The Bible and Church on the Idea of Divorce
Breydon Daniel
Professor Chastene
New Testament
28 February 2017
Divorce and Remarriage
The idea of getting a divorce and remarrying is something that has been debated since even the days long before Jesus. Divorce is something that is becoming more and more relevant in our society. In a 2001 survey it was recorded that around 70% of marriages involved at least one divorced party. What does the bible say about divorce? Under what circumstances would a divorce be okay? How do the different denominations feel about divorce? All are very good questions that will hopefully be answered shortly.
To begin, throughout the bible there are many instances where divorce is brought up and discussed about whether it is okay or not. In Matthew chapter 19 when Jesus is asked about divorce he replies “Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?" So they are no longer two but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). In the eyes of God, marriage is a lifetime relationship that should not be undone by human action. The apostle Paul added to these teachings of Jesus what is called the “Pauline Privilege.” According to this, Paul taught that if an unbelieving spouse leaves a believer, the believer is not bound to that marriage, and therefore is free to remarry. As it says in 1 Corinthians “But if the husband or wife who isn't a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace” (1 Corinthians 7:15). The gospel of Luke is very straight forward when it says “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery” (Luke 16:18). However, there are some cases where divorce can be okay.
Next, there are some instances where divorce can be seen as okay, and also some instances where divorce is not okay. Today most couples seeking a divorce do so for unbiblical reasons. Instead, they cite reasons such as poor communication, incompatibility, financial problems, lack of commitment to the relationship, or a change in priorities. Although none of these reasons can be found in the bible as “a good reason to get a divorce,” it is noteworthy that Jesus does see some circumstances that legitimize divorce. In the Jewish society of Jesus’ day, remarriage was always assumed for the innocent party unless prohibited for some other reason. Whereas, unfaithfulness would make a marriage invalid, and allow the innocent party to remarry, just like a single person. The bible gives two clear ground for divorce, sexual immorality and abandonment by an unbeliever. Divorce is always viewed as the last resort.
Finally, many of the main Christian denominations even have different beliefs when it comes to divorce and remarriage. Henry VIII of England is famously known for breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church in order to divorce his wife. The Catholic church has very strict guidelines on divorce. The church considers the bond of marriage to be a sacred bond, one that is based on life-long love, fidelity, and family. They believe that marriage is both a legal bond on earth and a spiritual bond which god has witnessed. In the catholic church there is something called an annulment, which is not the same as a divorce. An annulment is a declaration that the marriage was never valid in the first place. A remarried Catholic can still take part in mass but is no able to receive holy communion. A remarried Catholic may receive holy communion only if the marriage has been annulled by the church. The Methodist church believes that marriage is a life-long union, but is still understanding to those who have been divorced. This does not mean that the Methodist Church regard divorce frivolously, but they do treat the situation somewhat sympathetically. The Baptist Church has no centralized policy regarding divorce. Those who have been divorced are welcome to join. The decision to remarry a couple lies with the minister. Some feel that it is inappropriate and will not perform the ceremony where as others will. Orthodox Christians believe that the church does have the authority to end marriages and can grant divorces. Remarriage is allowed, in church, but it should not be a grand affair. Third marriages are rarely allowed.