No. 1643: A preacher and pastor should not be remarried as a believer, but a husband of one woman!

No. 1643:

A preacher and pastor should not be remarried as a believer, but a husband of one woman!

Former Mission Secretary in PYM and preacher Hans Svartdahl made several couples who were remarried as believers realize that this was against the word of God, to separate! Picture by Hans Svartdahl
http://the-heavenly-blog.janchristensen.net/2015/03/no-911-earlier-mission-secretary-pym.html
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2020/03/nr-2688-det-gar-som-en-rd-trad-igjennom.html

 

 

Titus 1. 5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you would put in order what was left undone and appoint elders in the cities, as I commanded you.
6 If so, he must be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who are not accused of debauchery or rebellion.
7 An overseer must be blameless, a steward of God; not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to drinking, not violent, not corrupt.
8 He must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, self-controlled, just, God-fearing, and sober-minded.
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message we were taught, having the ability to teach in unadulterated terms and to be able to rebuke and refute those who contradict.

A husband of one wife—is this a one-time occurrence in the Word of God?

It is with great astonishment and with a certain degree of discouragement that I share this.
All truths in the Word of God, whether it be salvation, healing, holiness.
What it is, we find a common thread throughout the word of God where God means the same thing all the way.

Heb. 13. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes forever.

So also when it comes to no preacher and with responsibility should be divorced and remarried as a believer!

This is not something the Apostle takes out of thin air.

This is a biblical principle.

Through all covenants and also in the coming 1000-year kingdom.

It applies to the church, it applies to Israel. This is God's standard.

Ministry and remarriage

But still one has been divorced as a believer and one holds a ministry, then stricter criteria are set. There are several places in Paul's teaching that one should be the husband of one wife (see the Pastoral letters). What then?

James says in his letter chapter 3:1: "My brothers! Not many of you should become teachers! For we know that we will receive a stricter judgment".

The responsibility is very great to be a preacher. There is a big difference between being an ordinary church member and being a preacher.
It does not mean that one is more loved by God, but it has to do with being faithful to the area of ​​responsibility God has given one. I believe that God will forgive everyone and every sin. But here there are other things that must be taken into account, as a preacher one has a special responsibility. Would anyone in a secular context allow a pedophile to work with children?
No, of course not!

The Scriptures are equally clear that we should not allow a remarried preacher to preach to other people with a Pastoral and teaching responsibility. That one is an Evangelist as, among others, Frank Mangs was after he was divorced, we can allow.
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2013/09/nr.html

But not to be ordained as a Pastor, Shepherd or elder. One should not be the leader of the flock and the herd, but be under some form of supervision.
But when one holds an office as a preacher, much is required. That is why James says that not many should be preachers. Therefore, a preacher cannot take liberties only at his own expense, he has a special responsibility to God and his fellow men.
Regarding marriage, it is not permitted for a preacher to remarry under any circumstances, then he disqualifies himself for the office he has been given. It is like an athlete cutting off his legs, he is no longer fit to be an athlete, even if he wants to. A preacher should be the husband of one wife, as we see Paul teaching time and time again. (1 Tim. 3.2 and Titus 1:6).

If something is unclear here, I recommend submitting a question to our blog or writing something there yourself. This should and should have been a common Christian understanding where remarried people were not allowed to travel around the country. There are spiritual powers, demonic ones that follow in the footsteps of loose sexual and moral life.

1.Tim. 4. 1. The Spirit clearly says that in the last times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings that come from evil powers. 2 They are deceived by lying hypocrites whose conscience is seared. 3 These people forbid people to marry and insist that they abstain from certain foods, although God created these things to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 5 It is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

This is not about A and B Christians. Marriage is a God-given arrangement that also shows the relationship between Christ and the church. Therefore, it is in the very nature of this that such great demands are made. God stands behind his word, therefore this is a model of something even greater and richer. Our preold to Jesus and his relationship with us. Therefore, be careful both about who you marry and that you do not contaminate your life here. By living in accordance with the word of God here, the best condition is that you grow as a believer.

1 Thess. 4. 1. Finally, brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus: As you received and learned from us how you ought to live and please God, and so you are already living, but you should make even greater progress in this! 2 For you know what orders we gave you from the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God - your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 each of you should know how to control his own wife in holiness and honor, 5 not in sensual desire like the Gentiles, who do not know God. 6 And no one should wrong or defraud his brother in these things. The Lord punishes all such things, as we have told you before and warned you about. 7 For God did not call us to impurity, but to holiness. 8 Therefore, whoever rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

We read that the scriptures give clear testimony about the priest in the old covenant how he should live, who was in the same responsibility before God and his fellow men as the preacher and overseer is in the new covenant. Leviticus 21:14: "A widow or a divorced woman or a woman defiled or a prostitute - these he must not marry. Only a virgin from his own people he must take as his wife."

We read that God gives the same testimony and demands the same from the Priest during the coming 1000-year kingdom who will serve the people in Jerusalem in Israel, where law and justice will come from. Ezekiel 44:22: “A widow or a woman divorced from her husband they shall not take as wives, but only virgins of the house of Israel. But a widow who is the widow of a priest they may take.”

If the Scripture is so clear regarding the priest in the old covenant and under the millennium, it is no less clear regarding the dispensation of the church, we who live under the most glorious and greatest privilege of all; “the husband of one wife.”

Just as the Scripture says that it is demonic and seductive to refuse a preacher and overseer to marry (1 Tim. 4:1), it is to come under the same negative conditions to accept and allow preachers to remarry while their spouse is alive.
It is only upon death that it can be right for an overseer to remarry again, and then to one who is not divorced!
Rom. 7. 2 A woman who has a husband is bound to him, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.
3 If, while her husband lives, she is married to another man, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from the law of her husband, and is not an adulteress if she is married to another man.

Final comment:

A man should guard his own life above all else, says the scripture.

1 Tim. 4. 16 Pay attention to yourself and to the teaching; continue in it! For in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

It is like a red thread throughout the word of God, being a preacher or holding an office.
There are completely different requirements than for others. Where one of the requirements is to take care of the relationship in marriage and family.

1 Tim. 5. 17 An elder who proves himself capable is worthy of double honor, especially if he strives to teach the word
18 For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it threshes out the grain.’ And, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’ Deuteronomy 25:4, Luke 10:7
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
20 But a sinner rebuke him before all, that he may be a warning to others.

Here, as elsewhere, the scripture is clear.
It is consistent throughout the entire Word of God, to have an office of oversight.
Far stricter requirements are set than with others.
One of them is that one should not be divorced and remarried as a believer as far as I understand the scripture.
Must be the husband of one wife. Where one is bound as long as the other lives.
Also, several wives that we find among others. The Kings in the OT practiced, always led in a negative direction. Following God's word to the letter is what brings Blessing, not Curse.
We are to be head, not tail. Where we are to be above, not below for sin, the world and the flesh.

Deuteronomy 28. 13 The Lord will make you the head and not the tail; and you will always be above and never below, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today to keep and do,
14 and if you do not deviate from any of the words that I set before you today, either to the right or to the left, to go after other gods and serve them.
https://blog.janchristensen.net/2012/03/nr-390-hvorfor-det-er-pakrevd-i-henhold.html