Christian Perception About Remarriage and Divorce

Divorce and Marriage

Divorce and remarriage

Divorce and Marriage is Permissible

In the current modern society, a breakup of the traditional marriage is the most significant challenge. Prior research on this matter suggests that 43% of first marriages end separation and possible within 15 years. Although these results are disputable, it is undisputable that the divorce is on the rise across the globe. The increase in divorce is the main cause of societal problems such as early pregnancies (teen pregnancies), suicide, alcohol, and substance abuse, and the hesitation of young people to engage in marriage. Therefore, divorce has resulted into many societal problems, and children have to pay the price. Disturbingly, a comparison between the Christians and non-Christians show that Christians are more prone to divorce (Paechter, 2013).

Therefore, it is clear that the divorce is a church problem. Considering that, Christianity teaches that lasting faithful marriages are part of God's purpose for Christians, the high rates of breakups in Christian homes show that the modern church is finding divorce to be a complex issue. In reference to the rising numbers of divorce cases and the adverse effects posed on the society and the church, it is vital for the church to have a coherent and consistent theology of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. In the church, today, people verbally acknowledge the bible, but they live in a different way, which fails to show a connection between the public confession and personal conduct (MacArthur, 2009).

The failure to live in accordance to the teachings of the bible has contributed to the breakups of Christian families. During creation, God had a plan for marriage and this is clear in the scripture. This plan makes Christians long for the experience of intimacy and love drawn in the biblical approach to marriage. However, the results are broken marriages, mainly because of the lack of getting the clear picture of God's intentions (Ksstenberger). Many of God's intentions on marriage are in the Old and New Testaments, in a variety of books.

On the other hand, Geisler (2010) in his work show that marriage is the most basic influential societal unit across many countries in the globe. It is, therefore, difficult to overestimate the significance of marriage, but then again, the high rates of divorce cases opt to contradict this concept. Considering that divorce has become a common theme in Christian homes, it is important to examine it to ascertain if the Bible justifies this practice. Owing to the fact that divorce is the dissolution of marriage, it is essential to consider marriage prior to a discussion of marriage.

Therefore, what is a Christian marriage? Is it justified dissolving a Christian marriage? From a Christian perspective, the nature and length of a marriage are crucial. In this regard, marriage is, therefore, a lifelong commitment between a male and female, which includes sex as ordained in the scriptures (Geisler, 2009). Moreover, marriage is a covenant, whereby God is a witness, and the male and female give mutual promises. Therefore, it is not only a union between male and female involving sexual rights, but also a covenant before God (Geisler, 2009).

Purpose of Study

Apparently, divorce is on the rise, and it is ironical that many cases of divorce involve Christians. This shows that the divorce is challenge within the church. Although Christians acknowledge the word of God, it is apparent that most fail to live according to the intentions of God. This is why there are many issues of breakups in the Christian homes. The objective of this study is to explore and examine biblical information on the issue of marriage, divorce, and remarriage to establish a theology of divorce and remarriage. Therefore, the study will provide empirical information from the Bible that God's intention of marriage was that of permanence.

In reference to these two exceptions, the study will illustrate that divorce which is in accordance with the exceptions; one is free to remarry. As for such, this study will further show that there are special conditions where divorce and remarriage are permissible. However, if an individual did not consider the two exceptions for divorce, or owing to other reasons, and opts to remarry, such have committed a sin. To achieve this, the paper will explore information from the Bible, and any other relevant material considering the subject matter of this study.

Marriage and Divorce

The Christian family is an important aspect in the Christian way of life. In reference to the Bible, there is a comparison of Christ's relationship with the church, which is likened to a man's relationship to his wife. Although there are exceptions, the normal way of life for any Christian is to marry and live a life of faithfulness until death separates them. God's intention was not for the married couple to encounter divorce; therefore, divorce is a human concept, which came to destroy God's intentions in the context of the family.

People outside the Christian religion, fail to see the consequence of divorce and remarriage as crucial moral issues. Many evangelists agree to the earlier statement that the divorce is a human concept, which is contrary to God's initial plan and concept of marriage (Clark, & Rakstraw, 1995). The evangelists will still hold on to the same argument even when the Bible, in some instances, welcomes divorce. Overall, divorce is sinful, ruinous, and tragic, but the evangelists will often argue that, in accordance with the Bible, remarriage after this sinful deed is permissible or not permissible.

Some evangelists will argue that an individual is correct to remarry if they are victims of adultery or desertion by their spouses, in an event, where their spouses fail to welcome reconciliation efforts. In addition, some will allow or favor the idea of divorce and remarriage in instances of mental cruelty or physical abuse, which is the common theme in the modern society (Clark, & Rakestraw, 2004). Nonetheless, before touching on divorce and remarriage, it is, therefore, essential to comprehend the original design put forward by God concerning marriage.

Marriage

Even if the Bible does not directly define marriage, the intention of God in relation to marriage is clear. The intention of God was for marriage to form a life-long relationship between a man and a woman. In the Book of Genesis, there is a depiction of how God formed the earth and human beings in His own image. Man's creation was unique this is because all other creations God created them using the word. However, in man's creation, God used a medium, and breathed life into man's nostrils.

This showed how exceptional man was above all the other creations, and consequently, man was given responsibility for other creations. In Genesis verse 18, God felt that it was not good for a man to be alone; therefore, he made him a helper. The creation time was different but on the same day, God created man first, and then created a woman, later on God decreed to make a companion for man. Therefore, God created both woman and a marriage to ensure completeness of humanity (Paechter, 2013).

In addition, the main reason for creating man and woman was for marriage purpose, which shows that marriage is not a human invention. It is an institution created and ordained by God. This is why Moses later on said, "Man will leave his father and mother to be united to his wife." The events of Genesis chapter two are essential to developing a biblical definition of marriage, which suggest that any definition about marriage should be central to the fact that God created marriage.

Different Views on Divorce and Remarriage

Having provided an overview of marriage it is important to understand the different positions put forward about the controversy of divorce and remarriage. Apparently, it is understandable for evangelists to hold that divorce is tragic, and its effects are painful. This makes it also understandable that the evangelists will suggest that remarriage is forbidden. Even so, authors in theology have provided diverse views on the same subject, which has further led to controversies. Their works have generated several conclusions; as for such, there is a time when divorce is always sinful, which makes the remarriage also sinful. In some cases, divorce at times is permissible, but remarriage remains sinful, or still, divorce sometimes permissible and remarriage sometimes permissible. This is how far theology work has brought about controversy, and this paper will provide an analysis of the three situations (Laney, 1990).

1. Divorce and Marriage are always sinful

In most cases, evangelists will hold that divorce and remarriage are sinful; however, there are those who see the exceptions provided in the New Testament concerning divorce. The exceptions allow the individuals to divorce without sinning. However, supporters of this view suggest that these exceptions are not applicable. In their eyes, divorce will remain sinful regardless of the contributing situations, and marriage will remain a permanent union. To them, the exception clause in Matthew refers to an incestuous union, and Jesus' was not addressing the issue correctly (Clark, & Rakestraw, 2004). This is because based on the Old Testament law, incest was forbidden. In addition, such a marriage was illegitimate, and they support this view of "always sinful" suggesting that the exception clause only appears in Matthew, which its message was referring to the Jews.

Owing to the lack of the exception appearing in Luke, the argument further suggests that the exception was meant for the Jews alone. In addition, those involved in such an incestuous marriage were allowed to undo the marriage, but it was not permissible for them to marry again. In reference to Paul's instruction on spouses who depart, this may only be a separation, which does not allow the other to marry. However, if the unbelieving spouse officially divorces the believer, and if the leaving spouse remarries, this does not allow the left member to remarry. This is because of the belief that marriage is permanent, and the left believer remains married before God (Laney, 1990).

Another case brought forward by the supporters of this view is that the situation addressed in Matthew 5 and 19 concerning the betrothal period, where a Jewish man and Woman, considered husband and wife for a year prior to marriage. This view, however, is hard to defend, but the advocates suggest that such does not stand under close exegetical scrutiny. Therefore, "porneia" is not applicable in a restricted sense concerning un-chastity in the betrothal period. In regards to this exception in Matthew 5 and 19, the interpretation brought forward is, when a person divorces his wife, except in the case of porneia, and afterwards remarries, the person commits adultery (Richards, 1990).

2. Remarriage is always sinful but Divorce Permissible Sometimes

This view identifies that there are instances where the spouse is victimized, and in such, a believer who divorces does not commit sin. However, this does not allow a spouse to remarry because there is a chance of reconciliation. The spouse who divorces should remain single and encouraged for reconciliation, instead of remarrying. Therefore, remarrying is a sinful act in this view. The view arises from Jesus' allowance of divorce, but not remarriage. In addition, the advocates for this view, further base their argument on the exception clause, which allows for divorce, but discourages subsequent remarriage. Therefore, regardless of marital separation or legal advice is allowable under special circumstances, subsequent remarriage after this is considered adultery, which is a sin (Richards, 1990).

3. Divorce and Remarriage are Permissible Sometimes

In this view, divorce and remarriage are permissive for two or more exceptions. In this case, there is an agreed evangelical perception of divorce for two exceptions, which are adultery (Matthew 5 and 19), and desertion (1st Corinthians 7). Therefore, if marriage faces any of the two reasons, the aggrieved person is free to remarry, and this is not a sin. Notably, there were many variations in this view in respect of the definition of porneia in the scripture according to Matthew (Richards, 1990).

Nonetheless, the exceptions find unification because they perceive a non-sinful divorce and remarriage. Another difference of this view is the exception clauses in Matthew and Corinthians, which show typical examples of offenses that, justify divorce. It is essential to see the similarity in the clauses, with principles highlighted in the Old Testament. Therefore, based on Jesus' statement that divorce was correct because of the hardness of the hearts of people (Matthew 19:8), and this appears in Deuteronomy 24 as given to protect the wife against an abusive husband (Eldredge, 2004).

Divorce and Remarriage

Given the perception of the Old Testament by modern Christians, it can be conclusive that most of them refer to writings in the New Testament. However, the topic of divorce and remarriage is not prevalent in New Testament books. In fact, the topic is entirely absent in books such as John and Peter, including books authored by Jesus' brothers, Jude and James. The only place where the topic is present is in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luka and Paul's letters such as Romans and Corinthians.

The earlier sections of this paper have provided a literature overview of the existing literature concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage (Richards, 1990). In addition, the sections do not provide a deep view on the subject matter of this paper, "Divorce and Remarriage are permissible." Nonetheless, the previous section has provided three accounts, in reference to the views of evangelists on the issue. This section aims to provide evidence from the Bible, but this time will provide deep analysis, which will support permission to divorce and remarry.

Divorce and Remarriage are Permissible

Apparently, the questions concerning divorce and remarriage have their own logic variations. Although the divorce is wrong, this does not mean that remarriages are similar. God's intention was for a lifelong marriage, which is not always achievable. When one repents, one changes their status before God. In reference to Jeremiah 3:1, 11, and 14, God called upon the Israelites whom he had earlier "divorced" to repent and go back to him, or have the same relationship they had with Him before. Therefore, this case makes it clear that if they repented, their divorced status would change. This, in reference to this study, it is appropriate to conclude that repentance can eliminate the adulterous status of the divorced who later remarry.

Matthew and Jeremiah

In reference to Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus taught referring to the issue of giving a wife a certificate of divorce; he rebuked this law and suggested that whoever divorces their wife, except where the wife was unfaithful, allows the wife to turn into treachery, and anyone who marries the wife commits adultery. Jesus referred to a comment on Deuteronomy 24:1. In this case, the mention of a certificate is an approach to regulating divorce and remarriage. However, people had different interpretations of the verse, and felt that divorce was permissive. In this teaching, Jesus said that although the provision of a certificate comes with some protection for the woman, this does not protect the wife from the wrath of God (Clark, & Rakestraw, 1995).

Furthermore, this was a way of letting wives engage in adultery, and enhancing divorce. However, Jesus did not mention that individuals who divorce and remarry are living in adultery. In addition, Jesus did not also mention that divorce was a sin, which could not receive pardon, particularly, the only sins, which God could not forgive were blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This means that divorce and remarriage are permissible as long as they are pardonable sins. In simple terms, Jesus had identified the variation between the ideal and real after distinguishing the earlier God's command not to divorce, and later on the grant to divorce.

This was not the intention earlier on, but God also did not condemn remarriage of divorced couples, just because he did not talk about remarriage. Jesus teaching on divorce was strict, but he also provides an exception for divorce. This is where divorce occurs on grounds of unfaithfulness, and in such, the divorce is not a sin. Shammai and Hillel appear when Pharisees asks Jesus a question on divorce. These two schools of thought developed in a bid to solve some of the problems encountered by the Jews, but they worked in opposition to each other (Instone-Brewer, 2002).

In respect to the school of Shammai, it maintained that it was not legal for a man to divorce his wife, except in a case of whoredom. On the other hand, the school of Hillel held that a man is accepted to divorce his wife for other motives, such as, when the wife did not find pleasure in his sight, and when the man saw another woman that pleased him. The two schools had different views, but both suggest that divorce and remarriage are permissible according to their perspectives.

Romans

In the book of Romans 7:1-4, Paul made clear the doctrine of sanctification to the people. Apparently, this is one of the most referred passages concerning divorce and remarriage in the New Testament. Paul uses an example of marriage to support the argument on divorce and remarriage are permissive. The apostle's point in respect to marriage is clear. In this case, death frees an individual from the law of marriage, similar to the way the death of Christ frees human beings from the bonds of sin. Although evangelists and other theology scholars will often give explanations that are varied, it is clear that divorce and remarriage are permissible under certain conditions such as death.