There is a third instance in which we believe remarriage is acceptable in scripture. I do not happen to be in that particular segment of the christian brotherhood. The only biblical grounds for divorce are 1 fornication any abnormal sexual activity, 2 adultery unfaithfulness of a marriage partner, or 3 a nonbelieving partner who initiates the divorce due to incompatibility with a christian. But there are certain circumstances in which divorce is permitted, and in which remarriage is not frowned upon for example, deuteronomy 24. The clear new testament passages on divorce and remarriage. Scripture is clear that god hates divorce, that he considers the marriage vow a sacred covenant. Carl laney, william heth, thomas edgar, and larry richards debate the more perplexing points. The old testament contained a few provisions governing the remarriage of divorced people lev. A biblebelieving christian can biblically claim that all divorce is out of the will. That document, dated may 2, 1989, represents the position on divorce and remarriage that will guide the church in matters of membership and discipline. Like a tornado ripping an oak tree out of the earth by its roots, a storm of adultery, abandonment, abuse, or apathy can tear a marriage from its biblical bedrock.
Third, we list the key texts in scripture concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage. It is crucial that we use an accurate edition of gods word that has not been altered by words being removed and mistranslated. If we look at all the different christian view points about divorce and remarriage, to put away and marry another we will find that they all fail to meet some or all of these requirements from the word of god listed below. Marriage is a covenant agreement, meant for life, therefore it must not be broken under any circumstance. Readers of this paper should be sure to consult the official position paper of the council of deacons of bethlehem baptist church entitled, a statement on divorce and remarriage in the life of bethlehem baptist church. Obtain this book in print to bring this teaching to a group anywhere in the world contact josiahs scott other free resources.
The church, therefore, should seek always to discourage divorce as a solution to marital problems. Divorce and remarriage by tony evans, moody publishers divorce and remarriage. William heth contends that while there are legitimate biblical grounds for divorce, there are no legitimate grounds for remarriage after divorce. They believed such remarriage was allowed for the same reason certificates of divorce were allowed under moses, for the hardness of mens hearts. One of the most interesting things about these two books is that the author of the divorce is sometimes allowed, but remarriage never is position, william heth, one of the most well known authors on the subject at the time, realized he was wrong, and is actually the proponent of the remarriage is allowed under some circumstances position in. Jones is associate professor of christian ethics, southeastern baptist.
Purposely, the book, marriage, divorce and remarriage stemmed from the authors experience of growing up without his biological father being there for him and his siblings. A study of the subject of divorce often involves remarriage as well because of the. Since time had passed, almost 200 years since christs death, the church had grown up and no longer needed such an allowance. Divorce and remarriage for the christian has always been a provision by god in the bible. We also believe that he created marriage to be the foundation of a strong church and stable society. Strauss facilitates the conversation well by exploring the complexity of the issue, which tempers the reader from expecting a complete treatment by the. It will also explain how we arrived at this juncture and give a clear distinction regarding the secular and christian worldviews on this vital subject. Divorce and remarriage david c f wright, dd when paul wrote to timothy, all scripture is given by inspiration of god and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 timothy 3. Any pastor in any church will tell you that not a week goes by in which pastoral counselling must be performed to help a troubled marriage or to repair a failing marriage with someone in the. An impressive resource on the topics of divorce and remarriage is the 1990 book divorce and remarriage. The book remarriage after divorce in todays church. If you take one lie and add it to the bible it will kill people spiritually just like any other poison.
What is the biblical view on divorce and remarriage. The extreme yes yes view divorce and remarriage allowed with few exceptions of the four views presented here, this is the one least represented in conservative evangelicalism. What jesus said about divorce and remarriage this is a translation of a threepiece article written for a lay audience and published in 1994 in the norwegian christian newspaper dagen, by arne rudvin, at the time now retired bishop of karachi diocese in the church of pakistan. Under the rabbinical laws, if a wife displeased her. Near the end you restated that only god can end a marriage. Remarriage after divorce has always been gods heart. The bible gives very scant guidance regarding remarriage after a divorce. Teachings of scripture regarding divorce and remarriage recognizing that the bible is the very word of the living god to man, and understanding the priority of knowing and obeying its truths, the elders at oakhill christian church are deeply committed to study and teach with diligence and authority concerning the subject of divorce and remarriage. Four christian views, david instonebrewer, and william heth his current position and craig keener in remarriage after divorce in todays church take this position. Trends in marriage and divorce figure 1 lays out some facts about marriage and divorce in the united states over the last 150 years. But this universal marriage law is the basis of jesus law about divorce and remarriage.
Fourth, we summarize the four views concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage held by people who are committed to a high view of scripture. This view teaches that christians are allowed to divorce because of adultery or desertion by an unbelieving spouse, but they must not remarry. The bible makes it abundantly clear that god hates divorce malachi 2. Sometimes to find the truth, it pays to find what is not true. Remarriage after a divorce may be an option in some circumstances, but that does not mean it is the only option. Quotes about divorce and remarriage from christian history.
The rabbis had taken these laws and broadened them to permit divorce for virtually any reason. Statistically, the divorce rate for marriages in which either or both partners have been divorced before is almost double that for firsttime marriages. Not everyone who appeals to scripture agrees on how. Find christian based information on situations that arise in any relationship between husband and wife. Christian divorce and remarriage uploaded a video 5 years ago 4. Divorce and remarriage introduction gateway church. When it comes to divorce and remarriage, everyone appeals to scripture but no one agrees on what it says. Focus on the familys position is that divorce and remarriage appear to be justified in scripture only in a few instances.
Divorce and remarriage introduction we believe that god instituted marriage as an earthly picture of christs relationship with the church ephesians 5. This book describes the beliefs of four evangelical protestant leaders concerning divorce and remarriage. I still have to exercise considerable study and practical wisdom concerning many issues, not the least of which is the divorceremarriage controversy. The purpose of this book is to expose, in a nonjudgmental way, where the church is today in dealing with the divorce and remarriage issue. Christian divorce and remarriage, different view points. There was a time when those in the church were the least likely to divorce but today, with the law allowing one spouse to divorce the other for no reason at all, both christian and nonchristian alike have. Four christian views, david instonebrewer, and william heth his current position and craig. From what we can tell, a lot depends on the circumstances and the attitudes of those. Jesus words recorded in matthews gospel, usually translated as except on the grounds of sexual immorality, do not contradict the clear rejection of divorce in other texts of the new testament.
Proposals for a christian ethic of divorce and remarriage are numerous, and several surveys of the major positions are avail able. Such a sensitive debate cannot remain abstract, so a case study. When one spouse is not a christian, and that spouse willfully and permanently deserts the christian spouse 1 corinthians 7. A biblical perspective by clair martin the matter of divorce is all around us, in our families, and among our friends and work acquaintances.
Christian divorce and remarriage including advice and help from a christian perspective. How the inaccuracy of the niv has changed the way the church views divorce and remarriage. It is painful and hurtful, and it causes much heartache. Generally speaking, christians tend to fall into one of four positions on this controversial issue. If the original law was universal in application to all people, and if that law is the basis of jesus law of divorce and remarriage, it must have the same universal application. In fact, the purpose for a biblical divorce is to make clear that the faithful partner is free to remarry, but only in the lord rom.
Jesus explained that provisions for divorce in the old testament were an accommodation to the hardness of peoples hearts and a necessary evil matt. It describes the beliefs of four prominent, intelligent, devout, conservative protestant theologians. Carl laney, william heth, thomas edgar, larry richards on. Carl laney is one of the authors in this series and i. Divorce, remarriage, and honoring god desiring god. Remarriage is permitted for the faithful partner only when the divorce was on biblical grounds. This view allows for divorce and remarriage, as in the moderate yesyes view, but does not stop with the exception clause of divorce for adultery or abandonment. Divorce and remarriage repentance revolution view book as a webpage html download book as a pdf also.
For helpful summation i will simply offer a modified viewpoint of the last position authored by fr. A brief study on marriage, divorce and remarriage for the. The ethics of divorce and remarriage xenos christian. Any divorce poses a serious challenge to further marital success. The nono view no divorce and no remarriage this view is the most stringent of the four.
Thomas edgar defends the position that scripture allows for divorce and remarriage in cases of adultry or desertion. A divorce theology for missionary organizations loma linda. A redemptive theology by rubel shelly leafwood publishers divorce and remarriage in the bible by jay adams, zondervan books all books available through christian book distributors 1800 2474784 christian book distributors p. A biblical view of marriage, divorce and remarriage. Sadly, divorce and remarriage are widespread realities in the body of christ today. There are morally acceptable grounds for divorce e. When as his mother mary was espoused 3423 to joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the holy ghost. Proponents of this view claim that jesus never advocates remarriage.
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