Can A Divorced Man Become A Deacon, Pastor Or A Preacher?

[The Glory Land]

A divorced man cannot be a preacher or a deacon. A divorced-saved man can and should be a preacher.

 

 

OK. Chief... So you're saying anyone that is Saved can be a preacher and pastor. Why then so many don't agree with you?

[Standing Firm In Christ]

All should have the ability to preach the Word. 

Not all are called to pastor a Church though.

[Bro K]

That's a point of difference between many churches and something each local church must determine.

 

Do the qualifications apply from point of salvation onward? Do they apply to ones life prior to salvation?

 

Does "one wife" mean one at a time? Does this mean no unmarried men? Does this mean if a man's wife dies he  is no longer qualified or he must remarry? If a widower remarries is he still the husband of one wife or to be considered unqualified because he's now married to his second wife?

 

These are some of the questions which come up and different churches hold to different viewpoints on these matters. Often as not, their viewpoints are reached based more upon something other than Scripture, but some attempt to tie their viewpoint to Scripture, some better than others.

 

Excellent Post      

[wretched]

Well, I hate to say this, yet it seems you do not care for the Bible way.

 

Its not about my logic, its about God's way.

 

No Jerry, it is a verb tense issue that I raised. I am speaking of God's way as written in the KJB. "Be" as in be sober, be the husband of one wife is an indicative verb in the present tense. You do understand there are different verb tenses in the English language, right Jerry?

 

We don't need any twisted greek interpretations BUT we do need to understand English grammar.

[Ukulelemike]

One issue in the stated scripture I rarely ever see discussed is, "Blameless." What is this? Is anyone REALLY blameless? Blameless in whose eyes? God's? the church's? the world's?

 

No, I'm not changing or skirting the subject, just pointing out that there has been one basic definition accepted, particularly among IFB's, as to what "husband of one wife" means, while there are a few different ways it can be used, which would not at all wrest scripture.

 

Clearly, the Bible allows divorce in cases of abandonment by an unbelieving spouse or fornication. So, if a divorced man never re-marries, he's okay to be a pastor? The Bible nowhere says a divorced man is not qualified, it says, one who IS the husband of one wife.

 

Notice, when the qualifications for a widow to be cared for by the church are given, one is that she is to HAVE BEEN the wife of one husband. In other words, married once, period. Its clear. Not so clear to say a bishop must BE the husband of one wife-depsite what is said at times, plural marriage was still commonplace in the various areas of oriental world, and, indeed, it still is.

 

Now, clearly, if a man is marrying and re-marrying and re-re-re-re marrying, there is a problem and he may not be the best man for the job. But, despite what has already been said in the subject, there are certainly many cases where a divorce ultimately comes down to one person at fault: an abusive spouse, and unfaithful spouse, a worldly spouse, etc. My wife left me because she just didn't want to be married to a pastor. She moved out, and moved right in with an old boyfriend, and later moved in with another man, from whom she took a ring. I spent years trying to 'win' her back, but she made her decision the day she left. She has since gone on to get covered in tattoos and piercings, goes to San Francisco and dances around topless at Folsom Street Fair with her husband. So, biblically, she committed forniaction and is an unbeliever-in both ways I am free from her. Yet, I am disqualified from being a pastor? I am the husband of one wife, and as far as being blameless, the only was ANY can be blameless is in the eyes of God, meaning we must be born again, and our sins covered by the blood of Christ Jesus.

[JerryNumbers]

I posted the Holy Scriptures, & it say's "One wife."

[The Glory Land]

No Jerry, it is a verb tense issue that I raised. I am speaking of God's way as written in the KJB. "Be" as in be sober, be the husband of one wife is an indicative verb in the present tense. You do understand there are different verb tenses in the English language, right Jerry?

 

We don't need any twisted greek interpretations BUT we do need to understand English grammar.

 

Agree, my English grammar is poor. 

[JerryNumbers]

No Jerry, it is a verb tense issue that I raised. I am speaking of God's way as written in the KJB. "Be" as in be sober, be the husband of one wife is an indicative verb in the present tense. You do understand there are different verb tenses in the English language, right Jerry?

 

We don't need any twisted greek interpretations BUT we do need to understand English grammar.

 

 

We do not have to twist, its clear, 'husband of one wife ...................................!

 

Of course if you refuse to believe it, that's between you & God.

 

Its very easy for a person to explain away anything they wish so they can have their way, calling it God's way.

[Standing Firm In Christ]

I have been married twice.  Have only one wife.  Have the papers to prove it.

[Ukulelemike]

When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He didn't tell her thou hast has five husbands, but thou hast had five husbands. Once a letter of divorce is made, there is no more husband/wife.

 

mind you, in all I have said, I am not an advocate for divorce. The Bible gives very clear reasons for divorce, and even they are not mandatory, but permissive. I think if a couple can experience infidelity and pull it back together, it can make a marriage stronger.

 

We had a lady in our church many years ago whose husband beat her and was a drunk. When he went to jail, we helped her move out of state to be with a friend, who was a pastor's wife. We told her that divorce should not be what is on her mind at that point, but to give him time to decide if she was imprtant enough to her to make some changes in his life, and then, when it was safe, to begin to seek reconciliation slowly. Instead, within a week, she was back home with him as soon as he was out of jail. 

 

Thankfully, he got right with God, and as far as I know, gave up the drink and they are back in another church in another town and they are happy. But I am seeing from a distance.

 

My point being, even then, divorce was not the initial option, but neither would it be off the table. A husband is supposed to be symbolic of Christ and the wife, the church. When Christ begins beating and abusing the church, there is a problem.

[JerryNumbers]

Just my 2 cents worth, When God calls a man to be a pastor, God knows if that man has been, is, or will be divorced. Why would He call a man to be a pastor, just to disqualify him. This verse is only used (by people) to disqualify a divorced man, it is not used to disqualify an unmarried man, or a man who does not have children, or who does not have control over his children. As I said, just my 2 cents worth.

 

Yes, why would He. Well, its this way, some will say they're called yet they are not called, so God included the qualifications for the pastor in the New Testament so that we could judge if he is really called by God or not.

 

And of course he will not call anyone that is not qualified. yet some still try.

 

A church south of town had that to happen. A man showed up for preaching services one Sunday morning that had never been in that church before & no one knew them man. at the invitation he came forward saying the Lord had called him to preach wanting them to ordain him, they refused & he got mad & stormed.

 

Some of you might be surprised at the people that would try to become pastors that never even been saved.

[JerryNumbers]

Interesting observation, Quinkie!

Why no qualms about hiring a young pastor who has no children?  Paul s exhortation and instruction states that the pastor must have his children in subjection.  Which means... he cannot be a pastor who has no children, or whose children are unruly and he not able to control them through proper discipline.

Why no qualms about hiring a pastor who has never been married?

 

I mentioned that a while back & several people brow beat me quite bad. I suppose you forgot or was not around at the time.

[Ukulelemike]

I mentioned that a while back & several people brow beat me quite bad. I suppose you forgot or was not around at the time.

Though you can be an Apostle.  

[JerryNumbers]

Though you can be an Apostle.  

 

Yes, but remember, an apostle is only called by Jesus during the time he was on this earth, with the exception of Jesus, & we have no apostles today.

 

Ac 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

 

And of course the verses I posted was qualifications for pastor, not apostle.

[Ukulelemike]

Yes, but remember, an apostle is only called by Jesus during the time he was on this earth, with the exception of Jesus, & we have no apostles today.

 

Ac 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

 

And of course the verses I posted was qualifications for pastor, not apostle.

I know. Just sayin'.