Expert: Marvin Howard - 1/28/2004

Question
What is your feelings on a divorced man being made Elder?

Thanks,
Rhonda.Crawford@tdprs.state.tx.us

Answer
Hi!

Rhonda, my feelings count for naught. Let's see what scripture says. Elders can be proven to be Pastors, Bishops, and Presbyters. This is not talking about the preacher, as most would believe. What are the Biblical requirements for bishops (elders)?

I Timothy 3:2, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

Titus 1:5-6, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly."

Of necessity, the question now becomes, "Can a divorced man be the husband of one wife, and thus meet these requirements?"

Matthew 19:9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."

If the divorce of the man in question was not for fornication, it is not recognized by God. If he is not with her, he is not being a husband. If he marries another, he is then the husband of two wives. Neither of these is acceptable.

So, what if it was a scriptural divorce (for fornication, of which adultery is only one aspect)?

I Corinthians 8:9, "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."

We have liberty in Christ. Being free from an spouse for fornication is only a small part of this liberty. For the man to accept the office of bishop, even if his divorce is scriptural, may cause someone who is weak to think we don't believe all scripture. It is sin to him in light of this passage. If he is in sin, not repenting, can he be a bishop?

The first verse listed above (I Timothy 3:2) showed he must also be blameless. If he is known to be in sin, he is not blameless, and cannot be a bishop.

Scripture plainly shows a divorced man cannot hold the office of bishop. I hope this has been clear in the way I presented it.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
preacherman_1962@yahoo.com
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962