Should Christians Divorce?
DIVORCE DOES NOT COME FROM GOD
Division does not come from God. Divorce goes against God’s design, ministry of reconciliation, and several of His commands. You cannot obey God and seek divorce. Most people do not set out for divorce. In the beginning you cannot wait to be together. Over time, offenses set in and build invisible walls. Unforgiveness is the culprit. Divorce has catastrophic seen and unforeseen consequences. Jesus said the only instance when divorce was possible was in adultery but even then it is not a command. He would rather see reconciliation. Life will not be better with a divorce. In fact, it could even grow worse even though you dream or imagine that life will be better away from the person you are married to. Most likely these thoughts are based in unforgiveness and hate—two things that God says are an abomination. If you are being abused then certainly remove yourself from any situation that is harmful. Just make sure that God would agree that your honesty, integrity, holiness, and motives are pure and seek restoration through Godly counsel as much as depends on you. There are many verses that instruct us on this subject of divorce. These are just a few. Divorce and division are a reminder to God of how His people have turned away from Him. Before you divorce, consider these sacred Words from our LORD:
Malachi 2:16 NASB2020
“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of armies. “So be careful about your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
Mark 10:4-9
They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
- GOD HATES DIVORCE
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
- WHEN WE TAKE SIN FOR GRANTED IT ENDS UP COSTING US AND THOSE AROUND US
Luke 6:27-31
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
- GOD COMMANDS US TO LOVE THOSE WHO HAVE HURT US
Romans 13:1
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Hebrews 12:8
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
- FOR CHRISTIAN’S, THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY FOR RESISTING, REBELLING, OR IGNORING GOD’S AUTHORITY
1 Corinthians 12:25
“…that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”
Titus 3:1-11
As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
3 John1:10-11
So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
Jude 1:19-21
It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
1 Corinthians 3:3
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
- CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED NOT TO LIVE IN DIVISION. DIVISION HINDERS THE GOSPEL, SHAMES THE NAME OF JESUS, AND PAINTS A FALSE PICTURE TO THE WORLD THAT SIN IS OK.
THE WORLD MAY BE TELLING YOU THAT DIVORCE IS YOUR BEST OPTION. JESUS DOES NOT APPROVE. DEAR BELIEVER, JESUS CALLS US TO LOVE THE WAY HE LOVED AND SAVED US. MARK 7:15 SHOWS OUR SPOUSES CANNOT PUT THE ANGER, HATE, DIVISION, FEAR, AND HURT IN US. THEY ONLY BRING OUT WHAT IS THERE. IF CHRIST LIVES IN YOU THEN HE HAS GIVEN YOU ALL THAT YOU NEED THAT PERTAINS TO LIFE AND GODLINESS. YOU HAVE HIS FORGIVENESS, HIS JOY, HIS PEACE AND HE CAN HELP YOU WALK THROUGH THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS VICTORIOUSLY. CONSIDER GODLY COUNSEL TODAY, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR SPOUSE IS WILLING TO WORK ON THINGS WITH YOU. DIVORCE HAS DEVASTATING AND INCALCULABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOUR FUTURE, YOUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE, AND YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE. CONSIDER THE WORDS OF JESUS:
Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.
