Divorce and Re-Marriage

Divorce

The Scriptures lay down conditions which allow divorce: chiefly, physical abuse (Malachi 2:15,16) and adultery (Matthew 5:32). Although the Bible allows divorce for these reasons, that doesn’t mean someone must divorce if the spouse commits one of these.

The element of forgiveness is important (1 John 1:9).

The Bible says that God ‘hates’ divorce; divorce is breaking a covenant (Malachi 2:14-16). Divorce also leaves many hurts for the couple since it takes time to grow apart, and it hurts any children involved. However, God’s grace is available to heal the hurts.

God allows divorce for the above conditions because of the hardness of hearts (Mark 10:3-8). There are times the sinning spouse refuses to change, especially with unbelieving spouses.

The highest goal for churches and leaders of churches in the area of marriage is to pray and counsel to save marriages. If a marriage does end in divorce, the Church has a responsibility to minister love, healing, and acceptance to those involved.

Remarriage

1 Corinthians 7:27 shows that some Christians were contemplating divorce; the second part of the passage shows that if someone had divorced they should not immediately marry again, on the rebound.

Statistics in the United States, show that 80% of second marriages end in divorce. They divorce the first spouse merely for so-called “incompatibility,” or “a new experience.”

1 Corinthians 7:28 show that remarriage is not sin, but it takes work.