But I wondered if anyone had commented on the surprising Scripture in 1 Corinthians 7: 12-17. So I read everyone’s comments. No one had, though the friend John Ireland mentions could have – our internet connection here isn’t good enough to find out.

In that passage St. Paul says that, if either a husband or wife is a Christian and the other is not, and if the nonChristian wants a divorce for no other reason than that, it’s permitted. Paul may have only been answering a question someone asked him about that specific issue. But I personally have no doubt that if he thought conflecting religous beliefs were a valid ground for divorce, he’d have considered abuse much more so. It’s worth reading, especially in any good modern language translation.

I’ve NEVER heard a pastor or teacher mention this passage. It’s one of several “forgotten” Scriptures my family’s stumbled over during our Bible readings in recent years. (A couple others, not on divorce, which NO minister has ever mentioned in my hearing, are Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:13-14, which teach that part of our tithe is supposed to be used to help the poor, like orphans, widows, and immigrants. Back then that meant all of the tithe every three years. Today, given the differences in our society and economy – especially all the monthly payments both the church and the poor have these days – I suspect Moses would probably now say “give a third of EVERY tithe.”)

My wife and I have an interesting perspective on this issue. We were married to each other in January of ‘92 and had 4 wonderful children. Unfortunately we divorced in December of ‘02. She remarried in December of ‘04 to a guy who suffered from chronic depression and he left in June of ‘06 and they divorced. We were gloriously remarried in October of last year and have seen God do such a redemptive work in both of us.

We both have ministry backgrounds and neither of us EVER thought we would taste divorce and definitely not to this degree. God is beginning to use our story to give hope to others.

Our church youth group studied this topic this year and I learned quite a lot about divorce.

I don’t know a lot about wedding vows and all that stuff, I’m not married yet, but I do know that when whoever wrote the famous words “to have and to hold…for better or for worse…in sickness and in health…til death do us part.” actually meant that the marriage would last for as long as the spouse did. Many times, people just see marriage as something that they will take part in “until I’m tired of this person”. And it makes me sad, because marriage is a picture of what God has done with us, taken us as His bride, never to separate, to become one for all of eternity.

God absolutely hates all divorce, legal or not. “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. What therefore God has joined together; let not man seperate.’” Matthew 19: 5-6

God’s intention for marriage was to become one. Though He hates sin, He allows divorce if there is sexual immorality. This sexual immorality being marital unfaithfulness.

When the question came up about abuse in marriage, I searched and searched for something that said the husband or wife was allowed to divorce. However, there is nothing in scripture that says so. I am saddened by this, but I know it is God’’s will and that He has a purpose and a plan. I don’t think it is wise for a person to stay with an abusive spouse, but don’t get divorced, separate

Now I’m not saying that separation should just be a cop out. Try to make your marriage relationship work. Go to counseling, pray together, seek God in His Word together.God should be the center of every relationship. And when He is pushed to the side, the relationship begins to fail.

Anne,
I became aware of this website through the 2008 SAGE ministries magazine. You had written an article about forgiveness. I was inspired by this article in March, and today I re-read it. I was again inspired and decided to visit your website. I was looking to know more about you and see what kind of woman of God you are. I have been disappointed. I have read only 3-4 of your posts and see that you are encouraging divorce, underage drinking, and the use of drugs to get through Christmas. While I have much to say about this, I will not. I hope that you begin to search God’s word, and seek Him, and ask HIm to teach you. If you would like to know why I am so disappointed in you, feel free to email me. I am praying for you.