Posted on 01/04/2005 12:24:26 PM PST by Keyes2000mt
The words were said countless thousands of times last year as a minister concluded the ceremony. "What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder." But so often man and woman do.
While gay marriage has been roundly condemned in most churches (and rightly so), you will not hear much about divorce. In many cases, if divorce is discussed in church, it's talked about as this horrible circumstance that comes upon people, listed in the same breath as automobile accidents or serious illnesses.
The Bible is quite clear on the issue of divorce. Malachi 2:16 says it clearly, "For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that He hateth putting away (i.e. Divorce)..." Hate's a strong word and Christ reiterates this in the New Testament. Yet, in the church, even in Conservative churches, a man is more likely to feel uncomfortable with pierced ear than with a couple divorces behind him.
There's good reason why the church and conservatives are skittish about this topic. There's no one who doesn't know someone who's been divorced. They fill our church pews every Sunday. We know them to be decent folks who agree with us on a lot of cultural issues. Randall Terry, Newt Gingrich, and Rush Limbaugh have all been divorced.
We also know folks who have been victimized by their ex-spouse: abused, cheated on, and treated like dirt. Or, perhaps you dear reader have had a divorce where you weren't at fault and that you didn't choose.
On the other hand, most Christians know very few homosexuals and even less know homosexuals who'd like to get married. The odds of a pastor offending a large tither whose gay and wants to get married is quite small.
To say our current divorce rate is a national sin is not to say that all divorcees are to be condemned and treated as despicable outcasts. The church should be compassionate, but even as Christ said, "Go and sin no more," It must be proactive in dealing with divorce.
Divorce must be taught against strongly in the church. The church as a community should be dedicated to helping preserve the marriages of the church. Strengthening the marriages of believers should be considered as important if not more so than evangelism. Children of broken homes often wander spiritually and in many cases fall from faith. Thus, a large church may win 100 converts, but if it produces 40 broken homes in the same year that leads to 100 angry and embittered children, it is not truly building the Kingdom of God.
Also, church discipline should be used when appropriate for those who divorce without just cause and refuse reconciliation efforts. Watching Cornerstone Television, I saw former NFL player and Pastor of Antioch Bible Church Ken Hutcherson. He organized the Mayday for Marriage rally in Washington, DC opposing gay marriage. Call him anything you like, but don't call him a gay-hating hypocrite. Hutcherson said that in the past year, he'd censured five members of the church, including some for ending marriages without just cause.
The structure of most Protestant Churches is anti-authoritarian and the idea of church discipline is scary to most of us as we've heard horror stories about how cults have abused it. However, desperate times call for desperate measures and a biblical use of church discipline could aid in preserving marriages.
Secular Action
The devastating number of divorces is an area where the interests of church and state collide. Studies have shown that divorces lead to economic problems for states and communities, as well as the long term problems that come from children of broken marriages. It's no accident that the richest states are those with the lowest divorce rates.
The fact is that anyone who finds themselves in a bad marriage made a mistake at one time or another. Half the time, their biggest mistake was getting married in the first place. To prevent these bad matches or to help get the marriage off on a better start, marrying couples should be required to undergo several hours of marriage classes and/or marital counseling from a licensed minister or marriage counselor.
Secondly, no-fault divorce laws must be reformed. Marriage is the most important relationship a person has legally, yet it has all the force and effect of a month-to-month lease thanks to no-fault divorce laws. The laws should be reformed so a no-fault divorce can only be obtained if both parties consent. This would also reduce the court costs associated with issues of custody and division of the property as a no-fault divorce could only be obtained if both parties were agreed on it.
Those who believe in gay marriage have pointed to divorce as an argument against those who seek to protect marriage from same sex unions. I reject the argument that one evil prospering requires that we allow another blow to traditional family values. However, preserving the family is about more than one single issue and if we're going to be serious about it, we have to address all the issues that threaten the survival of the Family.
Aawwwwwwww shucks....*blush*
"But one stat that is interesting is that kids do better if one of their parents DIE than if they both are alive, but get divorced. Dr. Laura has mentioned this many times."
Dr. Laura is not an expert here. I am..., my father died when I was younger and it affected me tremendously. I wouldn't have been so despondent if it was "only" a divorce, after all, I still would have had my father in my life. Where she is pulling these statistics is beyond me (it's not, but I don't want to say where I think they are coming from). **and it's not her head**
You might consider going over that pastor's head--with the Board and any ecclesiatical superiors. I don't know the legal implications of doing so--which should be checked out.
But I wouldn't sit still and have a pastor prolong such agony out of idiocy or any other excuse. That dork needs a vigorous education.
You know how to use FReep mail........feel free to rant when the need arises.
I applaud you for seeking to help your children be happier.
Ignore the sanctimonious twits, they are not worth your time, you have more important things to worry about.
Your husband really doesn't need the shotgun,but he DOES have to meet ALL of her dates at the door and lay down the ground rules.
I thought it was a bit much as well. I just wish these guys would try to set out something reasonable to support their beliefs, rather than resort to name calling. I can deal with someone who I believe is well-intentioned, even if I don't agree with them, kwim?
Those who know you,love you! :-)
Now I'm blushing. :)
hehehe You are so silly. :)
Actually, I agree with you. But I've never figured out a viable way that would be attractive to 99% of the population.
*^> Don't ya know. The right woman is pretty much everything.
Better late then never, I always say.
That mentality really disgusts, me, too.
It's especially ridiculous,when they don't know anything at all about the person they're attempting to cudgel. There abject stupidity,is the only thing on display.
ME? LOL
from what I hear tell, boarding schools are worse these days...
You can protest and keyboard joust all you want, but until you deal with whatever guilt and/or anger is inside you, I doubt you'll ever be truly happy.
But I think I'd be man enough to admit it was a sin.
Perhaps I should have included you in my previous post. Why oh why do you have to be so nasty? Did you read her posts about her situation? Because if you did, I don't understand why you are behaving this way, unless you like being rude to others.
Please, tell me why you want to act like this, because honestly, seeing stuff like the things you and some others are posting is really upsetting.
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