Husband of One Wife?

2009 © Elder Scott Ray S.B.G.


www.av-1611.com     

E-Mail: elder@av-1611.com
 
The 5th Edition

This is my 5th edition of the subject of the "husband of one wife". Much like the Apostle Paul, I to have met with great opposition over the years
in the calling of a preacher.  We need to remember to rightly divide the Word of Truth and see  who it is written to and who it is not written to in
order to operate under  the right program.  The Law of Moses was given to  the Jews by Moses. It was not given to the Gentiles.  They had their
own laws.  The world today operates in a legalistic manner, in all manners and areas of our lives. Religions,  Traditions of Men,  and local church
Denominations also mainly opperate in a Law system.  One simular to the Law system that the Jews were to abide by, that is,  until they were all
judged in unbelief in the book of Acts, which you find more out about it from Galatians. This system is a IF YOU DO THIS...THEN YOU GET
THIS. With that thought in mind, it is no surprise as to all the conflict in the churches today. We are in the Dispensation of the Grace of God now
and have been for quite a while (2000 years).  However, if the churches play the Law system,  there should be no question as to  why everything
seems  to  be  in  disorder.  That  would  also  include  the  Qualifications  of  a Bishop / Elder, or as many now refer to, a Pastor, or a Preacher.

One thing to keep in  mind is  that when Paul wrote to Timothy in 1st Timothy, and Chapter 3 about the qualifications of a Bishop, you must not
look at it as most do.  Here I am guilty.  I did so in ignorance.  I originally looked at it from a certain denominational view and then tried to say it
all with Grace.  That was wrong.  To look at any of Paul's writtings,  we must remember it  was written to the Members of the Body of Christ in
Grace, so  all  of Paul's writtings must  be read from a Grace perspective.  If you run with the Law in your practices, Paul's writtings will seem to
be foolish to you.  Law is  to them who are  under the Law,  the Jews.  You, if  you have not believed in vain,  are the  same as I am,  under the
Grace of God.  Moses  lead a  Group of  People who were to be seperated unto God in the Law.  Paul lead a  Group  of  People who were to be
seperated unto God in the Grace of God.    Law = works justification, or a piece meal deal. Grace = Christ's Righteousness on you, not based on
your actions,  but by Grace through Faith. So we being under Grace need to examine these qualifications in  chapter 3 without reguard to church
denomination, traditions of men, and religion.  There are plenty of all three all over the whole earth.   Sounds like the earth got subdued by man. 

1 Timothy 3:1 "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work."

"If a man desire the office of a bishop" is the highlight here! Where is the calling? Where is it? Show us in this verse where it is! Do not run back
to the Gospels, or to the OT.  Stay right here  in Paul's wittings and show us in this verse the calling!  You can not do it! Why?  It is self desired!
Look at it! "If a man desire the office of a bishop" Now why is this never openly discussed?  Maybe to coin a phrase from the early 20th century
"Open a can of worms" may apply here for the religious authorities?  Also the work of the office is decribed as "he desireth a good work.". Need 
I point  out  any  more?   The  one  who  desires  the office  is  being  pointed  out  here.  It  is all  about  his  desire!    This  is  not  a  "calling"!
It is a work.  A very important resposibility,  not something you show up  for and supply a resume in order to get put on the pay roll.  Souls, not
money.  Labor with your hands. Labor in the Word and provide doctrine and teaching with no charge to the local church. Labor for Christ now.

1 Timothy 3:2 "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

Here Paul  begins to  outline the  requirements of  this man who desires  this position!   By the way, the first  requirement  Paul mentioned is "A
bishop then must be blameless".  Are any of us who desire this position "BLAMELESS"? Men all may try to explain it away, or change it, or use
different  dictionaries,  or different  commentaries,  or depend  on their seminary years,   but brethren  I am  here to tell you  NONE OF US ARE
BLAMELESS and if  you want to  act like a bunch of stuck up snobs,   feel free to do so,  but be mindful,  every many  shall give an account of
himself,  even  though your sins  were  all  paid in  full by  Jesus Christ.   If you  are in  Christ,  you are Blameless,  in  view of the sight of God.

"A bishop then must be blameless" is not  just the focas,  but some grammer is needed here.  "Then" is a Time-Sensitive word the denotes when
something shall occur. "Must" is a dominate word that denotes a Required Action. With that in mind, a Man who seeks to be a Bishop has to be
right then and there married to  only one woman.  His wife if limited.  She is the woman he  exists with right then and there. It has nothing to do
with the mans past. He could have been married once before. Perhaps before he was  saved by Grace through Faith, he was already a man who
was  divorced.  By  Grace...under Grace.  As  God for Christ's sake forgave you of all your tresspasses,  so also do ye.  Heard that one before?
Another focus about the Husband of One Wife,  here is,  that it is distinctively and totally limited to the man, never a woman.  Outside the area
of perverse women, women can not have a wife, so therefore, the Bishop's office is totally limited to the one created first, the man, not woman.

Now we are going to look at the taboo part of the verse! "the husband of one wife" is not an exclusion of a remarried (widower) man! It is not an
exclusion of a divorced man! It isn't an exclusion of a divorced and remarried man! It is to prevent a polygamist from entering the ministry. Many
of the religious leaders are guilty of hurting many dear brethren by not allowing them to preach  because of the "ONE and ONLY" game! What is
this game you say?  The "ONE and ONLY" game is  if you are a  preacher of only ONE wife for life,  no matter how many affairs happen,  both
known and unknown, and you are the ONLY ones who get to preach!  I have watched the game before I was converted,  and sad to say,  I have
watched all  the way till now!  To be honest...you guys make me ill.  But the blood  of our Savior,  the Lord Jesus Christ washed away your sins
too,  that is,  if you did not believe in vain,  but truely believed on the Lord Jesus Christ!  ONE and ONLY is the practice of religion.  Grace and
forgiveness is of God.  You can forgive others  as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you,  or you can run with the demands of man's religion's.

Now let's go on to "vigilant" or "to keep the watch"! Are any of you really truly willing to do this requirement full time? It is not an option. It is a
REQUIREMENT.  You must keep  the watch for the souls  you are to care for.  If you are just going to be an employee or a big shot, then you
may want to remember that every man shall give an account for himself, and not a listing of achievements and awards according to that of man. 
As the Bishop,  you are the one who  has the watchful  care of the  local members of the  Body of Christ,  not a nice paycheck  and a title only.

Next on the list is "sober" or "not addicted to intoxicating drinks".  Hope none of us ever fall short here, though  I am sure there are  many of us,
if we tell the truth,  have at  least once  gave in and never  openly admitted it to others!  Publick testimony is big here! Do not forget it! This can
apply really to anything that becomes addictive to you,  not matter what it is,  pornography, smoking, drugs, drinking,  telling lies,  stealing,  etc.
Requires a man  who is very mindful of his own  thoughts and actions,  not just in publick,  but as well as in private.  The private times tell who
we are  before  ourselves,  our families,  our neighbors,  fellow workers,  fellow worshippers,  but also most  importantly before God Almighty. 

How about "of good  behaviour" or "conducting oneself in a good way, both privately and publickly"?  Do you adhere or do you falter? Are you
obedient to  your Master,  or do you slip here any? Every eye is on us each day, and this one is very pivitable, my beloved brethren! Remember
"by example"?  Watch your walk if you want to be honored, not feared as a dictator!  Do not become a  "Boss Hogg", but be a humble servant!
Are any of us greater than our Master?  God Forbid!  Remember a man can not have two masters.  For he will hate the one and love the other.
How you behave in front of others is and will be remembered,  especially if you are seeking to become a Bishop.  Watch your words and walk.

Or what of "given to hospitality" or "readily receptive to others, even in your home".  Here is a publick testimony that will make or break you in
this office you so truly desire!  The emphasis here is do you receive others or reject others,  and if you do receive others, do you do so because
you want to,  or because you feel you have to? This one can also tell if you have a serious "heart problem"! I have at first hand experienced the
rudeness and chaff of pastors who do not receive others well...at all!  What a wonderful testimony! Truly showing forth the love of God there?
Would you be willing to welcome  others in to your home often?   Would you be  willing to go  out of your way to aid others?  You should be.

Next is "apt to teach" or "possessing the ability to teach". Now here you religious leaders are to be able to teach, to edify, to advise, to nurture,
and to serve to saints,  the members of the Body of Christ!  The Bishop is to inform and teach others,  not dictate terms or policies.  Not to be
a dictator or  the commander or the sub-captain.  Have any of you looked  up the word "pastors" in your King James Bible?  Ignore the rule of
first mention.   Look at where it is mentioned the most!   O.T. stuff!   Leading sheep.  You are not leading sheep, but have in your care a new
creature,  a group of Saints.  You are to teach saints and that is part of your job!  Not be people controllers. "Doctor" so and so.  Stop the title
games of religion,  and edify the saints!   Look at Paul's writtings.  They are  exclusively to us,  and not to anyone else.  Study the writtings of
Paul and learn  the meaning of  true right division for yourselves.  Open up the teachings  God gave to Paul so we  would all know  what God
would have us to know.  It is not to be  limitied to a man with some letters behind his name.  That just looks like a man  who can not spell.  It
could  be the  reason as to  why so  many  doctors  take so  long to get out of college...they do  not have  the basics down.  Christ is the start!

I hope this has shed some light for many of you, and I pray that God will open your eyes and you will not play into this worlds wicked systems
of 501C  and degrees,  titles,  colleges,  and the praise of men.   Just go and warn every  man and  woman and  point them  to the risen Savior!
There is a dark time to come before too long I'm afraid.  Why not have the concern for souls and  warn people, not seek after the things of this
evil world. It is all falling apart.  You guys do know that right?  Things are falling in to place.  The Anti-Christ can not take over just yet. Why?
We are still here!  The things of  this world will fail.  They are not  really  worth what  we say they are,  that is,  in contrast to Christ our Lord!

Just for thought:

Philippians 3:8 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

Now we will  look at the other   seven requirements for the man who  DESIRES the office of a bishop.  Remember Paul wrote what he was told
by the Lord to write,  so if you do not like it,  perhaps you should learn to walk in grace and let it go,  or maybe when you stand before the Lord
Jesus Christ and give an account of yourself you can let Him know then that you did not agree totally with His inspired, Inerrant, Infallible Word,
that is if you think yourselves to be more greater than the Master!  Christ died for the sins of the whole world.  Past, Present, and Future.  Times
Past, But Now, and Ages to Come.

1 Timothy 3:3 "Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;"

Here we see next "Not given to wine" is mentioned by Paul. To those who feel stress or weakness, here is a sincere question: "Do you want to run
for the bottle?"  Do you have the forgiveness of sins?  Will your feet touch  the flames of hell? Then be "Not given to wine"!  Also can be used for
smoking,  chewing tobacco,  gambling,  spreading lies, flirting, or to justify self pride,  and also pornography!  What ever, just because we have the
forgiveness of sins, should we continue in sin? God Forbid! Give in and your flesh will take over.That will not help in trying to win others to Christ.

Now we  have "no  striker" or "Someone or something that hits someone or something else".  Are any who desire to  be a Bishop  blameless in this
one?  Do you hit others in anger,  or hit a wall,  or hit  your desk?  Do you  verbally strike out  at others  or lash out at certain ones fom the pulpit?
Your agenda is deliver the  full council of the Word of God,  rightly divided,  not play the childish finger pointing games with the saints like a child!

Here is a good one, but mostly ignored by the beloved brethren "not greedy of filthy lucre". I see and hear of many beloved brethren who mainly
enter the ministry to have a fulltime job as a pastor.  Wrong motive! Or many try  to figure out how to get bigger offerings.  Wrong motive! Some
try to  create new  positions in the  local church so as  to get others on the payroll that  they are close to.  Wrong motive! Some try to  attract rich
families in to get their money. What happens when they pull out and leave you setting with no more money?  There are actually men who believe
they are not to have a job! Is that casting a burden on others shoulders, especially in a low income group? That is really showing the love of God!
Taking advantage of others  in this fashion is just like  yoking a bunch a  weak and sick oxen  together and pulling  out a whip and driving them to
pull and labor for you.  And if it is all about you, and not the needs of the Saints,  then you are  guilty of self indulgence.  Creating your kingdom!

Are we  all always able to  meet the "but patient" requirement?  I know  I need help and  work in this one!  How about  any of you?  Can you be
honest? Are you "ALWAYS" patient? Do get impatient? I do. I get impatient to see Jesus! I wait for that day! I can not wait! Kind of like a small
child  that is excited about the presents on  Christmas morning!  But in all areas  of your life, can you be  honest and say  you are always patient?

Can we all say that none of us are "not a brawler"?  What is a brawler? Well it is "To quarrel or fight noisily"! Is that you?  Do you avoid quarrels
or do you join in on them?  Do you go and start a quarrel with someone?  Do you run down a brother  or sister at an other church?  Do bicker or
argue openly in front of the weaker believers?  What do they think of you?  Would that  be a topic you  would like mentioned at a church dinner?
Do you get impatient,  fly off the handle,  and  foolishly jump in to do something,  only to see it fail?  Patience works  much better.  It shines out!

As spoiled as we all are becoming these days, can any one of us truly say we are "not covetous"?  Are you happy with what you have?  Are you
really?   Do you care for the souls of other people?   Or do you care  for your assets,  credit cards,  savings account, 401K,  501C,  SSI,  and so
forth?  Do you thank God for your home  and  vehicle to drive?  Or do  you  get mad because a  non-believer  has better than you?   Remember
who the  false  god of this  world  is and that  he gives the  luxurious lifestyles  to the people of this world!  Are you,  or are you "not covetous"?
Can you sense the thoughts running through your minds of "I want...I want...I want"? Remember Bishop, the needs of the Saints are before you
and your needs.  You are a  servant to them,  not to be greedy,  not to be selfish,  and not to be a bully.  You are  to edify the Saints!  That's it!

1 Timothy 3:4 "One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;"

1 Timothy 3:5 "(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)"
 

Verses 4 and 5 pretty much  need no explaining!  How can you be trusted if you and your wife can not handle the  common everyday  affairs of
your home and your finances?  Got big bills?  Got a big house?  Need large amounts of money?  You may want to stay out of the ministry if you
can not get your  spending  under control.  Do your children behave  or are they wild  little  preachers kids that  nobody can stand,  but never tell
you?  Secrets do get kept  from those who desire the office of a bishop!  You do  know that, right?  What if you do  not have any kids?  Oops! I
guess you can not preach.  Right?  I mean how can you qualify if you fail in  this category, when it does  not even apply!  Sorry...Guess you can
just set over in the Amen corner, or...hey...set on the front row  and amen  the pastor when  nobody else will!  Good one...huh?  Maybe he'll let
you dismiss in a word of prayer a time or two!  Been there.  Done That!  No thank you.  Played that game myself. Rubbed elbows with big shot
preachers.  Got me  no where.  They are fleshly men  who  seek more  worldly entanglements.  They seek  more things.  They seek  more stuff. 

1 Timothy 3:6 "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."

Next to the last, but yet a  very important qualification!  More and  more widely  overlooked, and then the young believing  man falls out of the
ministry,  or just walks  away from the  church and hits  the bottle!  Many young men  fail in the ministry each year because this one important
qualification  is  ignored!  Perhaps  the  old  pastor  is  impatient  (oops)  and  wants  new  blood  in  the  ministry!  Not  an  excuse!  Not at all!

1 Timothy 3:7 "Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Lastly, and most assuredly,  a very  bridging requirement of a Bishop / Edler / Pastor,  is to what sort  of reputation you possess with people all
about you,  especially those who are outside the Body of Christ.  This is a determining factor as to how you conduct your self,  especially when
not in the presence of the beloved brethren.  You desire this office,  you need  to be ver careful  about your daily walk,  lest accusations may be
brought against you,  and the Devil would be right there grinning and pointing his fingers to get you out of your office.  Your sins may be paid in
full,  and you may be fully accepted in the beloved,  but you are to have the cleanest walk of the Body of Christ. This is not to say it is okay for
everyone else.  None of us are to continue in sin.  The fact  all of our sins  are paid for should prompt  us to want nothing to do with them,  and
warn every man,  and point all to Christ!  If we, those whom desire this office,  fail to live  up to this requirement,  anyone of us can very easily
fall in to any of the Devil's traps. Be herein warned...seriously...beloeved.

So in closing...why no double-married preachers,  divorced preachers,  or preachers who have never been married and yet have children?  Why
are the liberals,  doctors,  and women allowed  to become  pastors?  Religion!  Hypocrisy!  Oh...and there  is one  more!  Nobody  wants Paul's
teachings.  It is easier to preach the gospel of the circumcision and keep every one under the guidelines  of the law, and under the thumbs of the
"ONE and ONLY"  beloved brethren,  you know the  ones who turn "This is a  true saying,  If a man desire the  office of a bishop,  he desireth
a good work." into "THE CALLING" and  not a desire for a  good work.  The office of a Bishop can not be earned. It can not be voted. It can
not be  legislated.  It does not  come  from a  college or a  university.  It comes  from God! That man,  not woman,  is to be one  who conducts
himself in such a way that he brings  no bad reflections on the local assembly,  even from the lost people all around him.  Points to Christ only! 

To the brethren who have been hurt by the "ONE and ONLY" religious leaders from the churches, this I offer to you:

Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."

I Corinthians 9:18 "What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge,
that I abuse not my power in the gospel."

1 Thessalonians 2:9 "For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be
chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God."

1 Timothy 1:11 "According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust."

1 Timothy 1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;"

1 Timothy 1:13 "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."

1 Timothy 1:14 "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you

2009 © Elder Scott Ray S.B.G.



www.av-1611.com     

E-Mail: elder@av-1611.com