When is divorce OK?

[Eddie Vargas]

Ok know I'm gonna open a can on this one but what are the conditions within a marriage that allows for a certificate of divorce besides Adultery?

[B-LoK!]

Divorce is NEVER "OKAY" All divorces come with a price & it is always best to attempt reconciliation first.
Adultery,Gross Abuse and Abandonment.

[George]

Wow ! this is going to get Good !!!
Well we all know that God is against divorce , however there are certain situations where it is allowed
God will always forgive and heal those who suffer through a divorce.
I will post more later .

[Pastor Jerome H. Weymouth]

Divorce? Now it will open a can of worms, Some people feel that once your married that's it and they force themselves to live on in a life of unhappiness. Other's cheat on each other and still stayed married. Sexual immorality is the main cause for divorce. Either party can divorce their spouse, this is bibical. The only 2 reasons for divorce given in the New Testament is sexual immorality and abandonment.

Matthew 19:7-9
7 They said to Him,"Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"
8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."
NKJV

1 Corinthians 7:15
15 But if the unbelieving partner [actually] leaves, let him do so; in such [cases the remaining] brother or sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to peace.
AMP

These are the only two reasons for divorce in the new Testament. Now you can write volumes and volumes for reasons. You can go on the internet and get books like "divorce for dummies" and "how to ditch your ole lady" And "slapping your spouse" and of course that best seller " a ten step guide to dumping your little dumpling". Seriously its all about sexual immorality, and abandonment. Sincerely Pastor Jerome

[George]

Hey Jerome , help me out here. i have searched and searched and searched the scriptures and I agree with your two reason that divorce is allowed . However along the same study I have not found any scripture that allows for remarriage ! So far I can not biblically explain to someone that remarriage is permissible because of the same scripture you just used "whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery"
What am I missing scripturally ? I know that due to God's grace remarriage is permissible but scripturally I do not know how to get around the above scripyure .

[Christopher Chapman]

george,

i have had the same problem. i dont think i have a verse for it, but i handle it in two ways.

1. someone cant marry after being divorced because marriage is a covenant. so unless a covenant it broken it is still in force. death ends the covenant so the spouse that didnt die is free from the covenant and can freely marry. since a key part of the marriage covenant is sexual relations, when one spouse breaks that vow (adultery) then the covenant has been broken. the partner that was innocent is free to move on, the guilty partner seems to be stuck, and i dont know easily how to get around the conclusion that they have to stay single.

2. the second is going to sound real heretical and outside of scripture, but i hope my brothers will hear my heart on this. life is so complicated and there are so many issues that arrive. i think in some situation the pastor or leadership has authority to guide people through the intricate issues. what i mean is that if someone is divorced, according to strict "biblicalness" (new word!!) they should remain single. but i think the leaders at that point need to take into account all of the revelation of god. that is, does god really want a guy who cheated on his wife, gets divorced and later is brought to repentance and restored to stay single and tempted the rest of his life? paul says the single should get married because of temptation. so doesnt that fit that brothers situation? i think the reason jesus gave the command was because people were playing around with marriage and taking things for granted. i dont think he was making a blanket rule that is set in stone, that the divorced man is "damned" to a single and tempted life. i think at this point the leadership has responsibility to guide the person from where they are at, not where they should be in an idealistic world. and i think that god always gives authority with responsibility, so the pastor has the right to "bind" and "loose" what is accepted and not.

-that is how i see it, but i know that is not a specific verse that can answer those that would say a divorced person can never marry again. i think the bible gives spiritual authority and basic principals, it is up to the leadership to help guide the flock through the things that are "unwritten".

i hope that doesnt sound to heretical, i am against divorce, just trying to find redemption in the mix of life.

[David Velasquez]

It is of extreme importance that we go back to the Greek when dealing with the word use for sexual immorality. The Greek according to most Exegesis (I have taken introduction to Greek only, so please don't think I am trying ot get all intellectual) does not only refered to adultery, but is inclusive of other sexual immoralities, such as homosexuality etc..

[Robert Jimenez]

David, you don't need to apologize for any knowledge you have attained. We need more intellectuals that love God and his people. ;-) That have great attitudes!

[David Velasquez]

That's right baby... Man I wish more brothers would get into the discussions, no question is dumb and yes we need more bros to use the nugget. hahaha. Praise God - thanks for the reminder Robert. God call me as He called Paul - on a one on one encounter. I was beginning a 4 year sentence in prison (@ 14 years ago) and HE came into my cell and the Holy Spirit just barraged me with conviction and I dropped from my bunk to my knees and sob as He redeemed me. I remember simply saying if you are real and you can change me, please change me and forgive me. Since then I have been in love w/my Lord, but I never had the privilege of being mentored by anyone personally and I inquired of the Lord as to why? I asked men in the past, even one of my previous pastors and they have not been interested. God did answered me and told me that He wanted to be my mentor personally and He wanted me to see what a great need there is for such men. I am grateful God call me to join Praise Chapel for it is a very special family of believers in that respect. I welcome correction brothers and God has blessed me with thick skin, so if you need to pull my ears, you got my permission, not that Jerome needs it. Hahaha -LOL. Thanks Robert.

[David Velasquez]

So sexual immorality is not only referring to adultery, but its inclusive of other sexual deviations, in which case God allows divorce.

[Pastor Jerome H. Weymouth]

David: or should I say Junior?
I glad your eyes are open and not closed to correction. With a closed mind it makes it difficult to learn anything. It is like the guy who is trying to explain the play off system of the best of 7 games series and the other guy is factually wrong and you know it and yet he keeps responding wrong answers and thinks that your wrong. Whew!!
Now correction can be grevious, if it is done in the wrong way and communicated in the wrong way. Recently I had a disagreement with another brother over a very minor issue. I did not recieve what he was saying because I thought it was childish! Then He says "I'm trying to correct you", not that would make anyone blood boil! (including yours!) Correction must be done in a spirit of love and wisdom! If you have an ought against a brother, then maybe you should give it to the Lord in prayer and let Him take care of it. Believe me God can do a bet ter job than you can. You okay with that, Juinor?

[David Velasquez]

Hahaha. You too much pops! And yes -Junior can roll with that.

[Pastor Jerome H. Weymouth]

okay, sonny!