Posted on 11/23/2002 5:07:20 PM PST by Ex-Wretch
Mal. 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4:18). John the Baptist told Herod (Matt. 14:4). Up until as recently as 50 years ago, divorce and remarriage was well acknowledged as adultery. What has changed? It hasn’t been the Word of God!
The Word of God is quick and, sharper than a two-edged sword! Those who fear God and are led by the Holy Spirit are able to rightly divide and properly discern it. These are they which obey, rebuke, admonish and exhort one another in this sin-sick world. And likewise, they who do not obey (sinners), will take scripture and twist it to their liking so as to “justify” their disobedience and desire for pleasure. They wrest God’s word to agree with their sin. This is basic denial and, the selling of one’s soul for a mess of pottage. And, the biggest offenders today not only commit the sin but teach it and preach it from the pulpit. Woe unto these blind guides! Satan knows the Word of God. He used it to tempt Jesus into “justifying” comfort, disobedience and sin.
Matt. 19:6 “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
It is God that joins a man and a woman’s hearts together when they, without guile or deceit, vow before Him to bind themselves unto death. Courts only serve the purpose of providing legal witness that two people have voluntarily contracted under the laws of the state … not the laws, commands and precepts of God.
Matt. 6:31,32 “It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
Matt. 16:18, “Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.”
Some will say “doesn’t God forgive the adultery”? Most certainly. He also commands that it be repented of. That means turning away from it. God’s forgiveness is conditioned on our repentance. Jesus said that both he/she who divorces/remarries and him/her that has been divorced/remarried “committeth” adultery. That means that it is not just a one-time past sin but an ongoing sin. A person in a divorced/remarried state is living in a continual state of sin! A one-time forgiveness does not clear your continual sin. It must be forsaken! The adulterous connection must be broken! To choose one’s own way instead of God’s holy command is presumptuous at best and fatal at worst.
Matt. 19:8 “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.”
John 4:17,18 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.”
Just like the scribes and Pharisees, others will say that the Old Testament, via Moses, allowed divorce and remarriage. Still, what does the Lord Jesus say? Only because your hearts were so hard and your ways were so carnal. If Moses hadn’t allowed you to separate you would have killed each other! (paraphrasing) But where, may I ask, is Jesus’ approval of divorce and remarriage? You won’t find it because he never gave it!
Matt. 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Matt. 6:14,15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
Still, many will say “if the wife or husband is unfaithful then the marriage covenant has been broken and the innocent party is free to divorce and remarry”. Is that so? What does “for better or for worse” mean if not this? If, after coming to a saving relationship with Christ, you fall and sin, is He free to divorce you? Are we not to emulate our Lord? Isn’t this what being Christ-like is all about? Of course it hurts to be cheated on! Yet, if we do not forgive as He forgives us, we have the full assurance of His Word that our heavenly Father will not forgive us! Is hanging on to your hurt and bitterness worth eternal damnation? Forgive. Forget. Surrender all to Jesus. Be healed. Seventy times seven.
Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Yes, marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. Jesus is the head and we are the body. The man is to be the head but, he is to be under Jesus as Head. He is to provide for his wife and direct the family as he also submits to the guidance and direction of the Lord. Just as he expects his wife to yield unto him, he must also yield unto Christ. If he will not submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in his life, he cannot even govern his own life righteously.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
And to those who say “it is too hard” or “unnatural” to live alone without a mate, well, Jesus proved it was possible to abstain from sex. Isn’t God’s grace enough to keep you? It’s enough to save you but not enough to keep you from sinful sexual relations?
Matt. 19:12 “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”
And what if your spouse has divorced you? Even if it was for Christ’s sake? How are we to live then? Is it possible to live a life holy and pleasing unto the Lord when all that is natural screams out for the companionship and affection of a mate? Remember friend, our dear Lord was also fashioned after a man and was in all points tempted as we are. He died and rose again so that we could have power in this life over sin, the devil and the flesh! We are to walk as he walked. Yes! It is possible to be delivered and kept from yielding to the carnal lusts and live in victory over sin!
Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Forgiving the divorce(past) ... sure. But, forgiving a future sin(remarriage to another while the spouse is still living) which will be committed with impugnity against His commandments because one is not willing to serve and obey Him ... that is pure presumption.
... seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:6)
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: (Hebrews 4:6)
Is a divorced man permitted to be a pastor in your current denomination? Is so, why? If not, why?
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (1 Tim. 3:2)
If he is as above, why not? What if his wife divorced him because he chose Christ and she did not? (this happened to me) And, he never remarried(also my situation), holding to the Lord's teaching regarding committing adultery in such an instance. Is she not still the wife of his youth and the only wife he's ever had?
As to being blameless(living a holy life unto the Lord), it is mandatory for all saints (not just the pastors) to put off the life of sin and live in righteousness, holiness and obedience.
"Is a divorced man permitted to be a pastor in your current denomination? Is so, why? If not, why?"
MAKE THAT INSTEAD: Is a divorce AND remarried man permitted to be a pastor in your current denomination? If so, why? If not, why?
Has he remarried his original wife that God recognizes? Yes.
Has he married into adultery? If he is still in the adulterous union, no.
If he has repented of the adultery, disengaged from it(i.e. divorce #2) and now walks in newness of life ... maybe :)
Don't forget the part about reaping what he has sown. :(
In the Nazarene Church yes and I believe in the Baptist also ..BUT I would have to check wiith Jerry. I believe the issue is if there is a divorce while serving..That would show the man could not manage his own houisrhold as scrpture says he must
This is a new take on this that I'd never heard before.
Isn't there an old testament restriction on divorced people remarrying the same person if that person has in the interim gotten married and divorced again?
Just think you're being a one tune wonder and not considering all of life's possibilities.
Again, what does our Lord say? Does he lay down any conditions that one may remarry?(other than the death of one's spouse) The answer is an emphatic NO. He did give a condition to divorce(if you won't forgive the unfaithfulness). But, nowhere does He say that it is ok to remarry anyone other than the spouse that God recognizes as your spouse. Of course, to do this would require forgiveness and reconciliation (a picture of how it would be between Christ and us if we should commit sin against Him).
"and not considering all of life's possibilities."
Life is full of possibilities(choices). Ever read Pilgrims Progress or Foxe's Book of Martyrs? Holiness unto the Lord is the calling to all who name the name of Christ. The easy way and broad road lead unto destruction. And many there be(most) that go that way. But, the straight way and the narrow road lead unto life eternal. And, few there be that go that way.
Yes, I've read it and I think it's in Leviticus. However, There are many Old Testament laws that are no longer applicable to the Church of Jesus Christ. Can't imagine all the dietery restrictions or stoning your child for household rebellion. However, we are definitely to heed all that our Lord brought forth. As hard as it may be to forgive your spouse for cheating on you (or divorcing you), we have the ultimate example, Jesus Christ, to emulate.
It should be noted that in the Old Testament the Lord says that He is married to the backsliding adulterous Israel (and her likewise adulterous sister Judah) and beckons them to return unto Him, even though they have played the harlot! How much more so should we forgive after the Son of God suffered for us and plainly states that "... But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Hmmmmmmm. Something to think about.
BUT the first marriages were before the conversion..
Many interpret the remarriage to be a "wife." The scripture says the elder is to be the "husband of one wife." Therefore, one who is divorced and remarried in this view has more than one wife. By that logic it doesn't matter if it was before or after conversion.
This is in conflict with 2 things as I see it.
1. The probability that the "husband of one wife" restriction actually referred to the practice of multiple marriages/polygamy.
2. The promise that we're forgiven when we become Christians and all our past sins are removed.
(Just so you know I'm not sandbagging you, I gave my answer to this question in #35 above.)
Deuteronomy 24:1-4
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