Church Rules

[Dr. Bob]

Each church is autonomous and may interpret the Bible any way they so desire. They can make up rules for who can/can't do any position, whether in the Bible or not.

They are a social non-profit religious organization and operate under their bylaws. If you feel those unfair (not allowing someone divorced or married to a divorcee to serve) then what is the course of action in a congregational government church?

1. You see who made the rule.

A - If it is a decision of the pastor/leaders, you appeal to them to change it.
B - If it was by action of the Church at a meeting, you may bring the matter up for a vote at the next meeting.
C - If it is a part of the Church constitution, you appeal at a Business Meeting to change it per guidelines of the constitution.

2. You decide whether you can live with that rule. Attendance/membership is for those in agreement in principle with the doctrine and practice of the church.

3. You then make your final move:
A - Stay in the church with these policies and keep your nose clean and mouth shut
B - Stay in the church and whine and gossip and complain until you are a festered shell and get kicked out
C - Leave and find a good church. Divorce is NOT the unpardonable sin last time I checked!

CAVEAT - You will NEVER find a church with which you fully agree. Like joining a political party, you have to take the good and the bad. But must weigh it out, make the commitment and then stick it out.

 

[buckster75]

Bob spread some love. you could have started the post with "good point buckster" or Buckster brings up an interseting point"

 

[Soulman]

Posted by buckster75: can this church not make their rules basted on how they interpret scripture? I may not agree with it but this is why there are denominations and how many different kinds of baptists.

The bible teaches that John 8:32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

1 John 3:19: And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Christians should be in basic agreement as to the major doctrines of the bible. Everything else is religion.

God says at conversion we are born again. A new born babe cannot have committed past sin to be held against him if he is truly looked at as a new born babe.

Those that contend a divorce keeps a man from a God called office based on sin previous to salvation are simply wrong.

 

[intojesus]

So let me ask this. Is it okay to married a divorced man or women? If you are both Christians. I am talking after you became a Christian. If you met someone who was divorced would it be okay to marry them?

 

[Plain Old Bill]

I would be inclined to take what guitarpreacher and Dr. Bob said and use that information.

 

[buckster75]

a good example of how far off and "wrong" a church can get was the guy on here the other day. He was the pastor of the church. he stated that in the bylaws, deed, constitution (I don't remember which) was a clause saying that if a black person ever joined the church then it would cease to be a church.

 

[buckster75]

soulman said: Those that contend a divorce keeps a man from a God called office based on sin previous to salvation are simply wrong.

but aren't so many wrong on other matters as well. some matters even as or more important.

 

[webdog]

1 Timothy states that the qualifications for elder and deacon are the same: husband of one wife. This could mean monogamy or a man who has never been divorced. If these qualification are for an elder also (pastor / oversser), why is a single man allowed to be a pastor / elder? If you must be the husband of one wife, shouldn't you have to be married and not single?

 

[intojesus]

To Webdog:

If you must be the husband of one wife, shouldn't you have to be married and not single?


Good point I had never really thought of that. So whats the answer? Also I am still seeking an answer, is it okay to married a divorced person, as long as you are both Christians?

Luke 16:18
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."


So if you are a divorced Christian, should you never marry again, or marry a divorced person?

 

[Dr. Bob]

Some teach that a divorced Christian ought not to marry. But better to marry than burn.

That was the case Paul found himself in and I'd take his inspired Word on it.

To treat a divorced child of God as ungodly/unsaved or somehow "second class" is just wrong.

If they believe that a man cannot be an elder or deacon if divorced, that is their call. (They are wrong).

If they move another degree and say a man cannot be an elder or deacon if MARRIED to a divorced woman, that is just plain wrong and hurtful on more levels than I care to address.

My heart goes out to the many folks in our churches who are hated, treated wrongly, or actually discriminated against. I would RUN, NOT WALK away, from such a place.

 

[El_Guero]

Originally posted by buckster75:
soulman said: Those that contend a divorce keeps a man from a God called office based on sin previous to salvation are simply wrong.

but aren't so many wrong on other matters as well. some matters even as or more important.

mmm ... sin before salvation is sin, but after salvation it is ___?

I know that I hear this alot, but sin is sin. And (IMHO) I hear it from people that want the law to apply to others and not to themselves.

 

[jshurley04]

Originally posted by buckster75:
a good example of how far off and "wrong" a church can get was the guy on here the other day. He was the pastor of the church. he stated that in the bylaws, deed, constitution (I don't remember which) was a clause saying that if a black person ever joined the church then it would cease to be a church.

You know why, Right? Because 50 yrs or so ago, black people did not have a soul according to the vast majority of white Christians/Pastors/Denominational, Fellowship, & Associational Leaders. They could not join the LNTC because it was akin to letting a dog or other animal join. Aren't we wonderful people?