We live in the day of the search for loopholes in God’s marriage law. By that I simply mean that too many of our so-called “brethren” are constantly looking for ways to make divorce okay in the sight of God. Amongst the many arguments made, brethren have also stated that divorce is okay if you remain unmarried. One pretentious Christian woman declared she did not love her husband anymore, was putting him away, and she says she’s okay with God if she does not remarry. Those holding this view say this is pleasing to God. They twist the words written by Paul to the Corinthian brethren wherein Paul stated: “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife” (I Corinthians 7:10-11). Of all the words written by Paul in these two passages, brethren focus in on “let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband” as though that is all that is taught in these passages. What about the Lord’s commands to both the husband and wife in these passages saying: “Let not the wife depart from her husband… let not the husband put away his wife”? I beg to ask the question, does the permissiveness of the statements of remaining unmarried or be reconciled all of a sudden overturn the commands not to depart and not to put away? Doesn’t reason and logic make us conclude that Paul is not condoning an action he in the same text forbade, but rather is stating the two choices that remain to the now unmarried couple? In fact, shouldn’t we infer from these passages that the permission to remain unmarried or reconcile is in fact stating the obvious, that neither party has authority to marry another? Wouldn’t that inference also be in line with what we read throughout the whole New Testament in regard to divorce and remarriage? “Brethren” will rightfully teach that doing something contrary to the will of God is sin (I John 3:4). How then can “brethren” turn and say that departing and putting away is contrary to the will of God, but also permitted on the basis of no unlawful remarriage? The loophole is not found in I Corinthians 7:10-11. In fact, if you reconcile those two passages with what Jesus taught you see the whole picture. Let’s begin this section of our brief study with what Jesus taught: “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… The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19:3-9). Read what Jesus said and what Paul said. The consequence of a divorce, with the exception of the divorce being for the cause of fornication, is sin. Paul did not say, “but and if she departs that’s okay with the Lord.” Paul remained true to the words of Christ that what has been joined together let no man put asunder. Paul did not contradict what Jesus taught. There may be cases wherein reconciliation cannot occur (i.e. if the man or woman departs and their mate will not take them back). That would be the case wherein one would have to remain unmarried. Still yet, that does not mean God is happy with this breaking of a vow. The teaching that God is okay with divorce if neither party remarries violates other scriptural principles. When two become married they make a verbal commitment and most often a written commitment to be married for the lifespan of both parties. To later decide to end this marriage that person would then be breaking their word and would thus become a liar. Do we need reminded that God hates liars (Proverbs 6:16-19)? How then can one say God would be okay with a wife or husband leaving the other as long as they remain unmarried. That party has then broken their word and sinned by lying (Colossians 3:9). Are we then going to argue that God is okay with that while still teaching that ALL LIARS will spend eternity in Hell (Revelation 21:8)? When two parties “exchange vows” before God, they’d better be intent on keeping them (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Keep in mind also that when one or two parties agree to break up a marriage they are sinning by not keeping their responsibilities in the marriage. How can a wife submit to her husband when she’s leaving him (Ephesians 5:22-24)? How can a husband love his wife as Christ does the church when he’s leaving her (Ephesians 5:25)? How can a husband bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord when he is teaching them that leaving mommy is okay if I don’t remarry (Ephesians 6:4)? How can a wife be a keeper of the home when she is splitting it (Titus 2:5)? How could a husband or a wife honor the marital commitment of sexual activity when they leave their mate (I Corinthians 7:1-5 and Hebrews 13:4)? On and on we could go from there. You see, there are many sins committed when the marriage is broken up! I stand amazed at how quickly some will agree that divorce is okay. Our Lord hates putting away (Malachi 2:16). Shouldn’ t we imitate that mindset towards divorce, putting away, departing, etc.? If we cannot understand the solemn relationship of marriage, how can we grasp the commitment of a Christian? The simple fact is, we cannot! John taught that if we cannot love our brethren whom we see, how can we love God whom we cannot (I John 4:20). Consider, if we cannot remain committed to our fleshly mate, how can we remain committed to our Lord whom we do not physically see, hug, kiss, cry with, laugh with, etc. on a daily basis? Let’s start teaching against the loopholes rather than seeking them out! |
| Volume VII ~ Issue XXIII ~ March 4th, 2007 |
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
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What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)? Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17),
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
| Edited by: Brian A. Yeager |
| Is Divorce Okay if You Stay Single? By: Brian A. Yeager |
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| Do Paul and Jesus Contradict Each Other? |
| The Breaking of More Than Just One Law |
| Conclusion |