QuestionAn Elder's wife is not an important consideration in the ordination of an Elder?Answer The first thing that we should look at is the qualifications of an Elder and Deacon. Deacons and Elders are to be at least the qualifications listed in 1st Timothy 3, and Titus 1 and 2. The qualifications that are in dispute here is, "Must an Elder or Deacon's wife be in the faith?". One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the assembly of Yahweh?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:4-6 AV) Can a man rule over his house when his wife doesn't agree with his beliefs? The answer is definitely no. Is he following Yahweh if he allows his wife to worship and pay tithes to other assemblies? These questions can be answered if we backup to chapter 2 of 1st Timothy. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing righteousness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (1 Timothy 2:9-15 AV) Paul is very clear as to the characteristics of a righteous woman. Would a woman of another faith provide the example for woman in the faith to follow? The answer is definitely not. One problem is that a woman of another faith is not following Yahweh. They will not follow most of the laws that we feel so adamant to follow. What if I came into an elder's house and his wife served pork? Then we run into problems of the elder not being able to provide some of the more simple things like "given to hospitality". Lets continue here in1 Timothy 3 with verse 11. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. (1 Timothy 3:11-12 AV) "Faithful in all things," this means to be true and righteous in all things. This means from a business transaction all the way up to being true in the scriptures. Does this mean that Christianity is an acceptable alternative to following Yahweh? If we work hard to follow Yahweh but condone paganism by blessing a pagan are we too at fault. Please read 2nd Thessalonians 3:14-15. "Ruling their own houses well," having there home in subjection and keeping it in order. You cannot have a husband with out a wife neither can you have a family in subjection without the wife and children. In Titus 1 we find the instructions that Paul gave back in 1 Timothy repeated but should not stop without reading Paul's whole thought here. Paul here explains even further what an elderly man and woman should be like. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of Yahweh be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:3-5 AV) Again Paul puts the strong ties between the women and the assembly. We see in many places that the woman is an assembly. We see that an assembly is called a woman. This will not be discussed any further here because it is much deeper than I could give sufficient time to in this question. Nevertheless the foundation of Yahweh standeth sure, having this seal, The Master knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Messiah depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Master out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Master must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if Yahweh peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:19-26 AV) I would agree that a requirement is knowledge of the scripture but it is not the only one. The scriptures require a blameless man as a qualification of an Elder or a Deacon. A man who is married to a woman who is against the will of Yahweh has a stumbling block in his own home. In recent years I saw men made elders with their wives at there side. The beauty of it was that they entered into marriage and became one flesh as the scriptures say a marriage is to be. It is true that not everyone is called out at the same time but can a man without a wife of the same flesh be ordained? It seems that ordination has taken the place of hard work or is given as a reward. Ordination is not a reward. It is the increase of responsibility. Please read Jeremiah 23. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of Yahweh which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being maters over Yahweh's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for Yahweh resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Yahweh, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the Yahweh of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Messiah Yahshua, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:1-11 AV) This is an excellent closing scripture and I don't think that I could have chosen a better one. "Neither as being masters over Yahweh's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." Elders are to be examples to the flock. I would love to have an elder as this scripture speaks but when elders no longer fit the qualifications are they still elders? I am afraid that this scripture is used too often to say that we should just follow the elders of an assembly without a thorough understanding of the scriptures. This is a deception and as we know deception is not of Yahweh. We are to marry from the daughters of Zion first. That is the example we set should be that our whole family follows Yahweh. This maybe hard to do in today's world but it seems that it should be the minimum we would expect and it is what the scriptures ask for. |
