Evangelist

I think you will be, Eric Rolen....

There are many circles which will have no problem with you being in the position of evangelist.

The restrictions are on pastor and deacon....not preaching.

And an evangelist is a Preacher!

 

Amen, bapmom!!

Go forth and obey God's commands to you, Eric. That's the only way!

Bill

 

Many Baptist churches do not consider divorces before salvation to be a factor in eligibility for the pastorate.

Others do not consider the "husband of one wife" passages to be about divorce but about polygamy.

Of course if you believe that biblically your divorce makes you ineligible, it would be inappropriate to pursue the pastorate, being convinced in your own mind (Romans 14:5).

While some consider evanglist to be the same as pastor, not all do.

 

I don't see where a divorce should be a problem anyway considering it was before you were saved.
Are our Baptist churches really that hard to please?

 

I also don't think that everyone you preach to needs to know about your divorce. Purely my own opinion.....but why tell if they don't ask unless you feel led to use it as an illustration?

 

Question...have you remarried?

 

Eric,

thats not ALL Bible colleges. There are many who will take you, AND recommend you. Ask your pastor to give you a letter of recommendation as well.

One Bible college turned you down, but don't let that stop you. Im assuming it was only one Bible college, because I know that many of them ask if you've been divorced, but then they provide a space for the applicant to explain the circumstances so that you can be considered on an individual basis.

 

AND, I see no reason why you can't start being an evangelist now. Especially with recommends from your pastor, there should be some churches who know and respect your pastor and/or yourself who would allow you to fill their pulpit sometime.

 

So True, but I've learned too that if the Lord has told you to do something, & you are willing to be obedient, then He'll take care of the hard parts. But something else I've learned is that sometimes that requires patience, lots of it.
It is a shame that any church, baptist or otherwise takes some stands like with marraige.
Now if you were divorced & still single it might not be such an issue,(thats why I asked) cause you would still be the husband of one wife, technically speaking. But still even with that taking place when you were lost & even being remarried it's a shame they look at it like they do.
Course I do know of churches that it don't matter so much, its a hard situation to be in.
I'll be praying with ya on this one!!

 

There was an IFB evangelist many years ago who had been divorced before salvation. I don't know his whole story, but he was used of the Lord in many IFB churches for years.

While an evangelist ought to be of the highest Christian character, I believe that the Biblical standards in this area are different from that of a pastor. A pastor must be an example to the believers in the matter of marriage, and must counsel in this area, so it is extra important that he be "the husband of one wife," as the Scripture says. However, an evangelist should be a specialist in winning souls and inspiring revival. Very few books have been written to help you on being an evangelist, but Evangelist John R. Rice wrote The Evangelist. It is now out of print, unfortunately, but maybe you can find it on the Internet.

If you can't put out the fire, you'd better be preaching! Do it on a street corner, in city missions, wherever they will have you. May God lead you as you seek His will.

Jer. 20:9--"Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay."

 

If you believe you know God's will for you, and you do not pursue it, you will always regret it. I'll never forget a sad old man who came up to me in a supporting church and said, "God called me to be a missionary to Africa when I was young, but I told Him I wouldn't. I've always regretted that."

Should you hide your divorce before salvation? No, just be who you are, a sinner saved by grace. Neither should you volunteer it. If someone asks you, be honest and tell them. If they have a problem with your pre-salvation past, don't fight it, just tell them to take it up with the Lord.

 

Press on Eric. The qualifications for evanglist and pastor are not the same. In fact, you won't see qualifications listed in the Bible.

Fill this calling. Answer His call.

 

Eric

Our church dealt with this same issue several years ago. We had several students from the local seminary (and several professors). One of the students wanted to be ordained for pastoral ministries, although he had been divorced prior to salvation and had since remarried.

The church took several months to study the issue and discuss all relevant passages. In the end, the church voted that divorce prior to salvation did not disqualify a man from pastoral ministries.

The reference in I Tim. to the "husband of one wife" means, literally, a "one woman man". It refers to a man who has been faithful to his wife over the entire marriage. Divorce is never mentioned in the passage.

Most in our church agreed that if this qualification should apply to a man prior to salvation, then all the other qualifications must apply to a man prior to salvation as well. If that were true, then we would all be disqualified.

We must be very careful not to put more restrictions/qualifications on/for service than what is clearly taught in scripture.

I urge you to continue your education and remain passionate for service to our Lord.

 

If you are called then be prepared.If you are called and prepared then go preach.Some will accept you and some will reject you.Your concern is between you and God.If there is nothing else you can do then do what you must do.If you are in God's will you will be happy. If you are out of God's will you will never be happy.

About your past life be honest,sincere,and humble,then let the chips fall where they may,God will put you where He wants you.