In every Baptist church I've been to since I can remember I was taught that if you were ever divorced that you would be bound to the pew. You couldn't be a deacon, missionary, preacher or many times even a sunday school teacher. But they sure would take your presence in the pew and your tithe in the offering plate each week. May I just say that this whole manner is utterly ridiculous and totally against God's Holy and Infalible Word? You can be a murderer, a gay gone straight, a thief, an athiest turned christian and that's fine, if you've turned from your ways go ahead and pastor and preach till your heart's content. But divorce? Sorry but that's the one thing that God's grace can't wash away (major sarcasm) and you'll be stuck with that black spot for the rest of your life. Tell me, if you can, just when did divorce become the unpardonable sin?
'If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince gainsayers.' Titus 1:6-9
This is the scripture that I was always taken to to be shown and taught why divorced men could never hold any position in the church.
"It says right there, the husband of one wife. So you see children/young adults why a divorced man could never be used of God."
Hold it, right there! I want to point out two things to ya'll. 1.) If a man is divorced then that woman is no longer his wife. Therefore if he marries again he is still the husband of one wife. Only in foreign countries is the practice of multiple wives still in practice. 2.) In the days in which this scripture was written it was very common for even 'christian' men to have two or three wives, was it not? Therefore can you not see how this scripture is being used out of context and not for the furtherence of the Gospel but rather the hindrance of it?
I would also like to point out that there are several other qualifications that todays spiritual leaders are quick to overlook as they point out the husband of one wife. It also says that a man must not be quick to anger. Ever seen a pastor reach a breaking point and yell? Are they not then disqualified from the pulpit?
"But God forgave them! It is no longer held to their account."
Ah! I see. God can forgive anger but not divorce. (once again sarcarsm) So then what about children not accused of riot or unruly? Come now, friends, everyone will tell that todays pk's are most often the most disruptive in the church.
Can you not see the truth, dear sisters and brothers in Christ? Divorce is Not the unpardonable sin. Men who are divorced can still pastor and be used mightily of God if not for the pious people of the church.
God help our country and the churches in it before it is too late.
1Timothy 3:2 it behoveth, therefore, the overseer to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,
The Greek word for the English word 'One':
Original Word: εἷς, μία, ἕν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: heis
Phonetic Spelling: (hice)
Short Definition: one
Definition: one.
This Scripture is to be taken just as it is written,One wife...
Not one wife at a time,but One wife.
If the mans wife passes away he can remarry and be an ELder,Deacon,Evangelist,teach and exhort,etc.
With all do respect, I would suggest you to use the KJV!
Secondly it is unreasonable and borderline ludicricrous to think this way. In your line of thought no one could be a pastor! You get angry once, you're done. You've drank in the past? Too bad your a drunk for life! DO NOT underestimate the power of God's grace and forgiveness. If God can forgive divorce, who are mere humans to feel that they can be above God and hold it against him?
Sir, I truly do mean no respect, but niether will I hold my tongue while truth goes unspoken. Sir, please consider also the times in which it was written. And when you are divorced that woman is no longer your wife!
Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but I will not apologize for speaking what God has instilled in my heart and soul to be the truth.
With all do respect, I would suggest you to use the KJV!
POIC:
KJV,i cannot do any better then using the ORIGINAL LANGUAGE from which the distorted KJV has been Translated from.
If you are trusting the KJV,or any other English translation to give you a better understading then the ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE,GREEK, Hebrew, and Aramaicthen you are sadly mistaken.
Most ,if not all English translations are distorted to some point.
KJV:
Secondly it is unreasonable and borderline ludicricrous to think this way. In your line of thought no one could be a pastor! You get angry once, you're done. You've drank in the past? Too bad your a drunk for life! DO NOT underestimate the power of God's grace and forgiveness. If God can forgive divorce, who are mere humans to feel that they can be above God and hold it against him?
POIC:
KJV,do not be driven by your emotions,you need to be thinking and discerning intellingently.
2Ti 2:15 be diligent to present thyself approved to God--a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;
KJV:
Sir, I truly do mean no respect, but niether will I hold my tongue while truth goes unspoken. Sir, please consider also the times in which it was written. And when you are divorced that woman is no longer your wife!
POIC:
The Word of GOD is not under the authority of any man,or any society.
Society, nor the traditions of man change what is written in the Word of GOD.
Rather the Word of GOD changes societies,and even condemns the traditions of men.
KJV:
Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but I will not apologize for speaking what God has instilled in my heart and soul to be the truth.
POIC:
Sometimes we attribute to YHWH,things tha He has not said or done.
We need to discern between our emotions,and ABBAs voice.
John 10:4 And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes in front of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:5 But they will not follow a stranger, never! But they will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of the strangers.
First off, yes we should not be driven by our emotions, and yet we should also have a passion for what we believe in. I have no desire to aurgue with anyone. But sir, not everything in God's word can be gleaned from simply reading it once. Sometimes the truth is somewhat hidden so that we might search to find it and in our searching find ourselves closer to the heart of God.
Most people are told to be doing this,yet how many people are actually encouraged to go back to the languages which the Word has been wrtten in,Hebrew,Aramaic,and Greek.
If you had been doing this you might have a different understanding of this issue and many others.
How many people are able to read,and understand at least Biblical Greek,if not the other two languages as well.
Yet these people wil not teach others what they understand
about the Biblical languages,so that others can unnderstand also.
Divorce is not unpardonable,Attributing the Work of the Holy Spirit to the enemy of GOD is.
Mar 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
I applaud you for reading and studyng the Word.
this is more then the average Christian is doing.
Just Studying through an English translation is like doing the dog paddle on the waters surface.
The person doing this is more concerned with staying afloat,then looking at what is around them.
All they can see is what is upon the surface.
Yet when one learns to swim,they can go under the water and see not only the surface,but also what is contained underneath the surface.
Yeah, Two, I think you did misunderstand Mr. Meanie. ( LOL--- I just had to write that! Ever since POIC started using Mr. Meanie, I have to smile when I see it. Did you two run fisher off? ____________________________ KJV, Why are you so upset over this? Do you desire to be a preacher, deacon, or missionary and have been turned down because you are divorced? I just don't get why you seem angry. Something happen?
Yeah, Two, I think you did misunderstand Mr. Meanie. ( LOL--- I just had to write that! Ever since POIC started using Mr. Meanie, I have to smile when I see it. Did you two run fisher off? lol ____________________________ KJV, Why are you so upset over this? Do you desire to be a preacher, deacon, or missionary and have been turned down because you are divorced? I just don't get why you seem angry. Something happen?;
