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Being a Pastor and being Single

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Jacob Gastrich, Aug 23, 2006.

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  1. Jacob Gastrich

    Jacob Gastrich New Member

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    Does anyone know of any single pastors out there?

    Its strange that Catholics require their priests to be single, and many Baptist churches require that a pastor be married. Single pastors are out there, but they are a needle in a haystack.
     
    #1 Jacob Gastrich, Aug 23, 2006
  2. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    I do believe that it is stranger that Catholics make their ministers be single.
     
    #2 El_Guero, Aug 23, 2006
  3. Jacob Gastrich

    Jacob Gastrich New Member

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    Well its strange that a churhc would REQUIRE someone to be married.

    Where does the Bible teach this? Did not Paul say that it is better to be single than to be married?

    Was not Paul addressing those that thought they could have multiple wives in 2 Tim 3 in his letter to Timothy when he said that a Pastor must have only one wife?

    Talk to a NT professor and learn what they have to say. The Bible does NOT TEACH one must be married to be a Minister.

    This is a fallacy that Fundamentalist Baptists teach.
     
    #3 Jacob Gastrich, Aug 23, 2006
  4. Psalm 100

    Psalm 100 New Member

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    But Paul did say that is was better to be married than to succumb to lust.

    I don't think it should be a requirement, but I think a married pastor is a good idea.
     
    #4 Psalm 100, Aug 23, 2006
  5. Jacob Gastrich

    Jacob Gastrich New Member

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    It is a requirement in MANY churches.

    So basicially they are saying that a pastor can get nothing but C's in bible college and seminary and get a job faster than a A student because the A student is si gle.
     
    #5 Jacob Gastrich, Aug 23, 2006
  6. JamieinNH

    JamieinNH New Member

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    Hiya Jacob,


    Welcome to the Baptist Board!

    I know of some single Pastors. Unless the Lord, puts it in my heart to get marry to someone, I probably will be a single Pastor.

    I am currently in school to become a Pastor, and currently I am not looking for a mate or someone to marry.


    Are you a single Pastor? Are you in school to become one?


    Jamie
     
    #6 JamieinNH, Aug 23, 2006
  7. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    Welcome to the board.... I used to be IFB, but around here it was not a requirement...I really dont know of any church where it is a requirement..

    It all depends on the pastor I guess.
     
    #7 tinytim, Aug 23, 2006
  8. chadnrachel

    chadnrachel New Member

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    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; ....

    I believe and IFB church would require a wife because of the above scripture.

    As for your question about Paul, he was an evangelist/missionary. There are no requirements mentioned in the Bible for such positions.
     
    #8 chadnrachel, Aug 23, 2006
  9. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    CnR, my take on "the husband of one wife" is that the emphasis is on the word "one" and not "husband".

    I interpret that verse to mean that he cannot be an adulterer or bigamist, not that he must be single.

    I know you weren't advocating that, just showing where some get their opinion.
     
    #9 Scarlett O., Aug 23, 2006
  10. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    The Lord puts a desire to be a eunuch in your heart.

    He made us to be married . . .

    Don't know what causes the new theology . . . but, being single is new to the Protestant and Separatist churches.

    IMHO

     
    #10 El_Guero, Aug 23, 2006
  11. JamieinNH

    JamieinNH New Member

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    Please explain what you mean here.




    While this might be true for some people, I also believe he has better plans for some of us other than marrying someone.

    I for one, don't approach relationships carelessly, and will not marry until, as I stated before in my OP, until the Lord puts it in my heart.


    I am not sure it is "new theology". I am sure if we look over the years you will find many fine Pastors that were/are never married.



    Jamie
     
    #11 JamieinNH, Aug 23, 2006
  12. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Whoa, there El_Guero.....let me pull the reins on this before it goes any further.

    No one is talking about being single and living a sinful life of deliberate fornication. No one is talking about being single and rejecting the holiness of marriage.

    They are talking about innocent, Godly men who have not yet married, whom God has NOT brought forth a wife for and may not present them with a wife at all.

    They are talking about these men filling the pulpit.

    When people on the BB are talking about singleness, they are not talking about sexually deviant people who have multiple partners and are swinging from the chandeliers at the local nightclub. They are talking about good and decent Christian people who are experiencing life, for whatever length of time, alone due to divorce, being widowed AND being in a state where God has not given them a mate.

    There are lots of young, unmarried men whom God has called to preach and God, according to His plan, is working on their spiritual status and their preaching talents first and God will move in their marital status and their having a wife and family second.

    No one is advocating remaining single against God's will and living a sexually impure life.
     
    #12 Scarlett O., Aug 23, 2006
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2006
  13. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    The guy that was pastor at this church before my husband became pastor was single. That was one ting that impressed us about this church, because most church people I have known automatically assume that if a man is unmarried, that he is not going to be able to control himself sexually. I think thats ludicrious.

    And the "Husband of one wife" argument is lame. Jesus Himself could not have pastored. But a murderer could. Go figure.
     
    #13 TaterTot, Aug 23, 2006
  14. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    Tater

    God bless you!

    Scarlett - whoa there! let me put the brakes on that before your cart gets out of control!

    Mark records (as does Matthew) that Jesus re-enforced what God inspired Moses to write down:

    And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. 6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. 7For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; 8And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. 9What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
     
    #14 El_Guero, Aug 23, 2006
  15. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I fequent a pastor search board that requires that pastors not only be married by must also have children.
    HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE-HIS OWN HOUSE,
    HAVING HIS CHILDREN:
    [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]a. HUSBAND--WIFE:[/FONT]​
    [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The Greek nouns gender clearly shows God's command that the pastor must be male and the wife female thus a lady cannot pastor. It also clearly says that a pastor must be married not single (It is possible by Scriptural implication a deceased spouse would also be a qualifying factor) ... [/FONT]

    [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]c. [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]CHILDREN IN SUBJECTION-RULETH WELL-ABLE TO TEACH[/FONT]
    [FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]By clear implication a pastor must have children, and they must be under his authority, ...This is the proof that he can handle a much larger responsibility of counseling married families & their associated problems.[/FONT]

    To read all the qualifications click on http://militarygetsaved.tripod.com/id44.htm

    Salty
     
    #15 Salty, Aug 23, 2006
  16. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    Saltc

    You take it a little further than I would . . . but, I consider your interpretation one of the scriptural interpretations . . .

    I am not certain that I like some of the new interpretations . . .
     
    #16 El_Guero, Aug 23, 2006
  17. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,"
    (1 Timothy 3:2 NAS)

    Pastor/Overseer/Elder : Do they have the same role?
    Why would Paul say that only the overseers need to be the “husband of one wife?

    An if John calls himself an “Elder” in 2 John 1
    The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth;…” NAS).

    Does this mean he was married?

    And if all the apostles were elders too, had they all previously been married and had children?

    Rob
     
    #17 Deacon, Aug 23, 2006
  18. MorganT

    MorganT New Member

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    Amen thats the way I see it also.
     
    #18 MorganT, Aug 23, 2006
  19. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    Single Baptist preachers are few and far between. Sadly, the Catholic Church went to far the other way . . . and their sin destroyed the respect of their people.
     
    #19 El_Guero, Aug 23, 2006
  20. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    I strongly disagree with your interpretation.

    Scripture is giving guidelines on how a pastor's family life must not detract from his ministry. Polygamy, adultery, not managing his family--these hurt his ministry. We are taking a descriptive passage--i.e., "This person's family life should be above reproach...here are examples:" and we're making it prescriptive for all ministers--i.e., "All ministers' families must look like this." I think it's a faulty hermeneuitc.

    So, would you...
    • disqualify widowers from ministry?
    • disqualify those who try to have kids and can't?
    • disqualify those who have children that die in infancy? Or are stillborn?
    • disqualify those who adopt? How about foster parents?
    So not only do I see hermeneutical problems, but many practical ones as well.
     
    #20 rbell, Aug 24, 2006
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