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The Theology of Divorce {Matt.5:32}

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Ray Berrian, Feb 20, 2003.

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  1. Ray Berrian

    Ray Berrian New Member

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    I was sorry to hear of Dr. Stanley's divorce. It should be a consolation, for some people, that he did not remarry.

    Jesus did say there was one reason why a man or a woman can remarry and that is because of an unfaithfulness of the other party in the marriage. [Matthew 5:32] I know the 'five point Calvinist' Mr. Harold Camping does not believe this, although he used to believe there was this exception.

    I also would advise men or women who are either habitually battered physically or emotionally to separate from their spouse. I don't believe that the Lord wants a wife to be beaten physically and to remain with a tyrant.

    I believe in a high bar for the Christian clergy but I see no evil if Dr. Stanley would remarry. Even if a Christian does commit a 'large' sin {humanly speaking}, does not God forgive? The Lord forgives and forgets. [Micah 7:18-19] 'Who is a God like unto Thee, who pardoneth iniquity . . . . and Thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.' In the New Testament God says in Romans 4:8 'Blessed is the man {or woman} to whom the Lord will not impute sin.' It seems that at times God's people are slow at forgiving and trying to forget the misfortune of a brother or sister in Christ.

    Some have wrongfully construed I Timothy 3:2 to mean that if a pastor divorces he should never be allowed to minister in the pulpit again. I believe what God speaking through the Apostle Paul means is that a bishop/pastor can marry only one wife and not more than one person. Some brethren who think that a pastor can never remarry have a very judgmental and even a 'Pharisaical attitude' toward a brother's misfortune in marriage.

    Even during these apostolic times Jews and Gentiles gave 'Letters of divorcement' because of insignificant reasons. God was and remains against this.

    Should any man or woman, clergy or non-clergy have to live without a mate the rest of their lives because of, in many cases, the adultery of their marriage partner? {and I have no reference to the Stanley family} If an innocent party in marriage does not remarry it may cause even greater 'ripples on the water' than if they were well-pleased in a second marriage.

    The tragedy is that Christian marriages have about the same average of divorce as the unsaved.
     
    #1 Ray Berrian, Feb 20, 2003
  2. Brutus

    Brutus Member
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    Ray;Ihad heard that the Stanley's had reconciled. Michael
     
    #2 Brutus, Feb 20, 2003
  3. ScottEmerson

    ScottEmerson Active Member

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    Let us remember that Paul (as he was a Pharisee) was once married, and that more than likely, his wife left him (as we do not hear about her from Paul.)
     
    #3 ScottEmerson, Feb 20, 2003
  4. npetreley

    npetreley New Member

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    I was going to point that out, but I wasn't sure if it was true that Paul was married. Someone mentioned to me that being married was a given if you were a Pharisee, but I don't know enough about the customs to know if he was right.
     
    #4 npetreley, Feb 20, 2003
  5. Ray Berrian

    Ray Berrian New Member

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    I had a Bible teacher who said that you had to be married in order to be a member of the Sanhedrin; I don't know if this can be documented.

    The Apostle Paul might have been a widower; perhaps his wife did not leave him.
     
    #5 Ray Berrian, Feb 20, 2003
  6. russell55

    russell55 New Member

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    I had heard this as well....
    I think that he was a widower is by far the more likely explanation.
     
    #6 russell55, Feb 20, 2003
  7. Yelsew

    Yelsew Guest

    What is Calvin's teaching on Marriage?
     
    #7 Yelsew, Feb 20, 2003
  8. Frogman

    Frogman <img src="http://www.churches.net/churches/fubc/Fr

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    Bro. Ray,

    Even if a Christian does commit a 'large' sin {humanly speaking}, does not God forgive? The Lord forgives and forgets.

    I agree with the greater portion of your post, my comment is that given the above statement and the record of Scripture the fact that we are of the Spirit of Grace, it would be greater to seek to be more Christ-like and pray God grant us the ability to forgive if we find ourselves in such a situation.

    I a few preachers whose wife left them when they announced their calling and followed Christ. This situation is much different than that of unfaithfulness, yet God often works in ways we cannot understand in order to humble our human spirits.

    Perhaps something of this nature was Paul's 'thorn in the flesh.' I know when I was in rebellion against God's calling in my life (to preach) I have suffered such that in my human mind, death would have been better, [​IMG] but God is much wiser than I and I am resolved to trust His Will and Purpose for me.

    The situation must always be considered, I am sure. Even then, not all people are going to be able to see the reasonings for Dr. Stanley's predicament, and this ultimately reflects not just upon the church, but upon Christ, especially in the view of the world.

    I hope Dr. Stanley and his wife have reconciled, this would certainly be Biblical.

    Yelsew,

    I am not familiar with Calvin enough to know his teaching on divorce. What was his position in the RC before seperating? Would he have even be married? I don't know, a good study point, though.

    Paul also did not recommend against marriage, but certainly warned against 'trouble in the flesh' as a result. At either rate, the devil certainly knows the weakness of man and holds no scruples in attacking these weaknesses in order to weaken the heart of man.

    I have heard preachers who explained this along with Matt. 19 by particularizing between fornication (being sexual sins prior to marriage; while adultery is within (during or after) the marriage relationship) The preacher I heard on this, though I don't necessarily agree, seemed to be saying the extramarital affair wasn't reason for divorce, but that pre-marital offenses, if not disclosed to the marriage partner, but discovered later, were. This was his explanation. As I said, I don't agree with this. Though my pastor and another preacher I know teach it this way. I have not yet bitten it. I don't see the ability to particularize fornication as sexual uncleanness prior to marriage only as they seem to be doing here.

    Does this make sense to anyone as to explain my position on this topic? :confused:
    God Bless All.
    Bro. Dallas
     
    #8 Frogman, Feb 20, 2003
  9. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    I am moving this to the baptist general discussions forum since it is not related to Calvinism/Arminianism issue.

    Please follow it there.
     
    #9 Pastor Larry, Feb 20, 2003
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