what about divorce

samplewow you can do anything scripturly with the exeption of pastoring or being a deacon.

 

My question for you first would be, "What have you done to correct that selfishness and work on curtailing it?" To be frank, there are far too many selfish people in the ministry. This is not the place for it. Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him first deny himself." In my opinion, the selfishness is the issue you should focus on first.

 

According to the most conservative interpretations of 1 Timothy and Titus, you may serve the Lord in any capacity except th eoffice of pastor and deacon. It doesn't mean you can't preach or serve, but it ought not to be in the office of pastor or deacon.

All we know for certain in those two passages is that a pastor must currently have one wife. Polygamy was a common occurence back then. If you want to take that even further, a pastor must be married and have children, but that is rarely addressed in today's church.

You will find many churches that will hire a divorced pastor and have divorced deacons, but that doesn't make it correct.

 

So, you have folks who hold opposing views on the matter. Who's right?

Some may have studied the issue, some simply follow what they've been told.

Study the Bible for yourself, diligently, and allow the Spirit of God move and enlighten you. Get alone, pray earnestly and listen. Your spirit will be convinced without doubt or question.

 

That wasn't my intention. Most of us are guilty of allowing others to give us the answers we should seek for ourselves. I would just encourage you to get alone with God and allow His Spirit to move you.

Ask yourself the questions that concern you and look for the answers in the Bible. I'm not saying that you cannot glean from others, but ultimately, you should be more concerned with what God is revealing to you through His Spirit than what someone else who may not have a proper understanding of this issue might be saying.

May He bless you as you seek to serve HIM!

 

Sometimes, we think that the only way to serve God is through the church.

Actually, we are on God's mission wherever we are.

One can be a witness for our Lord and Savior through all walks of life by setting a Christian example each day through our work and not just through the church.

Sometimes we are limited in what we can "say" at our work and in school, but many times what we do speaks louder about our Christian faith than what we say.

 

SAMPLEWOW

What kind of leader do you "want" to follow? What kind of boss do you want to work for?
What kind of man should your "daughter" marry?
How many wives do you "want" your pastor to have?
What CHARACTER traits do you "WISH" you had?

Do you want to follow a liar?
Do you want to work for a thief?
Do you want your "daughter" to marry an adulterer?
Do you really want your pastor to have 100 wives?
Do you want you pastor to have good CHARACTER traits?

 

Most people want their pastors to be above reproach.

Most people expect their pastor to be the husband of one wife ... and never divorced.

And most people are ready to forgive.

 

Yet, God wrote the standard(s) through the Apostle Paul (& some similar rules in the OT).

Ironically, God and most people seem to expect that a pastor is married to one and only one woman.

There are churches that would allow you to minister.

 

he is married to one and only one woman

he has not remarried.

tell me, if a man slept with a woman before he was married, and then was married, and stayed married, is he any different than samplewow?

hardly.

sample is a man of one wife.

he is free to be whatever God chooses for him.

no man is above God. His word does not say anything about a man who is divorced and not remarried is unable to be a pastor.

Can you show otherwise?

 

el guero you are so far off base, i think you should not post in this thread again.

you are attacking a man unjustly. he is nothing that you listed.

he is still a man of one wife. what people expect is not to be confused for what the bible said.

the bible does not forbid sample from being a pastor. its that simple

 

SAMPLEWOW,

Look up Reformers Unanimous......it is exactly what you are looking for. They are on the internet, btw, and started with that exact sentiment in mind.
My husband and I work in ours at our church.

 

Here you go, let's see if I can make a link that you can follow...........

http://www.reformu.com/

[ September 11, 2005, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: bapmom ]

 

One of the Leading causes of Divorce isn't alcohol its a SELFISH nature. To many people go into marriage with high expectations, and when those are not met they give up. Instead of giving in and being commited and making it work and admitting wrong.

Selfishness is the cause of all SIN. Instead of preaching against something, preach towards something JESUS CHRIST who can change that SELFISH nature. Then alcohol, divorce, drugs, fornication, adultry, abuse and other sins can be taken care of. Its that easy.