Podcast: Permanently Disqualified
On this episode of the Bully Pew Podcast, David discusses the extrabiblical standards used to mark a pastor as “permanently disqualified” and some of the problems with contemporary church culture that lead to pastors burning out or falling into sin.
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The “one woman man” requirement is likely now null and void. Above reproach is now questionable, which likely causes a huge distraction for outsiders. He can do something other than elder / deacon. He can still be useful for the Kingdom. Get off your high-horse.
He is definitely disqualified from leadership positions
Commenting on this without listening to the podcast…there’s nothing extrabiblical about permanently disqualifying a pastor who has fallen in this sin. His true status has been discovered. The standard is right there in the text (1 Tim 3 and Tit 1). Now we should be upholding the standards regarding a pastor’s children, that they are “faithful”, i.e. professing Christ. They should not be rebellious, apostate, etc. A man who has come to faith later on who has children who refuse to profess is a disqualifier for anyone seeking the office of elder. Sorry; hard to swallow, but true. Oh….and pastors should never, ever, ever be single men. 1 Tim 3 and Tit 1 are not only about marital unfaithfulness. They’re also about polygamy, which was allowed by the Romans for Jews. They’re also about men who have never been married. They’re also about men who have remarried while their 1st spouse is still alive (adultery). Sorry; marriage is for life between a man and a woman. Remarriage while a spouse is still alive is a newer doctrine that cannot find its roots in Scripture or for the first 1600 years or so of church history.
Looking at it in the Greek and in the context of the preceeding and following verses would definitely indicate that “faithful” for the children would have to do with faithfulness towards the father’s teaching and instruction, not whether or not God has given them a new heart. To go with the opposite would exclude anyone with young children, or would immediately disqualify any pastor who’s wife gives birth to a child.
I realize John MacArthur says all elders are required to have only saved children, but even many of the men at Masters Seminary disagree with him on that point, because the context of the passage, especially in Greek, doesn’t require evidence of salvation for all children.
Look at Titus 1:6. The greek is tekna echon pista. In the context of the assembly of God’s people, pista (from pistos) is always concering faithfulness/trustworthiness toward all things from God. Tekna (children) is not limited to young offspring; it can mean an adult child as well. The standard is not whether a child believes, because that if impossible to prove. Faithfulness to God (shown by their faithfulness to their father) is the requirement. It’s possible for someone to be outwardly faithful but have an unregenerate heart, but we have no tests for the heart. And notice the latter part of verse 6. A child of an elder could profess but try to live wayward. Not allowed per the qualification. Obedient, faithful children who do not rebel against their father is evidence of salvation. And God gives very special tools to fathers to encourage their children’s faith.
Should a young man with only young children be an elder? Probably not yet. He needs time to prove he’s qualified. If he already has older children that do profess when he becomes an elder, having small children who are unable to speak (including newborns) don’t qualify him. Can a newborn or toddler be charged with indecent behavior rebelliousness when they cry and throw temper tantrums? I think that’d be a unreasonable assertion. I’m not a baptist anymore, so I’m not going to have the same view of kids who are in the visible church as you (assuming you’re a baptist). I do disagree with MacArthur that single men can be pastors. It’s a grave mistake to allow it.
Perhaps it’s time to start having more elders who are, well, older, as the label implies. They should be tested and proven. If they can’t raise God-loving children and manage their household well, they have no business being pastors. We have standards for those wanting to become police officers and teachers, but we refuse to sufficiently apply the very clear standards God has given us for the office of elder.
In this instance, Steven Lawson no longer meets the “one-woman man” qualification. Can he again regain the reputation of being a one-woman man? Possibly, but it will not happen overnight.
I believe the “above reproach” qualification is spelled out in the qualifications that follow. Together, all the other character qualifications define what it means to be above reproach. It is also important to recognize that all Christians ought to be above reproach, but an elder/overseer/shepherd “must be above reproach” (1 Tim. 3:2). A leader among God’s people is held to a high standard.
Pastor Fred Anderson
A man who cheats will never be known again as a one-woman man…ever. Once that reputation is lost, it can never be regained.
Joe, I believe that would be true in many cases. Unless more information has come out that I am not aware of at this time, I do not know what kind of sin Mr. Lawson was engaged in. Did he have a physical relationship with another woman? Was he sending texts that could have led to a phsical relationship? Was there an inappropriate emotional connection with another woman that involved no physcical involvement? All of these would disqualify a man as being a one-woman man. In certain instances, not all, I do believe a man can regain the status of being a one-woman man. But it will require years if not decades.
Pastor Fred Anderson
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Instead of bending the knee and submitting to the teaching of Holy Scripture, Protestia twists Scripture to make it submit and bend its knee to its arbitrary standards and preferences.