Can a Divorced Man Pastor?

Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

In Pastor Max D. Younce's excellent book, I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!, he Biblically states:

Does Divorce Disqualify a Man from the Pastorate?

Question: Our preacher's wife divorced him for another man. Can he remain in the ministry as a pastor?

Answer: Your pastor fulfilled the qualification of being married to occupy the position of Pastor. 1 Timothy 3:2 states, in part, that he must be “the husband of one wife...” Since the divorce was pursued by his wife for another man; that would be considered adultery. Since your pastor is the innocent party, I do not see any reason for him to abandon God's calling because of his wife's sin. She is the one who walked out on the Lord because of the...

“...lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes...” (1 John 2:16)

Romans 14:12, speaking of our own responsibility to the Lord says,

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Your pastor is not responsible for his wife's actions. She must give account to God for her unfaithfulness herself.

The problem that arises out of a situation such as this is; that, many times the people of the church will be divided over whose fault this was. There are so many things that one may never know about the situation unless you were a “little spy” in their home 24 hours day. Some may say the pastor mistreated his wife; as a result, forcing her into the arms of another man. Others may be convinced she was running around while they were still married, as she showed signs of disinterest in the Lord's work. ...

SOURCE: Dr. Max D. Younce, I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED!, Volume 2, pg. 28-29; ISBN-13-978-0-9815225-8-6; Morris Publishing.

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” —Acts 10:43


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