Laura-

Good thoughts. We must work at separating the person from his qualifiers. Back when I was single, this was an easy sermon to preach. I'd just start off and hit "husband of one wife" and "children who believe" and tell them I wasn't qualified to serve as an elder. That'd get a chuckle b/c it was one of those "well, duh" moments. They could see I wasn't qualified and it didn't make me a bad person. But too many folks cannot see how children can disqualify elders.

Consider: How many times have we seen a man and said, "There goes a good guy." And then we think about his ol' sorry boy and we wonder how such a man could produce a worthless son. Whether we admit it or not, we wonder to ourselves if the guy is really as good as we think he is behind closed doors. He's no longer blameless. Blameless is not having an accusation stick to you. If I accused you of something and automatically, everyone discounts it b/c they know you, you are blameless. But when folks say, "Well, I wouldn't put it past him" or words to that effect, you aren't blameless--there is a shadow of doubt on your reputation. God wants credible individuals.

When I returned to preach at Arkadelphia after preaching off, I told them I might not be what they wanted since I own the local newspaper and have to report on some pretty bad stuff at times. Most folks are able to separate what they read and understand I am doing my job. Others think I am deliberatly trashing someone and cannot get past the idea that I am not a good person. Thankfully, that has not occurred vey often. An elder must have a "good reputation from those that are without (outside the church)" and so should anyone in a leadership capacity (we don't have elders yet.)

Another argument is in regards to age. Preaching along in Bible Class on this issue, a woman spoke up and told me "You are a young man. When you get older, you'll understand this more." I was somewhat offended, but it wasn't my first go-around on that argument. I told that I hoped when I was "older," that I hoped I would still stand by the Bble b/c it would not have changed.

David-

Great point about the school bus driver. I'm gonna remember that one!