Annoucement of Divorce by Pastor Randy & Paula White?

Question

The announcement of divorce by Pastor Randy and Paula White and the public beating of his wife by Bishop Thomas Weeks III has really shown that many in the body of Christ do not understand the importance of a successful marriage as a FOUNDATION to those who are pastors.

Because many in the body of Christ do not understand how severe these two incidents are, many people within the body are taking on THE WRONG understanding of marriage and its relationship to ministry.

For all of those in ministry and entering into ministry please know, understand, and live according to the principle that MARRIAGE TAKES THE PRIORITY OVER MINISTRY. As ministers of the gospel who are married and who are entering in marriage, we can not live contrary to this simple but great truth. Many of us will preach this truth to others and acknowledge it in our minds. But, HOW MANY OF US WILL PUT MINISTRY ON HOLD WHEN OUR MARRIAGES NEED TENDING TO?

It is my firm belief that if Randy and Paula White would have put ministry on hold to focus on the healing of their marriage, instead of trying to do both, they would not have been announcing their divorce. Please understand that though my words may appear to be harsh, I am saying them in the spirit of meekness. My wife and I will have been married 7 years on September 1st this year. I know the temptation of neglecting family in my attempts to focus on ministry first hand. But, the truth that we often forget as ministers of the Gospel and the Word of God is that IF WE DON'T FIRST SATISFY THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY, GOD WILL NOT BLESS OR ACCEPT THE WORK WE DO IN MINISTRY.

But, many will say to that last statement in all caps, "Paula White's ministry is blessed in spite of her marriage." And my response would be, "You don't know what blessed is."

There is a great confusion in the body of Christ about what it is to truly be blessed. Many people confuse being prosperous in business with having a blessed ministry. Many people confuse having many members in a church with having a blessed ministry. Many people confuse having world-wide notoriety with being blessed. Many people confuse having a booked schedule with being blessed. What many people do not understand is that you can have ALL of these things and still not be blessed or have a blessed ministry.

For, the true blessing of God to one who is married, whether they be a minister or not, serves the purpose of the family. It NEVER undermines the family structure or causes the breakup of the family. In fact, it is the blessing of the family that causes one's ministry to be truly blessed.

For, it is marriage that is our physical representation of the relationship between Christ and the church.

Let us consider the following passage of scripture.

Eph 5:22-32 BBE Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as of the Lord. (23) For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. (24) And as the church is under Christ's authority, so let wives be under the rule of their husbands in all things. (25) Husbands, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it; (26) So that he might make it holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word, (27) And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete. (28) Even so it is right for husbands to have love for their wives as for their bodies. He who has love for his wife has love for himself: (29) For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church; (30) Because we are parts of his body. (31) For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. (32) This is a great secret: but my words are about Christ and the church.


If you read all of what is written above, you will see by the words I underlined that every commandment given to the husband and wife was given in light of how Christ relates to the church and how the church relates to Christ. The secret or the mystery that most people don't understand is that marriage between husband and wife, for the believer, is the very image of the relationship between Christ and the church. THAT is the reason why those in ministry must hold their marriages high above their work in the ministry. For, if their marriage does not properly display the relationship between Christ and the church, then they have no true living testimony to back up what they are teaching and preaching.

This is why, concerning those who are to be considered to be elders/bishops in the church, Paul says the following to Titus.


Tit 1:5-6 KJVR 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.


The FIRST few things Paul tells Titus to look for in one who is fit for the position of bishop is being blameless, the husband of one wife, and having faithful children not accused of riot or being unruly. These are the FIRST and FOUNDATIONAL things that one MUST have in order to even be CONSIDERED for ministry as a pastor/bishop/elder. (According to the scripture's account, a pastor is both a bishop and an elder. A bishop is an elder and a pastor. They all denote the same position but they each describe a different function or aspect of the same position.)

Why is it that the scripture makes a successful family life the requirement for those who are to be in church leadership (as clearly seen in the above scriptural text), but many in the body think it is perfectly fine to follow pastors and support pastors in there moves to continue in there positions when they are NOT succeeding in family life?


Consider what the apostle Paul had to say about the importance of a successful family life as a foundation for those who are to be bishops when he wrote to Timothy.


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


Once again, he also tells Timothy that a bishop MUST BE the husband of one wife. But, Paul had more to say concerning what a bishop must be later on.


1Ti 3:4-5 KJVR One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)


Do you see what is written above. This is why all of us who are in ministry must make sure that our family is taken care of if we desire to be blessed in our ministries to the church. The apostle Paul has set the standard that THE FIRST AND FOREMOST MINISTRY OF ANYONE IN MINISTRY IS TO THEIR FAMILY.

If our marriages are in shambles, then we MUST put our ministries on hold until our marriages are in such a state that they TRULY exemplify the relationship between Christ and the church.

If we fail to do this, then examples like Randy and Paula White, and Thomas Weeks III and Jaunita Bynum will be the result of such failure.

And when such failure is on display by the media to the world, the implications are so much bigger than many realize. The reason the apostle Paul made it a MUST for a bishop to be the husband of one wife is because the bishop should not only be able to testify, preach, and teach about having a fruitful relationship with Christ as a member of the church, he must also exemplify it in action and in deed. THE ONLY WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH IS BY MEANS OF A HUSBAND LOVING HIS WIFE AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH AND A WIFE SUBMITTING TO HER HUSBAND AS UNTO THE LORD. The pastor is required by the apostle Paul to not only teach by word how to love our Lord. He is also required to exemplify this in deed by means of his relationship with his wife.

When we encourage pastors to continue in their positions of leadership in the church when they are failing in their marriages, we are undermining the very standards that are put in place for leaders in the church that the scriptures themselves have established. And that is exactly what I have witnessed when reading the responses of many people who are members of Bishop Weeks' church, Pastor Randy White's church and many of the faithful followers of Paula White.

It is time that we become knowledgeable of the biblical standards for the pastors put in place in our churches, require that all those desiring the position of pastor meet them, and require that all those presently in that position meet those standards if they are to remain in those positions.

We have got a lot of work to do.


- Titus

Just making some facts be known of what is important.

Sorry for the long biblical explanation.

Answer 1

sorry Way to long but I do get your point as far as I got that the marriage as to be looked after as well as the flock it is very sad when people divorce and some how seems worse when they are pastors. saying that my parents would not think of divorce yet my mum committed suicide and yes she had been a preacher which is better leaving chi;ldren with out a mother or seperating ??

Answer 2

Amen!
I have no idea who Pastor white is, but marriage should always come first.
A man and a woman together reflect who God is.
We just ordained a new Youth Pastor and his final advice from a Senior Pastor was, Be a husband to your wife and a Father too your children first!
Your home always comes first!

Answer 3

No one will read all of that no matter how important you think it is. Unless you are a part of it. Who cares really? I didn't. I started out really liking Paula White but slowly a wet blanket fell over me. Way before this. Ever single time. The same story. Always about her. Sometimes she would change it up but for the most part, no. Guests on her show that were so far off the mark. It doesn't surprise me I guess. I am still sad for her. I think she means well.

Answer 4

Thank you. I am so glad that I don't go to church. When I did go, there were so many busybodies trying to publicize anyones sins but their own. Like what you just did.

For the record, I have no idea who you are talking about. Someone on IM is telling me about them right now.

You are such a prize for Christ! pleas, do this some more, make all the unbeliever's really happy that they are not Christian so that you can feel superior to the pastor and his wife.

( ;

EDIT: Don't try to excuse yourself.

Answer 5

Why do people continue to attack the celibacy of Catholic Priests? This is exactly why. They are married to the church and devote all their time to it.

If you must devote all you energy and time to pastoring a church and to a wife and family too.... something is going to be left lacking.

Answer 6

I can name that tune in four notes.
Keep Your Priorities Straight!
I do agree with you on this though.

Answer 7

yeah...it's tough...especially when you go into it thinking it's going to last forever, because of the vows you said, "for better or for worse" etc., then reality hits..and it is so not what it's supposed to be...well, get on with it...God did not intend for you to be miserable... if he did, he would not have given us a way to get to heaven, but would have condemned us forever to HELL...

Answer 8

Wake me up when the cut and paste sermon is over.

Answer 9

Wow!....you really can write & rant at the same time! I give you a star!

Answer 10

I agree with slkrchch!!!!!!!!
God Bless