If a man's wife was .....

[ktn4eg]

..... ever divorced before she married her present husband, would that fact therefore disqualify her husband from being a pastor?

(Since there's already a thread on whether a divorced man can be a pastor, I didn't want to derail that thread---thus I've started this new thread.)

Also, I'm wondering if her divorce took place before she was saved whether or not that would make a difference in disqualifying her current husband from being a pastor.

Your thoughts/comments would be appreciated on these questions.

 

[JonC]

IMHO, the only thing that disqualifies a man from being a pastor is the absence of God calling him to that position.

(BTW, I understand the passage in Timothy to be referring to having multiple wives. A local church needs to establish their interpretation and present them in their bylaws but I do not see divorce…as bad as I view the practice…as disqualifying someone as pastor and I certainly don’t view it as an unpardonable sin).

 

[just-want-peace]

IMHO, the only thing that disqualifies a man from being a pastor is the absence of God calling him to that position.

(BTW, I understand the passage in Timothy to be referring to having multiple wives. A local church needs to establish their interpretation and present them in their bylaws but I do not see divorce…as bad as I view the practice…as disqualifying someone as pastor and I certainly don’t view it as an unpardonable sin).

Amen!!
It seemed to me that the baptists of yore looked at divorce in precisely that light! :BangHead:
Incidentally, I'm not divorced, nor is my wife, neither are any of my offspring and only one of my close friends is, so my perception is not colored by this problem touching my life in any way. The friend was divorced & remarried long before I ever met him, so----!

 

[annsni]

I agree - it really depends on the situation. There was a pastor at another church who left his wife, married the church secretary and continued to pastor. I don't think it was the wife thing that disqualifies the man - but the broken heart condition they both had.

God changes lives. If a woman was divorced, later was saved, married a man and he wanted to become a pastor, I don't think that he is disqualified from ministry - unless she still has a heart that is against her husband, against God's leading and against obedience. Then yes, I think the husband needs to spend time working on ministry to his wife and not worry about ministry to a church.

 

[preachinjesus]

In my opinion, the context, background, and proper exegesis of the "husband of one wife" passages indicates the discussion was one wife at a time, thus it is addressing the issue of polygamy and not divorce.

Likewise, I'm sure how the life of a spouse can influence the calling of a pastor. I've never understood this.

So no, a pastor's wife, having been divorced, does not disqualify him from pastoring.

 

[prophet]

IMHO, the only thing that disqualifies a man from being a pastor is the absence of God calling him to that position.

(BTW, I understand the passage in Timothy to be referring to having multiple wives. A local church needs to establish their interpretation and present them in their bylaws but I do not see divorce…as bad as I view the practice…as disqualifying someone as pastor and I certainly don’t view it as an unpardonable sin).

There is no such thing as a calling to pastor.

Rom 11:29
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Or else, a man could never be disqualified, who was called.

"Pastor" is a type of teacher, is a spiritual gift, and is not an office.

Eph 4:8
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 

[AVL1984]

..... ever divorced before she married her present husband, would that fact therefore disqualify her husband from being a pastor?

(Since there's already a thread on whether a divorced man can be a pastor, I didn't want to derail that thread---thus I've started this new thread.)

Also, I'm wondering if her divorce took place before she was saved whether or not that would make a difference in disqualifying her current husband from being a pastor.

Your thoughts/comments would be appreciated on these questions.

I don't believe so. Again, as I stated on another thread, this choice would be between those who would choose him to lead and his ABILITY to lead. His wife's divorce shouldn't factor in unless the man wanting to pastor was involved in some way leading to the divorce.

 

[righteousdude2]

Agreed! I am wondering what the hidden AGENDA is?

IMHO, the only thing that disqualifies a man from being a pastor is the absence of God calling him to that position.

(BTW, I understand the passage in Timothy to be referring to having multiple wives. A local church needs to establish their interpretation and present them in their bylaws but I do not see divorce…as bad as I view the practice…as disqualifying someone as pastor and I certainly don’t view it as an unpardonable sin).

... with this question coming out in at least two OPs now, I am wondering if there is an old fashion witch hunt going on!

I like your answer, and I have a hunch God does too! :thumbs:

 

[righteousdude2]

You may be right, BUT ...

There is no such thing as a calling to pastor.

Rom 11:29
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Or else, a man could never be disqualified, who was called.

"Pastor" is a type of teacher, is a spiritual gift, and is not an office.

Eph 4:8
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

.... than again, you may be wrong! I do think, and I say this from talking to pastors, that there is a sense of "calling" placed on the heart of those in the ministry!

If one doesn't have that calling, or heed the caling, things can be disasterous! I had a definite calling, and it was something I couldn't deny, and it was followed by some interesting supernatural acts of God to show me He really wanted me where He called me!

After all, we see throughout the OT, where prophets called out those to be Kings, and those who would be passed on the gifts of prophets. For instance, Elisha became the follower of Elijah, who tutored him and gave him a double portion of gifts. Then in the NT, we see God calling Paul, and Jesus calling all the disciples.

So, I think there is a supernatural calling, or tapping out, of those who will minister for the Kingdom! In fact, the topic abut a pastor that turned to atheism might be an example of a man who did not recieve a calling, but rather chose the profession for himself, and stumbled to the point of leaving the ministry and the faith!

Just saying! :type:

 

[convicted1]

All sins are blotted out by the blood. If a man or woman has been married 100 times prior to conversion, that doesn't disqualify him from the ministry, imo. We are new creatures and all things have become new.

 

[prophet]

.... than again, you may be wrong! I do think, and I say this from talking to pastors, that there is a sense of "calling" placed on the heart of those in the ministry!

If one doesn't have that calling, or heed the caling, things can be disasterous! I had a definite calling, and it was something I couldn't deny, and it was followed by some interesting supernatural acts of God to show me He really wanted me where He called me!

After all, we see throughout the OT, where prophets called out those to be Kings, and those who would be passed on the gifts of prophets. For instance, Elisha became the follower of Elijah, who tutored him and gave him a double portion of gifts. Then in the NT, we see God calling Paul, and Jesus calling all the disciples.

So, I think there is a supernatural calling, or tapping out, of those who will minister for the Kingdom! In fact, the topic abut a pastor that turned to atheism might be an example of a man who did not recieve a calling, but rather chose the profession for himself, and stumbled to the point of leaving the ministry and the faith!

Just saying! :type:

"Apostle", is an office.
Apostles were chosen by God.

"Pastor" is a gift, given by God, to the church.

"Pastor" is not an office.

"Bishop" is an office, chosen by men.

We are given the qualifications, because we are to choose them.

This isn't complicated.

Bishops can be qualified, and disqualified. The responsibility of determining that is left in the hands of the local assemblies.

We are all called to minister, and given gifts, but no one is "called to church leadership".

 

[Aaron]

There is no such thing as a calling to pastor.

Rom 11:29
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Or else, a man could never be disqualified, who was called.

"Pastor" is a type of teacher, is a spiritual gift, and is not an office.

Eph 4:8
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Yep. . . . . . . . . . . .