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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: A divorced pastor in ministry? |
Bible Note: Raul Again you have focused on what I said this time instead of the entire conversation. I said the only viable condition for divorce was if a spouse had already broken the marriage covenant. Your right Jews did divorce and Jesus answered them didn't he? If you want to use the Jews as an example look at the qualifications of a priest. Between the age of 30 and 50 (age discrimination) Male (gender discrimination) Married (marital status discrimination) Levite (ethnicity discrimination). Divorce was an automatic disqualifier. Were these discriminations or did God have particular reasons for these. I believe God knew what he wanted in a priest and asked for it. I think that is what we see in the passage in 1 Tim 3. I said that if a person were divorced before salvation I think they could become a Pastor. The case of your friend if the divorce took place before his salvation then yes I agree he could be a pastor. I just don't believe a Christian man or a women can be divorced and remarry and stay in a Pastor or become one. As to the other qualifications I have clearly shown how they eliminate a divorced person in my earlier responses. I'm not sure what your after, first the word plainly declares God hates divorce. Do you want to change that? To me God declares divorce causes exemption from being a Pastor only, why is that so hard to see a different standard there? Notice God did not set a particular standard for Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Teachers only Pastors, and Deacons why? Because they were going to have day to day contact with the people that other positions didn’t necessarily have. I believe this is why God required the man to understand by overcoming all the challenges that would effect a family. If you want to attend a church with a divorced pastor fine, but if your trying to convince me it is right, it ain’t gonna happen! A servant of the Most High EdB |