THE GOSPEL MESSENGER--July 1897 

For more than forty-eight years past we have been inclined to the opinion that, for either deacons or elders to be officially installed into their respective offices, regard must be had by the church and presbytery to what the Apostle has said concerning their wives and children. See i Tim. 3.

Some have thought that if marriage and having a household were necessary for either an elder or deacon, then if his wife should die he would lose his office.

Now this would he a reasonable inference if it could be established that wives and children, and the government of them, are mentioned by the Apostle in i Tim. 3, as a necessary qualification for holding or retaining the office. But is it certain that these marks of character are given for that purpose? We do not think they are mentioned at all for that purpose. Neither do we think that the office of either elder or deacon should cease or be vacated by the death of his wife.

By a careful investigation of this subject it seems to us quite clear that the Apostle has mentioned these things, about the wife and children, as directions to the church and presbytery as to who should, and who should not, be installed in either of those offices. And when the presbytery examines the church as to whether the brother to be installed in the office of pastor or deacon has all the marks of qualification for the office that the Apostle says he must have, and also what he must not have, how can they determine whether such preacher is "one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity," if he has neither wife nor children to constitute his own household? For it seems evident that this mark of qualification for setting apart to office is specially mentioned as a guide to help the church and presbytery to determine whether or not the brother has sufficient disciplinary ability to entrust him with the care and oversight of a church as pastor. "For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" i Tim. iii. 5.

But lest we should not be understood upon this point, we will say this, that if there is any other way by which the church and presbytery can determine whether the brother to be installed in office has the disciplinary gift that these marks of ruling well in a family develop, then the design would be attained unto for which mention is made of household government, and the church and presbytery could, with some show of consistency, omit the consideration of this family discipline. But if any one of these marks of character can righteously be disregarded, would not the same rule dispense with another and another till all were omitted?

We should not fail to carefully note here that the main turning point in this mark of character that we are considering for ordination to the office of pastor or deacon, is not simply as to his having a wife and children, but it is as to whether he has disciplinary ability, and this must be shown by his "ruling well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity." We notice also in 1st chapter of Titus that before one is ordained as elder it must be shown that he has such disciplinary gift in ruling well his own house that its influence will be seen and known in the character and conduct of his family-" having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly."

Now, we do not pretend to say that a brother cannot have the gift of preaching the gospel unless he has a wife and children. That is not the point the Apostle is establishing for the church in this matter of ordinations. The point is, as to whether he has manifested disciplinary ability in ruling his own household so well, both by word and deed, by precept and example, that it has shed its wholesome and happy influence in the conduct and general character of his family, so that his children cannot justly be accused as riotous, unruly, and disobedient children. There are thousands of devoted Christian brethren who have wives and children, but they could not come up to this test for installment into the office of either pastor or deacon. Many good brethren and good gospel preachers may have all the ability that these marks of character indicate that they should have, but if they never have had either wife or children, or any family and household to govern, by what rule shall the church and presbytery determine whether or not they have disciplinary gifts and ability to take the oversight and care of the church of God as pastor? i Tim. iii. 4.

We are aware that many beloved brethren, for whom we have a high regard, take a different view of this subject from what we have here presented, but we hope they will understand the one main and single point we have endeavored to present in this article, and that they will test it by the Scriptures; and if it is found wanting, let the readers of the MESSENGER know wherein it is deficient.

If we carefully consider the test marks which are given by inspiration to guide the church and presbytery in setting apart men to the work of elders or deacons, and then see and know, by actual experience and observation, that many persons have been set apart by ordination that are destitute of almost every test mark, both positive and negative, that is mentioned by the Apostle, it is enough to make any lover of gospel truth and order feel sad and sorrowful to think how far both church and ministry may, through carelessness, fall below the divine standard of God's Word in this solemn and important work.

There is a great deal more that might be scripturally written concerning the great importance of carefully conforming to all these test marks concerning deacons and their wives, that we cannot well treat upon in this article. But as we may never be permitted or inclined to write upon this subject again, we will put it upon record now, that we believe that in putting a brother in the office of deacon his wife should be a member in good standing, and the test marks given by the Apostle should be considered as satisfactory before setting her husband apart as deacon or his wife as deaconess.

W. M. MITCHELL.