In today’s world divorce and remarriage is easy to come by, insofar as civil laws are concerned. Even in Christian circles, divorce and remarriage is becoming very common, and many Christians, claiming to be devout Christians seem to think it’s acceptable. However, God’s Word makes it clear that what may be acceptable in the eyes of man is an abomination to God. God’s Word is not hard to understand on the very important issue of marriage, divorce and remarriage. In fact, it’s very clear, unless people just try to gloss over the scriptures and pretend they aren’t there or that they surely don’t apply to them.
I started thinking about this issue because a couple recently came to me who are planning to “get married”. It’s an odd case. The woman was first married to a man who abused her as well as committed adultery, and she divorced him. According to scripture, she would have been free to marry again, which she did within a couple of years. That too was a mistake, and they divorced. He had not committed adultery, but eventually he died prematurely. During this period of time she remarried again, this time to an alcoholic, and he too died of his alcoholism. He had not committed adultery during the time of their marriage.
Shortly after than, she remarried the first husband, which only lasted a few months. During that time he did not commit adultery, (this time). They divorced, and shortly after, she married the next guy, and they separated after a couple of years. During the time they were married he didn’t commit adultery. They parted ways, but are still not divorced yet.
Please bear in mind that this woman had been “saved” early in her life, but had backslidden, (obviously). Between marriages she also had numerous sexual encounters, by her own admission, including living with different men.
Are you confused yet? If not, you probably will be if you continue reading. So, now, this man she is planning to marry has never been married before. The plot has already thickened, but now gets a little thicker. There is a serious scriptural indication, at least according to the proper understanding of God’s Word, (not the loosey goosey man made version), that not only this woman will be violating God’s marriage covenant laws, but will be causing this man she marries to commit adultery as well…(even if she legally divorces the guy she’s still married to). I might add here that this case may seem to be extreme, it’s not all that uncommon in Christian circles. and not only that, but be accepted into churches without so much as a raised eyebrow.
Now, many Christians, in reading the Word, and translating it in their own way and understanding seem to think that this is all very legalistic and harsh. But I’m not the one who made the rules, God did, and He makes it very clear in his Word:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5.
Does that sound like some pretty heavy stuff not to be dabbling around with where you’re eternal destiny is concerned? I would think so! People may be making all kinds of excuses to skirt the issues but God takes His Word very seriously.
This link is EXCELLENT,and covers all the ground, including that of what applies in the case of an abusive spouse, or abandonment.
http://www.gospelway.com/family/divorce_remarriage.php
Divorce and remarriage have become common as civil law allows no-fault divorce. A husband or wife may dissolve a marriage for almost any grounds and remarry, regardless of the will of their spouse. The result is that many people marry without considering the teaching of the Bible. Is fornication (or adultery) the only Scriptural grounds for divorce, or does the gospel allow marriage to be dissolved for other grounds? Please consider this careful study of the Biblical teaching.
Spiritual Abuse Sanctuary 