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Divorce and the Bride of Christ Excerpts from the book:
from the Foreword This book was written for believers whose marriages are troubled. It was written to help the friend, counselor, or pastor whose intervention could help believers who are facing divorce or are dealing with the aftermath thereof. It was written as an exhortation to the church that will soon face the specter of divorce again.
from Chapter 1: Initial Considerations The subject of divorce presents perplexing questions: • Does the Bible require an unhappy marriage to continue? • Does the Bible prohibit marrying again after divorce? • Is the divorced believer condemned to a life of loneliness, celibacy, and stigma? • Can God's purpose for marriage be disregarded? • Can God's will for one's life be destroyed? Any interpretation of God's Word that creates an unholy outcome cannot be correct. If you have already adopted a position about divorce, you would do well to stop and think through the necessary outcomes of the position you have taken. (What answers do you have for the five questions above?) When the Scriptures that discuss divorce are wrongly interpreted, the resultant life outcomes are tragic and unholy. *************** The term one-flesh includes the physical aspect of marriage when a man and woman join together, but it specifically describes the oneness created when they give and receive love based on an intimate knowledge of each other's needs. This intense companionship goes beyond the physical relationship to put an end to loneliness, thereby fulfilling God's purpose for marriage.
from Chapter 3: Divorce in Context The one unifying factor in the study of doctrine that helps to put the various Scripture passages into a meaningful, systematic whole is context. Context is the interpretation of any one verse or passage in accord with the rest of Scripture. This clarifies the meaning of a given passage and its relevance to the subject under consideration, resulting in a comprehensive interpretation based on the inerrancy and entirety of Scripture. *************** Any discussion of divorce that begins with the permissibility of divorce ("Is it right or wrong?") limits context to the termination of marriage, not its purpose. *************** In His sovereign wisdom God declared that it was not good for man to be alone. This is significant. Adam had been placed in a perfect environment and enjoyed the very presence of God Himself, yet he was alone. God's purpose in marriage was to create a relationship for man in this physical world that would meet his earthly needs for companionship. When a marriage does not provide companionship and a man or woman end up married but alone, then what?
from Chapter 4: Divorce and Dissolution Dissolution, when applied to divorce that occurs because of fornication or unbelief, means the end of a marriage so that there is no longer any tie between the former husband and wife. Dissolution is the means by which God separates that which is unholy from that which is holy. It is the ultimate remedy to behavior that abuses the marital relationship ("abuse" as defined in chapter five). *************** Dissolution is a reality. Consider Jesus' discussion with the woman at the well: "Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly." (John 4:16-18) In this exchange Jesus validated the fact that dissolution had taken place five times. ("Thou hast well said . . . no husband.") *************** Any interpretation that leaves a believer bound in a one-flesh relationship that has been rendered incapable of providing companionship because of fornication or unbelief is a misinterpretation.
from Chapter 5: Divorce and the Bride of Christ The church is the final court of appeal when there is trouble between believers. When couples who profess to believe are engaged in behavior destructive to their marriage, this passage [Matthew 18: 15-17] assigns the church the authority and responsibility to intervene. *************** Inherent in the idea of being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 12:1-3) is a believer's desire to protect his or her testimony. This should result in a ready willingness to have one's actions examined by fellow believers if accused of offensive behavior. When a professing believer will not allow his or her conduct to be evaluated for conformity to the life of Christ or obedience to the Scripture, he or she abdicates any claim to a living faith. When marital problems are the issue, divorce becomes a matter of biblical separation from unbelief.
from Chapter 6: Marriage after Divorce When divorce occurs because of fornication or unbelief, it is not the act of divorce that violates God's purpose for marriage but the fornication or behaviors of unbelief that destroyed the possibility of companionship. In contrast, when divorce occurs for any reason other than fornication or unbelief, it is the act of divorce that violates God's purpose for marriage.
from Chapter 7: Closing Considerations There are two basic fallacies about divorce and remarriage: that all divorce is forbidden by Scripture and that all marriage after divorce results in adultery. These fallacies often serve as preconceptions that wrongly influence the interpretation of the Bible. *************** The mission of the church is twofold: (1) to actively assist believers whose marriages are troubled, and (2) to seek out and reconcile with those who have been denied their rightful place in the body of Christ because of divorce, and restoring them to full fellowship and service. Failure to act means that believers will continue to suffer in marriages where fornication or behaviors of unbelief have violated the marriage relationship. *************** The discussion of divorce is a microcosm through which we can appreciate the need for correct understanding and application of biblical doctrine in all of life. The absence of biblical knowledge and accurate doctrine has made the church weak and emaciated. To all who are willing to act on correct doctrine, let the work begin!
end of excerpts
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