Divorced..and feel a calling to pastor

[seekfirst]

I just want your feelings on this. I have a friend who has felt called to be a pastor. He has felt this calling from early on in his life, but did not accept it until now. He has been divorced twice..both times his wives committed adultery, and divorced him. He is a lay minister now..LMTI. He and two other LMTI graduates have applied to the Delta program, and each of them have been divorced. He hasn't heard back yet from his application, but the two others have, and they were turned down because they were divorced...although when applying there was nothing about not being able to be in the program because of divorce...except that the reasoning of the divorces would be looked at. The two other men also had wives that left, and divorced them, one with adultery, and one who was in the military, and had his wife left him when he was at sea.
My friend is gifted at preaching, he has filled in for our pastor when our pastor was out for the weekend. He has a gift for reaching people. He feels called. His grandfather was a minister as well.
My question is, is there anything in the Bible for stating he can't be a pastor, when it was his wives that left...and their was adultery?

 

[Diane_Windsor]

1 Timothy 3

Overseers and Deacons

1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.



8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, their wives[b] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. 14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He[c] appeared in a body,[d]
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.



**************

YAY! This is my 2000th post!

DIANE

 

[Richard]

It's not that I don't agree with what the Bible says about this, but I am going to say No. THERE IS NOONE that God CAN'T use.

[BIBLE]1 Timothy 3:2[/BIBLE]

A man of one wife does not particular mean , he must only be married once, but when he is married have no other women. A man of ONE wife, if he is divorced it's not his wife now is it ?

Seekfirst, my advice to you is to tell your friend that if he searches after God's heart, He will show your friend what to do and where to go. Don't be discouraged.

Look at David's life........

IT IS SILLY AND I WILL NOT CONFORM !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Richard]

I'm bumping this because I would like more people to reply.

 

[kingzjewel]

I do not believe that the Bible states that anyone who is divorced can no longer be used in ministry. Might as well say if you were ever raped you can't be used. Or if you were ever gay, or a drug addict, or an alcoholic, or if you ever had a boyfriend and went too far. God doesn't like any of these things, but that doesn't bar us from ministry.

 

[AngelusSax]

God can use anyone He wants. He's God... Omnipotence. I hear it's quite a good thing when in God's hands.

 

[rocklife]

Jesus says in Mark 9:11-12, even remarrying is considered adultery to God.

Maybe you are called as God's witness, but not for the pastor job. Is the reason to be a pastor for money? You want the money? Can you still be a witness of God if you wouldn't get paid? I don't get paid to be where God has me, in the sense of a career. The devil can give money away too, he tried to give Jesus all kinds of luxury.

A christian follows Jesus, keep looking to Jesus and what He wants for His church.

 

[AngelusSax]

Jesus says in Mark 9:11-12, even remarrying is considered adultery to God.

It has been my understanding that if you're forced into a divorce because of marital unfaithfulness on the other person's part, that Jesus isn't gonna hold that against you and tell you you have to remain alone and miserable your whole life.

 

[Richard]

Jesus says in Mark 9:11-12, even remarrying is considered adultery to God.

Maybe you are called as God's witness, but not for the pastor job. Is the reason to be a pastor for money? You want the money? Can you still be a witness of God if you wouldn't get paid? I don't get paid to be where God has me, in the sense of a career. The devil can give money away too, he tried to give Jesus all kinds of luxury.

A christian follows Jesus, keep looking to Jesus and what He wants for His church.

but God forgive us of our sins? I think he does. Amen. That's the End of this little discussion

 

[Autumnleaf]

If you want to do it go ahead. Just understand some may question a man who wants to be a preacher who could not maintain a marriage. Fair or not it won't be easy but you can do it, 'with God all things are possible.'

God bless you in whatever you choose to do.

 

[walkin2e]

If one is called by God, he will open up the doors...after all, was not some of the disciples called "unlearned and ignorant'? But God used them greatly!

Serve God and ignore what man says.

walkin2e

 

[jonnylove]

Has anyone heard of Mark Chironna? Anyway, he was a pastor, but sadly fell into sin and got involded in visiting prositutes while he was pastoring the Church. It got to the point where he couldn't take it anymore (of living a double life of pastoring a Church and living in sin). He decided to take his own life. He went to a mountain somewhere took a gun with him and was going to shout himself. As he put the gun to his head, God spoke to him in an audible voice. (not sure what God said to him, I can't remember the full details.) Anyway, whatever it was that God said caused him to repent of what he had done. He went back to his Church and confessed to everyone what he had done and resigned as a pastor.

Praise God though because, when we ask for forgivness and truly repent of whatever it is that we have done, God begins to work a restoration process in our lives.

God restored Mark Chironna big time. He now pastors again and has a worldwide ministry and operates in the gifts of the spirit and the miraculous power of God. He's on T.B.N, God Channel and other Christian T.V stations. Glory to God! Thank you Jesus for your Mercy,Grace and unconditional love.

Be blessed, love Jonathan.

 

[EIChief]

I am going to fall in the middle of some of the views discussed in this thread.

1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

I believe that this passage does not forbid divorced pastors to serve because they can still be the husband of one wife. Nor do I believe that getting a divorce due to infidelity or abuse is wrong according to the Bible, so divorcing under acceptable Biblical Law and Marrying again is fine.

However, I do believe that this precludes Men involved in infidelity or biggamy from serving as pastors because they did not adhere to God's laws on marriage and therefore are not fit to lead. I am not saying that God is not able to use that person in ministry or that they cannot be forgiven, but leadership is another story.

Jesus says in Mark 9:11-12, even remarrying is considered adultery to God.

I would like to know how this passage explains that remarrying is considered adultery.

God restored Mark Chironna big time. He now pastors again and has a worldwide ministry and operates in the gifts of the spirit and the miraculous power of God. He's on T.B.N, God Channel and other Christian T.V stations. Glory to God! Thank you Jesus for your Mercy,Grace and unconditional love.

Not to turn this into a TBN basshing but...

To say that God restored Mark Chironna because he is a Pastor and appears on TBN is somewhat deceiving. Nobody knows the heart but God, and it is my personal belief that although a few good things might come from TBN ministries, most of the leaders are false prophets with false interpretaions of the Bible. So I would not make TBN the litmus test for restoration, and view everything Chironna says in light of the scripture.

I have numerous herretical statements from Chironna, if you would like to chat about it PM me so the thread stays on topic

 

[Crispie]

Romans 7:3
3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Is this what hes talking about?

 

[Richard]

Romans 7:3
3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Is this what hes talking about?

This verse has no contextual support with the topic of the thread.

The verse you presented is saying.

If a man and wife get divorced, the wife shouldn't remarry, or it would be considered adultry.

 

[dwhitaker]

I did not get to read what was written about those who are divorced in the ministry, however, I will share that you rarely hear of Pre-marital Relations Pastors, or Felon Pastors, or Bad Attitude Pastors...you assign the sin a pastor has committed. The point I am trying to make is that any forgiven in the past makes a man fully restored. We have to get past the traditional views that do not square with God's Word, which views make forgiven Christians second-class citizens. Many men, post confession, repentance and restoration may return to the ministries God has called them to. He does not take away their giftedness.

David Whitaker, PhD

 

[YouthDirector]

... any forgiven in the past makes a man fully restored. We have to get past the traditional views that do not square with God's Word, which views make forgiven Christians second-class citizens. Many men, post confession, repentance and restoration may return to the ministries God has called them to. He does not take away their giftedness.

David Whitaker, PhD

Amen! Christ died so we could be forgiven. It seems that we have a tendency to judge others when there is only one judge -- God. God has a wonderful way of taking what ever we have been through (good or bad) and makes it so that we can use it to His glory.

Thank you heavenly Father for loving us so much and for forgiving our sins through the death of Jesus. May all that we are and all that we do be for your glory.

Because of Him,

Terry

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways ackowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

 

[dwhitaker]

It is my hope that many hurting Christians who have gone through the process of divorce will be restored to the ministries God has given to them (Romans 11:29) Tradition has turned these persons into second class citizens whom God has not only redeemed, but restored!

Thanks Terry!

 

[Autumnleaf]

It is my hope that many hurting Christians who have gone through the process of divorce will read my new book entitled Full Restoration: Rethinking Issues Concerning Divorced Pastors, published by Authorhouse and available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon websites. It is a manual for counselors, and for any hurting Christain from past sin. Tradition has turned these persons into second class citizens whom God has not only redeemed, but restored!

Thanks Terry!

That sounds like the Catholic Church's, former?, attitude toward priest pedophiles. Maybe we should give every excon who finds God in jail a place in ministry. They could run the nursery at your grand kids' church Dr. Terry. God knows the state of people's hearts. We know people by how they treat us and others. There are good reasons why people don't usually put people who have done bad things/failed at a big life area in positions of authority.

 

[AngelusSax]

There are good reasons why people don't usually put people who have done bad things/failed at a big life area in positions of authority.

Perhaps. But we must also ask ourselves if we're living up to the command to us, as believers, to be imitators of God, who forgives and forgets our sins.