Divorce

Divorce
You have heard that it was said, if anyone divorces his wife; let him give her a certificate of divorce. But I say to you, that everybody who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matthew 5:31-32

It was just yesterday that I heard the first stirrings of a possible divorce that is brewing in our church. One of the things that bother me most about divorce is our absolute unwillingness to fear God about it. Our feelings are more important than His holiness. Our happiness is more important than the beauty and glory and integrity of the gospel. And what about faith? We have faith that God will deliver us from devastating cancer. We’ve got faith that God will bring our loved ones to Himself for salvation. We have faith that God will reconcile any prodigal, but when it comes to our spouse, there’s just no hope. We believe the lie that “God won’t,” or even worse, “God can’t.”

In rare cases, divorce is allowed, but it is never commanded. In fact, Jesus Himself corrects the Pharisees (Matt. 19 – they say, why did Moses command, Jesus says Moses allowed). Consider Hosea, even in the case of an allowance, the Biblical standard is forgiveness and restoration.

For those who are remarried, please hear me say this: there is no condemnation for you. And regardless of what’s happened in your past, God can use your current marriage and that’s exactly what He wants to do.

For those contemplating divorce, decide first is it even warranted, biblically? Then, I think you must decide what you believe about God’s ability and willingness to change people. Not what you believe about that person, but what you believe about God.

For a case of abuse, while I would never recommend a wife keeping herself or her children in that situation, divorce is not biblically allowed. Don’t hesitate to call the police. If the man is a Christian, turn him over to the Church for discipline. Removing yourself and your children from the home is not the same as dissolving the marriage and in so doing giving up hope.