Tough Talk (part 2)

Not long ago I spoke with some people on a topic that has always been with me. In the past marriage and divorce have been topics to avoid here on the blog, but today in America divorce is something that effects the vast majority. With a topic like that how can you speak without addressing nearly all the hearts touched by it? Still, since the blog is closing down all bets are and some things ought to be stated despite the risks.

As with the earlier addressed topics of “adolescence” and modern “dating”, the topic of divorce is one that God’s people ought to take seriously, even if the godless world could care less. Yet, this is not the case all around me. It is fair to say that before a person was saved they may have married, divorced, and re-married. But it kills me that what seem to be rock solid Christians who are enjoying what the bible calls adulterous relationships. Let me glance over this for any wandering eyes.

Genesis 2:24 tells us that God created marriage to be between one woman and one man and even gives minor attributes to the state of marriage.

Mark 10:3-9 tells us that marriage is a life-long union and that Moses’ divorce concept does not override Gods works, marriage is life long.

Romans 7:1-3 tells us that marriage is a bond until death and we should treat it as such while claiming Christ

Matthew 5:32 tells us that divorcees can’t hold extra-marital relationships without invoking adultery as the original union remains

Luke 16:18 tells us that people who divorce must remain single or cause adulterous relationships.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 tells us again that divorce is not to be done, but if it is done reconciliation abstinence is the only remedy.

Hebrews 13:4 tells us that marriage should be honored and kept pure as it was created and those considered adulterers (marriage corrupters) will be judged accordingly as it is a sin.

Unfortunately, people today misunderstand what divorce was and who created it. In this way they turn to the only allowable reason for divorce, which is unfaithfulness (Matthew 5:30-32). So today society thinks that divorce is a free pass, a clean start, but the divorce that Moses created was actually more like today’s legal separation; the vowels were still active, but the two parties didn’t have to deal with each other. The key point here is that the vowels are still active.

The point being, that while the church and the secular world both seem to think divorce is a clean slate, that is not how God sees it. A person can get a divorce according to God under one instance, but even then the union is still active until death. As sad as it may be for a divorced person to not be able to re-marry, ever, it is sadder still to think of the masses committing a life long adultery in the name of love because they failed to understand God’s true view of this heartbreaking topic.