Divorced Pastors

Let's get simple here. Put aside all your useless "school knowledge", and apply common sense.

If a man is divorced he was unable to pastor his home, thus, how can he possibly pastor a church. If a man fails as a father and husband, then he has already failed as a pastor. I sure wouldn't want a divorced pastor giving me marital advice!

Ernie

[ May 03, 2002, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: Ernie Brazee ]

 

A divorced pastor is disqualified. Is there not a qualification to maintain order in his home? Is divorce a sign of order or disorder?

There is no such thing as a "biblical" divorce.

The only time remarriage is permitted in the Scripture is when the former marriage partner is dead. There is plenty of Scripture to back up each statement also.

 

PreachtheWord is right! "Biblical divorce" What is that? Please explain Mt.19:6. Being a divorced man is not having the capability of ruling your own home.

 

Ernie, if we shouldn't listen to a divorced pastor giving us advice on marriage, then I suppose we shouldn't listen to a guy who slashed off another's ear when he gives advice on how to live a holy life. And, I guess we should throw out those Psalms as well, since that guy committed murder and adultery.

 

That guy who committed murder and adultery lost very much because of his sin. Read on and see the crop he reaped in his sons.

When are men going to listen to the Bible and quit listening to men? The Bible teaches the man is the one responsible for what goes on in the home; a divorced pastor, or any divorced man for that matter has failed as a husband.

If men obey the Bible, their wives will obey them.

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Too many of us men want to our wives to please us, we don't love them as ourselves. When a man puts his love in the right place he couldn't drive his wive off with a club.

25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

It is because so many pastors are afraid of losing people, they refuse to teach what the Bible teaches about divorce, rather they twist a few scripture to please men.

Matthew 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Pretty cut and dried

Ernie

[ May 04, 2002, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Ernie Brazee ]

 

Amen and Amen,Bro.Ernie.

 

Ernie,

You are correct. I agree with everything you wrote. There are consequences for sin. But you know, as I read 1 Timothy 3, Peter wasn't qualified to be an Elder in the church. We know he was violent, quarrelsome and I'm not sure he had such a great reputation in his community. But yet, he WAS an Elder in the church and we read his epistles everyday. God used this imperfect man to do great things. HE TEACHES US TODAY! David likewise was a murderer-adulterer. HE TEACHES US TODAY! And that's my point. Those who have sinned (yes, even those who have been divorced) and repented have much to teach us. We should listen to them lest we fall into sin.

 

Let me ask you a question:

Why did Mark and Luke leave the "exception clause" out of their gospels when they record the exact same conversation?

What does Romans 7:2-3 have to say? What does Luke 16:18 have to say? What does Mark 10 have to say? What does 1 Corinthians 7:36-39 have to say?

None of them support such a radical interpretation that would say a divorced spouse is "dead". That is just more modern psychobabble to make people feel better about allowing for adultery. If you are divorced, you may not remarry. You may not pastor either. This doesn't mean that after repentance the person has nothing valuable to say or teach to the body of Christ. He is disqualified from the office of pastor/elder.

 

< That is just more modern psychobabble >

When Jesus said, "...saving for the cause of fornication," was he psychobabbling, or did Matthew lie in quoting him?

 

I Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

So, what does the above mean? Any clown can pastor if he so desires? Let's go a step further, if the pastor raises a rebellious child he is also unqualified. Read the verse.

Forget what man says its in the BOOK

 

< Forget what man says its in the BOOK >

And the BOOK indicates that if an elder's wife dies, he must resign, being no longer "husband of one wife."

 

BPM, it cannot be swept under the rug that easily. Mark and Luke were writing to entirely different audiences. They would not have the "exception clause" to justify, er, support their position.

Cynic, do you think I have not thought of that passage? It is harmonious with the others. The problem with this discussion is exactly what you have done. You want to argue the interpretation of that passage while ignoring the others. Even if you use only that passage, you still cannot justify a remarriage is acceptable for divorced people position.

Why don't you try and answer my other questions.

 

< Cynic, do you think I have not thought of that passage? It is harmonious with the others. >

You're a liar. If you think you can pick what you want from some passages and nullify the denotations of others, that is not "harmonious with the others."

 

If he is not biblically divorced then he should not be a pastor at all.

Biblical divorce - I Cor 7 - Unbeliever bails out on you then you are free. Same passage, it happens before salvation the first or however marriages die with the old man.

The "execption clause" is not for the Church. Unless you are putting a hanky under your wife on your wedding night to ensure she has a token of her virginity you are not practicing what this passage is teaching. If the man did not find her to be a virgin on her wedding night he had the right to divorce here then and there on the spot. If he chose not to he could never divorce her. If he tries to claim later that she was not a virgin her parents had to produce the token of her virginity to show his accusations as lies. If it was lost the lassie was in trouble as he could divorce her on those grounds.

Two Christians marry? No divorce and remarriage allowed. They can separate and seek reconciliation or they can dicvorce and remain celibate, but no remarriage. We have greater knowledge and greater responsibilities hence greater penalities for disobedience. Again, this comes from 1 Cor 7.

None allowed for adultery. We commit spiritual adultery most likely daily and we want our Spouse to forgive and keep us. Marriage is a mystery and shows the relationship between the Bride and the Church and unless you are Arminian you do not believe that Christ divorces His Bride and neither can you nor can the wife divorce her husband.

That is tough, but that is Bible. Everything else that is taught is conjecture or fable.

 

< Same passage, it happens before salvation the first or however marriages die with the old man. >

Bud, that's nothing but indefinite jibberish and is no quote from I Corinthians at all.

< The "execption clause" is not for the Church. >

Don't it make a lot of sense that such is only for those outside the church, who are dead in their sins no matter what practices they engage in?

< If the man did not find her to be a virgin on her wedding night he had the right to divorce here then and there on the spot. If he chose not to he could never divorce her. >

More unbiblical jibberish.

< Two Christians marry? No divorce and remarriage allowed.... None allowed for adultery. >

Only if you think adultery is outside the concept of porneia-- 'immorality'; 'fornication.'

< That is tough, but that is Bible. Everything else that is taught is conjecture or fable. >

Your conjecture and fables verify that.