Ask Your Preacher - Archives
Fork In The Family Tree
Tuesday, October 04, 2016I was reading the book of Leviticus the other day when I realized that in the list of prohibited marriages, first cousins weren't included. My question is then: is marrying your cousin a sin? And if no, then why are most of us Christians appalled at such an act?Sincerely,
Just Say No
Dear Just Say No,
It isn’t a sin to marry your first cousin. In fact, it hasn’t even been culturally taboo for very long. Even two or three generations ago, it was much more common to marry a first cousin. Today, it is an odd thing to see a first cousin marriage, but it isn’t wrong. We would even be hesitant to make the statement that, “most of us christians are appalled…” because we aren’t sure that statement is accurate. Cultures change all the time, and this is a cultural issue, not a Biblical one.
Who Cares How It Looks?!
Monday, October 03, 2016Is it appropriate for a pastor of a church to restrict a congregation member from working in the ministry with an associate pastor (of the opposite sex) because of people’s perception of their friendship?Sincerely,
Heartsick
Dear Heartsick,
Without dealing with the issue of titles like ‘associate pastor’ (please read “Switching Departments” for more details on church leadership), let’s see if we can break down your question. Is it appropriate for an elder/pastor to restrict a man and a woman from working closely together in the church because they are giving too intimate of a “vibe” to everyone else? Yes. In fact, it is the elders’ job to protect your reputation and your souls from bad situations (Heb 13:17). Included in Heb 13:17 is the fact that you should trust their judgment and realize that whether you see it or not, there is something unhealthy about your current relationship. 1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9 lay out the qualifications for becoming a pastor/elder. One of those qualifications is sober-mindedness. An elder is an older man that has proven that he has experience and wisdom to offer. If he is saying that your friendship has the form and appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:2)… take him seriously.