Biblebeliever said:
Boomer said:
Biblebeliever,
On what biblical ground was Peter Ruckman eligible for divorce?
- Did all of his former wives commit adultery?
Hi there boomer,
While I am not exactly sure whether brother Ruckman's former wives committed adultery on him or not, what I am aware of though is that they both left him. And that he did not want it that way, but they left him and they filed for divorce. And since desertion is a legitimate cause for divorce (see 1 Cor. 7).
BB, I am a KJV guy, but not a proponent of Ruckman. I understand the position regarding divorce and remarriage that you are proposing.
Here is part of what you refereed to.
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
What you are alluding to is here:
1 Corinthians 7:12-15 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife
that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband
that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
You would have to make the case that they were both unbelievers.
Then, you would have to make the case that Peter Ruckman had not disqualified himself from the Pastorate.
Here is where he did, even according to your position on divorce and remarriage.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
So, even if you can make allowance for his divorces and remarriages, (which I can't, especially based upon 1 Corinthians 7), he disqualified himself here:
1. No longer the husband of one wife
2. He is not of good behaviour, as evidenced by the letter "hey buzzard puke"
3. He is not patient, a requirement of the pastorate as evidenced by his caustic mannerisms.
Here is the big one:
4. He is incapable of ruling his own house. Two divorces means you are not in control of the house at all.
5. He no longer has a good report of them without. Not because of doctrine, but because of the two divorces and remarriages.
I love the old book BB, but I'm trying to follow it, not just hang onto it like a magic talisman. I don't care how smart the man is, disqualified is disqualified.