Anthropology:
Marriage and Divorce
By Jake Kohl
In
consideration of options that could affect a lifelong relationship concerning
marriage and divorce, the Bible has a profound impact on what it states
concerning these issues. During the pre-exilic times a male could marry his
half sister on his father’s side according to Genesis 20:12. [1]
In Exodus 22:16 and Deut. 20:7 the term “Bethrothed”, meant a binding marriage
between parents of both bride and groom, and normally without the bride and
grooms consent. Marriage, between both
husband and wife was where a husband provided his family with security and
financial stability and the wife would take care of the home and family. The
husband took care of the finances and assumed responsibility of teaching the
boys around five years of age. Today, this is uncommon.
According
to Walter E Ewell “… marriage is brought about as the result of a declaration
of desire to be married, accompanied by the expression of mutual intentions of
sole and enduring fidelity and responsibility toward the other, preferably
undergirded by self-giving love, in the presence of accredited witnesses.” [2]
In Genesis 2:24 “a man should leave his parents, cling to his wife and become
one flesh.” The thought of one flesh shows the unity between man and women as
God intended. It is also an example of how we are to complete each other as one.
Currently
our nation is in an epidemic on divorce; especially among Christians. “As a
recent study by George Barna showed, the percentage of born-again Christians
who have been divorced (27) actually beats the national average by 2 points.” [3] Many are
using divorce as an easy way out of bad circumstances. In the Old Testament, the Bible would allow a
man to get divorced only if his wife was not faithful to him, he would be
allowed to issue her a “bill of divorce” (Deuteronomy
24:1-3). “The word “divorce” in the phrase “bill of divorcement” is
related to the word for hewing down trees, even cutting off heads. It indicates
the severing of what was once a living union.”[4]
In the New Testament, Jesus in Matt. 19:9 gives the reason why a person may get
a divorce, which is sexual immorality. This is the only reason Jesus gave;
anything else – there are no grounds. However, later in 1 Cor 7:12 we can also see that if we are already married
to an unbeliever, and they leave us, we are no longer bound to them.
Divorce as we see today is being used as the first step in resolving
differences in which it does not have a biblical foundation for support.
Divorce however should always be a last
resort and only under the circumstances that are supported biblically. In 1
Cor. 7:10-11 there is proof that even before divorce, there should be a period
of separation. This separation is not to be used freely but only for biblical
grounds of death, adultery, or desertion. If you divorce or try to remarry
outside of the biblical grounds stated above, then you are breaking the very
commandment that God has given us concerning marriage and divorce.
Divorce can have problems not just for the husband and wife, but to children
and other family members as well. Divorce can also affect the body of Christ
and those who are around us. Marriage is ordained by God and is therefore
beautiful in His sight; to defile this union is to defile the sanctity of
marriage and sin against the very God we claim to love. When divorce occurs
among the body of Christ (Christians), what message does this send out to those
in our neighborhoods, churches, jobs, etc? It sends the message that our God is
not a very serious God, and that divorce is OK, in which we have just seen, is
a direct violation of the commandment of God.
keep marriage as a union. We should help those who are considering divorce as an option, by
showing love and showing the same grace that we were shown by God. We should set the tone of our
society, and bring back the meaning of marriage as a God ordained union between man and women.
We must learn to trust God in helping us through the difficult times and circumstances. We must not
rely on God for a minute, but rely on Him every minute. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
[1]
Elwell, Water A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. [Grand
Rapids,MI: BakerAcademic, ,2001],740.
[2] Ibid,
744
[3]
The Christian divorce culture. 2000. Christianity Today, September 4, 47.
http://www.proquest.com/ (accessed November 14, 2011).
[4] Elwell,
Water A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. [Grand Rapids,MI:
BakerAcademic, ,2001],346
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