letters to surfers

Question : I am concerned that my children are not believers, and according to Titus 1:6 I am not suited to function as a minister.

By Robert Brow (www.brow.on.ca)


If we take that text to refer to what happens after the appointment, there would be very few of us who would qualify in any denomination. In the New Testament whole families were baptized (as in Acts 2:39, 10:2, 33, 44-48, 16:15, 33) to become disciples (learners). When the question of ordaining elders for local congregations arose (which is the situation in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9) the way a person managed his or her household was significant. We should not add to Scripture and suggest that if a member of that household "believe only for a while" (Luke 8:13, John 6:66) the ordination becomes invalid. The only denomination that would survive that test would be celibate Roman Catholics bishops and priests, but they are certainly not elder/bishops in Paul's sense.

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