Keep this in mind: The Bible clearly states that a bishop (pastor) should be the husband of one wife. Not multiple wives like Ousley had. If the congregation would have followed the BIBLE instead of Rick Ousley, they would not be faced with the problems they are now faced with.
The Birmingham News states that Ousley will take 3 months off to deal with this 'problem.'
Folks, it is starting to look like the man had problems in this area during his whole time of ministry at the church. This isn't going to be fixed in three months.
Brook Hills folks, you have only yourselves to blame for taking part in Rick Ousley's sins.
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife ... 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 church of God?)” (1 Timothy 3:2, 4, 5).
“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly” (Titus 1:6).
“Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3).
You enabled him to continue in his wickedness by supporting him with your tithe and church attendance.
What's Wrong With the Divorced Pastor?
Plenty.
Wow, to blame all of the people at The Church at Brook Hills for decisions made by a select few is harsh. Church members did not know and the huge majority of staff did not know. Certain people that may have known chose to protect the situation, and now they are having to deal with the consequences of that decision. That does not cast blame on the church. Unfortunately, the church members turned out to the one of the victims.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I agree that the church members that slavishly and lavishly supported Rick Ousley are victims, but they are also part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteIF they would have followed Scripture and rejected a divorced pastor, Rick would be working at Hoover Toyota. Instead, they enabled him.
Neither of the verses you gave say anything about a divorced person.
ReplyDeleteBeing through a divorce doesn't mean somebody will be unfaithful to their present wife.
You're taking liberty with comments from the Hoover forum. Before you start spewing your own interpretation of scripture, you should investigate sources thoroughly. Otherwise, you're a gossip monger. Unless you have been a member of TCABH, or you're a present member of TCABH you are willfully participating in gossip. Sin + Sin = SIN!
ReplyDeleteAny way you slice it, the Bible is clear that divorced men are not qualified to be PASTORS. They must be blameless. There are not any different ways to interpret that passage.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for every one involved, even Rick Ousley. HOWEVER, the lesson that should be learned is this: Divorced men are not qualified to pastor a church. And if the Church at Brook Hills would have followed Scripture, NONE of this would be happening to them now.
Men are men, whether or not they are divorced. There are plenty of churches across America where the Senior pastor participated in an affair. They were adulterous though not previously divorced. Rick Ousley has a personal demon regarding sexuality and adultery. Don't blame the congregation for his moral weakness. In fact, the congregation is in a great place now. Rick Ousley has been gone for 18 months. David Platt is now Senior Pastor with no previous ties to Rick Ousley. He is the man God has put in the pulpit at this time. Ironically, the majority of the congregation that helped birth and grow Brook Hills left over the years. None of them are surprised by this. Hurt maybe, but not surprised. If you're concerned for anyone in this mess, be concerned for all the young ministers across the country that Rick deceived. Be concerned for his children and grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Men are men. Has nothing to do with the people, maybe the leadership. I believe forgiveness is available for those who sin but those who sin as in divorce should be watched but NOT REMOVED.
ReplyDeleteRemember, grace is free.
Last year a lady approached me about editing a book she was trying to self publish. The title was "Cheatin' In the Church" and it was her own story of her minister husband who cheated on her for many years. What is it about the office of pastor/minister/priest that leads men to adultery? Or are men attracted to the ministry because it puts them in closer contact with their victims? Things that make you go hmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how we take Scripture and throw it around so freely. The passages referred to earlier about "being a husband of one wife" refer to being DEACONS, not pastors. As far as why men who are pastors have affairs, it's because they're just like any other man who faces the temptation of lust and "getting away" with it. As "the church" (meaning the entire body of Christ), we need to be much more involved in our ministerial staffs' lives and give them accountability. Satan will wait until he can do the most damage to bring a situation out in the open.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible states that a bishop (overseer) should be the husband of one wife.
ReplyDeletewww.justbible.com
Titus 1:5 ¶For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 ¶If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
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;
1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
The whole point is that Ousley should never of been on a church staff.
Ignore Scripture at your peril, and now you see why.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
ReplyDeleteExposure isn't the work of Satan.
I find it very interesting that Brook Hills is calling for prayer for Ousley and at the same time, has sanitized its entire website of any mention of "Ousley".
ReplyDeleteA simple use of Google's web cache will show several pages that mentioned Ousley a few day ago, that now either refer to him as the founding pastor, or no longer reference him at all.
They also say that they are not responding to any victims emails.
ReplyDeleteNone of them are surprised by this.................I WAS!
ReplyDelete{{ Any way you slice it, the Bible is clear that divorced men are not qualified to be PASTORS. }}
ReplyDeleteNo it's not clear, certainly not from any of the verses you used or Bro. Cloud used. They didn't even mention divorce.
{{ The Bible states that a bishop (overseer) should be the husband of one wife. }}
Right. And if someone is divorced and remarried, he is the husband of one wife.
God is divorced. Is He not qualified to be a bishop? Nevermind that He will reconcile, He IS divorced and you insist divorce is a disqualification.
God's divorce is not His fault. He is blameless in it. Some human divorces are not the man's fault and he is likewise blameless.
Teno, in a human marriage, there is always fault on both sides. God is not human and I believe it is wrong to ascribe human qualities to God.
ReplyDeleteNo there isn't. There are many cases where the divorce is perpetrated by only one of the spouses. Both spouses may have sin, but not all sin is grounds for divorce. If my wife leaves because I snore, that's 100% her doing. If my wife leaves beause she doesn't want to be in a ministry, that's her doing. I would be blameless (not sinless) in such cases.In any case, divorce is NOT mentioned in the list of qualifications for a bishop.
ReplyDeletePatience is. Inhospitality is. If a man is impatient or inhospitable once in his life, is he disqualified? Why not? You want to disqualify him if he is divorced once, when divorced is not even mentioned in the passage, but patience and hospitality are.