WPC" Ut{q08ToĜab@',rF`zëYLtF~PkYVB)qU4P(ezY#,#[U݁*v }J.^u{c*LQZzhoMQ}> (_17  2( 4 <DL223  Ԁ2( 4 <DL2  *DD (_16   ," <DL,23  Ԁ," <DL,   *55 (_15  ) <DL)23  Ԁ) <DL)  *22 (_14 ` &<<DL&23  Ԁ&<<DL& ` *// (_13  #DL#23  Ԁ#DL#  *,, (_12   DL 23  Ԁ DL  *)) (_11 h DDL23  ԀDDL h *&& (_10  L23  ԀL  (## &_9   L23  Ԁ L  (>> &_8  2( 4 <DL223  2( 4 <DL2  (DD &_7   ," <DL,23  ," <DL,   (55 &_6  ) <DL)23  ) <DL)  (22 &_5 ` &<<DL&23  &<<DL& ` (// &_4  #DL#23  #DL#  (,, &_3   DL 23   DL  ()) &_2 h DDL23  DDL h (&& &_1  L23  L  &## $_   L23   L  8DocumentManagement::ModifiedBooleanTRUE )'USUS.,  _  @@  UNLAWFULMARRIAGESPLUS  UNBIBLICALDOCTRINEONDIVORCEDPASTORS (9 Z(Times New Roman a\8\ntFold3|xU(.3$ !USUS.,  Page of &_ _     USUS.,  *8hXXdd8 XXUNLAWFULMARRIAGESPLUS  UNBIBLICALDOCTRINEONDIVORCEDPASTORS#XhX# "XhXXXh  "X"XhByBrotherMikeSutherland#"XhX"y# ( )WhatwearegoingtolookattodayiswhattheKingJamestranslatorscalled unlawfulmarriages.  Wearealsogoingtodiscussthequestionofwhetherdivorcedmencanbepastors.Turninyour t  BiblesandletsreadallofLeviticus18: `  8      !8  Leviticus188    8  UKUS.,1US.,UK.,AndtheLORDspakeuntoMoses,saying,UKUS.,2US.,UK., SpeakuntothechildrenofIsrael,and $ t  sayuntothem,IamtheLORDyourGod.UKUS.,3US.,UK.,AfterthedoingsofthelandofEgypt, `  whereinyedwelt,shallyenotdo:andafterthedoingsofthelandofCanaan,whither L  Ibringyou,shallyenotdo:neithershallyewalkintheirordinances.UKUS.,4US.,UK.,Yeshalldo 8  myjudgments,andkeepmineordinances,towalktherein:IamtheLORDyourGod. $  UKUS.,5US.,UK.,Yeshallthereforekeepmystatutes,andmyjudgments:whichifamando,heshall   liveinthem:IamtheLORD.UKUS.,6US.,UK.,?Noneofyoushallapproachtoanythatisnearofkin   tohim,touncovertheirnakedness:IamtheLORD.UKUS.,7US.,UK.,Thenakednessofthyfather,  orthenakednessofthymother,shaltthounotuncover:sheisthymother;thoushalt  notuncoverhernakedness.UKUS.,8US.,UK.,Thenakednessofthyfatherswifeshaltthounot p uncover:itisthyfathersnakedness.UKUS.,9US.,UK., Thenakednessofthysister,thedaughterof \ thyfather,ordaughterofthymother,whethershebebornathome,orbornabroad, H eventheirnakednessthoushaltnotuncover.UKUS.,10US.,UK., Thenakednessofthysonsdaughter, 4 orofthydaughtersdaughter,eventheirnakednessthoushaltnotuncover:fortheirs  p isthineownnakedness.UKUS.,11US.,UK., Thenakednessofthyfatherswifesdaughter,begotten  \ ofthyfather,sheisthysister,thoushaltnotuncoverhernakedness.UKUS.,12US.,UK., Thoushaltnot H uncoverthenakednessofthyfatherssister:sheisthyfathersnearkinswoman.UKUS.,13 4 US.,UK.,= Thoushaltnotuncoverthenakednessofthymotherssister:forsheisthymothers   nearkinswoman.UKUS.,14US.,UK., Thoushaltnotuncoverthenakednessofthyfathersbrother,thou   shaltnotapproachtohiswife:sheisthineaunt.UKUS.,15US.,UK.,Thoushaltnotuncoverthe  nakednessofthydaughterinlaw:sheisthysonswife;thoushaltnotuncoverher  nakedness.UKUS.,16US.,UK.,Thoushaltnotuncoverthenakednessofthybrotherswife:itisthy   brothersnakedness.UKUS.,17US.,UK.,cThoushaltnotuncoverthenakednessofawomanandher l! daughter,neithershaltthoutakehersonsdaughter,orherdaughtersdaughter,to X"  uncoverhernakedness;fortheyarehernearkinswomen:itiswickedness.UKUS.,18US.,UK.,Neither D#! shaltthoutakeawifetohersister,tovexher,touncoverhernakedness,besidethe 0$" otherinherlifetime.UKUS.,19US.,UK.,Alsothoushaltnotapproachuntoawomantouncoverher %l # nakedness,aslongassheisputapartforheruncleanness.UKUS.,20US.,UK.,MMoreoverthoushaltnot &X!$ liecarnallywiththyneighbourswife,todefilethyselfwithher.UKUS.,21US.,UK.,Andthoushaltnot &D"% letanyofthyseedpassthroughthefiretoMolech,neithershaltthouprofanethe '0#& nameofthyGod:IamtheLORD.UKUS.,22US.,UK.,Thoushaltnotliewithmankind,aswith ($' womankind:itisabomination.UKUS.,23US.,UK.,{Neithershaltthouliewithanybeasttodefilethyself )%( therewith:neithershallanywomanstandbeforeabeasttoliedownthereto:itis *%) confusion.UKUS.,24US.,UK.,tDefilenotyeyourselvesinanyofthesethings:forinallthesethe +&* nationsaredefiledwhichIcastoutbeforeyou:UKUS.,25US.,UK.,8Andthelandisdefiled:therefore P Idovisittheiniquitythereofuponit,andthelanditselfvomitethoutherinhabitants. < UKUS.,26US.,UK.,Yeshallthereforekeepmystatutesandmyjudgments,andshallnotcommitany (  oftheseabominations;neitheranyofyourownnation,noranystrangerthat   sojournethamongyou:UKUS.,27US.,UK.,.(Foralltheseabominationshavethemenofthelanddone,   whichwerebeforeyou,andthelandisdefiled;)UKUS.,28US.,UK.,Thatthelandspuenotyouout   also,whenyedefileit,asitspuedoutthenationsthatwerebeforeyou.UKUS.,29US.,UK.,For   whosoevershallcommitanyoftheseabominations,eventhesoulsthatcommitthem  t shallbecutofffromamongtheirpeople.UKUS.,30US.,UK.,Thereforeshallyekeepmineordinance, ` thatyecommitnotanyoneoftheseabominablecustoms,whichwerecommitted L  beforeyou,andthatyedefilenotyourselvestherein:IamtheLORDyourGod.8    Allofthefollowingarereferredtoas unlawfulmarriages bytheKingJamesBibletranslators `  of1611.IdrawthatconclusionbaseduponthepageheadingsforLeviticus18thatshowupinthe P  manyprintingsoftheKingJamesBiblestartingin1611andgoingthroughtothelatestprintingsof <  theCambridgeBiblein2024.LongbeforeInoticedtheheadingforLeviticus18intheKingJames (  Bible,IbelievedthattheBibletaughtthatanysexualrelationshipbetweenanytwoindividuals  constituteamarriagebyBiblicaldefinitionregardlessofastatesanctionedlegalrelationshiporany  legaldocument.NowletstakealookatLeviticus18andfollowthatupwithsomeadditional  comments.  8  Verse7:noincestbetweenamotherandhersonoradaughterandherfather`   8  Verse8:amanshallnothaveasexualrelationshipwithhisstepmother.L   8  Verse9:amanshallnothaveasexualrelationshipwithhissisterorhishalfsister.8   8  Verse10:agrandfathershallnothavesexwithhisgranddaughter.t$   8  Verse11:amanshallnothavesexwithhissister(Howisthisanydifferentfrom ` vers9??).L   8  Verse12:amanshallnothavesexwithhispaternalaunt.8    8  Verse13:amanshallnothavesexwithhismaternalaunt.$!   8  Verse14:amanshallnothavesexwithhispaternaluncleswife."   8  Verse15:amanshallnothavesexwithhisdaughterinlaw."   8  Verse16:amanshallnothavesexwithhissisterinlaw.#   8  Verse17:amanshallnothavesexwithawomanandherdaughter.Amanshallnot $  havesexwithawomansgranddaughter%p!   8  Verse18:amanshallnothavesexwithhiswifessisterwhiletheyarebothalive.&\"   8  Verse19:amanshallnothavesexwithawomanwhilesheisonhermenstrual 'H # cycle.(4!$   8  Verse20:amanshallnothavesexwithhisneighborswife.p) "%   8  Verse21:ababyshallnotbemurderedandsacrificedtoafalseGod.Thisoneseems \* #& tobeoutofplaceuntilyourealizethesexualperversionanddebaucheryassociated H+#' withtheworshipofMolech.4,$(   8  Verse22:amanshallnothaveasexualrelationshipwithanotherman.P   8  Verse23:neitheramanorwomanshallhavesexwithananimal(Bestiality)<   WewouldhaveyounotethataGodsanctionedrelationshipbetweenamanandawomanisnot   identifiedanywhereinLeviticuschapter18.TheheadingthattheKingJamestranslatorsputon   Leviticus18tellsitall.TheKingJamestranslatorsconsideredallthevilesexualactsrecordedin   Leviticus18tobe unlawfulmarriages! Thinkaboutitfolks!ThatmeansthatGodsanctioned   relationshipbetweenamanandawomanwouldbeviewedasa lawfulmarriage. #XhXX"XhE#"XhXXXhԀThebottom  x lineis,theBibleclassifiesanysexualrelationshipasamarriage.Thatmarriagedoesnotrequirea h ceremony,amarriagelicense,oramarriagecertificatetomeettheBiblicaldefinitionofmarriage. T  ThatisaslapinthefaceofmanyofmyIndependentBaptistbrethren.Itis  thegoinginunto that @  constitutesamarriage.Inotherwords,itisthebecomingoneFLESHthatconstitutesthemarriage. 0  ThatputsmanyofourIndependentBaptistbrethrenupinarms,andtheywillrunuponyouand l  gnashyouwiththeirteeth. X  TheBiblicaldefinitionofaGodsanctionedmarriageisGenesis2:24: UKUS.,US.,UK.,.Thereforeshallamanleave D  hisfatherandhismother,andshallcleaveuntohiswife:andtheyshallbeoneflesh.Thatpassage 0  ofscriptureisquotedfivemoretimesintheKingJamesBible.Ihavebeensavedover31yearsand  Ihaveneverheardasermonpreachedon1Corinthians6:16: What?knowyenotthathewhichis  joinedtoanharlotisonebody?fortwo,saithhe,shallbeoneflesh.Anharlot,didyouhearthat?  ICorinthians6:16contradictsthetheologyofmanyfundamentalistspreachers.Itplainlystatesthat  asexualrelationshipwith ANHARLOTmeetstheBiblicaldefinitionofamarriage. Youwill | nowseewhyIopenedthisstudywithabriefdiscussionaboutwhatconstitutesabiblicalmarriage. l _Lets_Ԁtakealookat1Timothy3:113andTitus1:59: X 8      8  Thisisatruesaying,Ifamandesiretheofficeofabishop,hedesirethagoodwork. 0 2Abishopthenmustbeblameless,thehusbandofonewife,vigilant,sober,ofgood l behaviour,giventohospitality,apttoteach;3Notgiventowine,nostriker,not X greedyoffilthylucre;butpatient,notabrawler,notcovetous;4Onethatrulethwell D  hisownhouse,havinghischildreninsubjectionwithallgravity;5(Forifamanknow 0! nothowtorulehisownhouse,howshallhetakecareofthechurchofGod?)6Not " anovice,lestbeingliftedupwithpridehefallintothecondemnationofthedevil. # 7Moreoverhemusthaveagoodreportofthemwhicharewithout;lesthefallinto # reproachandthesnareofthedevil.8Likewisemustthedeaconsbegrave,not $  doubletongued,notgiventomuchwine,notgreedyoffilthylucre;9Holdingthe %|! mysteryofthefaithinapureconscience.10Andletthesealsofirstbeproved;then &h" letthemusetheofficeofadeacon,beingfoundblameless.11Evensomusttheir 'T # wivesbegrave,notslanderers,sober,faithfulinallthings.12Letthedeaconsbethe (@!$ husbandsofonewife,rulingtheirchildrenandtheirownhouseswell.13Fortheythat |),"% haveusedtheofficeofadeaconwellpurchasetothemselvesagooddegree,and h*#& greatboldnessinthefaithwhichisinChristJesus.1Timothy3:1!13#XhXX"Xhp+#"XhXXXhT+$'   8  @,$(   8  5ForthiscauseleftItheeinCrete,thatthoushouldestsetinorderthethingsthatare P wanting,andordaineldersineverycity,asIhadappointedthee:6Ifanybe < blameless,thehusbandofonewife,havingfaithfulchildrennotaccusedofriotor (  unruly.7Forabishopmustbeblameless,asthestewardofGod;notselfwilled,not   soonangry,notgiventowine,nostriker,notgiventofilthylucre;8Butaloverof   hospitality,aloverofgoodmen,sober,just,holy,temperate;9Holdingfastthe   faithfulwordashehathbeentaught,thathemaybeablebysounddoctrinebothto   exhortandtoconvincethegainsayers.Titus1:5!9#XhXX"Xh :#"XhXXXh t   Thosesamepreachersthatrailagainstasexualrelationshipconstitutingamarriagewillpreach L  againstdoublemarriedpreachers,accuseremarriedChristiansofbeinginperpetualadultery,and 8  advocatethatawomanmuststayinamarriagewheresheisbeingbeatblackandblue.Every t$  preachersactof premarital(?!?)sexestablishesaBiblicalmarriage.Thereisnosuchthingas `   premaritalsexintheBible.So,preacherhowmanywomendidyouhavesexwithbeforeyou L  consummatedyour oneandonlystatesanctionedlegalrelationship.Ifyouhavehadsexwithany 8  womanbesideyourcurrentwife,thenyouareatleastdoublemarriedregardlessofwhetherornot $  youhaveapieceofstatesanctionedpaper.Ifyouhavecommittedadulteryfollowingyourstate  sanctionedmarriagetoyourcurrentspouse,thenyouareatleastdoublemarried.Neitherdoesit  matteriftheactwascommittedbeforeorafteryouweresaved.  TheproblemthatmanyfundamentalistsandIndependentBaptistshaveisthattheydonotlookupon  fornicationandadulterynearlyasseriouslyasGoddoes.Whenamanandawomanmarry,inother p wordshavesex,theyannounceanintentbeforeGodtocommittoalifelongcovenantrelationship \ withtheperson.Whentheydonotcommittoalifelongcovenantrelationship,theyarecommitting H anactoftreacheryagainstGodandtheGodordainedinstitutionofthefamily!! 4 Whataboutthehallofeternalcondemnationandtheunforgivablesinlocatedin1Timothy3:2and p  Titus1:6:Satanshusbandofonewifeheresy?Permanentlydisqualifyingamanfromtheministry \  becauseofadivorceisnotconsistentwiththecharacterofaforgivingGod.Therearemany H instanceswhereamanistotallyinnocentinadivorceandhasbeenthevictimofawifesadultery 4  anddesertion.Yet,thePharisaicalhereticsinmanyfundamentalistchurches,includingmany  ! IndependentBaptists,cannotwaittojerkthemoutofthepulpitandpermanentlydisqualifythem  " fromtheministry.IndoingsotheysinagainstGodandmakethepersontheydisqualifytwofold " moreavictimofinjustice.Neither1Timothy3orTitus1mentionstheideaofdivorce.Ithastobe # readintothepassage.Bothpassagessay husbandofonewife.Thatmeansthatamancannotbe $  thehusbandoftwodifferentwomenatthesametime.Itisprohibitingpolygamy.MostIndependent %l! Baptistsknowwhattheyhavebeentaught,buttheywillnotdoanexhaustiveindependentstudyon &X" theissuebecausetheyareafraiditwillcontradictthedoctrineofthepreacherstheyrunwith 'D # resultingintheirbeingbannedfromtheirpulpits:adefinitedropinrevenue!!Youcannotconfuse (0!$ thesemensmindswithscripturalfactsbecausetheirministrybuddiesmindsarealreadymadeup. l)"% Theyarewillfullyignorant.Iamnotsayingthatallare,butmostare. X*#& Iwouldmakeanotherpointhere.Everyoneofthestandardsforpastors,elders,bishops,anddeacons D+#' in1Timothy3andTitus1aregiveninthecontinuouspresenttense.Theyareabouthispresent 0,$( conductwithoutreferencetohispastconduct.Thatisnottosaythatamanspastconductshould P notbeconsideredwhencallinghimtopastor.Ifyourdoctrinestatesthatyouhavetoputamanout < oftheministrypermanentlywhohasbeendivorced,thentobeconsistentwithyourdoctrineyou (  mustpermanentlyputanymanoutoftheministrywhoatanytimeinthepasthasfailedtomeetany   oftheotherqualificationsorstandardsidentifiedin1Timothy3andTitus1.Whatthatwouldmean   isthatnomanwouldeverbe qualifiedfortheministry.Realizingtheinconsistencyoftheir   doctrine,manymenadvocateforallowingamantopastorifhehasbeendivorcedprovidedhis   divorcetookplacebeforehewassaved.Isaythisagainwiththestrongestpossibleemphasis. THE  t WORDDIVORCEISNOTINEITHEROFTHOSEPASSAGES.ITHASTOBEREAD d INTOBOTHPASSAGES. Consideringthecontinuouspresenttensegrammarin1Timothy3and P  Titus1andthelistofstandardsinbothpassages,itwouldbemuchmoretruetothecontextto @  interpretthephrase husbandofonewifeasbeingaprohibitionagainstpolygamistpastors.Ifaman |,  islivingwithtwowivesatthesametime,heisnot thehusbandofonewife. h  Thefalsedoctrinethatstatesthatadivorcedmancannotpreachorpastorcreatestwounforgivable T  sinsforaman:(1)blasphemyoftheHolyGhost,and(2)divorce.Ifyouaregoingtobeconsistent @  inyourhereticalinterpretation,ifyouwillnotallowaremarrieddivorcedmanintoapulpit,thenyou ,  mustnotallowasinglenevermarriedmantopreachinyourpulpitbecauseheisnotthe husband  ofonewife.Youalsomustnotallowaneverremarriedmanintoapulpitafterhiswifedies.The  whole husbandofonewifemonsterhascreatedadoctrinalquagmireandaninterpretivelionsden  thatgoethaboutseekingwhoitmaydevour.Itisworsethanquicksand.Itisadoctrinalblackhole.  Believeme,ithasunjustlydevouredmanygoodpreachersandpastorsatthehandsofJezebels x duringitssordidhistory.Ihaveheardtruestoriesofwomenthreateningtodivorcetheirhusbands d sothattheycoulddestroytheirministries.Therearechurchesthatwillleaveasocalled P  forgivenwhoremongeringmarriedmaninthepulpitwhiletheybanadivorcedmanfromthepulpit. < Itisokayforawhoremongeringpastor,deacon,orpreachertohavesleptaroundwithnumerous x( womenjustsohedoesnothaveapieceoflegalpaperthatsayshehasbeendivorced.Icouldgoon d andon.___#XhXX"Xh=#_