Dear Louis, Can A divorced man serve as a “Deacon” or an “Elder”? Husband of but one wife can mean, not more than one wife at a time, or it can mean not more than one wife “ever”. All the qualifications for leaders mentioned in 1 Tim. and Titus, rules out men without fault, today. Dosen’t mean they don’t have things in their past they arn’t proud of, but I understand, we, because of the Grace of God, can be, and are forgiven, when we repent and change our ways. I hear “Church Leaders” treat “Divorce” as the “Unforgiveable” sin. Why is the other sins forgiveable and that is not? I know each case is different, but I would like your views on this subject. Thanks, Bill Suffel
Biblical qualifications for elders and deacons are addressed in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. The phrase “husband of one wife” appears in the former context, once each applied to elders and to deacons. Commentators differ respecting the meaning and application of that phrase (e.g., Robertson; Vincent). That the phrase constitutes a prohibition against a polygamist, at a time when polygamy had been suffered by God, seems apparent to me. If that is the case, then the verses do not address widowers or divorcees who remarry. Other Scriptures govern the acceptability of a prospective deacon or elder.
Death dissolves marriage and any widower who is otherwise eligible to marry may marry any other biblically eligible person (Matthew 22:23-30; Romans 7:1-3). Jesus also taught that the marriage partner who is innocent to the adultery of his spouse may divorce him and may marry another person who is biblically eligible to marry (Matthew 19:9). So far, from this information, one who is a widower or the innocent party to divorce because of adultery might remarry with God’s approval and otherwise qualify to be a deacon or an elder respecting the qualification of being the husband of one wife (at a time; not a polygamist).
A sometimes-overlooked factor respecting the selection of church leaders is that they cannot lead where a congregation will not be led by them. By this we mean, that we must not ignore that a congregation selects its own leaders in addition to the qualifications stipulated by God (Acts 6:3). Even if a widower or a biblically divorced and remarried man otherwise meets the qualifications for either a deacon or an elder, the congregation must choose him to serve in either capacity. It would be pointless to attempt to be appointed against the desires of several in the congregation and expect to be able to lead effectively.
As to the last point in the query, “divorce” is a sin on someone’s part, if not on the part of both spouses (Malachi 2:15-16; Matthew 5:32). Repentance includes a celibate life when the marriage cannot be resumed or resumption of the marriage.
“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).
Marriage to someone else except as provided by Jesus himself because of adultery does not constitute repentance but rebellion. “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 19:9)
Finally, any sin for which someone repents can be forgiven (1 John 1:9). However, forgiveness of one’s sins does not necessarily remove the consequences of sins. For instance, a body ruined with disease as the result of sinful pleasures may be impossible to repair completely, despite repentance and forgiveness. Similarly, while neither divorce nor any other sin is unforgivable upon one’s repentance, depending on the circumstances of that divorce, one may either not qualify to be a deacon or an elder, or a congregation may lack confidence in one’s ability to serve as a deacon or an elder, in spite of repentance and otherwise meeting the biblical qualifications to serve in one of those capacities.
