Seven Most Important Reasons Why A Born Again Christian Should Not Opt For Divorce–Part 1

Seven Most important reasons reasons why a born again Christian should not opt for divorce – part 1

Introduction

As Israelites lightly esteemed the things of God, today’s Christendom takes the things of God lightly, especially the matter of marriage, and the people of God do exactly what gentiles do – in some cases, worse than gentile, and continue to proclaim themselves as Christians.One of most difficult trouble what the Church is facing all over the world is the broken marriages. Furthermore, we fail to seek the healing of the broken marriages, which is another complication continues to ruin many persistently.

Synopsis

The seven topics that I am going to discuss are listed here:-

1. Because God hates divorce
2. Because Marriage is a covenant
3. Because of the Scriptural restrictions on divorce and Remarriage of divorcee
4. Because of the God given parental responsibility
5. Because of the relationship between Christ and the Church
6. Because of the bond of the marriage which continues till the death of the spouse.
7. Because God forbids the separation of the couple

A divorce is like an amputation: you survive it, but there's less of you.

--Margaret Atwood

1. Because God hates Divorce

God is the author of the Marriage, as he himself instituted it in the Garden of Eden. Jesus said very clearly that let man not separate what God has united. If God unites the Christian couple, then God only can decide about their divorce. God hates the divorce -- He hated it in Old Testament days and he does so in New Testament days. If God is the center of Christian marriages, no man or woman can decide about the divorce. Satan loves divorce just because God hates it and he always works against God. No Christian can say that it is God’s will for him or her to get the divorce. The marital relationship may get broken due to misunderstanding or lack of love; but, it should never end in divorce. God always works for the healing of the broken marriages.

Even the unsaved wife or husband should not be divorced. If the unsaved partner wants to walk out from the home of a believer he or she can do that – but the choice is not given to believers to walk out.

^{"A covenant is intended by God to be a lifelong fruitful relationship between a man and a woman. Marriage is a vow to God, to each other, our families and our community to remain steadfast in unconditional love, reconciliation, and sexual purity, while purposefully growing in our covenant marriage relationship"}

Source: covenantmarriage.com

2. Because Marriage is a Covenant

"Yet ye say, wherefore? because the Lord hath been witness thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy COVENANT."

Malachi 2:14

Covenant is a very serious matter. Marriages is neither just a relationship nor meant for mere fun and enjoyment. Basically, marriage is a covenant and both partners are entangled by the covenant. The marital relationship is not based on like-mindedness, love or sexual fulfillment. What’s happening today? If one of the Partners is not satisfied in opinions or love or sex, he or she quickly opts for divorce.

Christ said the only ground of divorce in Old Testament days was the adultery. In New Testament, we are expected to forgive others as Christ forgave us. If a man or woman forgives the spouse who has committed this sin, ultimately the question doesn’t arise for divorce. God made the relationship with Israel by a covenant and he stood for his covenant irrespective of their unfaithfulness. In marriage, both the partners make the covenant and both need to be faithful to the covenant. As our God gives importance to the covenant we also need to give importance to the covenant. True marital relationship stands not on our feelings or our desires, but on the covenant.

3. Because of the Scriptural restrictions on divorce and Remarriage.

Let us listen to the words of Christ on divorce and remarriage:

"And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Marks 10:2-9 KJV)

"And he saith unto them, whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery." ( Marks 10:11,12 KJV)

Christians divorce and they don’t wait for the counsel of God for the next step. The word of God stands forever and the Scripture can never be broken. Christ said the divorce on this ground of adultery was permitted by Moses because of the hardness of their hearts. Remember God forgives our sins as we forgive others.

"But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." Mathew 5:32

Here the Lord speaks about the restrictions in remarriage. Today's Christians think that anyone can remarry anybody and neglect the teachings of Christ abruptly. If Jesus Christ is the Lord of our life, He has to take the decisions. God can heal the broken marriages. The failure rate in remarriage, in America, is higher than the failure rate in first marriage.

Continued in Part 2.......