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NASB | 1 Timothy 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 3:2 Now an overseer must be blameless and beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, |
Subject: standards for a preacher/biship |
Bible Note: Searcher: I called the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA. to verify what I was saying, was factual. Rumors are hurtfull, and I most always check out these rumors to verify the facts before I repeat such information. Generally rumors are of a negative nature, so when I heard Dr. Stanley had remarried, that was good news. It is with sadness, that I can positively comfirm that Dr. Satnley did not remarry his divorced wife, or anyone else. I appologize that I gave you wrong information, please accept my heart felt appology. I wish, I could have been right. I am sorry for Dr. Stanley, for the deep wounds this has coused his family and other Christians. I visited with Dr. Stanley in 1986 at Mid Western Theological Seminary, in Kansas City, MO. after he preached to new seminary students. I will never forget his message. On a different point, if there is an area of Church ministry that NEEDS to be made a top priority, it is rebuilding failed marriages. We DO NOT need more recovering from divorce, single classes. The church is actually offering divorced Christians an easy way to meet other divorced Christians, and this is encouraging divorced Christians not to reconcile, but to find someone better. Reconciliation is what we ask people to do when they come to Christ, that is also called repentance.Is this what God expects? Why don't we see that marriage is a Covenant with the Holy Father and each one, husband and wife? I have made is my position that I will not marry a divorced person unless there is no way to reconcile with the ex mate. One such example is if the other ex mate is remarried. If there is nothing that prevents reconciliation except hardness of heart, reconciliation is possible! I tell the person wanting to remarry that I want to talk with the ex mate. I state to the one who wants to marry the divorced person, they would not want to marry the divorced person, if there was even the slightest chance for reconciliation for the divorced couple. This may seem extreem, but if every pastor, or clergy person would do this then I believe there would be more reconciled marriages. I have only seen one divorced couple that was willing to attempt to reconcile, that took this step and worked through issues, with the Lords help went back together. Most divorced people won't go threw the pain and hurt to become what God wants them to be in a covenant as they had promised. Most divorces are done and over very quickly, and then both are ready for a "new start". Carring the same old baggage, not learning a thing as to what they did wrong they repeat the same mistakes over again. It seems the other person is generally more at fault then the person telling about the reason for the divorce. Searcher, divorce is always got hardness of heart at the core, just as Jesus said. Divorce hurts everyone. The ripples of divorce hurt last a long time, and healing from this failure takes time, a long time. In reading some of the stats. divorce among Christiand is just about the same as non-Christians. If one person or pastor reads this and gleams anything from this note it was worth the time I took to respond to you. God bless you Searcher. justme |