Which comes first?

Question

I wanted to contribute a question for commentary or possible panel discussion regarding: "Men within the Church that are neglecting their role as priest of their household to pursue career driven ministry". I have been observing that many in our church families are being torn apart because of this growing epidemic. Everyone is so impressed about the growing numbers that they are overlooking the cost to families.
I can’t help but question “ why would God call our us to Minister to others before we minister to our loved ones?”. It would seem as though Hollywood dreams and Christian Emmys are being fostered even by unaware congregation in supporting these types of Ministries by promoting them. Some of these are also deviating from the true Gospel. I cannot imagine Joseph putting his capentry business before being a good role model to Jesus even as a step-parent.I would imagine he took his role seriously. So obviously God entrusted Joseph with His son. Would not the same God expects us to place our values were it is needed the most? Support of family is very important but how can we support something that is breaking lives apart to build others up? Please let me know if I am wrong for feeling this way?

Answer 1

I agree with what you are saying but, there is something you have overlooked, and it is this; Every man that is in ministry is not called of God. There are many who as you say pursue a career in ministry that have called themselves or believed some so called prophecy from someone. So many that are preaching and teaching in the churches and other places have not been sent by God because many of them are not even saved. Don't forget that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light and so do his ministers. There are many false teachers and preachers and also there are many who are truly saved but they have not been called by God to preach but they believe they have, and usually it shows many times by the things you mentioned above. God does not contradict His Word, but many times it is not heard or understood clearly. There are people who are saved but they have been deceived and think they are called to preach or they want to preach because of the prestige. Many of them do not study the Word of God and because of this they hurt and confuse people. I am a Christian and no you are not wrong for feeling this way.

Answer 2

I don't think you've spelled out what you're observing. Everyone's church experience is different, and you may be seeing something in the circles you run in that is different than what others see. What you see as an epidemic may just be a local phenomena.

In general, a man's family is more important than his work. However, a man has a responsibility to support his family by working. I've seen men who neglect their bread-winning responsibilities in order to have more time with the family.

Answer 3

Those who are "going Hollywood" so to speak are placing material matters before spiritual ones and they really are no longer preaching the gospel according to God. For example, Christ teaches us not to store our treasures here on earth but some of the richest people are those who preach on television and have multi-billion dollar homes and airplanes as shown in the link below.
I thought one of the best movies regarding religion and wealth was an old movie, Shoes of the fisherman, staring Anthony Quinn
You are not wrong for feeling this way but those who preach the Gospel without practicing it are the ones who are wrong!!

Answer 4

1Timothy ch. 3 contains the qualifications for elders in the congregation who have extra responsibilities. The 4th verse says to preside over his family in a fine manner. So this is a primary requirement BEFORE one is considered for such an appointment.

Answer 5

You made good reasons, why most Catholic priest are not married and that silly old man in Rome ...will not allow Catholic men to get married and become priest.

Answer 6

ADAPTATION, BUT HOW?
A vital requirement, which Nature strictly observes, is with a few exceptions no longer known to man: natural adaptation! He has become incapable of mastering any longer that adaptation which furthers and ennobles his spirit.
The concept of "adaptation" has become grossly distorted, especially in the realm of human association. Whether it is a question of wrong adaptations to harmful customs in marriage and family, or of a more or less enforced adaptation to unnatural social systems.
In the realms of Nature a correct adaptation is taken for granted. Every animal, every flower, every tree adapts to the environment in which it lives - to the zone, the climate, the yays of the earth and the stars. Whether this occurs in the arctic region, in great heat, in water or in the air, everywhere
e find a perfect adaptation to the natural conditions.
This automatic adaptation is only one of the many-sided eifects of the Law of Spiritual Movement!
Man atone closes himself voluntarily to this all-animating, spirit-refreshing movement, which would also spur him on to a ~ealthy adaptation everywhere. His earthly intellect indeed
ans at high speed, but his spirit has become too lazy to open :self consciously to the spiritual power-current that moues Creation, and to make use of it in a furthering and upbuilding =av.
Otherwise things would look different on earth today. :?armony and peace would spread, and joyful activity be found everywhere.
Already the Ten Commandments contain in reality enough suggestions for a genuine adaptation, the compliance with which would bring only happiness and joy. Especially when it is recognised that to the concept of adaptation in human life there also belongs this: not to haret one's neighbour through some desire or other!
The man of today finds himself in a grave adaptation-crisis, because he is the only creature who for thousands of years has neglected to carry out that adaptation which clone really allows him to become a fully-conscious personality: the unconditional adaptation of his spirit to the Laws of Creation! These also include the Laws of Nature, without which research, for instance, can do nothing if it wishes to be successful. For making use of the forces of the carth, water, air and fire means nothing other than adapting onesclf to the lawfulness expressed in them.
But unfortunately, in this field natural adaptation often becomes a curse, if the results of research and discoveries have to contribute to the affliction and destruction of men and animais, and to the pollution of the environment.
Anyone who now wishes to begin to concern himself with the Laws of Creation, such as the Law of Movement, the Law of the Cycle, the Law of Balance between Giving and Taking, the Law of Sowing and Reaping (the Law of Reciprocal Action), the Law of the Attraction of Homogeneous Species, or the Law of Gravity will gradually open for himself the way to an adaptation to the Will of God. For something other than the Will of God cannot be expressed in the Laws, which are His Work. And ail these Laws apply not only to the realm of Nature but also to human life.
If man cannot or tan no longer tome to terms with the Old Testament ideas of God, if he is striving to form for himself a new concept of God, then he should attempt at last

to begin with Creation and its Laws. He will always find in i hem an imperishable quantity (constant), an all-embracing, rrni f orm whole, which offers him a firm support and does not let him waver so easily.
It can be said that Creation and its Laws makc him familiar with the Language of God.
In this way man is able to master his lift rcliably, and to unfold his personality. There opens up to him an cntirely new world-picture, in which he rediscovers himself as a crcature who gets to know and to understand his origin, his goal and his task, like a revelation.
Finally he reaches that stage of development at which he recognises and acknowledges the Will of his God and therewith also God Himself, Who is unapproachably cnthroncd outside
I lis Creation, and has woven into His Work only Ils Will in
t lie form of the Laws of Creation.
This is the highest stage of adaptation to which man can attain: the adaptation of his entire life to the Will of God, ro His Laws and His Commandments.
Then gradually he will also adapt the institutions of stage
and society, and ail other realms, to the inflexible Laws of
Creation. And such a right adaptation can bring nothing but
peace, joy and ascent!