A DIVINE INSTITUTION

WITH A HUMAN PROBLEM: DIVORCE

By Charles Spence

"For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates Divorce" (Mal. 2:16). In today's society and even in this very community there is evidence that some people could care less whether God hates divorce or not. This is especially true of those who will divorce their spouse for any reason under the sun. This attitude shows a lack of reverence for God's divine institution and a lack of obedience toward God's marriage laws. Little do these know that such neglect results in the destruction of society and soul.

Jesus had taught that marriage was a lifetime commitment in Matt 19:5-6. Whenever the union is broken, sin is involved. Divorce is contrary to the divine will of God. Homes are broken and children are scarred consequently. Animosity, bitterness and strife are cousins to remarriage after divorce. Society is injured when the homes are injured. Someone once said, "The destruction of a nation begins in the homes of its citizens."

People are divorcing their partners for any and every reason. Jesus said there was one reason that divorce would be tolerated: "Except for fornication" (Matt. 19:9). Fornication is translated from the Greek word PORNEA, and includes all aspects of sexual immorality. The person who divorces for ANY other reason causes the one put away to be in danger of committing adultery. If the person who put the other away remarries, he or she has committed adultery.

Some people have said, "Well I know what it says. Surely God will not look down on me because I divorced my lazy, abusive, non-supporting spouse." Well, God knows what He said: "He hates divorce." To reiterate Jesus words, He says "EXCEPT FOR FORNICATION." Some people talk as if God is not sure of Himself. To say "Well surely He won't hold it against me if I had a divorce" is to say that surely God will deny Himself. "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" (2 Tim. 2:13). "Thus God determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie" (Heb. 6:17-18a).

For many people this is a hard pill to swallow, but it is the only cure. Jesus said "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it had been given . . . he who is able to accept it, let him accept it" (Matt. 19:12) This is why marriage must be held in high regard. "Marriage is honorable among all and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:2).