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Written by Administrator
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Jul 04, 2009 at 10:03 PM |
After reading and hearing many arugments and various points of view, it's clear to me there are still standards to be upheld. I'll get to the mercy part after, but first let me state the cold hard truth that I see in scripture. These are Gods ideal standards with the first is the most ideal standard, then so forth.
I'll probably fail to convey the message I want, there will be misunderstandings and other ideas. So let's not be angry with one another but try and understand one anothers perspective and come to the knowledge of the truth. Let's have the attitude that we want to focus on Gods will and his eternal plan. Let me mention that just as King Hezekiah believed in the God of a second chance, so do I, but first let's explore the ideal standard.
1. God's Perfect Standard for Marriage
a) Two people marry for life
Reference: Ephesians 5:31-33
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be
joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great
mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless
let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and
the wife see that she reverence her husband.
2. God's Allowance For Divorce
a) Spouse fornicates
Reference: Matthew 5:31-32
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a
writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away
his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:
and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
*NOTE There is no allowance for remarriage here. It doesn't exist and he
who marrys her that is divorced commits adultery.
3. Gods Allowance For Remarriage
a) Death of Spouse
4. Other Allowances For Divorce
a) Unbeliever Departs
Reference: 1 Corinthians 7:15-16
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under
bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest
thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O
man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Now let's look at real life situations, we are human and will be so until Christ takes us to be with him.
What do we do in abusive situations?
We could raise the argument that we are not suppose resist evil but turn the other cheek. And Christ did set that example for us and that is the Biblical model.
Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Personally I've had trouble doing this and I failed. Am I lost? No, I don't think so, I think Gods grace keeps me because I am weak.
So how does this apply to a woman in an abusive situation? The truth of the matter is that some women endure it, but most don't and they flee the marriage, even in countries where there is no divorce. Each of us has a patience threshold and once reached just can't take any more. I also believe that God meets us where we are at. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses.
Even though Christ is our standard and commands us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect, he only expects our best. Grace covers us when we fail, and grace only covers the humble. How many realize this? God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 ... Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
I would not tell a woman to flee an abusive marriage because that's not Gods standard, yet if she does I will not condem her and I don't believe God does either. And in situations where children are concerned a mother does have an obligation to protect that child.
Can she remarry? The Bible doesn't make allowance for this unfortunately and this is the hard truth. I just can't see where she can knowingly remarry. If anyone does know please feel free to share your insight.
Some Final Thoughts:
If you remember King Hezekiah, he was the King of Judah in the 7th or 8th century BC and he believed in the God of a second chance.
It's interesting that even long before Christ came there were some who understood mercy. Yet in this day are we taking mercy to an extreme and allowing too much? Not realizing just what mercy is and how we should think about it?
We live in a very liberal society and an observation I have made is that in the day Christ lived he looked very liberal to those people. In comparison to our present day, Christ is very conservative. I think it's important to think on these things.
I believe also that we have to be careful that we hang on to mercy so much that we lose site of obedience.
1 Corinthians
6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
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Last Updated ( Jul 04, 2009 at 10:03 PM )
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Divorce & Remarriage 
