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Hernando
May 1st, 2007, 06:29 AM
1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 gives the qualifications of a pastor that includes the phrase "the husband of but one wife" (NIV). My question is does this mean the Pastor must be married? I have heard it stated that this phrase actually means that IF he is married, then it must be to only one wife, not that he must be married. However, I have a problem accepting that considering verses (1 Timothy 3:4-5) "4. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)" (NIV) Comments????

1 Timothy 3:1-7
Overseers and Deacons
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

Titus 1:5-9
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

markofthebest
May 1st, 2007, 11:30 AM
This is funny - I was a deacon's kid in a Baptist church - I got in trouble ever time I hung out with the pastor's kids...who were the worst trouble makers in the church (and school).

Harley
May 1st, 2007, 03:40 PM
Since it's listing qualification I think the married aspect is assumed given the culture of the time. "One woman man" would be a good way of rendering it. So it does not exclude divorced or widowered men either - assuming the circumstance were biblical otherwise.

Most assume Paul was probably widowered by the time of his call - though he never pastored a church per se, he did fulfill the role in many ways.

Harley

Hernando
May 1st, 2007, 03:48 PM
Harley; Thank you for your comments. The issue I am dealing with now, is a 27 year old single man (never married) is being considered for the position of pastor. Does that change anything?

funmudder
May 1st, 2007, 04:04 PM
If the pastor was divorced well before turning his life over to the Lord, I would have less of a problem. But if a pastor gets divorced in the midst of his leadership in the church, I would think he should step down.
If a man cannot tend to his own home, then how can he tend the flock with any authority? There are always extenuating circumstances, but, the scripture is there for a reason. It's just as valid today as it was yesterday.

It was the preachers kids that always got in more trouble at the church I was raised in as well.......and I believe scripture should hold up in that regard too. If a pastors kids are in full rebellion, then he is not tending to his first ministry, his family. How can he teach/advise and guide a flock in marriage if his marriage is falling apart? How can he speak with any authority in how a man should lead the home the way scripture teaches if his own home mocks that in disrtespectful children?

I heard it said once, "You can tell the worth of a man by the countenance of his wifes face" and that really stuck with me. In all the different churches we have attended, you could tell quite a bit about the pastor just by obseving his wife and children. Every single time, they were a pretty clear reflection of the dynamic of the pastor. It only took a few weeks in each place to see a pattern.
All fire and brimstone preaching came from men with sour faced children, and a serious, pursed lipped wife. Feel good sermons were typically delivered by a man whose children were absent or running around, with overly "chatty" wives. The more biblically sound/rounded, in education and love, appeared to have the content wife and well behaved children.

You can take a guess at what church we chose to raise our family in.

Harley
May 1st, 2007, 08:21 PM
Harley; Thank you for your comments. The issue I am dealing with now, is a 27 year old single man (never married) is being considered for the position of pastor. Does that change anything?
I was 31 and single when I took my first full-time position as pastor. So you can see how I think it applies. That said, I was on staff with another guy who was married. Not that I think the Senior dude must be married, but for practical purposes being a single solo pastor might be difficult.

But, as far as the Scriptures are concerned I do not think a man must be married to occupy the position of pastor.

Harley

Biblenuggetlady
May 1st, 2007, 09:28 PM
Agreed, I believe the verse means IF a man is married he should only have one wife. I "personally" be a uncomfortable with a pastor who is that young. Is it a small church, large? Will he be the only pastor? Is it a younger church, older, young families, etc?

Jany
May 2nd, 2007, 05:54 PM
Harley; Thank you for your comments. The issue I am dealing with now, is a 27 year old single man (never married) is being considered for the position of pastor. Does that change anything? Goodness no, not IMHO :) And especially if he is a godly man and the church membership agrees that this is so <><

For-Knowledge
May 2nd, 2007, 10:48 PM
Pastor of a church and not married?

Not very wise, to much occasion for the flesh.

Harley
May 3rd, 2007, 09:49 AM
Pastor of a church and not married?

Not very wise, to much occasion for the flesh.

I assume "occasion for the flesh" is a sexual reference. If this assumption is correct, are you saying it's unwise for a single guy to be a pastor because he's more likely to fall into fornication than a married guy is adultery?