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Question:
Pastors, upon what basis, foundation or criteria do we
make our decisions and establish policy? Are our decisions
influenced, skewed or even dictated by:
*popular opinion,
*majority vote,
*boards,
*committees,
*the opinions of others,
*or, we "presume"
we are correct based upon all of the above opinions.
Are
our decisions influenced, skewed or even dictated by:
*A denominational position, statement or edict?
*By our peers as a Pastor in
an association of Churches?
*By our membership, board
members etc. as an independent Pastor in an independent Church.
*By family (I have a family
to feed.), financial (This is all I know to do.), community or social
pressures
and obligations?
**Seriously
men, "why and upon what basis do we make our decisions?"
I'm asking this for the simple reason
that .... based upon the Word of God and over 50 years of observation...
divorce and divorce and remarriage is totally destroying our families,
our ministries and our witness to a lost and dying world without Jesus
Christ. The 21st. century church is allowing and practicing
that which is in total violation of the Word of God and the historical
witness of the Christian Church throughout the ages. I am
reasonably sure that not one of us would dare to say that our divorce
and remarriage situation has enhanced, promoted or made our ministry to
the lost of our communities -- more convincing.
It
was only nine years ago that I asked the following question:
When
only 40% +/- of the Christian community
is divorced and remarried, why are our peers so willing to discourage,
destroy and bring down the 60% +/- of our
Christian community --
who are faithful to the Word of
God, their wedding vows, their spouses, their families and their
Church Family?
Now,
just ten years later, I have to write the following:
Alarmingly,
over 51% of the 21st. century church
membership is divorced and over 43% of
the divorced membership is remarried and both scenarios are
climbing exponentially.
MEN,
YOU TELL ME WHERE THE PROBLEM IS and WHO'S TO BLAME, pastor_k@goldenfaithbiblechurch.org.
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A few years ago I
had a delightful telephone conversation
with a very wise lady.
She was asking me about a young couple
that were to be married and "did I
know the young man's position
concerning the permanence of marriage?"
Her comment was,
"Our Church
doesn't allow divorce because we don't
allow a Church member to sue
another
member in a court of law. It's
against the Word of God."
I thought to
myself, "Amazing. A Church that is
on track with the Lord!"
My wife turned
to me and said, "be sure to make a note
to include it in your web site."
The following is the
note
that I made to myself:
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
"Dare any of you,
having a matter against another, go to
law before the unjust, and not before
the saints? [2]
Do ye not
know that the saints shall judge the
world? And if the world shall be
judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge
the smallest matters?
[3] Know ye not that we shall
judge angels? How much more things
that pertain to this life?
[4] If then ye have judgments
of things pertaining to this life, set
them to judge who are least esteemed in
the church.
[5] I speak to your shame.
Is it so, that there is not a wise man
among you? No, not one that shall
be able to judge between his brethren?
[6] But brother goes to law
with brother, and that before the
unbelievers.
[7] Now therefore there is
utterly a fault among you, because ye go
to law one with another. Why
do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye
not rather suffer yourselves to be
defrauded?
[8] No, ye do wrong, and
defraud, and that your brethren."
I asked myself this question:
"How do Christians
obtain a divorce?
Do they file an 'adversarial law
suit' to obtain a divorce? An
'adversarial law suit' in a civil
court of law?"
Christians? Pastors? Church
leaders? What is our -- answer --
for this continuing practice among our
peers and our Church membership?
The
Word of God does have the answer to this question.
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**We
need to stop and reassess this.
The
following information is only a small amount of Scriptural and
ex-cathedra information that we will ever need to settle this issue:
First
and primary is "what does the Word of God teach
us?"
Matthew
5:32, "But I say to
you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual
immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman
who is divorced commits adultery."
Matthew
is writing to the Jewish community and is quoting Jesus Christ.
In the Jewish community, under the law, adulterers were to be stoned,
not divorced. This man is divorcing his wife for some other
reason than adultery. Because it was for something other than
adultery and....because this woman was going to have to survive, she
would marry again, causing her to commit adultery. Today, she
would be considered an innocent party because she was not guilty of
adultery and frankly, all would consider her husband to be some kind
of a an unreasonable man (jerk). If she is innocent of adultery,
why then is her next marriage adultery?
This is no exception clause. This is a "cause and
affect" clause.
Mark
10:11-12, "So He said to them, "Whoever
divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. [12]
And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits
adultery."
Mark
is quoting Jesus Christ and is addressing the Gentile
perspective of divorce and remarriage. Jesus said that whoever
divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery against
her. If we believe that this man is the innocent party, why is
his next marriage adultery? Whom is he
committing adultery against: the wife he divorced or, the second wife
he married?
That
this is a Gentile perspective is evident in VERSE
12, "And if a woman divorces her
husband and marries another, she commits adultery." In the
Jewish society the wife is considered property. As property she
had no right to divorce her husband. In the Gentile society, a wife
divorcing her husband was acceptable. If we believe this woman is the
innocent party, why is her next marriage adultery?
Luke
16:18, "Whoever divorces his
wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who
is divorced from her husband commits adultery."
Dr.
Luke is writing to the Greek community and he is quoting our Savior,
Jesus Christ when he writes that the man who divorces his wife and
marries again is committing adultery. Why? Can we assume
from the text that the wife whom he divorced is guilty of unrepentant
sexual immorality because, it is stated that whoever marries her is
committing adultery? If we can assume that he is the innocent
party, isn't it amazing that this innocent party is
guilty of adultery and, his wife, guilty or otherwise
(she burned her husband’s coffee), is also guilty of adultery when
she marries again?! Both are guilty of adultery. Why?
Romans
7:1-4,
"Know ye not,
brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) how that the law hath
dominion over a man as long as he lives? [2]
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her
husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed
from the law of her husband. [3]
So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another
man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she
is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be
married to another man. [4]
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body
of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who
is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto
God."
Paul
is writing to Christian Churches. The first question that I have
to ask is, "why is He writing about adultery to a Christian
Church? Contextually, beginning with Romans
1:16 through Romans 12:2, it would seem that the Holy
Spirit is addressing a multitude of sins that are not only in the world
but sins that have also crept into the Churches of Rome.
Paul, having never visited the Churches in Rome wouldn't have
first hand knowledge of particular sins, unless his relatives,
Andronicus, Junias and Herodain (Rom.
16:7, 11) or Aquila (Rom.
18:2), a personal friend of Paul, out of concern for the
members and the ministry wrote and told him. Contextually it
is also very apparent that, though Paul is addressing both Jew and
Greek, the Church is predominately Jewish.
The Holy Spirit is using Paul to address the sin of adultery (most
likely members of the Churches) because of their knowledge of the Law
and the necessity of death to the Law and all other Jewish laws for
salvation in Christ Jesus. Because of the predominately Jewish
membership the Church at Rome clearly understood the Mosaic law and they
understood the principles of salvation. They understood that to be
married to Jesus Christ, they had to DIE to the Mosaic law, and
all the Judaic laws that they trusted in for their righteousness (unlike
today, turning to Christ from Judaism had grave personal and social
consequences). The Jew understood that they could not simply divorce
the law because divorce has no power over God. The fact that death
of a spouse before marriage to another was necessary, would resolve any
issues prevalent in that day, pertaining to marriage; i.e., divorce and
remarriage, polygamy, bigamy or digamy (a woman with more than one
husband).
1
Corinthians 7:39, "The wife is
bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be
dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the
Lord." It can not be stated any clearer than this.
Consider
what instructions the Holy Spirit gave to the Church at Corinth, using
the Apostle Paul as His instrument for their instruction 1
Corinthians 5:1-12, "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among
you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles,
that one should have his father's wife. [2]
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath
done this deed might be taken away from among you. [3]
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged
already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so
done this deed, [4]
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and
my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5]
to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that
the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [6]
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven
leavens the whole lump? [7]
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are
unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: [8]
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with
old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
[9]
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10]
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the
covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go
out of the world. [11]
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is
called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to
eat. [12]
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye
judge them that are within?"
We
know the story. A man was living with or, married to his father's
wife and they were sexually intimate. The first problem was, what
they were doing, was sin. The second problem, what they were
doing, was common knowledge not just Church knowledge. Just like
today. The
third problem, it was acceptable (verse:2,
"and ye are puffed up") even though it violated the Word of
God .... just like today.
Years
ago, I would hear messages concerning this short phrase "and ye are
puffed up" from our older and wiser expositors. It was a
common understanding that this phrase meant the members of the Churches
in Corinth were glorying in Christ's mercy and grace. I heard it
explained many times by many men of God that what the Christians in
Corinth were actually saying was, "Christ's forgiveness, His mercy
and grace is sufficient, even in this situation." (This is
precisely what is being said today.) I suppose their glorying was
to be expected, after all, the Holy Spirit characterized the maturity of
the Church as, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto
babes in Christ" (1
Corinthians 3:1).
The fourth problem was
that the adulterous lifestyle was influencing (leavening) the
membership of the Church at Corinth as well as their witness to the
unsaved citizens of the city of Corinth.
The
solution to the problem was three fold:
(1)
Turn him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his soul
might be spared eternal
judgment....God's righteous discipline;
(2)
Remove him from the Church membership....Church corporate discipline
(3)
Have no fellowship with him in or out of the Church....Christian
family and social discipline.
This
was an INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SIN PROBLEM that, for what ever reason,
was not resolved by the family. Therefore they, the Church, was to
tell the man to stop sinning immediately. If they were living
together without marriage it obviously meant that someone had to move
out. If they were, in fact, married.... it meant dissolving the
marriage (Link>>divorce,
Ezra Chapter 10:1-10>>Link) and, once again, someone had to
move out. The Holy Spirit summarized much of His admonitions to
the Church at Corinth with these words, "Now all these things
happened unto them [a summarization of the happenings of the nation of
Israel] for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom
the ends of the world are come" (1
Corinthians 10:11).
As
interim Pastor years ago, I had a similar situation. A woman of
the Church had divorced her husband and left him with their three
children. She began dating a man from a neighboring Church family
yet maintaining her membership and Church position of
"Secretary/Treasurer". The Lord had led me to minister
His Word concerning the sanctity and permanence of Marriage at a time
when she had attended, long before I was aware of this sinful situation.
One Sunday morning, a Lord's Table Sunday, she came with her man friend
and sat near the rear of the sanctuary fully intending to participate in
the Lord's Supper. On the other side of the sanctuary sat her divorced
husband with their three children. I was led of the Lord to minister the
very familiar passage of 1 Corinthians
11:23-33. Before serving
Communion it is my custom to give opportunity to all present to
privately confess any and all sins to the Lord where the sin(s) is,
indeed, private. I also give opportunity to all to publicly
confess and repent of any and all sins where the sin(s) is, indeed,
public knowledge. The lady never moved. I stepped down from behind
the pulpit, addressed this lady with her friend and asked them to please
leave the service so we could continue (1
Corinthians 5:11-13). Men, leaven
is a horrible thing - when it is the leaven of sinfulness (1
Corinthians 5:6-8). It totally
destroys!! And, you and I are held personally accountable Acts
20:28, 1
Timothy 5:22 and Hebrews
13:17-18.
Please
consider the facts. The Church at Rome was told that marriage to
another person while the spouse was still living was adultery. The
Church at Corinth was told that adulterers were not allowed to remain in
the fellowship of the Christian Church or the Christian community.
Then the Holy Spirit tells the Church at Corinth 1
Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived:
neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10]
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God". Why was this
written to a Christian Church? After all, only "Born Again
Believers" who have publicly confessed their personal salvation in
Jesus Christ for salvation and have been Scripturally Baptized as
believers are supposed to be members of the local Church. (John
3:3-7,
Matthew 28:19-20;
Acts 2:41; 1 Corinthians 1:13-16)
This is written to a Church that has membership giving strong evidence
that they are only "wanna-be" Christians.
The evidence was that the Church had some members that were not saved.
Note that the Holy Spirit did not pen, "because you are
living sinful lifestyles you have lost your salvation i.e. are
not going to inherit the Kingdom of God". The Holy Spirit
did pen "because you are living sinful lifestyles, it is
evident that you are not saved i.e., you are not going to
inherit the Kingdom of God".
Consider
as well, the truths and parallelisms of today found in 2
Peter 2:9-22, "The Lord
knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the
unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: [10
]
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness,
and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they
are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. [11]
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing
accusation against them before the Lord. [12]
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed,
speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly
perish in their own corruption; [13]
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that
count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are
and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceiving
while they feast with you; [14] Having
eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin;
beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous
practices; cursed children: [15]
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray,
following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages
of unrighteousness; [16]
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice
forbad the madness of the prophet. [17]
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a
tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. [18]
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they
allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much
wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
[19]
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are
the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the
same is he brought in bondage. [20]
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through
the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are
again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is
worse with them than the beginning. [21]
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the
holy commandment delivered unto them. [22]
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog
is
turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her
wallowing in the mire."
Consider
the ex-cathedra evidence:
(1)
John Calvin, "Commentaries on the Book of
Romans";
Volume
XIX;
Acts 14-28 Romans 1-16
Chapter 1-2; Pages 245-246
"DIRECTLY COPYING HIS MANUSCRIPT"
Romans
7:1-4
Calvin reasons, (direct quote) "The woman is bound to her living
husband by the law, so that she can not be the
wife of another; but after the death of her husband she is loosed from
the bond of this law, so that she is free to marry whom she
pleases."
(2)
John Calvin, ; "Commentaries on I & II Corinthians"
Volume
XX;
Chapter 7; Pages 253-254
"DIRECTLY COPYING HIS MANUSCRIPT"
1
Corinthians 7:39
CHAP. VII. 39. FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS; Pg. # 269
Vs:
39. The wife is bound. He had
previously spoken indiscriminately of husbands and wives, but as
wives, on account of the modesty of their sex, might seem to have less
liberty, he has thought it necessary to give in addition some special
directions in reference to them. He now, therefore, teaches that
women are not less at liberty than men to marry a second time, on
their becoming widows.2 We have already mentioned above
that those who desired a second marriage were branded with the
reproach of intemperance, and that, with the view of putting some kind
of sight upon them, those who had been contented with being once
married, were wont to be presented with the "chaplet of
chastity". Nay more, this first opinion had, in course of
time, become prevalent among Christians; for second marriages had no
blessing pronounced upon them, and some Councils prohibited the clergy
from being present on such occasions.
1
"Pour subuenir à nostre
infirmite; "To help our infirmity."
2 "Apres auoir perdu leurs premiers maris;" -
"After having lost their first husbands."
3 See p.255
*[Color emphasis added]
**Calvin’s
conclusion is that only widows may marry again and, as a point of
emphasis, he recalls \
the historical prohibition of Pastoral/Clergy
involvement or attendance in such a wedding.
(3)
Introduction to QUINTUS SEPTIMIUS FLORENS
TERTULLIANUS (Tertullian)
"DIRECTLY
COPYING THIS TRANSLATED MANUSCRIPT"
Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company;
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1951
"The ANTE-NICENE FATHERS";
Volume III; Pages 5, 6
QUINTUS
SEPTIMIUS FLORENS TERTULLIANUS, as our
author is called in the MSS of his works, is thus noticed by Jerome
in his Catalogus Scnptorum Ecciesiasticorum: Tertullian,
a presbyter, the first Latin writer after Victor and Apollonius, was
a native of the province of Africa and city of Cartage, the son of a
proconsular centurion: he was a man of a sharp and vehement temper,
flourished under Severus and Antoninus Caracalla, and wrote numerous
works, which (as they are generally known) I think it unnecessary to
particularize. I saw at Concordia, in Italy, an old man named
Paulus. He said that when young he had met at Rome with an
aged amanuensis of the blessed Cyprian, who told him that Cyprian
never passed a day without reading some portion of Tertullian's
works, and used frequently to say, Give me my master, meaning
Tertullian. After remaining a presbyter of the church until he
had attained the middle age of life, Tertullian was, by the envy and
contumelious treatment of the Roman clergy,…..after Tertullian
seceded from the church, he left and returned to Carthage.
Jerome does not inform us whether Tertullian was born of Christian
parents, or was converted to Christianity. There are passages
in his writings' which seem to imply that he had been a Gentile; yet
he may perhaps mean to describe, not his own condition, but that of
Gentiles in general, before their conversion. Allix and the
majority of commentators understand them literally, as well as some
other passages in which he speaks of his own infirmities and
sinfulness. His writings show that he flourished at the period
specified by Jerome-that is, during the reigns of Severus and
Antoninus Caracalla, or between the years A.D. 193 and 216; but they
supply no precise information respecting the date of his birth, or
any of the principal occurrences of his life. Allix places his
birth about 145 or 150; his conversion to Christianity about A.D.
185; his marriage about 186; his admission to the priesthood3 about
192; his adoption of the opinions of Montanus about 199; and his
death about A.D. 220. But these dates, it must be understood,
rest entirely on conjecture."4
"Tertullian’s
Apologia on Monogamy";
Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company;
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1951
"The ANTE-NICENE FATHERS";
Translations of Rev. Alexander Roberts, D.D., and James Donaldson,
LL.D
Volume iv; Page 66
So
far as regards the non-destruction of the will of God, and the
restruction of the law of "the beginning." But
another reason, too conspires; nay, not another, but (one) which
imposed the law of "the beginning," and moved the will
of God to prohibit divorce: the fact that (he) who shall have
dismissed his wife, except on the ground of adultery, makes her commit
adultery; and (he) who shall have married a (woman) dismissed by her
husband, of course commits adultery.3 A
divorced woman cannot even marry legitimately;
and if she commit any such act without
the name of marriage, does it not fall under the
category of adultery, in that adultery is
crime in the way of marriage? Such
is God's verdict, within straiter limits than men's, that
universally, whether through marriage or promiscuously,
the admission of a second man (to intercourse) is pronounced
adultery by Him. For let us see what marriage is in the eye of
God; and thus we shall learn what adultery equally is. Marriage
is (this): when God joins "two into one flesh;" or else,
finding (them already) joined in the same flesh, has given His seal to
the conjunction. Adultery is (this): when, the two having been -
in whatsoever way - disjoined, other - nay,
rather alien - flesh is mingled (with either): flesh concerning
which it cannot be affirmed, "This is flesh out of my flesh, and
this bone out of my bones."4 For this, once for
all done and pronounced, as from the beginning, so now too, cannot
apply to "other" flesh. Accordingly, it will be
without cause that you will say that God wills
not a divorced woman to be joined to another man. (underlining
and color emphasis added)
1
See Matt. xix. 3-8, where, however, TertuIlian’s order reversed.
Comp. with this chapter, C. V.
above.
2 See Matt. x. 29. comp. de Ex. Cast., c. i. ad fin..
3 See Matt. v.32.
Matthew
5:32, "But I say unto you, That
whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry
her that is divorced committeth adultery."
4
Gen. ii. 23, in reversed order again.
Genesis 2:23, "And Adam said,
This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be
called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
(4)
The ANTE-NICENE FATHERS; "Hermas" and
"The Pastor of Hermas"
Wm.
B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company;
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1951
Volume I; Pages 6, 7 [Introduction Note] & 21 [The Pastor]
DIRECTLY COPYING THIS TRANSLATED MANUSCRIPT; Introduction Note:
The
Pastor of Hermas was one of the most popular books, if not the
most popular book, in the Christian Church during the second, third,
and fourth centuries. It occupied a position analogous in some
respects to that of Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress in modem
times; and critics have frequently compared the two works.
In
ancient times two opinions prevailed in regard to the authorship.
The most widely spread was, that the Pastor of Hermas was the
production of the Hermas mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans.
Origen3 states this opinion distinctly, and it is repeated
by Eusebius4 and Jerome.5
Those
who believed the apostolic Hermas to be the author, necessarily
esteemed the book very highly; and there was much discussion as to
whether it was inspired or not. The early
writers are of opinion that it was really inspired. Irenaeus
quotes it as Scripture.6 Clemens Alexandrinus speaks
of it as making its statements "divinely;"7 and
Origen, though a few of his expressions are regarded by some as
implying doubt, unquestionably gives it as his opinion that it is
"divinely inspired."8
Eusebius
mentions that difference of opinion prevailed in his day as to the
inspiration of the book, some opposing its claims, and others
maintaining its divine origin, especially because it formed an
admirable introduction to the Christian faith. For this latter
reason it was read publicly, he tells us, in the churches.
The
only voice of antiquity decidedly opposed to the claim is that of
Tertullian. He designates it apocryphal,1 and rejects
it with scorn, as favoring anti-Montanistic opinions. Even
his words, however, show that it was
regarded in many churches as Scripture.
THE
PASTOR
BOOK SECOND. – COMMANDMENTS; [Pages 21-22]
COMMANDMENT
FOURTH.
ON PUTTING ONE'S WIFE AWAY FOR ADULTERY.
CHAP.
I.
"I
charge you," said he, "to guard your chastity, and let no
thought enter your heart of another man’s Wife, or of fornication,
or of similar iniquities; for by doing this you commit a great sin.
But if you always remember your own Wife, you will never sin.
For if this thought 7 enter your heart, then you will
sin; and if; in like manner, you think other wicked thoughts, you
commit sin. For this thought is great sin in a servant
of God. But if any one commit this wicked deed, he works death
for himself. Attend, therefore, and refrain from this thought;
for where purity dwells, there iniquity ought not enter the heart of
a righteous man." I said to him, "Sir, permit me to
ask you a few questions."8 "Say on," said
he. And I said to him, "Sir,
if any one has a wife who trusts in the Lord, and if he detect her
in adultery, does the man sin if he continue to live with her?"
And he said to me, "As long as he remains ignorant of her sin
the husband commits no transgression in living with her. But
if the husband know that his wife has gone astray, and if the woman
does not repent, but persists in her fornication and yet the husband
continues to live with her, he also is guilty of her crime, and a
sharer in her adultery." And I said
to him, "What then, sir, is the husband to do, if his wife
continue in her vicious practices?" And
He said, "The husband should put her away, and remain
himself. But if he put his wife away
and marry another he also commits adultery ."….
**THE
CONCLUSION OF The early Church Fathers and believers: When
adultery existed, divorce was permitted. Any remarriage while
the divorced spouse was still living was adultery. Their basis
of belief was the Word of God; the lives, life styles and
indoctrination of the Apostles and other men and women of God.
I call to your attention that these men and their writings are
within 150 years of our Savior’s life on this earth.
(5)
Warren W. Wiersby,
a contemporary Church leader that I greatly admire:
"EXPOSITORY OUTLINES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT"; PAGE 201
"DIRECTLY COPYING HIS MANUSCRIPT"
Romans
7:1-6
I.
TWO HUSBANDS - Romans 7:1-6
He uses the marriage relationship to
illustrate our relationship to the law. (Keep in mind that
when Paul speaks of "the law" he means, not only the OT
law of Moses, but any kind of legislation that the believer uses to
curb sin or attain holiness.) The two husbands
are the law and the Lord Jesus Christ. When a woman is
married to a man, she is bound to that man until he dies.
Then she is free to marry again. [color emphasis added].
Before
we met Christ, we were bound by the law and condemned by it. The
law, however, did not "die" when we were saved; instead, WE
DIED IN CHRIST! We are no longer "married" to a system
of regulations; we are "married" to Jesus Christ, and the
law has no control over us! Read 7:4 again
and again and absorb its wonderful message. Our old
"husband" has no control over us: we are in a wonderful new
relationship through Christ. When we were lost, the law
triggered the "arousings of sin" in our old nature, and this
produced death (vs.5). But
now we are delivered from the law and serve in newness of the Spirit,
not in the oldness of the letter (vs.6).
Vs.
6 does not suggest that Christians
have no obligations to obey God. Actually, our obligations are
now greater since we know Christ and belong to God's family. The
NT demands are far more severe than the OT Law, for the NT (the Sermon
on the Mount, for example) deals with inward attitudes, and not
outward actions only. But vs.6
teaches that our motivation in obeying is different: we are not simply
mechanically obeying a set of rules; we are lovingly, from the heart,
obeying the Spirit of God Who fulfills the righteousness of the Law in
us (8:4). A beginning pianist
can play a number "letter perfect" and still not capture the
inner spirit of the song the way an accomplished musician can.
Our obedience to God is not that of a slave fearing a master, but a
bride lovingly trying to please her Bridegroom.
**Dr.
Warren W. Wiersby concludes that only a widow may marry again.
"AGAIN,
DIRECTLY COPYING HIS MANUSCRIPT"
1 Corinthians 7:39-40
Do not be in a hurry, for marriage
is for life (39-40). The
marriage cannot be broken because of some whim or fancy; for only
death severs the bonds. (Of course Christ taught that
sexual sins gave the right for divorce). Too many people
(including some Christians) have the idea, "If our marriage
doesn’t work out, we can always get a divorce." Not so,
says Paul! When you marry, be sure it is "in the
Lord" - that is, be sure you marry a Christian and that your mate
is the one God has chosen for you. How tragic to see young lives
ruined by hasty marriages.
**Dr.
Warren W. Wiersby concludes that only death severs the bonds of
marriage.
Pastor,
the following are three
very important verses to think about
as you read this section
concerning the reasons Pastors have given me
for doing something in their ministry that they did not agree
with
or
believe in:
Revelation 21:8
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death."
Revelation 21:27
"But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles,
an abomination , but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."
Revelation 22:15
"But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters,
and whoever
and ."
Over the years I have
heard the following comments from Pastor after Pastor from
Michigan to Florida, Florida to Arizona, Arizona to Washington State
and Washington State to New York. The following quotes are not
hearsay but are quotes from personal conversations I
have had with Senior Pastors and Assistant Pastors.
**A
number of years ago a Brother in a neighboring city thought it would be very helpful if my wife and I became
members of his ministry and gave him a helping hand. Before joining his
ministry I gave him my "Philosophy of Ministry" manuscript that gives
great detail about our convictions concerning divorce and divorce / remarriage.
After several months of helping the ministry by teaching a singles and married
couples class, one of the deacons called and asked to meet with me. He started
the conversation by telling me that he was divorced and remarried and "he
was very sure that my wife and I were not aware of his situation." He
also wanted us to know that at the next annual business meeting, of the five men
to be considered for the "Office of Deacon," three were divorced men
whose divorced wives were still living and that two of those men would certainly
be elected. The majority of the Deacon's Board would be divorced and remarried men whose divorced wives were still living.
When I confronted
the Brother, this
is what I was told:
"Brother. When I graduated from Seminary I didn't believe in
divorce and remarriage while a divorced spouse was still alive. In
my very first ministry I was confronted with the issue and I had to make a
decision. Because I believed that the Lord had called me to preach
and ... because I had a family to feed, I made the
decision to preach and feed my family".
Question:
Did this Brother say that
he had changed his mind about what the
Word of God taught?
Answer: No!
Question: Did he become
a -- just so he could preach?
Question:
Is he remaining in his ministry by ?
**"Brother,
if I preached Romans
7:2-4, and 1
Corinthians 7:39, I wouldn't have a church left."
Question:
Did this Brother say that
he had changed his mind about what the
Word of God taught?
Answer: No!
Question: Did he become
a -- just so he could preach?
Question:
Is he remaining in his ministry by ?
The
following is my personal experience concerning this very issue:
In
1982, I was 37 years old, a husband and a father of three sons (one in junior
high and two in high school) when I was called and installed in my very first ministry.
I had no idea that over 90% of the
membership and visitors were divorced and remarried with a divorced spouse yet
living. I was their Pastor for over six-months when the Lord gave me a message
concerning the sanctity and permanence of marriage and I didn't preach that
message. For two weeks I did not preach that message and the Sunday
morning of the third week, as I was in the kitchen getting ready to leave for
church, our Lord stopped me with a very quiet, "Robert, when are you going
to preach that message I gave you?" Instantly I knew what message it
was and immediately and without any hesitation I TEARFULLY AND FEARFULLY
said to Him, "Lord, if I preach that message 90% of the members and
visitors will not return for the evening service. HE REMAINED, SILENT.
Guess what men? I was correct! After preaching that message those
members and visitors that were divorced and remarried with a divorced spouse yet
living did not return. The very next day, Monday, following the preaching of that
message -- our mail box began filling up with letters containing checks from
folks we had never heard of or met in our lives. It was then that I realized that our Lord had just taught me
the most important lesson that I was ever going to learn as a Pastor
Shepherd in a very convincing manner, "the
Church is His Church and not my Church." We
had a conviction then that was reinforced at that time and continues
to this very day that God's work done God's way will never lack
God's provisions. We have never asked anyone, family, friends,
Churches or even our Home Mission for funds to support us in our
ministries. Our God doesn't fail His servants!! When our God calls --
He empowers! When He empowers He pays the
bills!!! 37 years of age was over 40 years ago. Since that remarkable
Sunday of my very first Pulpit ministry I've Pastored Churches, Interim Pastored
Churches, Pulpit supplied, have been guest speaker, closed, reorganized and
started Churches. I'm now almost 70 years old and our Lord is yet being
faithful!
Men,
God' s word instructs us that His wisdom, "...the wisdom that is from above is
first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."
[James 3:17]
Our Lord taught me at a most critical point in my life and ministry that peace
without purity is heresy!! How is it in your life and
ministry?
Today,
this web site continues reaching folks across our globe with the
truths from the Word of God concerning Salvation in and through the
shedding of our Saviour Jesus Christ's blood, His death, burial and
His resurrection, and, the sanctity and permanence of life (in and
out of the womb) and marriage (until death).
**"When
I graduated from Seminary I didn't agree with divorce and remarriage
while a divorced spouse was still alive..."but"
...the Church that called me had those folks as members."
Question:
Did this Brother say that
he had changed his mind about what the
Word of God taught?
Answer: No!
Question: Did he become
a -- just so he could preach?
Question: Is
he remaining in his ministry by ?
**"When
I graduated from Seminary I didn't agree with divorce and remarriage
while a divorced spouse was still alive..."but"
...all
of the other men in my area [conference, denomination,
association etc.] are doing it."
Question:
Did this Brother say that
he had changed his mind about what the
Word of God taught?
Answer: No!
Question: Did he become
a -- just so he could preach?
Question: Is
he remaining in his ministry by ?
**"When
I graduated from Seminary I didn't agree with divorce/remarriage
while a divorced spouse was still alive..."but"
the
members of my congregation told me over and over again that Dr. Herb
Vander Lugt, Radio Bible Class, Dr. Charles Swindoll and Dr.
James Dobson, Focus on the Family all teach that God's mercy and grace
covers this."
Question:
Did this Brother say that
he had changed his mind about what the
Word of God taught?
Answer: No!
Question: Did he become
a -- just so he could preach?
Question:
Is he remaining in his ministry by ?
|
**This
text table contains the updated note
of June 19, 2007:
The
Word of God warns us to be careful concerning whose
counsel we retain and who we follow:
Proverbs
24:21-22,
"My son, fear the Lord and the king; Do
not associate with those given to change;
[22] For their calamity will
rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin those two can
bring?"
Hebrews
13:9, "Do
not be carried about with various and strange doctrines.
For it is good that the heart be established by
grace, not with foods which have not profited those who
have been occupied with them"
Dear
reader, before reading the
following notations concerning men of God that we know,
love and respect, please understand
that the following notes are not written spitefully,
vindictively or with malice. Two men in
particular, that I respected and trusted, Dr. Swindoll and
Dr. MacArthur, have done exactly what our Lord warns us to
be aware of, changed a major theology. The Apostle Paul
established an example for each of us when he discovered that the Apostle Peter was teaching and
practicing heresy before the believers of the Churches in
Galatia. Our Lord and Saviour instructed him to write
the following
that would be read by all generations of Believers:
Galatians
2:11, "Now when Peter
had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face,
because
he was to be blamed."
Further, he was also instructed by our Lord and Saviour to
write
the following
that would be read by all generations of Believers:
2
Timothy. 4:14, "Alexander the coppersmith
did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his
works. [15] You
also must beware of him, for he has greatly
resisted our words."
Following
Paul's example of warning and instruction, I write the
following. I'm not perfect
and the following men of God are not perfect, either.
Though we are not perfect, each of us does have the following in common, when
we are personally confronted with any error of doctrinal teaching
on our part, we
must change our personal doctrines to agree with the Author of
all
Christian Doctrine, Jesus Christ and His Word. We
have no other options. Our feelings, i.e., "I
think," "I believe" and etc. must not interfere
with plain and obvious Biblical texts.
**Re:
Dr. John MacArthur and his change in theology
concerning repentance.
Years
ago, Dr.
John MacArthur was in total agreement with the Word
of God concerning divorce and remarriage. It was
very disappointing to me to recently discover and have
verified by an Elder of his ministry that he -- "even
though he yet teaches"
that a second marriage while a divorced spouse is yet
living is
adultery and is an on going sin, he now teaches
that the adulterous
couple must
remain in their adulterous / sinful marriage because
God
forbids (!?!) a second
divorce. Dear Christian
Believer, we don't need a book or a booklet of theology to
prove how wrong this dear brother is. We
need only four
verses:
Romans 6:1-2,
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
[2] Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"
Acts 3:19,
"Repent therefore and be
converted, that your
sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of
the Lord".
Acts
17: 30-31, "Such [former] ages of ignorance God, it is true, ignored and allowed to pass unnoticed; but
now He charges all people everywhere to repent
(to change their minds for the better and heartily to amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past
sins), [31] Because He has fixed a day when He will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man Whom He has destined and appointed for that task, and He has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him from the
dead." [Amplified Version]
Please
join me in asking Brother John MacArthur to publicly repent and return
to the truth.
|
**Dr. James
Dobson
I have in my files a document that I
received from Dr. Dobson's Director, Office of the President,
dated
May 1, 1996 that states that Dr.
Swindoll is the author of Dr. Dobson's convictions concerning
divorce and remarriage. His Director also enclosed Dr.
Swindoll's 1981 booklet entitled "When It All Comes Tumbling
Down"; Multnomah Press; ISBN 0-930014-64-2 for his
documentation.
While
living in Lakewood, Colorado, I drove to Dr. Dobson's headquarters in Colorado
Springs just to talk with or personally schedule an appointment to speak with
him. I was unable to speak with anyone other than his Administrators and Directors. His Administrators and directors were
polite, knew his position, had my position document in hand because I had
previously sent a copy and I also handed them a copy as I stood there concerning
remarriage. I was refused permission to meet with him then or make any future appointments.
The
reason for the previous letter and booklet was that his Director had
written to me:
"Dr. Dobson isn't a theologian, he's a psychologist. He
has deferred his position concerning remarriage to Dr. Swindoll who is a theologian."
When
I read his explanation over 20 years ago, my thought then and still remains the same today,
"what an incredible admission. Dr. Dobson's whole
radio, television, seminar, authored books
and booklet ministries are theologically founded and
known as a 'family ministry'".
Sadly, in 2001, Ryan Dobson, Dr. Dobson's son, divorced his wife.
It was said then and since his divorce that he was totally against
his own divorce because he believed and stated that "his
divorce was without Biblical grounds". Why then
did Ryan remarry? Further, wouldn't it seem reasonable that
Focus on the Family and Dr. Dobson would not allow Ryan, a man
who is now living in sin according to their own stated theology,
to have any part or position in their ministries?
Folks,
each and every one of us live with and experience God's Biblical "Law
of the Harvest"...law. I love Dr. Dobson and
Focus on the Family. It isn't my desire to "throw the
baby out with the bath water" though -- I must confess to you
-- I have lost confidence in his and their integrity.
The lesson and reality is that he is now another example of what
happens when we teach and allow ourselves to believe any inaccurate
doctrine (heresy). God initiated His eternal
"Law of the Harvest" (Read
Genesis
chapter 3) at the very beginning of creation and He warns
us to:
"Keep
your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of
life."
(Proverbs 4:23)
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man
sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians
6:7)
What
is the law of the harvest?
1- We reap what we sow, i.e., we
plant corn and we reap corn;
2- We always reap more than we sow, i.e., we plant a
kernel of corn and reap a stalk
with "many ears" of corn;
3- We never reap in the same season that we sow, i.e. we
plant in the spring and we reap in the fall.
Because we reap what
we plant at a much later time and date than when the sin was sown,
we very often feel blindsided {Why did this happen to me?) by the
results of our sins. Consider Ryan Dobson, Dr. Dobson and
Focus on the Family and their present situation for our
understanding:
In
the Spring of Dr. Dobson's ministry he asked for, accepted
and followed Dr. Swindoll's counsel. For many years (the
following seasons), Dr. Swindoll, Dr. Dobson and Focus on
the Family have continued teaching the heresy that there are
exceptions to God's marriage commands. Now it is the
Fall years of Dr. Dobson's ministry and -- Ryan Dobson, his
son -- has followed his Dad's doctrine and not the Lord's and has
remarried in total disobedience to the Word of God. Do we now
understand the law of the harvest?
Please
consider rule #2, "we always reap more than we sow," i.e.,
they are now teaching to all who know them and sit under their
ministries that divorce and remarriage is acceptable with God.
Can anyone possibly know how many have in the past and will, in the
future, divorce and remarry in violation of the Word
of God due to Dr. Dobson's teaching and Ryan Dobson's example?
Questions:
**Parents, do we really want to destroy a marriage and the
lives within our
marriage through divorce?
**Do
we really desire to have the marriages of our adult children,
grandchildren etc.
become a divorce tragedy?
The New Testament Scriptures were written in Koiné Greek, which was
the common, everyday, working people's -- Greek language.
The Word of God isn't written so that only Doctors of Theology can
understand it but is "God's text book" and "God's
manual" for-and-to the common, everyday working person, you and
me. Our easy-to-read Bible clearly teaches the Biblical
permanence and sanctity / holiness of marriage. That this
Doctor {who is a University graduate with a doctoral degree] is
entrusting the very foundation of his total ministry to the
thoughts and convictions of some other man and -- hasn't trusted his
own personal Lord to correctly direct his personal convictions for
his own ministry is a serious violation of 1
John 2:26-27, "These things I have written to you
concerning those who try to deceive you. [27] But
the anointing which you have received from Him abides
in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you;
but as the same anointing teaches you concerning
all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and
just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him."
If
you take nothing else away from this page, please take this:
Our God is our personal one-on-one God. He keeps no
secrets from His children and He -- personally
-- instructs all who will obey Him James
1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be
given to him."
Second
hand theology
-- is -- like second hand
gossip. The information -- is -- never the same
at the end as it started and -- it is --
always distorted and damaged information.
**Dr.
Herb Vander Lugt
Dr.
Vander Lugt died December 2, 2006
"
The Daily Bread Tribute"
Pastor
Herbert Vander Lugt
January 7, 1920 –
December 2, 2006
Herbert
Vander Lugt, a mainstay of
Our Daily Bread for
more than four decades, is
in the presence of his
beloved Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. We say
good-bye to our friend,
colleague, mentor, pastor,
and a prolific author and
theologian.
Herb
departed this earth
peacefully on December 2,
2006, at the age of 86. He
leaves behind his wife
Virginia, son Dan,
daughter-in-law Jackie,
daughter Cathy, two
grandchildren, five
great-grandchildren, and a
great-grandchild soon to
come into the world.
“Herb
has been an immeasurable
source of theological
counsel and down-to-earth
wisdom,” said RBC
Ministries President Mart
De Haan. “He gave us the
benefit of his pastoral
experience, made the work
of scholars
understandable, and led
with courage in areas
where others might have
been more inclined to
honor tradition and peer
influence over the words
of Scripture.”
Beginning
in 1966, “Pastor Van”
contributed nearly 1,500
articles for Our Daily
Bread—more than
enough for four full years
of devotionals! In
addition, he wrote nearly
50 Discovery Series
booklets, the last of
which was completed just
before he went to be with
the Lord. He also authored
several books.
A
veteran of World War II,
Tech. Sgt. Vander Lugt
served with the Medical
Corp in the US Army in
England. Although his
supervising doctors
encouraged him to become a
physician, he chose
instead to answer God’s
call to the ministry. A
graduate of Moody Bible
Institute and Grand Rapids
Baptist Seminary, he
pastored six churches in
West Michigan. Upon his
“retirement” in 1989
(he truly never stopped
working), he continued to
serve as an interim pastor
and regularly provided
pulpit supply.
Although
he possessed remarkable
theological expertise,
Pastor Van is perhaps best
remembered for his wise
and gentle counsel. “He
had a way of explaining
things that just gave you
peace,” said one nephew.
A
favorite verse of Herb’s
comes from Micah
6:8, “He hath
shown thee, O man, what is
good; and what doth the
Lord require of thee, but
to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God?”
We’ll
miss his wise counsel.
We’ll miss his genuine
pastor’s heart. We’ll
miss those perpetually
twinkling eyes as he so
readily saw the lighter
side of things. But we
have the assurance that we
shall see him again.
“For this corruptible
must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put
on immortality. . . . Death is swallowed up in
victory”
(1
Corinthians 15:53-54).
A
favorite verse of Herb’s
comes from Micah
6:8, “He hath
shown thee, O man, what is
good; and what doth the
Lord require of thee, but
to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God?”
We’ll
miss his wise counsel.
We’ll miss his genuine
pastor’s heart. We’ll
miss those perpetually
twinkling eyes as he so
readily saw the lighter
side of things. But we
have the assurance that we
shall see him again.
“For this corruptible
must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put
on immortality. . . . Death is swallowed up in
victory”
(1
Corinthians 15:53-54)
|
VERY
IMPORTANT NOTE:
It
is important to note that the following was posted
to this page many years prior (1999) to Dr. Vander Lugt's
death. He never refuted the following, THEREFORE, I will not remove the information:
I have in my files
the lengthy
October
of 1999
email discussion with
Dr. Herb Vander Lugt of the Radio Bible Class, who,
at that time
was a leading Christian radio and
publications minister. He wrote to me (and I
have his email on file) that he
didn't disagree
with the texts or verses that I provided or --
the conclusions that I presented to him. He
continued with that he had difficulty... with a
"hard and fast" interpretation of the Word of God
...because he felt
that anything beyond praying for these
folks and accepting divorce and remarriage as a
fact of life in today's society was...
in his opinion
(verbatim and not my addition)..."too
harsh". When I asked him if he
was telling me that "God
was too harsh" concerning
(1)
His will for the nation of Israel as recorded in
Ezra 10:3
"Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God
to put away all the wives, and such as are
born of them, according to the counsel of my
lord, and of those that tremble at the
commandment of our God; and let it be done according
to the law".
And (2)
His command to Noah and his family as recorded for
us in
Hebrews 11:7 "By faith Noah, being divinely
warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly
fear, prepared an ark for the saving
of his household, by which he condemned the
world and became heir of the righteousness
which is according to faith," and again
1 Peter
3:20, "Who formerly were disobedient,
when once the Divine long suffering waited in the
days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared,
in which a few, that is, eight souls,
were saved through water,"
Dr.
Vander
Lugt
would not give me an
answer.
Question:
Did Dr. Vander Lugt say that
he had changed his mind about what the
Word of God taught?
Answer: No!
In fact, he said that he didn't disagree with the Scriptures.
Question:
As pertaining to divorce and remarriage, did he c?
|
An important note concerning Noah and
the Arc:
It has been estimated that when
Noah and his family [eight people]
were saved from the world wide flood by
that ark,
2.5 BILLION people living around the
globe on this earth --
drowned.
|
What does
the Word of God teach us?
Revelation 21:8
" But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death."
Revelation 21:27
" But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles,
an abomination
, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."
Revelation 22:15
" But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters,
and
."
Later that same month,
after I had completed the lengthy email discussion
with Dr.
Vander Lugt,
I experienced one of my most
frustrating situations
in ministry.
In answer to my request that the leadership of
the Radio Bible Class ask Dr. Vander Lugt to
reconsider his remarriage position, one of his
directors,
who was a member of a very large fundamental church
in Michigan,
sent me an email saying that the Senior
Pastor of the church that he is a member of
did not agree with remarriage when a divorced
spouse was still living and
he would
not
perform weddings for the divorced folks in
that situation.
The Assistant
Pastor saw nothing wrong with
divorce and remarriage when a divorced spouse
is yet living and --
did perform
--
weddings
for the divorced --
in their church sanctuary.
He concluded with - "and, our church membership
doesn't have any problem with this arrangement." (Please read
Hebrews 13:17; 1
Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 14:33)
Is it any wonder that
the world scoffs at the Christian community and the
Word of God?
**A
young, struggling
Brother said... "I'm just parroting what the others
are saying."
**An
Associate Pastor of Christian Education of a large
fundamental Baptist Church in Colorado made the
following statement to my wife and me after asking me
for a concise statement summing up divorce and
remarriage: "Brother, wouldn't it be nice if
we could base our "policies" on the Word of God
rather than "convenience?" Incredibly,
realizing and acknowledging this sin, he remained as
the Associate Pastor of Christian Education.
*A Brother from
Wisconsin
wrote,
"Brother, I preached the Word
of God concerning the permanence and sanctity of
marriage. From the Word of God I explained to
my members that the vows "until death do us part"
spoken at their weddings when they were married can
not be dissolved until death. I read and
preached to them that the "one flesh relationship"
created by God in marriage can not be dissolved
until the death of a spouse. Later that week I
was called before our denominational regional
directors and told that if I didn't reconsider my
position concerning this controversial subject ...
they would consider the revocation of my "Ordination
Certificate" as a Minister of the Word of God
and my "Preacher's License".
A foot note to
this Brother's dilemma: I praise the Lord that
I can report to you that one week later the Lord
provided him with a part time job, complete with a
"living wage" and a paid "family benefits package"
to encourage him and protect his income and his
family needs regardless of what the church or his
regional directors decided to do. Another man
in the community noticed that his vehicle was in
need of repairs, bought his broken down vehicle for
a ridiculous amount of money with the words, "now
you can afford a good car." PTL!
This Brother
wrote the following follow up:
"We are growing one person at a time, and the first
thing I hit is the marriage covenant. I want
all new ones to know where we stand. It's
funny, a babe in the Lord just says...yup, I see
it; but that old crusty, tradition laden attender
... just does not want to hear it."
Please note:
The following reason: "I made the decision to
preach and feed my family" is -- BY FAR
-- the most used excuse that I have heard from
Pastors violating the clear Word of God.
QUESTION:
Are any of the above
reasons given to me by Pastors
BIBLICAL REASONS to
justify another marriage (remarriage) for a divorced
individual when their divorced spouse is still
living?
PERSONAL NOTE:
By posting the reasons that I have been
given by my peers (Pastor / Shepherds),
I am attempting to make you aware that imperfect men
make less than desirable decisions for reasons that
are far from godly, causing others to sin
and fail in their personal lives, the lives of their
families, friends, acquaintances and cause others to
follow their examples and sin and fail, also.
Just a reminder, what is their reward?
"But there
shall by no means enter it (Heaven) anything that defiles, an abomination , but only those who are written in
the Lamb's Book of Life." (Revelation
21:27)
Can you imagine our Lord saying to you or anyone
else "Ok, you were living in sin but I'll
overlook it" when He hears any of the following
answers:
Jesus,
Dr. James Dobson
told me my that remarriage was ok because Dr.
Swindoll told him that he felt that it was ok.
Or, Jesus, I did nothing wrong because my Dad said
I could do it .
How about, Jesus,
Dr.
John MacArthur said
I had to remain in my sin.
Or, my marriage had to be ok because I was a Church member.
Or last but far from the least, "certainly my marriage had to be ok because
my Pastor was a divorced and remarried man!".
The word of God already gives
us the answer,
2
Corinthians 5:10,
"For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is
due him for the things done while in the body,
whether good or bad."
Having said this,
BEWARE, there are some who, against all they
know and believe will -- out of fear or for personal gain -- do, say and promote ungodly positions and
teachings in this life.
Acts
20:30
"Also of
your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things,
to draw away disciples after them."
When you and I are personally kneeling before our
Lord and Saviour we will never have the privilege of
shifting our personal responsibility for any
decisions to someone else. When asked by our
Lord why we did -- or -- did not do,
say or think something.
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A few years ago I
had a delightful telephone conversation
with a very wise lady.
She was asking me about a young couple
that were to be married and "did I
know the young man's position
concerning the permanence of marriage?"
Her comment was,
"Our Church
doesn't allow divorce because we don't
allow a Church member to sue another
member in a court of law. It's
against the Word of God."
I thought to
myself, "Amazing. A Church that is
on track with the Lord!"
My wife turned
to me and said, "be sure to make a note
to include it in your web site."
The following is the
note
that I made to myself:
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
"Dare any of you,
having a matter against another, go to
law before the unjust, and not before
the saints? [2]
Do ye not
know that the saints shall judge the
world? And if the world shall be
judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge
the smallest matters?
[3] Know ye not that we shall
judge angels? How much more things
that pertain to this life?
[4] If then ye have judgments
of things pertaining to this life, set
them to judge who are least esteemed in
the church.
[5] I speak to your shame.
Is it so, that there is not a wise man
among you? No, not one that shall
be able to judge between his brethren?
[6] But brother goes to law
with brother, and that before the
unbelievers.
[7] Now therefore there is
utterly a fault among you, because ye go
to law one with another. Why
do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye
not rather suffer yourselves to be
defrauded?
[8] No, ye do wrong, and
defraud, and that your brethren."
I asked myself this question:
"How do Christians
obtain a divorce?
Do they file an 'adversarial law
suit' to obtain a divorce? An
'adversarial law suit' in a civil
court of law?"
Christians? Pastors? Church
leaders? What is our -- answer --
for this continuing practice among our
peers and our Church membership?
The
Word of God and I
do have answer to this question.
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Mark 10:2-12
'"And some Pharisees came up to Him, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.
[3] And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"
[4] And they said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and SEND her away."
[5] But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
[6] But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.
[7] For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother,
[8] AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; consequently they are no longer two, but one flesh.
[9] What therefore God has joined together, let no man
separate." [10] And in the house the disciples began questioning Him about this again.
[11] And He said to them, "Whoever
divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against
her; [12] and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing
adultery."' (Please note, Our Lord
made no "qualifiers / exception" clauses; divorce & remarry
='s adultery.)
Matthew 19:10
'"The disciples said to Him, "If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this,
it is better not to marry." (Please note, His
disciples, the men who knew Him best, understood exactly what He
said and what He meant and they took Him at His Word. Do
we?)
It's
time for the 21st. century Church to affirm what Apostles and early
church fathers practiced. Divorce and remarriage with a divorced
spouse still alive requires more than a
cursory...surface...confession. It
requires a 1 John 1:9, If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We must agree with the Lord
that the "Marriage" is sin.
I
John 1: 9, "confess"/homologeo,
Greek 3670, Strong’s. homologeo,
hom-ol-og-eh'-o;
from a compound of the base of Greek 3674 acknowledge :- con-
(pro-) fess, confession is made, give thanks, promise.
Why
is this particular marriage a sin?
First,
because God said so (Romans 7:3;
Matthew 5:32; Mark 10:7-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Corinthians 7:39)
Second,
this sin is a "ONE FLESH" issue. There is no decree,
divorce agreement or disavowal of a vow on this earth with the
authority to separate the "one flesh union" that our
Creator God has ordained. Only death can separate the
Creator God ordained one flesh relationship.
Think
about it. What does Deuteronomy 24:4
teach us? "Her former
husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife,
after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the
Lord: and you shall not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God
gives thee for an inheritance."
She's
a divorced woman twice around. Obviously it isn't for adultery or
she would have been stoned. She can not remarry her first husband
because she is "Defiled."
She is one flesh with her first divorced and
living husband. And, she is one flesh with her second divorced and
living husband! Think about this
relationship, men. She was given a writ of divorcement from
her first husband (yet she is one flesh with him). She is
discovered by husband number two, he marries her and they become one
flesh when they CONSUMMATE
her new marriage.
Question.
What is really happening when this divorced/remarried woman is having
sexual relations with her number two husband while she is still one
flesh with her number one husband? To gain greater insight let's
walk the Old Testament truth on the New Testament sidewalks of 1
Corinthians 6:16, "What? know ye not that he which is joined
to an harlot is one body?
for two, said He, shall be one
flesh."
Consider
1 Corinthians 6:18, "Flee fornication.
Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he
that commits fornication sins against his own body."
The
Old and New Testament sin picture is called "defilement of the one
flesh union." What are Siamese Twins. Babies that are
physically attached by "One Flesh." What verbal or
written decree, agreement or disavowal of a vow on this earth has the
authority to separate the Siamese, one flesh union that our Creator God
created at the time of their conception and birth? Only death can
separate the dilemma of the one flesh relationship that Siamese
Twins face. In many instances it means sacrificing one child for
another. A heart breaking, gut wrenching decision is made.
One child lives and one child must die. Today many Siamese twins
are spared dying by surgically separating the children. It
requires the death of the tissues, blood vessels and flesh that joined
them together. Their separation requires death. This isn't a
perfect picture but a picture sufficient to get this truth across to
most.
Remember
the question, "What is happening when this woman is having
sexual relations with her number two husband while she is still one
flesh with her number one husband?" If the Old Testament and
the New Testament is correct, #1 husband
is vicariously having sexual relations with #2
husband because they
are both one flesh with the same woman at the same time.
This is the Old Testament truth called "Defilement
and Abomination."
That
sin relationship is still true today?
Malachi
3:6, "For I am the Lord, I
change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
Hebrews
13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and
for ever."
Is
there a solution? Yes, there is. Read Ezra
Chapters 9 and 10, not just bits and pieces but all of
both chapters. And try
to remember that it is our Merciful and Gracious God Who required
Israel's national obedience and the obedience of their leadership, the
Priests and the sons of the Priests. Also, it might be well to
remember that there is no such thing as "Easy Believism" or
"Painless Repentance." The picture of the surgical
separation of the Siamese twins is an adequate picture. The price
for sin is still the same Romans 6:23a,
"For the wages of sin is death" and the Lord still
requires repentance Acts 3:19, "Repent
ye therefore, and be converted (change you mind and
direction, added), that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord" for forgiveness and cleansing".
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Please
go to the Divorce and Remarriage page of this web page -- http://goldenfaithbiblechurch.org/divorce_remarriage.htm
--, Section V- "The -
Born Again divorced and remarried couple:"
These folks have potential for a tremendous "God
Ordained ministry" that only they will be able to do
with genuine empathy and enthusiasm 2
Corinthians 1:2-4; Philippians
4:13 & 19. for more information concerning this
issue and the New Testament, Age of Grace application.
Those who will obey the Word of God and take the necessary
steps to reconcile themselves with their divorced spouse,
their present spouse and children, family, friends and
their local Church family can certainly enjoy most of the
benefits of the Local Church ministry.
Can
you imagine what
affect their new commitment to the Word of God and
demonstration of obedience will have on their own
Pastor (and other Pastors)! Their Church Their
family! And, their community!
It's
my conviction that there aren't enough books, libraries or
web pages, world wide, to enumerate all of the potentials
of their future ministries!!!! The first ministry
that they will experience will be their own personal
ministry to themselves: "The ministry of a pure
conscience and renewed fellowship and power with our Lord
and Saviour, Jesus Christ"!! The second
greatest ministry they will experience will be the
ministry of an "obedience by example" to their
own children and grandchildren by being their spiritual
hero!!
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We
are experiencing the last portion of Deuteronomy
24:4? This is what our Savior said then and now, "and
you shall not cause the land to sin." Sin is contagious!
The New Testament teaches us that this sin of adultery is
contagious 1 Corinthians 5:6-8,
"Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a
little leaven leavens the whole lump?
[7] Purge out therefore
the old leaven (from your assembly, added), that ye may be a
new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is
sacrificed for us: [8] Therefore let us
keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice
and wickedness but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth." We know this from observation and statistics.
Many of us know this from personal experience. Just a few years
ago, in my lifetime of 65 years, there were no divorced and remarried
families in the Church, on the membership rolls or in leadership. What
are we experiencing with today's enlightened theology?
"What are we going to do about it?"
Can
we begin with the simple words of encouragement and admonition that the
Apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to say to the Church
Elders/Pastors of Ephesus Acts
20:28-32, "Be on
guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy
Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church
of God which He purchased with His own blood. [29]
I know that after my
departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
[30]
and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things,
to draw away the disciples after them. [31]
Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period
of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.
[32]
And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able
to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all
those who are sanctified?"
I
grew up in a farming community and herded cattle and shepherded sheep.
I learned very quickly that I had to be in charge. All of my
decisions were based upon the instructions that I received from my boss,
the owner of the farm and the sheep. I, alone, answered to the
owner, in everything. Carry what we know is true in life and walk
it in Scripture. All of us have taught, ministered from the pulpit
or instructed conversationally that every person that has ever lived
will give a personal, one-on-one account of our lives and ministry to
Jesus Christ. We know this to be true because of our
instructions from our owner/boss:
Romans
14:11-12, "For it is written, As I live, says the
Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to
God. [12] So then every one of us shall
give account of himself to God."
How
many of us have ever taught that there will be anyone else at our side
defending us before Jesus Christ at the Bemis Seat Judgment? Will
there be a friend, a professor, a spouse, a referee etc. saying to the
Lord, " 'He's right, Lord. That's just what I told him to
teach and say?' Or, 'That's just what I told him to do.
Don't blame him, Lord. I'm to blame!."
Have
we taught personal accountability to others while overlooking the truth
of our personal accountability to our Savior, Jesus Christ? Do you
and I....really....believe that you and I and you and I alone are
going to stand before the Lord and give an account of our ministry?
And., there will be no one else present to share in my victories, my
failures or take the blame for my presumptions?
Hebrews
13:17, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that .... must
.... give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with
grief: for that is unprofitable for you."
Acts
20:28, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made .... you
.... overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath
purchased with His own blood.
James
3:1, "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that ....
we
.... shall receive the greater condemnation."
You
and I are given the responsibility of "Shepherding" a local,
geographically located Church by God through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Acts
20:28, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own
blood."
Our
local, geographically located Church was purchased by the blood of Jesus
Christ and, we do not Shepherd the local Church by:
*popular opinion,
*majority vote,
*boards,
*committees,
*the
opinions of others,
*a
denominational position, statement or edict,
*by
our peers as a Pastor in an association of Churches,
*by
our membership, board members etc. as an independent Pastor in an
independent Church,
*by
family, financial, community or social needs and obligations or,
*By family (I have a family
to feed.), financial (This is all I know to do.), community or social
pressures and
obligations?
It
was the Holy Spirit that gave you and me that vote of confidence and
installed us into our geographically located Church body as
Pastor/Shepherd. Not the Church body membership! You and I
are there, charged by God Himself, to correct their thinking and
understanding, not visa versa.
The
only question that you and I are ever going to hear from our Savior is,
"What did 'I' say to you?"
As President Roosevelt said, "The buck stops at my desk."
Have
we lost sight of Paul's warning to Pastor Timothy,
1
Timothy 5:22, "Do not lay hands upon anyone too
hastily and thus share responsibility
for the sins
of others; keep yourself free from sin."
Throughout our
lives and especially -- throughout our ministries -- we are called upon
the make decisions and give directions that, humanly speaking, have
disaster written all over them. For you and me it's a case of
"letting it all hang out with no possible end route. We tell
our wife and family, it's all on the line! We may be on the
street, tomorrow!" I'm going to be blunt, if you and I do not
have the courage of conviction in our Ministries with our
Creator, Awesome, All Knowing and All Powerful God hanging onto
and leading us by our hand, how on earth do you even dare to leave your
home and drive on the highways with today's mentality of drivers?!
I drive the highways of New Jersey, New York and the streets of
Manhattan and I can tell you that my God given Angels for my protection
are overworked!!
Can
I encourage each of us as Pastors to reevaluate our personal position as
a Shepherd?
I
You and I can be instruments to God's glory on to
the strengthening of marriages and families across this nation and our
world. We need to be obedient to His Word and to those vows we
took when we were ordained. We need to stand boldly before
our Church family and TRUTHFULLY PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. ALL OF
IT...trusting in -- His -- divine protection and provisions.
Sincerely,
Your brother and fellow laborer in
Christ,
Robert J. Kuiphoff
"When
we prepare our studies and finally present them,
are
the following statements true of all
of my studies and positions?"
Note:
It is my experience and observation that correct "head
knowledge" of
doctrine, if not correctly translated into the practical realm of our
daily experiences, will not necessarily produce a Godly witness with
God's protections and blessings. We must consciously evaluate everything we
believe and practice in the light of God's Attributes
and Sovereignty. All doctrine must fall within
parameters. We must consciously set aside our feelings. Correct
doctrine isn't "I think" or "I feel" or even
"I believe". Correct doctrine is "According
to the Word of God...thus says our God."
(1)
THE WORD OF GOD IS MY FINAL AUTHORITY:
Psalms
33:11, "The
counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to
all generations."
Psalms
119:89, "For ever, 0 Lord, Thy
word is settled in heaven."
II Timothy 3:15,
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
(2)
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (God is the Supreme Authority) DEMANDS THAT MY
CONCLUSION IS IN AGREEMENT
WITH HIS
WILL:
Psalms
119:89-91,
"For ever, O Lord, thy word is
settled in heaven. [90]
Thy faithfulness is unto all
generations:
thou hast established the earth, and it abides. [91]
They continue
this day according to your ordinances: for all are thy servants."
Philippians
2:13, "For it is God which works
in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."
(3)
THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD (God never changes) DEMANDS THAT MY
CONCLUSION
IS IN AGREEMENT
WITH
HIS ORIGINAL
PLAN AND PURPOSE:
Numbers
23:19, "God is
not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man the He
should repent:
hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or make it good?"
Malachi
3:6a,
"I am the Lord, I change not."
Hebrews
13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and
forever."
(4)
THE PROMISED PROVISIONS OF GOD DEMANDS THAT MY CONCLUSION
UPHOLDS
BIBLICAL
MEANS:
Isaiah
59:1,
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it can not
save; neither His ear heavy,
that
it cannot hear."
1
Thessalonians 5:24, "Faithful is He who calls you, who
also will do it."
Philippians
4:19, "But my God shall supply
all your need according to His riches in glory by Jesus
Christ."
5)
THE PROPITIATION OF CHRIST (the Sacrificial price He paid on
Calvary's cross
for my sins)
DEMANDS THAT MY CONCLUSION
GLORIFIES
JESUS CHRIST:
Ephesians
1:22, "And He put
all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over
all
things to the church,"
Colossians
1:18b, "That in all things He
might have the preeminence."
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Jesus
taught:
Matthew 5:32
"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his
wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her
commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced
woman commits adultery.
Mark 10:7-12
"For this cause a man shall leave his father and
mother,
[8]
AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; consequently
they are no
longer two, but one flesh.
[9]
"What therefore God has joined together, let no man
separate."
[10]
And in the house the disciples began
questioning Him about this again.
[11]
And He said to them,
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman
commits adultery against
her; [12]
and if she herself divorces
her husband and marries another man, she is
committing adultery."
Luke 16:18
"Everyone who
divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery; and he who marries one who is divorced
from a husband commits adultery."
God's Word also
teaches:
Romans 7:3
"So then if, while her
husband lives,
she be married to another
man, she
shall be called an adulteress: but if her
husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that
she is no adulteress, though she be married to
another man."
1 Corinthians 7:39
"The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband
lives; but if her
husband be dead,
she is at liberty to be
married to whom she will; only in the
Lord."
Today's
theologians are saying, not true!
1 Timothy 6:3-5
"If anyone teaches
otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words,
even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords
with godliness,
[4] he is proud, knowing nothing, but is
obsessed with disputes and arguments over words,
from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil
suspicions, [5]
useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and
destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness
is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself."
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How
can I encourage you?
The
Mailbox is for my email
Your servant in Christ our
Lord,
Rev. Robert (Bob) J. Kuiphoff
Please be advised, Rev. Robert J. Kuiphoff is an Ordained Minister of the Word of God and is not a licensed Psychologist, Psychiatrist or Medical Physician. Any and all counsel, suggestions and / or advice derived from www.goldenfaithbiblechurch.org, via email or telephone is based solely upon Rev. Robert J. Kuiphoff's personal convictions concerning the Word of God; his personal interpretation of the Word of God and his lengthy experience counseling and advising men, women and children concerning the Christian Life and daily walk in the world that we all live in.
 
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