Expert: Scott Talbot - 9/18/2008

Question
Dear Scott,
I know this question was answered somewhere on this website but I have a different angle of question.

We have started a programme for training ushers and deacons in our church. Our pastor has given us an assignment to figure out how we will sort out this scenario.We use 1 Tim 3: 1-12 as our benchmark.

A very committed member of the church who has three wives (South Africa still allows people in the villages to marry more than one wife)wants to become a leader in the church.

This particular member has committed his time, money and everything to the chucrh. The question is : Would you allow him to occupy a leadership position in the church and if not why?

Thank you very much for your response.

Regards

Nelson

Answer
Hi Nelson,

Nice to hear from you.

I Timothy 3:2 mentions the qualification, "husband of one wife." Actually, a better translation of the original would be "one-woman man." As with the other qualifications, it deals with character as opposed to marital status or history. The issues is this: If he is married, is he committed to his wife and to her only?

The passage also mentions that a leader is to be above reproach. This means that he should be such an example of godliness that no one can impugn Christ or His church due to the improper behavior of one of its leaders.

Polygamy may be acceptable in some cultures. And there have been good people throughout history who have practiced polygamy. Looking at the Scriptures, it could appear as though God is sometimes silent about it, as though there are other higher priorities.

But God does give us very clear principles about marriage that go back to Adam and Eve. Matthew 19:4-6 says, "... at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two, but one." This and other passages teach that God's design for marriage is one man, one woman, one flesh.

Therefore, polygamy is a violation of God's law. And one who openly practices polygamy--even in a culture where it is accepted--does not seem to meet the qualification of being "above reproach."

I hope this helps.

Scott