John I Morris
Member
Just a question guys and gals. Please give me your honest Scriptural answers. Is it the unpardonable sin for a pastor? Murder? Immorality?
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Why does divorce of any kind disqualify a pastor?
- Thread starter John I Morris
- Start date
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
So you are saying a Single man - including a widower- cannont be a pastor.
and that if a pastor has kids who get in trouble - say with the law or becomes an unwed parent - that pastor should resign and never pastor a church again?
thisnumbersdisconnected
New Member
Jordan, the evidence for the usage of the phrase einai mia gune heis aner -- literally, "to only one wife [a] husband" -- is that Paul speaks more regarding polygamy than divorce, though the inclusion of divorce for reason other than adultery, followed by the pastor's remarriage, must be considered.
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I wonder what Paul would write if he were alive today? In his time it was impossible for a woman to obtain a divorce. That, of course, is no longer true. Basically women were chattel. That also is no longer true.
Zaac
Well-Known Member
I don't think it does at least in Baptist circles. The congregation of First Baptist Atlanta essentially told Charles Stanley he could remain pastor as long as he didn't remarry. So in that regard, perhaps it isn't the divorce, but the taking on of another wife.
thisnumbersdisconnected
New Member
Guess again ...
Mark 10, NASB
11 And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."
Nice try, though. Well, not so much.11 And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her;
12 and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery."
But to answer your question, "Paul today would write the exact same thing he wrote then."
Thinking that he alone is the overseer of the church, is the unpardonable sin for a bishop.
Rev 2:6
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The scriptural answer is it doesn't. If he had biblical grounds to divorce there is no reason he couldn't pastor again.
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I think that's exactly what Paul is saying (minus the kids part). The key is when he says how can a man run Gods family if he has no experience even running his own? I think a single man absolutely should not be a pastor.
A divorce after a person professes to be born anew would seem to disqualify a person to be an Elder, especially a teaching Elder. If the person's spouse was unfaithful, and therefore the person is allowed to divorce, then the disqualification might not be for a lifetime, but only for a number of years. But these divorce after the children are raised situations would seem to disqualify a person for life. I would certainly not seek to sit under the teachings of a person who had disqualified himself.
The husband of one wife can be understood several ways, i.e. from not married to more than one woman at a time, to one wife subsequent to professing to be born anew, to either never married or married only once in his life.
One has to ask, where were the community of Elders surrounding and supporting and guarding the Pastor from failing to build up his family in love?
Pastors who see themselves as at the top of the pyramid are most likely to fall.
The husband of one wife can be understood several ways, i.e. from not married to more than one woman at a time, to one wife subsequent to professing to be born anew, to either never married or married only once in his life.
One has to ask, where were the community of Elders surrounding and supporting and guarding the Pastor from failing to build up his family in love?
Pastors who see themselves as at the top of the pyramid are most likely to fall.
John I Morris
Member
If we stick to the literal KJV, a single man could not pastor a church either. It does say must be the husband of one wife. Very good discussion, I am reading it all.
Hey John how are ya bro.?
I think this really needs to be a "case" basis rather than a hard and fast rule. One of our pastors was divorced and remarried and a drug addict all before he was saved. He was then saved, his wife was saved and he has been living a life of sobriety and service to the Lord ever since. He's married to his darling wife over 30 years now and as I said, he is now one of our pastors. "New life in Christ, abundant and free!" He is a new creation and no longer the man he was. To divorce THIS wife and go back to his former wife would not be right at all.
But then there are divorces that have more effect on the person and their ministry and so the issue needs to be looked at as an individual case and see where they are in their walk with the Lord, where their spouse is in the Lord, the cause of the divorce, etc. Divorce is never God's plan but I know that He can make beauty out of ashes.
But then there are divorces that have more effect on the person and their ministry and so the issue needs to be looked at as an individual case and see where they are in their walk with the Lord, where their spouse is in the Lord, the cause of the divorce, etc. Divorce is never God's plan but I know that He can make beauty out of ashes.
Zaac
Well-Known Member
That's obviously an opinion. Though it may not be ideal, single pastors are very capable of leading a flock. A lot of them don't stay single long after they start their ministry but the fact that they do a fine job before speaks to the idea that single mne can pastor and do it well.
Any time we create a doctrine that holds someones past and repented sins against them we then have a theological crisis.
salzer mtn
Well-Known Member
One thing I've noticed through the years, most people that condone re-marriage are themselves re-married.
One thing I've noticed though the years, most people that condemn divorce and re-marriage have never been divorced.
I Guess I'd HAVE to Ask????
Is there any sin, other than the unforgivable sin, that God is not greater than; l than? or, unable to forgive?
If we believe that God's ability to forgive sin [regardless of the size, kind, type] is unquestionable, then why would divorce, remarriage, murder or immorality be held in contempt. To say God can forgive these who have sinned, wiped clean their slate, why would He not be able to use these same people to minister?
We can't have it both ways .... meaning God is larger than any sin we ever commit, and the repentant soul can experience forgiveness and complete renewal, ACCEPT in the case of .........
I think, and believe that the Scripture speaking to the qualifications of a pastor, deacon, etc., are not to be applied to a person's past, but to the present and future standing in God!
After all, we know God removes our sin as far from as the East is to the West. So, why would He look down and say that a sinner, saved by grace, forgiven by grace, and under the blood is not qualified, because of a past indiscretion? That is not the God I know and follow!
He does not hold us accountable for past sin, because His Son death ON THE CROSS took care of that. It seems logical, and Scriptura,l that those ministry qualifications is to be applied to a person's present standing, and if that is the truth, a divorce and remarriage should never be taken into account! It is, shall we say, covered by the shed blood of Jesus, and it no longer EXISTS!
After all, the Holy Spirit laid it upon Paul's heart to write in Romans 8:1 [in numerous versions below]:
New International Version - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
New Living Translation - "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
English Standard Version - "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
New American Standard Bible - "herefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
King James Bible - "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
BESIDES .... who would know better than Paul, the chief of sinners? The prosecutor in chief and the first to cast stones of death :tonofbricks: on Christians until his Damascus Road conversion? He was after all a murder of the faith, but God did not disqualify him from the ministry when he called him to repent and report for duty in God's army!
Selah .... Shalom!
Is there any sin, other than the unforgivable sin, that God is not greater than; l than? or, unable to forgive?
If we believe that God's ability to forgive sin [regardless of the size, kind, type] is unquestionable, then why would divorce, remarriage, murder or immorality be held in contempt. To say God can forgive these who have sinned, wiped clean their slate, why would He not be able to use these same people to minister?
We can't have it both ways .... meaning God is larger than any sin we ever commit, and the repentant soul can experience forgiveness and complete renewal, ACCEPT in the case of .........
I think, and believe that the Scripture speaking to the qualifications of a pastor, deacon, etc., are not to be applied to a person's past, but to the present and future standing in God!
After all, we know God removes our sin as far from as the East is to the West. So, why would He look down and say that a sinner, saved by grace, forgiven by grace, and under the blood is not qualified, because of a past indiscretion? That is not the God I know and follow!
He does not hold us accountable for past sin, because His Son death ON THE CROSS took care of that. It seems logical, and Scriptura,l that those ministry qualifications is to be applied to a person's present standing, and if that is the truth, a divorce and remarriage should never be taken into account! It is, shall we say, covered by the shed blood of Jesus, and it no longer EXISTS!
After all, the Holy Spirit laid it upon Paul's heart to write in Romans 8:1 [in numerous versions below]:
New International Version - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
New Living Translation - "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
English Standard Version - "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
New American Standard Bible - "herefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
King James Bible - "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
BESIDES .... who would know better than Paul, the chief of sinners? The prosecutor in chief and the first to cast stones of death :tonofbricks: on Christians until his Damascus Road conversion? He was after all a murder of the faith, but God did not disqualify him from the ministry when he called him to repent and report for duty in God's army!
Selah .... Shalom!
I've been staying away from this forum for the most part but find it necessary to add my .02 cents on this topic.
As stated in 1 Timothy, 3:2, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...,"
Was it somewhat customary for a man to have multiple wives back in the day?
If a man is married and it becomes absolutely impossible to maintain with his wife, is he stuck for life, forbidden to serve the Lord?
I know of a man who was called one day while on the job regarding his wife having been arrested for running naked in the street. This, within three months after their marriage. (Drugs) Clearly, this man was "blameless" regarding the actions of his wife.
A few years after their divorce he remarried and is now the husband of one wife. He served as a Pastor for several years and now serves in a missionary effort.
Truly, a Bishop should be the husband of one wife.
As stated in 1 Timothy, 3:2, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...,"
Was it somewhat customary for a man to have multiple wives back in the day?
If a man is married and it becomes absolutely impossible to maintain with his wife, is he stuck for life, forbidden to serve the Lord?
I know of a man who was called one day while on the job regarding his wife having been arrested for running naked in the street. This, within three months after their marriage. (Drugs) Clearly, this man was "blameless" regarding the actions of his wife.
A few years after their divorce he remarried and is now the husband of one wife. He served as a Pastor for several years and now serves in a missionary effort.
Truly, a Bishop should be the husband of one wife.