Does Paul Say That Men Without Kids Can’t Be Pastors?

Did Paul say that men without kids can't be pastors such as one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi Abdul Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

We pray that you had a wonderful weekend. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and we would love to hear from you. Our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so you can call us with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on one of our social media sites you can watch Avery live in the studio right now on our YouTube channel and you can send us a message that way had a course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to D calling in from Bakersfield, California do what you're question for Pastor Israel. Bible vengeance is mine said the Lord. I will be Katie and with all the people throughout the world being hurt by those in power as in our government. I don't think God likes penis children suffer the way that we are in and hurting going on in my questions.

This is it okay to pray to God to punish those in power who are causing all the harm in the pain that were experiencing right now. Do you think you for your question, didn't you know throughout the Bible, in particular in the Psalms.

Often you'll find the psalmist various points crying out for God's judgment on the enemies of his covenant people on those who had mistreated the covenant people of God harming them that there referred to his imprecatory Psalms Psalms of implication in just refers to curses, the psalmist, calling down curses upon the enemies of God and of course in the Gospels. At one point the disciples want to call down curses on a group of people in Jesus rebuked them. We are as the followers of Jesus Christ, called to pray for our enemies in the text that you're referring to is in Romans chapter 12 beginning in verse 18. Let me read it it says, if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give them something to drink for. By doing so you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Know that that's that the call for each of us would when were experiencing persecution for the name of Christ to overcome evil with good, but specifically to your question. Can we pray for God's justice and even judgment. I do think that we have examples of that in Scripture, really, that looks like think on how long how long are you going to permit your church to suffer in this way. A clear example is in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 6 where John has a vision of the martyrs in chapter 6, verse nine we read when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne they cried out with a loud voice, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth, and they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete were to be killed as they themselves had been in so I do think, yes, sometimes the people of God. You know what, when the church is experiencing persecution she's being amino attacked by by those who hate the gospel by those who hate Jesus, we bear under it. Patiently we don't respond in kind.

You know evil for evil, know we respond with love, with prayers for our enemies but we can say God acts God act, either by converting these people or by bringing judgment. Lord have mercy upon your church and so I do think that at times, yet it can be appropriate on some of the that's the cry of the persecuted believers. The martyrs there in Revelation chapter 6 and so what I would say look first and foremost. Pray for the conversion of those who were persecuting the people of God. When I think of my brothers and sisters and places throughout the world who are suffering for the name of Jesus. The first thing I prays that through their witness as their testifying to the truth of the gospel that that those who were persecuting them would see the reality of the truth of Christ of his resurrection from the dead, so that they might turn and be saved.

It's what happened with Saul of Tarsus, as Stephen was being stoned and he's praying God have mercy on them. Saul is converted. Jesus changed his heart and the Lord does that still today on so first I would say pray for that. Pray that God would work in the hearts of those who are standing against the church in whatever way that they're standing against the church that that the spirit of God would work in them softening their hearts and bringing them to repentance. Just like the Lord did with Saul of Tarsus and may the Lord be with you the income for you and I appreciate your question sister God bless you know Stephen is such a great example for every one of us, especially when were feeling persecuted or backed into a corner. Chances are, were not gonna have to die for our faith.

Let's just pray that doesn't happen, but what a great example for us and in the life of the death of Stephen the martyr. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and by the way, we have a great new free resource that we want to tell you about today yeah to downloadable resource.

It's called five themes to help you understand the Bible you think about literature and movies. Oftentimes, you know, there are themes that occur again and again in the stories that were reading the movies that were watching and learning about those themes not only makes it easier to understand what's going on in the story, but it makes it easier to enjoy the story as well.

That's this resource does by explaining the themes in the Bible, such as the covenants the law the gospel.

The kingdom of God things you see over and over again throughout the pages of Scripture.

You will be equipped to unravel and explain some of the more complex parts of the Bible. And so we trust that this resource will enrich your personal study of Scripture, and help you to better grasp the Bible's overarching story and ultimately how it all points us to Jesus as a great resource and it's free.

You can actually go to our website and downloaded go to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers and look for five themes to help you understand the Bible well. Our phone lines are open.

If you have a question for us about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it we'd love to hear from intercourse were always open to people and maybe have doubts are struggling with some of the tenants of the Christian faith or consider themselves to be may be an atheist or an agnostic. Would love to hear from you as well. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also send us an email. Here's our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com and here's one from David he says do.

First Timothy three, four, and Titus 16 prohibit men without children from serving as elders.

Yes, it is an excellent question. When that we've received before they are and how important is it for us to to think about the qualifications for these offices in the church in particular that the elder the pastor and so you find them in first Timothy three, and one of the things that Paul says there in first Timothy chapter 3 is that you know that the pastor you know has to care for his family well up to start in in verse one because it's so important for us to understand the things we think about pastoral ministry. The saying is trustworthy. Paul said if anyone aspires the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober minded, self-control, self-control, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money he must manage his own household well with all dignity, keeping his children submissive.

If someone does not know how to manage his own household. How will he care for God's church and then of course in Titus in Titus chapter 1 you see this same idea as is you know you and you have the qualifications listed there. But in Titus 16 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife and his children are believers.

Network can also be translated faithful, not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

So look, I don't think what Paul is saying here is that you can't be a pastor in less you have a wife and kids. I think what he's saying is for those pastors who are called and have a family. One of the ways you can gauge their qualification for the ministry is how they care for their family them and this is this is so important, Paul makes the point very clear in first Timothy three if if if this individual is not caring for their family. Well, if they're not shepherding their family well will then how are they going to be able to shepherd the flock of God.

How can you entrust them with the church if they haven't taking care of their family first and foremost, and so I think that's what what the apostle Paul is getting at.

Specifically there and we know actually that Paul himself as an overseer as a shepherd as a pastor if you will, but was not married. He says that in in first Corinthians chapter 7 he knows he's busy talking to the Corinthians about marriage, about about relationships, husbands and wives.

He encourages actually there at on a couple of occasions, singleness easily that it might be better for you to be as I am single. Considering the present distress and so I don't think that that there should be any rule that says you know you you you if you're to be a pastor, you either can't have any children of the third priest that idea. Family and children.

Or, you have to have a family and kids know it is it's getting into the qualifications in in particular for ministry and so that the take away for us is worth thinking about those who we call into the mission.

The church calls people into the ministry pastors to serve the church. We want to think about me know, is an individual with integrity. How have they cared for and stewarded that the gifts that God is already given to them if they have a family, are they are they watching over them or they shepherding them well and if not more, than they're not qualified to shepherd the flock of God.

When you are highly qualified with five kids and I figure if you have five more you'll be super highly qualified. No, I don't think that's the funny thing is he just having a lot of kids doesn't make you make you qualified, actually they could could be deceptive. It's it's Nina loving our families well and caring for them and in Dino doing everything you can to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and so appreciate your you do that fairly well.

I I've seen you interact with your kids and they love you and you love them. I do here. Amen this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open and will be taking your calls for the next 10 minutes or so, so now's the time to jump on the phone and call us at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and drills open to any and all questions. Let's go to Russell calling in from Memphis, Tennessee Russell, what your question for a drill good afternoon all ministry some. Thank you Russell my court when the children of Israel had to purge the desert for 40 years.

They disobeyed God. The Levites fall so because it is not disobeyed God they were commended going to take the land their inheritance was the Lord you yeah well thank you for that question.

My sense is this is the answer to that question.

Terms of the sin of the people there wandering through the wilderness is, is it yeah there wasn't. There wasn't one tribe that was spared from reminiscence what was what was happening there. The Levites in there there in the special position in in Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse one says little priests all the tribe of Levi shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel.

They shall eat the Lord's food offerings as their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. The Lord is their inheritance as he promised them is one that with what you have there is is with regard to the Levitical priest they don't get an allotment of land in in the land of Canaan. Instead their inheritance is the Lord himself to the worship there in the temple and and they were ordained. Essentially, as the priests through their zeal for the true worship of God's even though I think that there were instances where they sinned. There, in the wilderness was also this this firm stance that they took against idolatry and as a result, the Levites became essentially that the guardians of the worship of God there under the old covenant, and then at that at the core of the priest and that that's what was all about. When God called Adam and Eve in the garden did tended to keep the garden. It was this picture of priestly service protecting the garden from the serpent from evil.

That's precisely what the what the Levitical priest were supposed to do in the tabernacle, and then in the temple as well, but we know throughout their history.

We see this in the prophet specifically prophets like Ezekiel that that the priesthood also often went astray also often times didn't fall into idolatry. And when they did, God would bring judgment against them. Russell, thank you for your question. God bless interesting question. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez you can email us your question. If you got one at questions at core, Christianity.com here's one from Darcy she says is a sin for a committed Christian to date a nonbeliever if the person was baptized as a child, but now doesn't attend church and only believes in a quote higher power. This person is great in every other way, and supportive of the Christian's belief in church attendance.

Can the Christian continue in the relationship. Praying that God will work in the life of the nonbeliever through their example and hopefully hearing the word. Thank you for this question. Super practical and I know it's it's one that comes up allies feeling like a peers. You know I'm I'm single I want to be with somebody but I have found someone in the church yet and I did find this person outside of the church who seems to be, you know, respectful to my beliefs there neither not try to pull me away from God and they just you know every other box there there able to check off you know that them attracted to them.

They have a great personality, a great job, great family, even.

But they don't go to church and maybe they believe in a higher power. Maybe they were baptized at some point, which is with what you said, but they they don't profess faith in Jesus Christ. Now I would say don't involve yourself in a romantic relationship with that person. If if you're Christian it's it's so important for us that we are with someone who shares our love for the Lord and for his word.

Throughout the Old Testament.

How often did God tell his people not to intermarry with the people of the land. Why because he was concerned that their hearts would be drawn away from the true worship of Yahweh will under the new covenant we are called to pursue relationships and Mary with those who are in the Lord.

That is not just somebody who you I was baptized. I said a prayer many years ago and I don't go to church and you don't believe in a higher power, know this is someone who has a vital relationship with Jesus Christ to yeses baptized but is also a member of a local church who prioritizes the worship of God and in the people of God. I think that's it you want more than anything else.

And so don't settle for less and that I would say you want this to be the priority in your life to ends middle in terms of passages of Scripture where word this point is made me Paul in first Corinthians 7 is the wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes only in the Lord and then in the very next chapter in chapter 9 there in verse four he says, do we not have the right to eat and drink, do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas is it's always you know if anything talks about marriage for the Christian, it's always in the Lord, a believing spouse, and again, and in the second Corinthians. He talks about not being unequally yoked with unbelievers and so I would say look, have a friendship cultivate the friendship. Pray that the Lord does do a work in this individual's heart, but don't progress the relationship to quickly and don't progress it into something serious. A romantic relationship beyond just a normal friendship. If this person doesn't share your same convictions with regard to faith in Jesus Christ. I think I think that's that that's the important piece. There and so may God give you wisdom and make the Lord do the work and in this individual as well, bringing them to faith through your godly friendship. An example great advice. Thank you for that later on. I'm sure it's an issue that is a pastor you deal with rather frequently with some of the individuals in your church. So thanks for that good good counsel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to John in St. Louis, Missouri. John what your question for a drill and drill. My question deals with Calvinism and the doctrine of election. Yeah, I read and studied some of John Calvin's perspective, especially as it relates to Romans chapter 9, and I wondered if you might be able to comment on what your position is in and get a better sense as to what Paul talking about in the ninth chapter of Romans. Okay, it's yeah well thank you for for that question.

Romans chapter 9. It's it's a text. I think that is central to this discussion and let me just preface everything I say with. We need to derive what we believe about God from Scripture first and foremost, knotted up about an individual right. Not about following a person think about.

Paul told the Corinthians in I follow Cephas I follow Apollo's I follow Christ is not about a person. It's about following Christ through his word with the word of God says is we want to listen to the Scriptures where they challenge us with a convict us and I think I think Romans nine is a challenge to to many of us who think about we think about God. You know that the context is Paul is concerned because his kinsman according to the faith. The Jews, many of them did not come to Christ and so there's this question of will to God's word fail, as I'm speaking the truth in Christ. I'm not lying, my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers. My kinsman according to the flesh their Israelites into them belong the adoption of the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law the worship the promises to them along the patriarchs, and from their race. According to the flesh is the Christ, who is God overall blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. That's a question that that he's trying to respond. It seems like God's word must've failed. Jesus came and yet so many of of that the Hebrew people at my kinsman pulses. According to the flesh rejected him is in the word of God fail. If that's the issue. What wire these people believing and he says no, God's word didn't fail, for not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring through Isaac shall your offspring be named and from that point, he launches into a discussion about God's sovereign choice throughout the remainder of of this chapter really and he knows that what we talks about God choosing people sovereignly that our response is going to be what will. How can God find fault with anyone. Is there injustice on God's part in Paul's response is by no means verse 15 for he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion so that it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy look, I have wrestled with this passage of Scripture for many years and you know early on but my views changed on this issue really that as a result of studying this text and other passages and let me just as as I often say you know this. This is one of those issues that a note we say will there's only one way to believe if you will. If you don't believe, like me, then you're not a Christian.

That kind of thing. I know that there are many believers who have sincere disagreements about this text and so again we have to approach the word of God with humility and say Lord speak to me by your spirit and and my belief is that when you look at this or what Paul is highlighting is the absolute sovereignty of God and mercy of God and at the end of the day. We focus on that unit gets all the credit all the praise. All the glory for our salvation. It's Jesus because we realize that apart from his grace apart from his mercy apart from his love. I would've been lost.

We would've been lost. He drew us to himself by the power of the Holy Spirit. So this should lead us to rejoicing to worship praise the Lord. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together