men can stubbornly hold to unscriptural ideas and twist scripture to conform it to them.

It is amazing to me how Loudermilk begins this sermon by speaking of David who, unlike Saul, "enquired of the Lord." Why can't he see how David is a picture of saved people and Saul a picture of hypocrites and lost souls?

I don't see how the preaching of Loudermilk is going to help save a single sinner. Sadly, it will be the reason why sinners will continue to remain unconverted. If I were Loudermilk, I would fear the judgment of God.