Preachers

Q. Our small church is having a dispute which is causing a split in our church. After 16 years of service our pastor left due to personal problems, he was also the founder of our church, so we have never had to look for a pastor. My question has to do with the qualifications of a pastor. There are those who use the scriptures I think it is in Timothy or Titus as the basis for the decision, and those who say that this scripture is for others not the pastor, like a deacon, trustee, someone who is responsible for the holdings of the church. Does God not hold pastors to a higher standard, and is it reasonable for us to expect a man to be of one wife, when looking for a pastor. Does this mean one living wife, divorced, remarried, or does it mean ever. I know that grace is sufficient, and that all our sins are forgiven. Please help clear this up. It is my only desire to do as God says. We are an Independent Baptist Church. We are now less than 10 adult members. Sorry for the length of this. Your sister in Christ [Linda Francis]

A. Sister Francis, those that say that the books of Timothy & Titus hold the qualifications of a pastor, are correct. The word "Bishop" is used which in the Greek (episkopos) means overseer, elder, or under-shepherd and it translates into the modern English as pastor. 1st Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A deacon is not an overseer in this sense but one who handles the less weightier matters to free the hands of the pastor & preachers. Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Yes God does hold pastors to a ridged standard and I would think that the Lord actually expects us all to strive to live up to these standards. Now as for those qualifications you spoke of, allow me to break them down for you:

1. 1st 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;
   • Blameless means that he should not have any controversy or bad, (provable) reports about him.
   • That he is the husband of only one living wife unless he meets the qualifications of 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. or 1st Corinthians 7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. The word fornication applies to both married and unmarried in this case, he is the one who should be the innocent one in that case and not under bondage means to be released from the bonds of matrimony. If he is remarried outside of these qualifications then he is scripturally disqualified.
   • That he is vigilant, meaning a shepherd who watches out and protects.1st Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
   • That he is sober. This means that he is to be serious when he needs to be. Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
   • Of good behavior is self explamitory. 2nd Thessalonians 3:6: Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
   • Given to hospitality meaning you should feel welcomed without any reservations at his home. 1st Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
   • Apt to teach would mean that he would be willing to explain the doctrines of the scriptures without hesitation according to the knowledge God has given him. 2nd Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. 1st Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
   • Not given to wine, means a man who avoids strong drink. Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
   • No striker would mean someone who wouldn't be likely to hit another out of anger. Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
   • Not greedy of filthy lucre would be one who isn't out to make an easy or fast buck. Not given to deceptions and/or ploys to cheat someone. 1st Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
   • But patient means that he is willing to wait for the right time at all occasions. Psalms 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
   • Not a brawler would mean someone who isn't fist fighting constantly. Titus 3:2
   • Not covetous is a man who isn't overly desirous of things that belong to others. Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
3. 1st Timothy 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
   • Ruleth well and having his children in subjection would mean that he is the unquestioned head of his own household. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
4. 1st Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
   • Being a novice is one who lacks the biblical and practical training of an older or more experienced pastor or elder. The finest training a pastor can receive is to have been under a good, Bible believing pastor of his own. This does not mean that you have to be looking for someone who has pastored before though because there are no doubt many young men who have been tempered by Gods Word and sound preaching out there who are ready for their first pastorate. You folks be led by the Holy Spirit on such a matter. 1st Corinthians 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
5. 1st Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
   • This defiantly means you should check those references. Go out and ask others about your candidate. Acts 22:12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 22:13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him

It is my sincere desire to help you good folks in this matter the best I can. Please feel free to email me back to ask any further questions you might have. My phone number can be found on the homepage if you need to call. Don't allow this search for a pastor to divide your congregation in controversy but in all things follow what the Scriptures say "IN PRAYER" to stay on the right pathway.

Your servant in Christ Jesus, [Timothy]

Q. Where in the bible does it say that a woman can lead the church? If this can not be found, why is it so commonly practiced? Does the woman assume headship over a church that she is pastor? Or is their a head over her as well? If the bible says that man is to be the head of the family and of the church, can this contradict the woman standing in headship of a local congregation?

A. The Bible does not say that a woman is allowed to lead in the church! I am assuming that you are talking about Pastors & Deacons here. For a woman to fill one of these posts when there are Spirit filled men to do these tasks is unscriptural and against the very Word of God that they claim to stand for.

I have tried my best to answer questions such as this with tenderness but that tenderness is being mistaken for weakness so here is what the Sword of the Lord (the Bible) says!

• 1st Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. Plain and clear, isn't it? Paul didn't write this just to see his words on a piece of parchment! The woman was created from man as a Help Meet, someone to go thru life with him side by side. In the Garden of Eden, woman was deceived by the serpent! The man was not. The woman was created to think more with her heart and is very trusting. The man was not! Are you seeing what the Spirit is saying?
• 1st Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. Is this not another plain and clear verse? No, it is not taken out of context because it is plainly speaking of the women learning in the church's.

There is a work for the women to do in the church's. Also, plain and clear verses as shown below:

• Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

For a woman to fill a position in the church where she has authority over the men of the church is against the very Scriptures they want to stand for! The Scriptures use the title of bishop for pastor. Let's see what the Scriptures say about the qualifications of the bishop are:

• 1st Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. Notice that "If a man", not a woman is the subject!
• 1st 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; How can a woman be "the husband of one wife"? If she is, then she is a practicing homosexuality and defiantly out of God's will! 1st Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God
• 1st Timothy 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; If she rules her own house then she is also out of Gods will because the head of the family is the man, not the woman! Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Now, I didn't answer this question out of anger but to make a very plain and bold stand! For a woman to Pastor a church, even yet be a preacher or a deacon or of any authority over a man in the church or the home is against the Word of God!

[Timothy]

Q. Who can be a preacher? Who can be called? What are the requirements to be a preacher? [scott]

A. Scott, whoever God chooses to call. There isn't a set list of things that I could go by to tell you who can be called. I can however tell you who He has called and who He won't call scripturally.

Who God has called:

• God has called men like Jona who really don't want to be called for the specific purpose God has in mind.

• God has also called men like Saul of Tarsus who was originally a great persicuter of His people and made him a great evangelist to the very church he persicuted!

• The Lord has called men like Peter who was quick tempered and quick to speak and made him a great spokesman.

• He has called men like Luke who were great scholars and me of science. In Lukes case, he was a physician.

• He called men like John the Baptist who he had prepared from his mothers womb!

• He even called me who isn't worthy to be mentioned with these men. One who had selfish ambitions, a lustful heart, a quick temper, an ear that would not hear, a self satisfying nature and a willful pride. God through His mercy, took me and moulded me to be a willing servant as he does with those who will allow Him.

Who God will not call:

• Those who refuse to be tempered and moulded. 1st. Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

• Those who will not be true and honest. Phillipians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

• Those who are not scripturally qualified. 1st Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

[Timothy]

Q. Can you tell me if a preacher that has committed adultery, divorced and broke up another marriage should be a preacher again. Thank you! [Anon]

A. Many of you may think that a preacher is supposed to be a super human who cannot sin! This just isn't the case! These men that are called of God are just as human and just as apt to sin as the next saved person! A preacher "IS" supposed to be a man who is obedient to the will of the Lord. He is to be an example to the congregation and also to the sinner man but he is not perfect!

I'll give you a case in point! JONAH. Jonah was a man whom God told to go to Nineveh and tell them to repent of their wickedness. Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

This old rascal hated the Ninevevites and ran from the bidding of God. Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. I would categorize this as defiantly a great and bitter sin, to run from the will of God!

God stopped Jonah in his tracks and sent a great fish to swallow up this preacher! Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. You can't run from God and get away! He had to preach to the Ninevevites anyway and he did not cease being a preacher!

This is the same with the preacher you are mentioning. If he be a child of God and a preacher indeed, God has a work for him to complete and all he has done with this act of sin is made it hard for anyone to listen to him because of the sin he has openly committed! He is killing or has already killed his testimony and has to rebuild it again!

[Timothy]

Q. A pastor committed adultery with a lady in the church. Does this disqualify him from ever Pastoring again? I need scripture to support. Thank You [Sandra Tidd]

A. No Sandra, it doesn't disqualify him from ever being a Pastor. If he has repented and confessed his sin before God and acknowledged his sins to the congregation. It probably does disqualify him from Pastoring his present church because he now needs to be under the "Watch Care" of the brethren for a while. Be careful though that the church does not condemn him but to make it clear that this type of behavior cannot be tolerated in the Body of Christ! The scriptures below should be of help.

1st Timothy 5:18: For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Galations 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

[Timothy]

Q. How does a pastor motivate his congregation to carry out the Great Commission. By the way I'm going to Knoxville, TN to the Promise Keepers Convention on June 6 and 7. I went to one last year and was impressed by the love and the spirit of God that was apparent there. The Sword of the Lord paper that I am very fond of seems to hate the very idea of Promise Keepers. What do you think?

A. The answer to your first question has plagued Preachers for hundreds and thousands of years. The Commission is simple but for the believer to implement it is hard if he is not committed his or her life to the Savior. Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

There is many of times that from behind the pulpit the Holy Spirit has impressed on me to preach that the Kingdom of God is at hand and we need to be about the Fathers business. To my eyes from what I could tell, this type of sermon fell on deaf ears but we have to remember the promise of God in Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. We have to trust in God that whatever He has impressed on us to preach from the gospel will in fact have God's desired results.

Don't be discouraged! Just preach the gospel and pray unto God the Father for His will to be done. Stick with the stuff! God will motivate those folks into action or move them out of the way and send someone who will. We have to believe that. Your responsibility as the under shepherd is to preach the gospel and feed the flock with the feed your boss, the Over Shepherd has trusted you to feed them with. If they refuse to eat, they will die from hunger unless they are force fed. Leave the force feeding to the Over Shepherd who owns the sheep. He knows what is best and how to implement it!

Now to your second question. Until recently, I had only heard mention of the promise keepers. Then a friend of mine told me about all the wonderful things he had been doing with this group. When he told me about them I said "WOW" this bears looking into. Boy, you wouldn't believe what I found out! My "WOW" has turned into a "UH-OH".

There are a number of brothers who are widely known for their sincere beliefs who are on the warpath about the promise keepers. And with good reason. Now hold on to your seat. This may be a rough ride!

The belief and statements of the promise keepers is that all religions that say they are "Christian" are just that and we should fellowship with them in total Christian Fellowship! This includes Mormonism, Roman Catholicism, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. What do these folks believe? Are their beliefs the same as yours? Do they believe that in order to be a Christian you must accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? Do they teach that 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;. Do they believe in the Holy Godhead? God the Father, God the Son and God, the Holy Ghost! Do they believe that no man can take away your salvation? This sounds more like the world church spoken of in Revelations than a true Christian gathering! And if this is the beginnings of The Great Whore, do you want to be a part of it?

Remember what the scriptures say in 2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the scriptures. Watch, Listen,  and be like a watch dog. Bark and snarl at the thieves that would spoil your Masters goods. Chase off the messengers of humanism, worldly science, the occult & the false doctrines! And by all means don't go into their front yard! Your people that God has placed you over believe what you tell them and what you do. If its wrong, do you not have to give an account for it?

Your Fellow Servant in Christ Jesus,

Timothy