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Mandy Gay
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Joined: 07/18/2008 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 12/20/2008 at 1:55am
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Hi all,
In my time as a believer, which is coming upto 10 years soon, I've heard hardly anything spoken about the following command by the Lord. Only one person I know of has resolved to remain single unless she is reconciled to her ex-husband, other than that it seems pretty well accepted in Christian circles that divorce and re-marriage are no problem. Is anyone else sensing that there's something wrong here???
1 Corinthians 7:10,11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
Love Mandy
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Pat Huff
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Joined: 11/08/2008 Location: United States
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Posted: 12/20/2008 at 7:03pm
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Hi Mandy- Yes, you are sensing it right. There is something wrong. The word can't be much clearer on this subject, but the world has gotten into the "church" and many believers have been led astray by secular culture, especially in the areas of sex and marriage. People make excuses for their misbehavior and rationalize their disobedience to God's word, the world looks on and shakes their heads at us because we are no different from them. God's word remains steadfast and unmovable and shouldn't be watered down and compromised. I think unusual circumstances may allow for a divorce in good concience under some conditions, but that should be the exception rather than the rule. GOD HATES DIVORCE!
__________________ I am your friend in Christ
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Larry Silverman
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Joined: 01/30/2005 Location: United States
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Posted: 12/21/2008 at 4:58am
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Mandy and Pat... I'm glad that you brought this up!
Question for you, in trying to generate discussion on this subject.... Do you think that I Cor 7: 10-11 is dealing with all people or only those who are Christian?
For example... a couple go through a divorce prior to becoming Christians, one of them gets saved, etc., then meets someone who is likewise a Christian... are they free to marry?
__________________ Dr. Larry Silverman, M.C./Psy., M.Min., D.C./Psy.
http://www.larrysilverman.com
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Ann Doupont
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Posted: 12/21/2008 at 8:43am
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Larry,
That's a good question (about whether or not they are free to marry). I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.
Ann
__________________ Books and booklets available for purchase. More information at www.anndoupont.org.
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Pat Huff
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Posted: 12/21/2008 at 9:00am
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Hi Larry- I would think that the admonitions of most of the epistles are for Christians only including I Cor.7. The revelation of Messiah brought a higher standard to family life than what was already known by either Israel or the gentile nations. To give an answer to the second question, I would believe that the former divorce would not be charged to the Christian couple since it was part of the old life and they would be free to marry. Seeing that opinions vary greatly within the body of Christ, my suggestion would be let your concience be your guide, seek counsel from a godly pastor and put it before the Lord. He wants us to be free and happy.
__________________ I am your friend in Christ
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Larry Silverman
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Posted: 12/21/2008 at 6:13pm
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Yes Pat... I agree.
One problem that comes around in this issue is casting everyone into the same basket. I've learned years ago to really listen to the Holy Spirit when it comes to counseling people on the divorce and remarriage issue. This is not all "cookie cutter" type of stuff!
__________________ Dr. Larry Silverman, M.C./Psy., M.Min., D.C./Psy.
http://www.larrysilverman.com
http://www.larrysilverman.blogs.com
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Mandy Gay
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Joined: 07/18/2008 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 12/22/2008 at 1:58am
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Hi Larry, Pat & Ann,
Having sought God's heart over the whole marriage issue, I believe He has a very deep concern over us keeping the vows we make to each other, however difficult that may become. When the marriage vows are broken, incredible damage is caused, probably far beyond our understanding. There is something very profound about the "two becoming one" issue which Jesus talks about. He states that even after divorce, marrying someone else is adultery. There is something in relation to that original covenant which cannot be severed or undone by the seems of it. I don't think that approaching it in a legalistic way however helps, but seeking to know His heart and the implications on our hearts is the key. We are made in His image and so knowing His heart on the matter is essential for our own sakes. I think that there is probably more to this than we have been led to believe.
Love Mandy
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Mandy Gay
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Posted: 12/22/2008 at 2:38am
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As to whether the command is for unbelivers as well as believers...
If you're a non-believer then you are not going to be concerned about being one in heart with God. God's desire is for people to love as He loves, not to blindly follow rules and commands. The person who follows God's commands but lacks His heart, is no more in line with His purposes than someone who ignores His commands are they? The whole point of marriage is to reflect God's heart towards your spouse through oneness with Him, in this way being the same as Christ is with the church. Surely that is the point of the command.
I think that looking at God's way of loving the church gives us the answers.
Love Mandy
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Pamela Helmick
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Posted: 12/24/2008 at 8:25pm
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If a spouse commits adultery, Jesus did give the innocent spouse a reason for a divorce and even remarriage. But this is only for the innocent spouse. The one guilty is not allow to marry after the divore.
__________________ Faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love.
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Mandy Gay
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Posted: 03/14/2009 at 6:38am
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Bumping this back up to ask if we realise we are actually talking about bigamy here?
Love Mandy
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