Marriage after divorce

[servant512]

A blessed day to all of you my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ!

I am a convert to born-again Christian for 7 months now. I've been searching the net for a Christian forum site to share this issue, to enlighten me more.

Here is the issue:
 We have 2 pastors in the church. I will refer to them as p1 and p2.
 We discovered lately that one of our pastor(p1) is married to a divorcee. They have been married for more than 20 years. According to our other pastor(p2), p1 should not be allowed to be a leader due to his situation and should only be an ordinary member together with his family, and should also separate from his wife. When I talked to p1 he said that prior to being becoming a born again christian, p1 met his wife while they were still unbelievers. Now that they have converted to born again Christian is there relationship still a sinful one, or are they cleansed and forgiven when they converted?

You're reply and ideas are highly appreciated.

God bless.

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi servant512, Welcome to Christians Unite.

This sounds like either a political power struggle or a pastor that doesn't understand the forgiveness of God. Give up his wife of 20 yrs? Nothing like adding sin upon sin. Under this line of thought it would mean that Paul could not have been an Apostle. After all he was a murderer prior to being saved and becoming a minister of God. Should the divorce and marriage have had taken place after they were saved then it would be perhaps a different story because:

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

The Lord has used many a sinner of horrible sins as a minister once they were saved. Who are we to tell God that He is wrong.

[servant512]

Thank you for welcoming me Pastor Roger.

And thank you again for your quick reply. Actually I told our Pastor (p2) about the situation of our other pastor (p1), comparing it with what happened to the story of the prostitute in the bible wherein Jesus did not condemn her but told her not to sin no more. But according to our p2, what p1 has done is a blasphemy against God and therefore is not forgivable by God, and that the danger is, according to p2 is that there will be tansferring of bad spirit when p1 will be presiding over marriage or wedding of members. So again I immediately reacted to p2 saying that how can he say such a thing that p1 cannot be forgiven when it clearly states in the bible that the only unforgivable sin is a sin against the Holy Spirit.

With this situations going on in our church, Me and my family are planning to leave this church. But I am also burdened by the situation. Can you give an advice on this matter Pastor Roger?

Thank you.

[Soldier4Christ]

The Bible gives us the steps that should be taken in any situation where there is a problem between two or more brothers. Your going to p2 about this is the first step. Next it is to be taken up with this pastor before two or more brothers (the deacons or elders of the church), then if that does not solve the situation then it should be presented before all the members.

[Brother Jerry]

p1) Married to one wife.  This is his first and only wife.  If I understood you correctly.  If so then he is still Biblically able to be a pastor.  The specification of a Pastor are that he is the husband of one wife.  It does not state at all that the wife in turn had to be the wife of one husband.  So he is OK as far as that is concerned.
P2) Needs to study his Bible a little bit better.  P1 clearly falls within the bounds outlined in the Bible as far as marriage is concerned. 
P1) Also should not be trying to say P2 is blaspheming the unforgivable sin... 

Basically they should both go to the corner and sit in time out.  With their Bible and should be made to study it.  And quite honestly if they are having problems with each other they should be sitting and talking about it and praying about it.  Not working you in the middle of it which can cause extra tensions and strife and gossip.

[servant512]

Thank you brother Jerry.

[servant512]

One last thing Pastor Roger and Brother Jerry.

Is P1 not bound by Mattew 19:9?

Can you both help me on this one so that I will know or have an idea of what to say during our church meeting concerning this matter?

Thank you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Yes, he is bound by that also. He is bound to keep is current wife by that verse. As I said in my first post above, giving up his wife of 20yrs would be adding sin upon sin. He now knows it is sin to do so, so it would be sin for him to do it.