KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Divorce
...THE EARLY CHRISTIANS didn't rationalize matters from a human viewpoint...
Even though divorce was considered perfectly proper in their society, they didn't permit divorce except for adultery. As Origen wrote, "What God has joined together, let no man separate -- neither government nor any other power. For God, who joined them together, is more mighty than all others that a person could name or even conceive." Christians took Jesus' words seriously when He said, "Anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery" (Matt. 19:9).
The strict position of the early Christians against divorce obviously wasn't a reflection of their culture. But what about our attitude toward divorce? Haven't our views followed the trends of our culture? Forty years ago, an evangelical Christian wouldn't have dreamed of divorcing his or her spouse merely because of "incompatibility." Today, the divorce rate among evangelicals is fast approaching that of the world. What has changed? Certainly not Scripture. Rather, the conservative bloc of American society has changed its views on divorce. Evangelicals often pride themselves for opposing "worldly" attitudes and trends. But in reality, what we so often oppose is merely the liberal segment of the world. Once a practice is accepted by the conservative element, the church soon follows in stride. Divorce is a prime example. (David W. Bercot)
KneEmail: "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matt. 19:9).