Should divorced men be pastors/elders?

[Guest]

But why would you withold support for a candidate who was divorced but had not remarried?

Suppose the divorce had been entirely due to the wishes of his wife. Or suppose she had been continuously committing adultery without repentance, and then requested a divorce. Suppose the man had always been a loving husband, and was in no way reponsible for his wife's actions and decisions.

In such a case, what would be the grounds for witholding support?

[Guest]

If a man were divorced when not a disciple then became a member of the body of Christ, should he be excluded from eldership?

livingink

[Guest]

"In such a case, what would be the grounds for witholding support?"

I would not endorse something I believed to be wrong, but in that it is MY belief, I wouldn't work against such a man either, except to perhaps support another man to that position, if there was a ballot with more than one name on it.

"If a man were divorced when not a disciple then became a member of the body of Christ, should he be excluded from eldership?"

No. I base this on Paul saying that neither husband or wife were "bound" in such a circumstance.

Hugh McBryde

[Guest]

Thanks Hugh. Now a more convoluted question that I'm afraid I'll word very poorly--suppose a man attends a congregation, thinks he is a disciple but is, at best, a very weak one. He reads the scripture but really does not understand it. He does not understand the steps to true salvation. In fact, he thinks he was "saved" by some means but really never stopped with some of his preferred carnal behavior. His wife is the same. They divorce. Now the man , a few years later, really starts to study and is more in line with the teachings of Christ. He behaves as a true disciple. Is he able to be an elder? I'm trying to ask a question here that is a bit different from the previous questions but I may simply be coming back to Steve's idea of a disseminator of info. and I see Paidion's point that remarriage may enter into this discussion. Forgive my wording.

livingink

[Guest]

"Now the man , a few years later, really starts to study and is more in line with the teachings of Christ. He behaves as a true disciple. Is he able to be an elder? I'm trying to ask a question here that is a bit different from the previous questions but I may simply be coming back to Steve's idea of a disseminator of info. and I see Paidion's point that remarriage may enter into this discussion."

I don't see how MY answer would change, this is a man who we would regard as regenerate, saved, etc, who divorces. The basis for my belief is the Old Testament passage that limits Levites to "Virgins of Israel" as brides. I would point out that Ruth was anything but a "Virgin of Israel" yet she marries into the line of Christ. The point is that God is trying to paint a picture with his priests, nothing else. I believe that similarly God is trying to paint a picture with his deacons and elders and while this man who divorced (I am divorced after belief) should not be a deacon or elder. He may in fact at the time he considers office, or is considered for that office, the strongest of all believers in all ways. This would not change the fact that the portrait requires certain ingredients that he does not have.

Hugh McBryde