Marriage is an institution ordained by God from the beginning of time. The subject of marriage started even before sin finds its way into human existence. Marriage is a very wonderful part of human existence and even God noted that it is good for man to be married.
Marriage goes beyond just companionship; it is also about destinies coming together to fulfil God’s agenda for their lives. God’s intention for marriage is good and perfect. Any man who want to be fulfilled God’s way in his marriage must of a necessity learn the act of God. The relationship between Christ and His church also gives us so much glimpse into God’s pattern for Christian’s marriage and how he wants both parties to play their role.
Based on God’s intentions and plan, God intends that marriage should of a necessity be between a man and a woman. Not a man and a man neither is it between a woman and a woman. The idea of gay marriage and its likes are against the will and agenda of God.
So, God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27
The creator of Heaven and Earth is the one who originated marriage. And He intends that it should be a life long union between the two individual involves. Sadly, many believers now no longer see anything wrong with divorce. Although, that has been the norm in our present society, believers need to understand that not seeing anything wrong in divorce is against the Christian faith and believe.
Seeing that it is God that originated marriage, it is also necessary for us to see His take on divorce. The truth remains that God hate divorce. This can be seen in Jesus’ discussion with the pharisees.
Matthew 19:3-9 (New International Version)
3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ 5 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’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
7 “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
Aside divorce being a moral dilemma, it imposes a lot of troubles most especially to couples with children. The children often times suffers the result of a broken home/marriage. God is never happy with a couples getting divorced.
GROUNDS WHERE DIVORCE IS ALLOWED
As afore mentioned, God does not support divorce. But there are also areas where the Christian faith paid attention to that is considered as biblical grounds where divorce can be an option. Those grounds are listed below
- ADULTERY
Matt. 5:32
everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality makes her commit adultery.
The scripture makes us understand that divorce is possible in this instance based on the fact that one of the parties breaks the matrimonial covenants between both parties. It clearly stated in the scriptural passage above that adultery is not really a good practice and can cause divorce.
2. WHEN AN UNBELIEVING PARTNER NO LONGER WANTS TO LIVE WITH HIS OR HER SPOUSE ANYMORE
1 Cor. 7:15
But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
When an unbeliever spouse files for divorce. Divorce is also considered in that context. On several occasions, due to difference in lifestyle an unbelieving spouse may now file divorce to the other partner. In such case the scriptures support that divorce can be made possible.
Other factors such as abuse, violence or coercive control are also legally considered when determining divorce cases.
IS REMARRIAGE POSSIBLE AFTER DIVORCE?
Rom. 7:1-3
Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. 3 So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.
1 Cor. 7:39
A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
For a faithful partner who got divorced based on biblical grounds, such believer is permitted to remarry. However, the believer is only permitted to marry in the Lord. The believer is also not permitted to marry an unbeliever.
CONCLUSION
Divorce is not always the best option for a Christian marriage. Every marriage at the verge of collapsing needs serious intercession to God for it to remain. If your marriage is worth fighting for, seek God’s help for survival.