Posted: 12/20/2008 at 1:55am | IP Logged

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

Posted: 12/21/2008 at 8:43am | IP Logged

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

Posted: 12/22/2008 at 1:58am | IP Logged

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

Posted: 12/22/2008 at 2:38am | IP Logged

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

Posted: 12/24/2008 at 8:25pm | IP Logged

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.

Posted: 03/14/2009 at 6:38am | IP Logged

Bumping this back up to ask if we realise we are actually talking about bigamy here?

Love Mandy