Posted on 05/16/2006 7:54:47 PM PDT by sionnsar
The only biblical warrant for divorce is adultery or abandonment by a non-believing spouse. It is simply not to be permitted in any other case. Is there forgiveness restoration and grace availible for divorcers and divorcees? Absolutley. But in this case it was never sought. It was a case of willfull, premeditated, and consistent rebellion. If you think I was going to let him come into the church and partake of the Lord's body and blood in the presence of the wife he abandoned, I don't have the authority to subvert God's word and order in that way.
Agreed that we should always have our spouse's best interests at heart..... but what happens if what we think is in our spouse's best interests is not something that they think is in their best interest? It gets messy.
I think (and I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt it) that when two people have the Holy Spirit residing in them, and this Spirit of love is clearly evident to the other, then this is the guiding force.
For instance, what woman, upon seeing, hearing, and feeling the Spirit of Christ in her busband, would not respond to that love? And what man, observing the Spirit of Christ in his wife, would not love such a woman?
Perhaps this is too simplistic, but sometimes I think the answers to complex questions are quite simple.
I don't disagree with your statement there as I think it is supported quite well by scripture. However, what is abandonment? Do you think that the word simply means 'depart' as it states in the good King Jimmy? Or does it mean abandoned as in 'one leaves the institution of marriage'? How do you respond to Poster No 5? What would you advise him to do (or have done) in his case? When two people marry, it is essentially a contract to have sex (and if they are Christians, in the manner that is prescribed and approved of by God). What is the appropriate recourse for a man or a woman who has married in good faith with that natural understanding and the other person decides to arbitrarily withhold the marital duties and responsibilites of sex with his or her partner? I'm not talking about a day or a week for physical reasons but for months and years as texan75010 has articulated. That is a contract breaker no? What is the appropriate response - and let's assume that one has already gone the routes of talking to the pastor, seeking counseling, trips to the doctor etc etc etc.
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