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Other pastoral disqualifications

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Salty, Nov 7, 2009.

  1. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    In another thread we talked about single men (never married, divorced -) and childless may disqualify them from being a pastor.

    Some interesting discussion while mentioning exceptions ect.

    In this thread, lets discuss other affairs in the history of a potential pastor.

    Often we would praise a man who has overcome the curse of alcohol, for example, and the testimony he would have as a Bible believing preacher.
    Then there might be a man who as a teen may have several minor arrests for shoplifting. There could be an occasional drug user.
    How about a man who has had his license suspended for excessive moving vehicle violations?
    Suppose a man is required to financial support a child from a previous relationship (no, he never married the mother) and for whatever reasons, had gotten behind in the payments; but has caught up.
    Should he look back at his high school record and see how often he was put on after school dentention?
    So what constitutes minor and major "problems"

    Should any of these "past offenses" disqualify a man from filling the pulpit?
    Lets discuss any other situations - (other then divorce).

    If a man is qulity of such charges, how long of a time should pass?

    Salty
     
    #1 Salty, Nov 7, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 7, 2009
  2. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    I think each situation has to be taken into account with other factors. None of the circumstances you cite above, except for one, by themselves would normally be enough, imo, to disqualify someone if they are in his past. However, if his life shows a pattern of these type of problems, and it has not been a long time since the most recent problem (I would say in the past 7 yrs.), then there should be serious re-consideration of whether he should be a pastor.

    The one that I think maybe should disqualify would be owing a woman for child support payments and having not paid. Even though he's caught up, that is a serious situation that reveals a lot about character. Also, I am not sure that a pastor who is paying child support to someone, even if he is caught up, serves as a good role model, even if he's repented.

    As I said on the other thread, a pastor needs to meet higher standards. His influence and example does not just affect adults, but also children and youth who are more impressionable.
     
  3. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    How long after Paul took part in the stoning of Stephen did he become an apostle?

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  4. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

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    There wasn't even a church yet. I don't think we can use this as model. Also, using narrative as prescriptive is not good. The prescriptive passages for choosing a pastor/elder/overseer who is "above reproach" should apply, not the narrative of Paul.
     
  5. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    AD 32-33 Stephen stoned
    AD 33 Saul (Paul converted)
    AD 45ff Saul's First Journey (he was apprentice to Barnabas; second in command
    AD 49 Jerusalem Council
    AD 52ff Paul's Second Journey (now the leader with Silvanus as his second)
    AD 55ff Paul's Third Journey
    AD 60 Paul's arrest in Palestine
    AD 63-64 Paul's Roman imprisonment

    Of course, all these dates are "flexible" with everyone tweaking the numbers accordingly.

    But bottom line - NOBODY trust Paul or believed his conversion and 3 year vision in the desert with God, etc. He had to prove he was genuine and worthy of being a leader.

    It was TWELVE YEARS before he was chosen by his church to go as a "missionary", but then only UNDER the leadership of a more mature believer.

    It is almost TWENTY YEARS since Stephen's stoning before Paul led his own ministry.

    Much for us to learn about how long it takes a "disqualified" man to become "qualified" for leadership.
     
  6. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    At the same token, we often cite that Jesus "trained" 30 years for a three-year ministry!

    My point is that heinous as Paul's deeds were, he was not rejected beyond reason for ministry.

    If some of us had our way the ministry would be empty!

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
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