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What Does it mean For Elder/Pastor" Rule over own household?"

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by JesusFan, Dec 5, 2011.

  1. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

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    IF a man has wayward children, or if grown children now adults making bad decisions, does that mean that he would no longer be fit to stay on as pastor/elder?

    just HOW far where we meant to take this?
     
  2. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I believe it's a pretty clear teaching when you look at how a man manages his own home and compare it to how he handles the church. A man who has a wayward child but is doing all of the steps he can to restore the child, and the child's waywardness is not because of anything that he has done (after all, even God had children stray!), then I think it's a different story than a man who has neglected to raise his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. One would need to know the man well in order to make the decision.
     
  3. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Wayward children and wayward grown children are not a means of evaluating how a man leads his home.
     
  4. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

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    But the Bible states to us that it is indeed a measuring stick to seeing how a man would lead a church body...

    Again, how far to carry this?
     
  5. JesusFan

    JesusFan Well-Known Member

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    Agree with you, would this be like saying that we would need to see how the man "generally" was involved in raising his children up in the 'fear andadmonition" of the Lord, as kids still personally accountible for their behaviour?
     
  6. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    This is also required of deacons:

    I Tim 3:12
    ruling their children and their own houses well
     
  7. mandym

    mandym New Member

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    The context in which it is determined that the house is ruled well is that the children are in subjection. It goes nor further than that.
     
  8. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    .

    His household is referring to those who live in his home. If children living in his home are not obeying his rule then yes he should step down until he gets the child under control. He can serve the Lord in other ways but not as Pastor.
     
  9. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    . . .nor as Deacon.
     
  10. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Yes a deacon also.
     
  11. Petros

    Petros New Member

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    I think we often take this to too much of an extreme as we do "husband of one wife". If a man is a spiritual leader, does all he can to raise his child in a Godly manner, and the child leaves off into the world and lives in open sin, that does nothing to disqualify the man spiritually from the office of Bishop.

    The qualifications given are spiritual in nature, and the wayward actions of a child do not spiritually disqualify a man from an office of the Church, IMO.
     
  12. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    Right, or how a woman leads hers, since women can be pastors, too.
     
  13. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    In God's opinion they do if the child is part of the household because if the man cannot lead his own household he cannot lead the household God..
     
    #13 freeatlast, Dec 5, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 5, 2011
  14. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Anyone ever seen this scripture actually practiced?
     
  15. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    Yes, but it is few and far between. Most churches do not follow the Lord in His teachings, but rather follow their own desires.
     
  16. Petros

    Petros New Member

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    If the child is 29 and moves away from home, he's not a part of the household though, at least physically speaking. But what I meant by my post is this:

    If a man meet every spiritual qualification and is altogether above reproach, is diligent to win souls to Christ, has a passion and skill for preaching/teaching the Word, has a sound prayer life and a good marriage- his child leaving home and going off the deep end doesn't change the fact that God has anointed him, empowers him, and is making converts/disciples through him.

    Let us not be legalistic in the extreme.
     
  17. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    I don't buy that.
     
  18. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Only when she's the husband of one wife. Of course homosexual marriage is not allowed so that means.....
     
  19. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Yes. In our church we've had it happen a few times, unfortunately, and it's always been the man who steps down rather than having to take him down. It's been with deacons, not any pastors.
     
  20. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Yes, I have...unfortunately. I have seen several instances where people misunderstood this Scripture and either attempted to have a Pastor removed from his post because of a child or had the Pastor removed.

    Mostly it has happened when a teenager got pregnant or was known to be involved in inappropriate relationships.

    It has always devastated the family and the Church.

    Frankly, it isn't biblical.
     
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