Disqualifications for ministry

[Aquila]

A pastor once told me that these were Paul's "recommendations" and that they are not to be treated as dogma. For example we read,

2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,

Clearly Paul felt it best that an elder should be married. However, we know that Paul wasn't married and that Paul was also an elder.

1 Peter 5:1 (KJV)
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:"

So, I was taught that while these are strong admonitions regarding eldership and the deaconate, they are only guidelines, not "requirements". Ultimately God calls the individual and confirms that calling through the Spirit.

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by Aquila

A pastor once told me that these were Paul's "recommendations" and that they are not to be treated as dogma. For example we read,

(1)

2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,

Clearly Paul felt it best that an elder should be married. However, we know that Paul wasn't married and that Paul was also an elder.

1 Peter 5:1 (KJV)
"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:"

So, I was taught that while these are strong admonitions regarding eldership and the deaconate, they are only guidelines, not "requirements". Ultimately God calls the individual and confirms that calling through the Spirit.

The bishop must be faithful, and the husband of only ONE WIFE
(not have married another woman while his wife lives). The (your?)
pastor seems to imply that a man can have only one wife at a time!

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by thephnxman

The bishop must be faithful, and the husband of only ONE WIFE
(not have married another woman while his wife lives). The (your?)
pastor seems to imply that a man can have only one wife at a time!

My pastor chose to take the literal meaning of the text in question without imposing any additional notions upon it. An important note is that Rome prohibited polygamy before Christ was born. However, the Jews still practiced it in an act of rebellion against Roman law. A number of first century rabbis had multiple wives. My pastor took it that Paul admonished the Christian seeking the office of elder to be married to one wife and one wife only. My pastor didn't take the position that this verse disqualified a man who had been divorced and remarried.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

A pastor once told me that these were Paul's "recommendations" and that they are not to be treated as dogma.

So, I was taught that while these are strong admonitions regarding eldership and the deaconate, they are only guidelines, not "requirements".

THIS is one of the main problems with modern 'Christianity' today. People take clear unambiguous statements of Scripture and just decide 'these are only suggestions but do what you want'.

And so, we have masses of people who do just that, and then we wonder why there is so much spiritual anarchy in the church?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

THIS is one of the main problems with modern 'Christianity' today. People take clear unambiguous statements of Scripture and just decide 'these are only suggestions but do what you want'.

And so, we have masses of people who do just that, and then we wonder why there is so much spiritual anarchy in the church?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

THIS is one of the main problems with modern 'Christianity' today. People take clear unambiguous statements of Scripture and just decide 'these are only suggestions but do what you want'.

And so, we have masses of people who do just that, and then we wonder why there is so much spiritual anarchy in the church?

There was a son of a Plymouth Brethren preacher who thought the same thing.

"Do as thou wilt is the whole of the law"
~The law of Thelema, Aleister Crowley

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by Esaias

THIS is one of the main problems with modern 'Christianity' today. People take clear unambiguous statements of Scripture and just decide 'these are only suggestions but do what you want'.

And so, we have masses of people who do just that, and then we wonder why there is so much spiritual anarchy in the church?

Very sobering and true.

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by Esaias

THIS is one of the main problems with modern 'Christianity' today. People take clear unambiguous statements of Scripture and just decide 'these are only suggestions but do what you want'.

And so, we have masses of people who do just that, and then we wonder why there is so much spiritual anarchy in the church?

Amen

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Esaias

THIS is one of the main problems with modern 'Christianity' today. People take clear unambiguous statements of Scripture and just decide 'these are only suggestions but do what you want'.

And so, we have masses of people who do just that, and then we wonder why there is so much spiritual anarchy in the church?

I understand what you're saying. However, if we take these as strict legalistic requirements for eldership.... unmarried men (such as Paul) wouldn't qualify. But since Paul was indeed an elder, we know that the admonition to have one wife wasn't a "requirement". Thus it appears to be more of an admonition than a legalistic "commandment".

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I understand what you're saying. However, if we take these as strict legalistic requirements for eldership.... unmarried men (such as Paul) wouldn't qualify. But since Paul was indeed an elder, we know that the admonition to have one wife wasn't a "requirement". Thus it appears to be more of an admonition than a legalistic "commandment".

Do you ever debate in public?

Because I know that in a street Bible study altercation, you would be stomped into a greasy theological puddle. What I mean is, I have met people around this city while not Christians had an amazing knowledge of the scriptures. Yet while they have this knowledge, they don't use it to benefit themselves spiritually. They use it to stealthy rope in an unsuspecting Christian into a perplexing situation. Bro, you couldn't walk away from them making the above comments. Because they see through all that, and they would wait until a crowd formed and were listening to you intently. Once you got going on your above thoughts they would swoop in for the kill. By the time they were done with you, there would be nothing left but a greasy spot.

Paul just casually making suggestions?

Because after all, Paul would of disqualified himself?

Hey, good luck with that.