The Matter of Moral Failure

615 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, Last time we talked about the procedure for appointing spiritual leaders (pastors) in these newly planted New Testament churches. New church plants still occur in cultures where the old way of life included polygamy, and sexual immorality, and it is imperative that any indigenous pastors meet this particular qualification of “husband of one wife.” God's original plan for marriage and sexual purity is to be reintroduced to these cultures, who through the course of time have allowed it all to become a bit muddy. But what about pastors in cultures that have been evangelized? What about pastors in the churches of America for instance? Should not the same standard of “husband of one wife,” be upheld? Remember, the main point here is that ALL shepherds of the flocks of God, must be men who cannot be taken hold of (they must be blameless) on the score of sexual promiscuity or laxity. The “post” converted pastor must meet this criteria. A morally compromised pastor must step down or be removed from office. Adulterous lifestyles are just not permitted, and the Bible has much to say about what constitutes adultery, and here's where it gets a little tricky. For example, Jesus said in Lu 16:18 "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery. And in Mt 5:28, He said, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Now, I do not intend to be the self-appointed “pastor police,” but these two verses tell me that the matter of divorce and pornography addiction need to be addressed by the local congregation as it concerns fitness for the pulpit. The first concern of course is always the restoration of the erring brother, and then congregations must decide in accordance with the Word of God, what there next steps must be. Father, I pray that it would never come to this in Your church, but if it does, grant wisdom, love, and mercy to all involved as the truth of Your Word is applied.