The Bible teaches that marriage is given to us by God as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church. As a result of the purpose of marriage God has given us certain requirements and limitations to marriage. The Bible teaches us that God intended a marriage to be a lifelong covenant relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24). God also has taught us that His people are not to marry outsiders. This is seen in the Old Testament in God’s instruction to the nation of Israel to not intermarry with Gentiles (Deuteronomy 7:3) and in the New Testament in Paul’s exhortation for Christians not to be bound to unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 6.
The Bible considers a person married when a man and woman have first purposed within their hearts to make a binding and lasting covenant, and then made this inward conviction public by professing to be married. This differs from the current popular understanding in that today’s culture rejects any form of absolute truth and teaches that two people can consider themselves married by whatever standard they choose to apply.
The point at which the Bible teaches a person is married is very important because of the bible’s teaching on Divorce. God is firmly against divorce. This can be seen in the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees recorded in Matthew 19. Jesus clearly taught that no one should ever separate the marriage relationship. When the Pharisees asked Jesus about Moses teachings on granting a certificate of divorce Jesus responded that it was out of the hardness of man’s heart that God allowed for this to be so. While there are biblical reasons for divorce (e.g. sexual immorality) it has never been God’s intention for a marriage to end in divorce and hence divorce should be avoided at all costs. This is in stark contrast to the manner in which today’s humanist culture looks upon divorce. With the exaltation of the individual desire over God’s truth and the good of society divorce has become a question of current personal preference; when a man’s tastes change so does his wife.
It is often argued that if God were incessantly against divorce He would have expressly prohibited it in the Bible. The Bible does indeed provide for circumstances that allow for divorce. In Matthew 19 Jesus teaches that a man may divorce his wife in the event of sexual immorality on her part. However, it appears that this is not the perfect situation as the Lord would desire it to be, but an allowance made again due to the hardness of man’s heart. In the same manner that monogamy is taught in the Old Testament (Genesis 2), but God allows polygamy to continue. Another example of God the difference between what God wills and what God allows is that God wills that all men come to the saving knowledge of Christ, but God allows some to reject Christ and suffer the eternal penalty of their decision.
The decision to divorce one’s spouse carries with it great social and spiritual consequences. The most significant is the spiritual consequence that comes with rebelling against what God teaches is his will. Along with that the social impact of divorce cannot be ignored, especially where there are children involved. Divorce erodes the foundation of the family, and when a child is involved creates a situation where the child grows up with limited access to either their father or mother. This leads to significant other problems for the child and predisposes them to other negative behavior. God’s truth must be kept as the standard and not man’s own desires and whims. Man, in his own power, lacks the ability to do anything that will in itself please God.[1]
If a person has had a divorce, there must be a way for reconciliation. Many people have taught that if one is divorced they should never remarry. This idea goes against the whole of the biblical teaching of redemption. There is no sin that is unredeemable and there is nothing that a follower of Christ can do that disqualifies them from participating in God’s glory. If someone chooses divorce, they have chosen poorly and against God’s will for their life. However, God has pardoned us from the eternal consequence of our sin nature, the same nature that leads some to have a divorce.
This Bible is clear, God despises divorce and once a man and woman are joined together in one flesh they should not be separated but by death. But God does not hate the divorced person, and He is able to work though their life for His glory as well.
[1]Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 497.
No comments:
Post a Comment