Topic(s): Bible Authority, Divorce, Worship

Bob Prichard

Paul told the young preacher Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Timothy, as a minister of the gospel, was to set an example for others in everything he did, including his conversation, or lifestyle, and in his purity. Certainly that would include his marital relationship, although the scriptures say nothing about whether or not Timothy ever married. Purity seems to be increasingly difficult to maintain, because Satan, the “prince of this world” (John 12:31), has such power. But God expects every Christian, including those who preach the gospel of Christ to do their best to remain “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

Jesus laid out God’s marriage ideal: “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:4-6). The Pharisees asked “Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?” (Matthew 19:7). Jesus said, “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 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” (Matthew 19:8-9). Jesus thus gave fornication [any sexual relationship outside marriage, such as adultery, homosexuality, or incest] as the one scriptural cause for a man to put away his wife. Remarriage for other causes make both spouses commit adultery.

Jesus thus in effect said that in society there might be two kinds of divorces—those that have a just cause in God’s eyes, and those that do not. This is the key question as to whether or not a divorced man can preach or otherwise lead in worship. If he has divorced his spouse on scriptural grounds (for fornication), then he may remarry with God’s approval. The man who has divorced on other grounds has not obeyed God’s standard, and thus has no right to remarry. If a man’s marital status is right in God’s eyes, then surely he could lead God’s people in worship. If his marital status is either wrong or suspect in God’s eyes, then he should be repent of his sin, rather than lead in worship.

In listing the qualifications of elders or bishops (not preachers), who oversee the local congregation, Paul says they “must be blameless, the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2). Some take this to mean that a divorced man cannot serve as an elder if his first wife is still living. If a man has a scriptural divorce, however, he has only one wife in God’s eyes, and thus could serve. If a man has failed at marriage (is divorced), it might be in the best judgment of the local elders to refrain from using him in a leadership role, but the scriptures would not prohibit him from serving if he is right in God’s eyes.