Autumnleaf said:
I would like to encourage all divorced pastors to restore their marriages before attempting to enter ministry.
I totally agree that men must allow God to restore many things in his life before he considers returning to ministry. A very important area of restoration is with his family members, and his divorced spouse. There needs to be healing there,
and forgiveness sought.
God's full restoration has to do with rebuilding broken relationships, and humbly seeking God's direction, not just brashly running to lead a congregation.
Having said this, the argument that a man who has sinned by divorce cannot be an example to a congregation and lead them, is like saying a parent who has really made serious mistakes cannot lead their children by example to do right.
Surely, sometimes it is out of our mistakes and learning about God's grace that we are able to help those who are making the same mistakes.
I am well aware of the view of some about divorced men being able to teach about relationships. However, God gives us an example in the Bible of a man who was terrrible with relationships, who committed adultery, and was not a good example as a father, yet God still was able to use David and raised him up post-sin and confession to administrate and lead his kingdom. It is all about grace...
It is not about what we have been able to perfectly do that matters most in ministry, but what we have learned, and allowed God to do through us, despite ourselves. There is no question that the Bible tells us that a pastor
must live a godly life. But it does so referring to his present character, not his past sin. It asks us to demonstrate that we have somewhat of a long term record of obedience and serving.
Yes, we should not encourage one who has divorced and sinned in divorce yesterday to get into the pulpit tomorrow and serve. His heart and humility before God is important, his willingness to repent of any sin that he has committed is important. Time to heal and work on rebuilding relationships is necessary, and waiting on God to direct him again toward ministry. However, so many are simply told that because they have sinned this one particular sin, as though as it is an unpardonable sin, he cannot ever serve God but in secondary ways. Well, my Bible has never taught that, and it never will.
This is tradition. Not God's Word.
Full Restoration, goes into this quite detailed.
David Whitaker, PhD