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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: Magellan2019: Welcome to the forum. I regret to inform you that you responded to a thread from November of 2001. Likely no one there at that will respond as if it were an recent thread. However someone else might respond as well as me. Having been a pastor, and now retired, I have seen the real life hard effects of divorce on people from all walks of life, Christians and non-Christians as well. First let me say I can hear you have a desire to be in ministry, and you say you have the "call". Scripture says many are called, but few are choosen. And the choosing is the difficult part. Part of the "call" is being acceptable and prepared. No matter how prepared we are if we are not acceptable to those who are searching for a "called" person to fill a ministry need, all the preperation in the world won't help. Most certianly there are people in ministry that make us wonder how or why any ministry could have called such a person. Personally wonder how the Word of Faith "tearchers" and so called "Prophets", and "Preachers" have managed to dupe their followers into believing they are "called" by God. Please consider that many places of Mission ministries do not consider divorced persons for being Missionaries. The Souther Baptist are just one such group that have this policy, regardless of the circumsatnces. There are some ministries who will call a divorced person if the divorced person was not aChristian at the time of the divorce. The fact that even if it is the wife who was divorced, and the husband it is his first marriage will not be acceptable to many. However, the more liberal denominations who tend to have a low view of Scripture, are mostly not concerned with divorced persons in ministry. These liberal denomiinations gererally accept homosexuality, and are more leaning to universalism. The exception of course would be the Roman Catholic Church. There are para church ministries that are solid and Scriptual who do call divorced people, if the person has a history from the inital divorce, of having dealt with the spiritual and psychological issues connected with divorce. Certianly enough time would have passed to established one as fit for serving others in Christ. I am not judging you, but in a wider opinion of Christians who are being divorced or have been divorced, no matter who filed first. As a pastor and even after being retired, I have come to the conclusion we who marry those who come to us seeking marriage need to be much more active in dealing with those who come to us after a divorce. For insatnce; if the divorced person and their former spouse is not remarried, I would insist on talking to the both of them from the former marriage. If ther is ANY hope of reconcillation, then this is what MUST be given every chance possible. When this is not what happens, we have divorce and remarriage, and the rate for a second divorce is very great. The third marriage has almost impossible odds against it, even when both are Christians. Christians divorce just about the same as non Christians, which just ought never to be. If pastors would spend the time to attempt to assure there is no hope whatsoever of reuniting divorced husbands and wives, I am sure this would make a huge impact on the Church. Is this not what Jesus expected us to do? We do not because of "hardness of heart" on someones part. There are times that nothing can be done because the divorce was the choice of either killing the marriage or the couple killing each other. The book of Hosea is an example of a marriage most would have said there is no chance to save this marriage! But, God did. The same God of Hosea is the same God of today. You did not say if there are children envolved, Hosea had children that were not his, God can heal anyones marriage if we will let Him. What hurts me deeply, is that many of the couples I married, are divorced today. I wonder what I could have done that might have help prevent these divorces. I believe if I had adopted a more in depth counseling with the couples and parents, with more emphasis on marriage on marriage being a Covenant with the couple and God, I would have been a better pastor. My bottom line if there is ANY hope of even the very slightest, I would encourage you to do all you can under Gods help to reunite yourself to your wife. Adultery is able to be forgiven. Ther is no divorce that each person does not have some responsibility. May God lead you so you can answer the "call" you believe you have been given. Peace and Grace be with you. Justme |