Divorced and remarried preachers?

[HeKnowsMyName]

According to scriptures

1 Timothy 3:1-202 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

a preacher is not supposed to be remarried correct? Our church is in the midst of a transition. The pastor they have decided on (supposedly, we won't know for sure until Wed. night how the actual vote goes) was divorced and is now remarried. In his defense, his first wife had an affair and although she wanted a divorce, he didn't give her one until four years later. I don't know how long after that he remarried, but he is now remarried with 2 kids. I am really confuzzled about this. My DH thinks this is the man for our church. I believe my DH to be a Godly man. I just don't know if I can vote for a man that is going against Biblical principles. I think he is a wonderful man and he didn't hold anything back when questioned about this, but ... our church needs the RIGHT pastor now because we are in financial difficulties.

What say ye about this?

 

[NewSong]

Our pastor is remarried and spirit-filled and I believe that scripture is out of context though many of the denominations such AoG won't allow divorced pastors and won't ordain them. No big deal. God will ordain them and my pastor is full of God's wisdom and has been there 20 years and people are still shuttling in to the point we are outgrowing our building. The Spirit of God is moving in our congregation and His sermons are filled with holiness, Bible teaching, the fear of the Lord, wisdom and with a sound mind. Don't know what else I could ask for in a minister of the gospel.

I hope you will allow God to speak to your hearts regarding the new candidate. Perhaps in this day and age it is hard to find someone who isn't divorced and God has chosen him to fill the pulpit.

I don't know the answer to your question of the verses but I do know God sent His choice to us and we are blessed.

 

[JimB]

According to scriptures

a preacher is not supposed to be remarried correct? *****

Actually, that scripture teaches that a bishop is not supposed to be a polygamist. It has nothing to do with divorce and remarriage.

~Jim

In your hatred of evil do not forget to love good.​

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

We were always taught that scripture was about divorce. We live in the Bible belt so I'm sure that has something to do with our teachings. LOL I just want the *right* pastor for our church and now I'm more confused than ever. I've been praying that God will show me which one to vote for. I've also thought about not voting at all.

Our other option is a man (who I thought was *the* man) who said his greatest failure is going to the church he's at now because he wanted to get closer to home. Well, our church is even closer to home than the church he's at now. He just seems too anxious.

I hate being put in this position.

 

[psalms 91]

First rest in your mind, then pray and let God direct you spend as much time as you need to get an answer and settle this question in your spirit. God has a plan and a purpose for your church and each person in it and He will show you the right choice.

 

[NewSong]

I truly empathize with your position. I will pray for your church to have the man of God fill the pulpit for you and others in the congregation. I pray God will convince your heart and you will not be torn up about it any more.

God Bless you.

 

[heron]

not supposed to be a polygamist

That's how I would read it.

Considering the circumstances of his first marriage, I think he carried himself well. Imagine if he had married an axe murderer. Where does one draw the line of what was a proper decision?

I think that a divorced person would prove useful in counseling engaged and married couples, because he would have seen more of the shared realities of humanity, and might not impose unrealistic recommendations on couples. That could be argued of course, but it's my opinion. There are so many dangerous marriages out there... physically, legally dangerous.

 

[heron]

He just seems too anxious.

There might be a twinge of control in that... insisting on this job solving certain problems for him, and potential anger if he doesn't get what he planned. Listen to your instincts, and listen further.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

I think that a divorced person would prove useful in counseling engaged and married couples, because he would have seen more of the shared realities of humanity, and might not impose unrealistic recommendations on couples.

That's what DH says and I agree about that.

Thanks so much for your prayers and comments. I was hesitant to put all of this here because some people jump straddle you when they disagree, but I'm glad I asked all of you.

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

According to scriptures

a preacher is not supposed to be remarried correct? Our church is in the midst of a transition. The pastor they have decided on (supposedly, we won't know for sure until Wed. night how the actual vote goes) was divorced and is now remarried. In his defense, his first wife had an affair and although she wanted a divorce, he didn't give her one until four years later. I don't know how long after that he remarried, but he is now remarried with 2 kids. I am really confuzzled about this. My DH thinks this is the man for our church. I believe my DH to be a Godly man. I just don't know if I can vote for a man that is going against Biblical principles. I think he is a wonderful man and he didn't hold anything back when questioned about this, but ... our church needs the RIGHT pastor now because we are in financial difficulties.

What say ye about this?

Hi Prissanna ,

All of us have a past and the past is what the enemy always tries to use to throw in our face to make us think and feel, we are unworthy of the plans, purpose and destiny God has ordained for our lives.

This candidate has admitted to his past and that is worthy of honor because he is displaying a heart that has been dealt with by God and he is humble and broken before the Lord. He is transparent and He knows that he's made it because of God.

We also need to remember or realize that not all marriages are of God. God's word says that what He puts together let no man put asunder. There are so many Christians who marry the wrong spouse because of disobedience, rebellion, being deceived by the enemy and controlled by their emotions. All because they wouldn't allow God to process them and heal old wounds, hurts, pains and disappointments. Then later on they have to go through a painful divorce all because they didn't choose to wait for God's best for them. But to God be the glory because what the devil meant for bad, God used for good. Because the man of God has the past that he does, now he has a testimony and remember we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. It's our testimony that gives others hope and pushes them to not give up. It's our testimony that we get our anointing from and it's the anointing that breaks yokes.

The other candidate is NOT displaying the character of a person who has been broken before the Lord. He claims his greatest failure is the church he's at now. That's pride, arrogance and self-deceit. He seems to believe that he's the one that's walked him through the trails, tribulations, errors and mistakes of his life. As a pastor he would hurt people in the spirit more than he could help. He still needs to die to self for God to be able to use him in the magnitude that He plans for him.

Pray for a discerning spirit and for God to show you who the true sheperd is for your local body. Not voting is not the thing to do because our silence stands for agreement in the spirit with whatever others have decreed. Also remember the confusion is not of God.

God Bless and I pray for you to hear God clearly!!!!

 

[bithiah2]

if this man's wife had an affair, and wanted to leave him, it sounds like she made two decisions. i also understand "the husband of one wife" to mean a person who is only married to one woman, not having many wives (or extra women that he sees on the side) .
i know that in the foursquare church a man who gets divorced has to sit down, i don't think they will allow him to pastor a church. but if a man's wife left him, what could he do? you can't force a person to be with you, and if he is a warm-blooded man, it is best for him to have a wife. only God knows the whole story, and God knows his heart. if he loves and fears God, and has a true pastor's heart for the people, and God says that he is supposed to be the pastor of that church, it will be the best thing for everyone.
Lord Jesus we thank you for your will being done in this situation, for all concerned. God we ask that no one would be confused, and that this man's past would not be part of his future, and that no one would hold his past against him. if he has sinned against you. let him repent. if he has wronged anyone, let him make restitution. let all murmuring and complaining in the church stop, and let your Word prevail. we thank you for church growth spiritually, numerically, and financially, we thank you for healthy and sound people who will multiply your kingdom and we thank your for your peace.
In Your Name Jesus
Amen

bithiah2

 

[JimB]

I am divorced pastor who is happily remarried to my gift from God. I did not want the divorce but am so glad God had the grace to restore me after the inevitable, even restore me to pastoral ministry.

I am concerned, though, about pastors who themselves seek a divorce and remarry or have an affair that destroys a marriage. Can these men/women be forgiven as we have been forgiven with restoration to ministry? I think so or else this “restoration” business we preach about is just a farce and the forgiveness we offer is conditional. Anyhow, their service to Christ is His business, not ours.

But there are consequences we all have to expect from the bad decisions we make or the lousy hand life deals us. In the case of divorce and remarriage, just because God restores a D/R person to ministry does not mean every church member will accept such a person as their spiritual leader. I am well aware of this and as unfair as it seems (since I was the victim of a divorce, myself) it just the way it is. I have to accept it.

~Jim

In your hatred of evil do not forget to love good.​

 

[JEBrady]

According to scriptures

a preacher is not supposed to be remarried correct? Our church is in the midst of a transition. The pastor they have decided on (supposedly, we won't know for sure until Wed. night how the actual vote goes) was divorced and is now remarried. In his defense, his first wife had an affair and although she wanted a divorce, he didn't give her one until four years later. I don't know how long after that he remarried, but he is now remarried with 2 kids. I am really confuzzled about this. My DH thinks this is the man for our church. I believe my DH to be a Godly man. I just don't know if I can vote for a man that is going against Biblical principles. I think he is a wonderful man and he didn't hold anything back when questioned about this, but ... our church needs the RIGHT pastor now because we are in financial difficulties.

What say ye about this?

Jesus said you can divorce for the cause of fornication. This man was on biblical ground to both divorce and remarry. There is no issue, biblically. Adultery breaks the marriage bond. Under the old covenant it wasn't so confusing, as the adulterer/adultress was stoned to death. Even more, this man evidently tried to reconcile the marriage afterward. There just wasn't any recourse, evidently. He is in no way going against any Biblical principles by remarrying under the circumstances you state here.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

The other candidate is NOT displaying the character of a person who has been broken before the Lord. He claims his greatest failure is the church he's at now. That's pride, arrogance and self-deceit. He seems to believe that he's the one that's walked him through the trails, tribulations, errors and mistakes of his life. As a pastor he would hurt people in the spirit more than he could help. He still needs to die to self for God to be able to use him in the magnitude that He plans for him.

I enjoyed reading your post. You have many wise words. I don't understand the quoted part above. The other potential pastor was honest in saying he made a mistake in taking his last church. I don't see how that can be pride, arrogance and self-deceit. If the divorced pastor can be seen as making a "mistake", why can't this one?

He is in no way going against any Biblical principles by remarrying under the circumstances you state here.

I understand that he can remarry, but as a preacher/pastor I was confused. I thought according to the scripture that I quoted that he was breaking a Biblical principle because he is a pastor, not because he remarried.

Another question I have is that polygamy is not really an issue in our society so how does that fit in with this scripture?

I hope I'm not sounding dumb.

 

[mdaniel]

Actually, that scripture teaches that a bishop is not supposed to be a polygamist. It has nothing to do with divorce and remarriage.

That's how I would read 1st Tim 3:2-4 as well. Let's not forget that they shouldn't be "lovers of money" either. Wow - aint that the truth.

I am concerned, though, about pastors who themselves seek a divorce and remarry or have an affair that destroys a marriage. Can these men/women be forgiven as we have been forgiven with restoration to ministry?

Absolutely.

 

[Always in His Presence]

That's what DH says and I agree about that.

Thanks so much for your prayers and comments. I was hesitant to put all of this here because some people jump straddle you when they disagree, but I'm glad I asked all of you.

First, what's a DH????

Second, if the divorce is scriptural - which it certainly sounds like it was - then he is in fact the husband of one wife.

 

[Dave01]

There have been some good pastors leave the Assemblies of GOD and other denominations over this issue.

 

[JimB]

There have been some good pastors leave the Assemblies of GOD and other denominations over this issue.

Yep. I’m one of them. Four churches over thirty years and then after a decade of living alone and wanting to marry the love of my life I did get a hearty “God bless you and good luck” when I handed them my ordination papers.

But it all turned out great and I have no complaints.

~Jim

In your hatred of evil do not forget to love good.​

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

I enjoyed reading your post. You have many wise words. I don't understand the quoted part above. The other potential pastor was honest in saying he made a mistake in taking his last church. I don't see how that can be pride, arrogance and self-deceit. If the divorced pastor can be seen as making a "mistake", why can't this one?

Based on what you typed previously it sounded as if that candidate was saying "the greatest failure I've ever made was the church I'm in now, because it's not close to home". All of us have failures, mistakes, etc and that's what gives us our testimony and how we are to relate to other people. How can you relate and help others walk through something if you've never been through anything or if you can't even take responsiblity for life failures due to mistakes, disobedience, bad choices, etc.

If this is not how he meant it then I was wrong in my understanding and what I said would not apply.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

The AOG not permitting Divorced and Remarried men having leadership in their churches is just an example of a man-made organistion setting its own rules about who they want in charge of their congregations. The ruling body decided when they wrote the constitution to have that rule, and they found a convenient Scripture to hang it on. A lot of these questionable rules quote Scripture that can be interpreted a number of different ways.

A note to consider: When Jesus spoke about divorce and remarriage He was speaking to spiritually dead Jews. He was not speaking to the Christian church, which did not exist yet because He had not become our Substitute, nor had He risen again. Therefore we have to accept Jesus' teaching on divorce in that context and not use it as a hook to hang our own self-made rules on.

Also, when Paul had the council with the Apostles in Jerusalem concerning what the Gentiles should do in relation to the Jewish Law, there were only two recommendations given, and divorce/remarriage was not one of them. Therefore, from this, I conclude that divorce/remarriage is not an issue that should concern New Covenant believers in terms of their fellowship with the Father, their salvation, or their eligibility for leadership in the church.

There are deeper issues within divorce/remarriage that are more important and relevant. The causative factors, such as, adultery, domestic violence, alcoholism, gambling away the household funds, or latent homosexuality are much more relevant to the Father, and would seriously affect a person's fitness to lead a congregation.

In cases like this, there is an innocent and a guilty party. Should the innocent party be punished as though they were guilty? Would that not go against natural justice, much less Godly justice?

Therefore if the AOG cancelled the credentials of a pastor whose wife ran off with the milkman, then they would be very unjust and unfair, treating that pastor as he were the guilty party. Where is the justice in that? I don't see the Holy Spirit supporting a church that did that to its leaders.

I wonder how many AOG pastors, who are still married, who have the problems stated above and yet are still in ministry, because the problems have not been disclosed? Would this be a reason why some AOG churches are performing little better than funeral parlours?