JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD
"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.
If it begins first with us,
what will happen to those who don't obey the gospel of God?
If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?" (1 Peter 4:17-18)
From the section on St. Augustine on our Literature page, I quote: "Around A.D. 385, a certain young and ambitious teacher of public speaking named Augustine came to Milan to learn from Ambrose his oratorical technique, became a Christian and was baptized by Ambrose in A.D. 386. ... Saints Ambrose and Augustine both were proponents of priestly celibacy. Later, Emperor Justinian called the Quinisext Council (Trullo) in 692, in which the Canon XIII reaffirmed the Apostolic Tradition of married clergy, and it recognized that the Church in Rome was not observing Apostolic Tradition." So at least ever since the fourth century, there has been disagreement among Christian leaders concerning monastic and priestly celibacy. Enforcing celibacy for most religious workers has led to all sorts of scandals in the Church. In Matthew 19:10-12, when the Lord had been teaching about marriage and divorce, we read –
"His disciples said to Him, 'If this is the case of the man with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.' But He said to them, 'Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.'"
A eunuch is a man who for various reasons does not have sexual relations. As the Lord said, some are "born that way from their mother's womb" – this is not a justification for homosexuals to say they were just "born that way" in order claim a Scriptural basis for their homosexual lifestyle: a eunuch doesn't have any sexual relations. The point here is that celibacy is a valid lifestyle "for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake." It's not for everyone, though, only for those who are able to receive it. Those who cannot receive it should not take a vow of celibacy in the first place.
In 1 Corinthians ch. 7, St. Paul wrote about abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in marriage – "Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband" (verses 1-2). And later, in verse 24 – "Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God." This has been understood to mean that if a man is single when called into ministry, he should remain single, and if he is married, he should remain married to his spouse: divorce is not allowed for clergy. So priests are allowed to be married before they are ordained, but if they are single when ordained they should remain in that condition.
Why then are higher ranks of clergy such as bishops, archbishops, and patriarchs all celibate? First of all, this doesn't mean they have never been married, because a widowed priest can become a bishop: we know such a priest whose wife died and he was made a bishop. Second, this is a general rule, not an iron-clad law in the Church: we also knew a married Russian priest in Moscow who was elected to be a bishop because he was such a good priest. So there are exceptions to the rule. But if any celibate ordained clergyman wants to marry, he must renounce his vows and leave ordained ministry. Any celibate clergy who marries or has sexual relations outside of marriage must be "defrocked" – removed from the ordained ministry.
In my article SEEK THE WELFARE OF THE CITY, PART 2, you will read my comments on 1 Cor. 5:7-12 – "By mentioning "Christ, our Passover" and "let us keep the feast" it is clear that St. Paul is referring to fellowship at the communion table, the early Church's 'agape feast.' He also uses the Greek word "pornos" that is translated here as 'sexual sinners' and in this context refers to incest. But the root meaning of "pornos" is a male prostitute, that is, a homosexual. The Apostle Paul teaches here that sexual sinners, the covetous, extortioners, drunkards or idolaters should not be allowed to partake of communion" – i.e., be excommunicated, disfellowshipped. This applies especially to homosexual acts and extramarital affairs as more to be condemned than the other types of sin mentioned here.
Christ is the Head of the Church, and He expects the Church to discipline its members when it is necessary, and especially the leadership is not above discipline. They are to be an example to the flock, just as the Church is to be an example to the world:
"Judgment Must Begin At The House Of God." May God have mercy on me too, a sinner!
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