Why RCCG pastors can't remarry (Page 3)

 God hates divorce, but does not disallow it. 

So, I just wanted to not that I don't think God will condone something He hates. That He hates divorce means He will not allow it! I am seriously not sure whether or not what the pastor did is justified Biblically or not becasue I still am going through thorough personal Bible Study (which by the way, will not end until I die) but I am sure the leadership of RCCG must have prayefully and logically thought this issue out and we might just be speaking from sentiments. If this is not the case, I hope eventually the RIGHT thing, RIGHT being defined only by Jesus, WILL BE DONE!

Posted: at 25-08-2009 01:58 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie

When God allows some circumstances, it's because He sees the end from the beginning. God hates divorce but He "allowed" the marriage of king Ahasuerus to Vashti to collapse because He was determined to bring His eternal plan to pass. Life is not about your being comfortable, happy and successful, or pain-free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be at last. Does God not hate divorce? Indeed Vashti was an example of excellent womanhood! She was the most beautiful woman in the world then, but refused to abuse her beauty! Her courage was equal to her modesty: she chose to resist the royal mandate, rather than violate the rules of chaste decorum. What modest woman, would consent to expose herself to the view of such a group of drunken men? But God allowed what happened (the break-up of her marriage to the king), to promote His eternal plan for the Jews! It was not about Vashti or Esther! It was about Jehovah's eternal plan that was at a risk! Esther replaced Vashti because Vashti could not have saved the Jews from Haman. That's why you must not cry even when unpleasant circumstances are allowed to happen in spite of your faithfulness, fasting and prayers! God can pass you through painful events now because He is concerned for your tomorrow! It's not only about your happiness now; it's about His plan for your eternity!

So it's not all about the pastor remarrying or not it's all about God's plan for his life & ministry

Posted: at 25-08-2009 11:46 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie

MY CANDID OPINION IS THAT GOD TAKES THE ISSUE OF MARRIAGE REMARRIAGE AND DIVORCE SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THE FAMILY IS NOT ONLY LIKE A CHURCH BUT LIKE THE GOD-HEAD WHICH IS THE BED ROCK OF THE NATION AND THE SOCIETY IN GENERAL
MARRIAGE: IS THE OLDEST INSTITUTION ORDAINED OF THE LORD EVEN BEFORE THE NATION OR THE CHURCH SO IT IS VERY DEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD. WHEREEVER MARRIAGE IS PROPERLY CONSTITUTED IT RECEIVES THE BLESSINGS OF GOD IRRESPECTIVE OF THE RELIGION AND IT IS HELD SACRED. IT IS NOT WHAT YOU RUSHED INTO OR ENTER TO SATISFY ONLY THE CARNAL URGES IT SHOULD BE PRAYERFULLY ENTERED FOR THE LIVE OF THE NATION IS AFFECTED BY THAT SINGULAR ACT. WHEN YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN THE WORD OF GOD ID THERE TO GUIDE YOU ON THE STEPS TO TAKE TO BEFORE CONTRACTIING A MARRIAGE VOW. WHEN YOU ARE BORN AGAIN THE FEAR OF GOD AND THE WORD OF GOD IS UPPERMOST IN YOUR LIFE. SO YOU WANT THE LEADING AND THE GUIDANCE OF THE LORD BEFORE YOU SAY "I DO' FOR ONCE MARRIED YOU ARE MARRIED FOREVER 'TILL DEATH DO YOU PART' FOR THIS REASON GO HAS GIVEN US A FREE WILL TO SEEK - FIND - CAREFULLY AND PRAYERFULLY YOUR SPOUSE AND YOU WILL RECEIVE HIS BLESSING. "HE WHO FIND A WIFE FINDS A GOOD THING AND OBTAINS FAVOUR OF THE LORD". BUT YOU CAN SURRENDER THIS FREE WILL BACK TO THE LORD ASKING FOR HIS GUIDANCE AND LEADING IN GETTING THE WIFE. MANY TIMES GOD CHIOCE IS NOT FIRST ATTRACTIVE TO THE FLESH. BUT LATER YOU WILL HAVE GOD TO THANK FOR HIS CHOICE WHEN THE 'UNATTRACTIVE CRUDE OIL IS REFINED TO THE ATTRACTIVE FINISHED PRODUCT' THAT IS THE STAGE WHERE MANY MISSED IT. THE CHOOSE LIKE ADAM AND EVE CHOSE - LOOK GOOD - TASTE GOOD - AND BEFITTING FOR PRIDE AND THE COSTLY MISTAKE LEADS TO UNENDING SORROW MANY HAVE LOST THEIR MINISTRY, REPUTATION AND STANDING BECAUSE OF THEIR CHOICE. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN END THE UNION ACCORDING TO THE VOW IS DEATH AND THE VOW SAYS THE UNION IS FOR BETTER AND FOR THE WORST. SO WHEN YOUR MARRIAGE IS ROSEY THANK GOD IT IS PART OF THE VOW AND IF IT IS TURBULENT THANK GOD IT IS PART OF THE VOW TOO. HOWEVER, IF IT IS DEADLY OR UNBEARERABLE AND YOU MUST SEPARATE, YOU CANNOT MARRY ANOTHER PERSON DURING THE PERIOD OF SEPARATION LIKE THE FATHER OF THE PRODIGAL YOU MUST BE PRAYERFUL AND EXPECTANT THAT YOUR PARTNER WILL RETURN HOME. IF SHE DID - THANK GOD IF SHE DIDN'T THANK GOD IT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR CHOICE. BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS WE CAN DIVORCE FOR FORNICATION SAKE YES THE FORNICATOR IS A SINNER AND LIKE ALL SINNERS GOD MADE PROVISION FOR UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS: IF YOU REFUSE TO FORGIVE GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU SAYS OUR LORD AND NO MATTER HOW PIOUS YOU ARE IF YOU ARE NOT FORGIVEN BY GOD - HELL IS CERTAIN. IF YOU HAVE FORGIVEN AND YOUR PARTNER IS UNREPENTANT - OR EVEN DEPART - KEEP ON FORGIVING AND EXPECTING THE TURN AROUND THOUGH SEPARATED YOU HAVE MADE YOUR CHOICE AND SO IT WILL BE THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE AS LONG AS BOTH OF YOU REMAIN ALIVE. ONE REASON IT IS BETTER TO PRAY THROUGH AND GET THE LEADING OF THE LORD BEFORE YOU ENTER INTO A MARRIAGE COVENANT THE MISTAKE CAN BE VERY COSTLY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.
REMARRIAGE: THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE IN THE SITUATION WHERE ONE OF THE PARTNERS WAS DEAD AND THE OTHER IS YOUNG OR SO DESIRED TO REMARRY.
DIVORCE: GOD HATES DIVORCE - YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD AND LIKE WHAT HE HATES; IF YOU MUST DIVORCE MAKE SURE YOU DID NOT INITIATES IT AS A CHILD OF GOD. CONTEST IT PRAYERFULLY. TELL THE JUDGE YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN AND WILL NOT CONSENT TO IT BASE YOU STATEMENT ON THE WORD OF GOD: PRAYERFULLY LISTEN TO HIS DECISION WHEN IT IS CONTRARY TO YOUR EXPECTATION THANK GOD FOR IT AND TELL GOD YOU ARE STILL STANDING ON HIS WORD OF NO DIVORCE: "THOSE THAT THE LORD HAS JOINED TOGETHER LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER INCLUDED IN THIS ARE THE COUPLE THEMSELVES. BE FAITHFUL UNTIL GOD CALLED YOU HOME OR CALL HOME YOUR PARTNER.
PRAYING FOR THE DEATH OF THE WAYWARD PARTNER SO THAT YOU CAN REMARRY IS UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD: FOR GOD DOES NOT LOVE THE DEATH OF ANY SINNER BUT LONGSUFFERING TOWARDS US WANTING US TO REPENT AND BE SAVED. UNTIL THEN KEEP YOURSELF BUSY WITH THE WORK OF THE LORD; CONTINUE EARNESTLY TO SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH FAITH AND EXPECTATION THAT ALL OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU IN HIS TIME. NOT FOR ONLY THE PASTORS BUT ALL THAT BORN AGAIN AND HAVE THE FEAR OF GOD IN THEIR HEART
WHAT IF THE MARRIAGE WAS CONTRACTED WHEN THE COUPLE WAS IN THE WORLD AS UNBELIEVER: THE PARTNER WHO IS NOW A CHRISTIAN CANNOT LEAVE OR SEND AWAY THE UNBELIVING PARTNER BUT MUST BE PRAYING FOR HIS/HER SALVATION WITH LOVE, ENDURANCE OR LONGSUFFERING. BUT IF THE UNBELIVING DEPART THE BELIEVER IS FREE FROM THE YOKE OR THE BELIEVER IS THE SPIRITUAL COVER IN SUCH RELATIONSHIP.
IS IT NOT BETTER NOT TO MARRY? TO MARRY OR NOT TO MARRY IS NOT YOUR CHOICE TO MAKE AS A CHILD OF GOD BUT THE LORDS. BUT PAUL DID NOT MARRY AND JESUS REFERRED TO SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT MARRIED FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL AND IF THE CURRENT POPULATION STATISTICS WERE ANYTHING TO GO ABOUT - IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO BE MARRIED IN A MONOGAMY RELATIONSHIP. HENCE THE CHURCH IS COMING TO TERMS WITH THE STATE OF BEING SINGLE. THE GRACE WHICH THE LORD BESTOWED ON SOME AND ARE ABLE TO BE SINGLE AND WORK FOR THEIR LORD AND STAND UNPOLLUTED WITH RIGHT STANDING FOR THE LORD.
IS THIS NOT TOO DIFFICULT OR UNREALISTIC? TO MAN IT IS DIFFICULT BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? TRUST GOD. ARE YOU SINGLE AND EXPECTANT LET THE LORD DIRECT YOU - IS YOUR MARRIAGE TUBULLENT? THE CALMER OF THE STORM IS JESUS TAKE IT TO HIM IN PRAYERS
GOD BLESS YOU

Posted: at 25-08-2009 01:14 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

Well this issue is simple Jesus was clear on this topic where he says at mat 19:9 that only on d ground of fornication/adultery that a man can divorse his wife.adultery in d bible cld be used either spiritually whick is d worshiping of other gods or physicaly which is when a mate hav segxwal intercourse wit som1 nt his mate.when this happens a man is free 2 remarry.so its on d ground on adultery nd death dat a mate can remarry.

Posted: at 25-08-2009 06:28 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

@ adetop & tera
So u guys are saying that the pastor should remain married-single waiting for a wife that left for over ten years (who is now remarried)....please u guys shud study ur bible very well

Posted: at 25-08-2009 07:56 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

You understand the bible very much.  I am so much in shock to see how some just make up their own stories without lining up their argument with the bible.  Thanks.

Posted: at 25-08-2009 10:27 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Posted: at 26-08-2009 11:20 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie

What should a man do after ten years of separation from a wife that has refused to heed the ‘for better for worse’ call of matrimony?

‘Get on with his life, of course.’ This would be the most likely response one would get.

However for a born-again Christian and, by extension, a minister of God, a pastor taking that course of action would be violating biblical injunctions, says Pastor Patrick Enilama, a zonal pastor under Lagos Province 18 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

And that seems to be the message the RCCG sent out recently with the sack of one of its dynamic pastors, Ituah Olajide Ighodalo, who until about two weeks ago was the shepherd of the Christ Church Flock Parish.

For the dashing man of God, who has had to endure ten years of ‘unplanned celibacy’, relieving him of his office for following his heart, soul (and probably body) by remarrying was just plain politics being played by the ‘Governing Council’ of the church, a member in one of the parishes (who has known Ighodalo since his Freedom Hall days) told this reporter.

“I didn’t know what they wanted him to do. The woman (former wife) didn’t want to come back to Nigeria. Asking him to step down as pastor is just politics by the Governing Council. It is this same politics that sent Pastor Tony Rapu out. I sent him a text encouraging him, sha.”

However, Sunday Sun gathered that for the man in question, leaving the Redeemed fold might not be the next line of action for now, says a member of the Christ Church flock.

“He didn’t say categorically that he was leaving the church. What he said was that he was stepping down as pastor and that his assistant, Segun Omotosho, was going to take over his responsibilities.”

According to this source, it has been business as usual in most of Ighodalo’s initiatives in the church like the Heritage Homes (a motherless babies home), Lydia Grace Foundation (a rehab for prostitutes), Eden’s Field (a hospital medical support organisation) for the Needy, Timeless Newspaper, a Christian newspaper he publishes.

While this source affirms that it is not about the person but the church, she however admits that she could follow Ighodalo if he were to start his own church, just like many members at the Christ Church Parish are already contemplating.

“The week after he announced he was stepping aside was convention, so there was no service in the morning but evening and I couldn’t say if he attended because I didn’t go for that service. But people are already saying that if they don’t see him next Sunday, they will start going to City of David (Parish). Though it is not about the person, but I must admit that I can also leave. You just cannot ignore his charisma.”

Whether Ighodalo (whom many see as one fit to step into the late Pastor Eskor Mfon’s shoes) leaves RCCG or not, church will continue so also his many initiatives, says Enilama.

“There will be no vacuum if he decides to leave the church. But I will advise him not to leave (if he must) without the blessings of Daddy G.O (General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye). Daddy G.O has said God will purge the church one way or the other. There have been people of greater status who have had to leave the system.”

While empathising with him and reacting to a story angle that Ighodalo remarrying had encouraged some other pastors in the church to divorce their wives, which prompted the action of the church, Enilama says a man of God no matter what must not be found wanting in this respect.

“Honestly, ten years is a long time for a young man to be without a wife. But what the Bible says is that a minister of God must be blameless, husband of one wife. The Bible does not allow one to remarry. Rather it encourages both parties to reconcile. There is nothing like irreconcilable differences.

“Whether his action has encouraged other pastors to divorce their wives, I don’t have the facts but you don’t bend the rules in the word of God. If it is tolerated, it can be an encouragement.”

Citing Malachi 2:13-16, Matthew 19:1-9, I Corinthians 7:10, scriptures from the Bible, he says remarrying is not an option for any Christian but rather reconciliation. He adds that marriage is solemn, as the couple must know what they are going into, and sacred because God made it so, and serious because it is binding for life.

Adding his voice to the controversy, the shepherd of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Kirikiri, said that marriage is a very spiritual matter that should not be handled with kid gloves as it portends a relationship sealed by God himself.

“Who is man, no matter his designation, that he should judge the action of the sacked pastor?” the cleric queried. According to him, what the RCCG authorities ought to have done was to call the pastor to order by correcting him through admonition and not outright sack.

He contended that many illicit relationships that may even result in the birth of fatherless children go on in the churches yet nothing is done by the pastors.

Posted: at 27-08-2009 05:45 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

Is it not adultery in the marriage when the pastor's ex-wife has remarried and living with another man?
I will not become a member of the RCCG giving this over-zealous interpretation of the bible.

Posted: at 27-08-2009 10:00 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

It only God that can lead us through in this life we are, many things is happenning.

Posted: at 28-08-2009 10:59 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie