SHOULD CELIBACY BE ENFORCED TO CHRISTIAN PREACHERS?

Is it Biblical to enforce celibacy to Christian preachers and those who married will not be preachers anymore? - pastors, ministers, priests what ever you call -

Because Paul said this:

1 Cor 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (NKJV)

If Paul preached as a single like Christ, Christian preachers must do the same.

This is the reason why it is better to be single forever as Christian preacher.

1 Cor 7:32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

In a word, NO... because Paul also wrote this:

1 Timothy 4 1-3 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

I disagree.

The Creator says:

Genesis 1:27-28,, "And Elohim created the man in His image, in the image of Elohim He created him – male and female He created them. And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, “Be fruitful and increase, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over all creeping creatures on the earth.”

This was the only stipulation I know of and it was for Levite Priests, the Levite Priesthood has been abolished...

Leviticus 21:1,13,

1 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aharon, and say to them: ‘No one is to be defiled for the dead among his people, יהוה."

13 ‘And let him take a wife in her maidenhood."

Yahshua is the only real Priest now, it will remain that way until the 1,000 yr reign:

Isaiah 66:21-22,21 “And from them too I shall take for priests – for Lĕwites,” declares יהוה."22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me,” declares יהוה, “so your seed and your name shall stand."

I think Paul is just saying that a preacher is just more effective if he is unhindered with a wife or family. Paul himself could not have traveled and spread the gospel if he had a wife or kids to take care of at home. An itinerant preacher had to hit the road, and could better fully commit themselves to the Lords work. Today, preachers don't spread the gospel message by traveling everywhere, most settle in one place, organize one church, and minister to a single group. Some use the media to do what Paul and the apostles had to do in person.

Jesus Christ has effectively destroyed all the uasw not to be followed while teaching the laws under love that demonstrate faith, mercy and justice.

I see this question as a spiritual red herring designed to divert attention from what is taught inthe Gospel...

Paul also says, "It is better to marry than to burn." 1 Cor. 7:9

In fact, the tradition in Judaism was that all men, especially priests should be married. Where this celibacy in the Catholic Church comes from, I have no idea! The Orthodox Church has always had married priests. Oh wait! Isn't it some bad interpretation of Scripture, that Jesus and the disciples were not married? Then, what about this?

"When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him." Matt 8:14-15

Peter had a mother-in-law. So therefore, he was married with a wife. So much for another twisted Catholic Church doctrine.

As for celibacy, i think all the sex scandals in the Roman Catholic Church are evidence of how bad celibacy is. Better those perverse priests had wives, instead of molesting/raping little boys and girls in their care! Really the whole idea is faulty.

I know quite a few couples who were missionaries in foreign lands. The husband had a companion to help and encourage hm. The woman can reach the women and love her husband. How sad to be on the mission field, and never hear you own language. And once again, singleness could lead to perversions, destroying the witness of that man/woman and putting the true gospel out of reach!

I really thing you need to investigate how doctrinally wrong on every level the Catholic Church is. I highly recommend Keith Green's "Catholic Chronicles" Which you can look up on line.

... making a strong argument that Paul himself was married, and either his wife had left him over the gospel or that he was a widower

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

An unmarried man should not pastor a church. Too may temptations and too many opportunities to have his testimony compromised.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

God tells us there is no distinction between men and women in the spirit...........the flesh is of this age only.

God teaches us that come the Kingdom there will be no need of giving and taking of bridees for all will liv forever.

If you read the law you will find thaqt sexual relations, even between spouses is defiling the body, making each of the pair unclean until certain rituals and time limits were achieved.

God is spirit, and His children will be just as He, spirit.

Why are people so humg up on sexuality? Why do you not read and learn from the Word. What I hae posted is true, so if any need to argue, go where someone will argue with you......it ain't me.

Absolutely not.

If you do you'll end up with only gay people in the ministry.

...and with leaders who don't know squat about marriage and raising families:

No.. Paul was saying it is better for all christians to remain single if they can do it.. but if they have desires for a husband or a wife they shouldget married.. It is actually a Biblical stipulation that a Bishop should be the husband of one wife..

1 Timothy 3 KJV
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

The degenerate sexuality running rife in the catholic church now is as a result of forcing celebacy on people who cannot handle it.. The celibacy rule also attracts men who do not desire woman but instead have unatural sexual desires which is why there is so much child abuse in the catholic clergy...

does this mean a bishop shouldn't have more than one wife or that a bishop should not be unmarried?

seems to me both interpretations would fit the text. Paul says elsewhere the unmarried are free to concentrate on the things of God because they aren't obligated to devote time to caring for their spouse, which makes a marriage requirement odd, but makes sense if what he means here is that having multiple wives a bishop would have even less ability to focus, proportionately, on church matters.

Try reading ALL the Scriptures on marriage and ministry! ie 1Tim 3, Titus 1 and so forth.

Short answer "NO". Indeed elders are required to be married men. Study "elders" in Scripture.

Also the Roman Catholic priesthood is BOGUS, along with the entire clerical hierarchy within the RCC. Study the Royal Priesthood of all believers.

Given the corruption within the RCC, it is time for you to depart from that church.

Both.

BTW "bishop" and "elder" are interchangeable in the NT. There was always a plurality of pastor/elder/bishops in the NT churches, and there was no "bishop" over these elders. Christ was that Bishop. But this plan was corrupted very soon after the apostles departed the scene.

Not according to Paul:


1 Cor 9:5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

That doesn't follow at all. It's just fear-mongering.

Additionally there is no provision for a bishop to divorce and remarry. Apostles were not pastoring local church bodies. A married man is able to council women in the church because his wife can be present as a witness to the integrity of the session.

For the cause of Christ
Roger