For the past couple of days the topic for discussion around here has been one that I really despise with a passion: divorce. I don’t despise it for what it is, but for how it is viewed and used in today’s culture and society. Unfortunately, it’s become more and more common to hear of people getting a divorce for reasons such as “we just don’t get along anymore.” Broken homes are not unusual. Women getting pregnant or couples living together out of wedlock is the norm. Nowadays, marriage isn’t always viewed as a sacred and holy life-long commitment. To some it’s just something one can leave when they feel like it. The concept of commitment doesn’t even figure in.
The Bible teaches us a very different view. Below are a few passages that express it:
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 – “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”
Matthew 19:3-9 – “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.”
When a man and a woman marry, they are no longer two, but one flesh (figuratively speaking, of course). Marriage joins them together as one. Divorce was created by man and is to be used with just cause. It isn’t something to be taken lightly or as an excuse to leave someone because one doesn’t get along with their spouse one day, etc., as today’s society and culture endorses. The Bible teaches that there must be a very good reason for the divorce of one’s spouse, such as (but not limited to) sexual impurity and abuse.
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Written By: Stephanie DeFoyd
A very good book on relationships recommended by focus on the family: Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts. Used that one for my lady relationship and it was very eye opening and pulled the rose colored glasses off. She was a charismatic and I am a protestant nondenominational. Made me realize not all Christian dogmas are the same and started a spiritual study for me. Now the Bible is my source and every pastor needs to abide by it and not make stuff up.
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