Too many of us in the Christian community speak of the divorce itself as if it were the dominating problem we face in the breakdown of marriages among Christians. What if the problem is not divorce, per se? Maybe we are looking for solutions in all the wrong areas. Maybe something is wrong in our marriages. Divorce, like death, is a problem. But, the “cure” must concentrate on the “CAUSES”, not as much the results, if we are to change the way things are going in Christian marriages.

Perhaps, one of the problems is the way we “use our Bibles” in dealing with a case of divorce – and the steps leading up to it. In other words, our (mis)understanding of the Bible sends us in wrong directions. A glaring symptom of this very issue is the fact that many Christians throughout Christian history quote the Gospels concerning divorce but do not recognize our Lord is commenting upon Deuteronomy 24:1ff, enforcing its tenets.

Why Divorce in Christian History: Deuteronomy 24

Deuteronomy (one of three books of the Old Testament quoted/referenced most often by Christ Himself) commands us as to how to handle the rebellious in a divorce situation. But current Christian culture shies away from the “Law” of God, where Christ did not. In fact, in Luke 16, where Christ speaks of the Law as never perishing nor in any manner passing away, the very first illustration used is Deuteronomy 24:1ff.

Throughout Christian history, poor interpretive principles and understanding has been a continual source of strife and culture “plague” (ongoing social strife and hurt).

Why Divorce in Christian History: The Early Church & Interpretation

Let’s illustrate. For the first three centuries of the Christian era, many in the churches did not know how to describe/understand Christ’s two-fold nature as both fully God and fully man. They didn’t know whether to define Him from the Bible as …

• two persons in one body (Nestorianism)
• one “mixed” person with a different nature than anyone else (God mingled with flesh) (Eutychianism)
• a lesser divinity with manlike characteristics (Gnosticism)
• a phantom like being (Gnosticism)
• a finite man of outstanding character (rationalism)

The problem was, they all used Scripture to justify their positions.

Note that. They used a poor understanding of the Word of God to define Christ.

Why Divorce in Christian History: Interpretations Leading to Abuse

All Christians use poor interpretive practices at some time or other. That’s not the problem. The problem lies in the fact that we have hot and cold running marital breakups and the carnage of damaged though otherwise faithful Christians, and we STICK TO OUR SAME TRADITIONS OF DIVORCE INTERPRETATIONS that lead to abuses within the churches.

At ICHR, we firmly believe that the Bible was written as the inspired, inerrant Word of God. However, we should understand that such a belief AT LEAST entails an understanding that the Lord is not… foolish … nor unjust.

In other words, His holy precepts are NOT designed to subsidize evil-doers nor punish the faithful. Romans 13 clearly teaches that evil-doers must be made to fear their lawlessness.

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. –Romans 13: 4

Yet, in many churches and households, the faithful spouse is the one who is made to fear and is exasperated by his/her brethren and church officers. Certainly in a “No-Fault” legal world, that is most often what does occur.

How?

Why Divorce in Christian History: Faithful Spouses Punished by the “Faithful”

The faithful spouse most often “pays dearly” for trying to deal with the rebellious spouse. While Christian friends are attempting to “get the person saved”… or some variation of “We need to counsel him/her”, any number of the following are taking place:

• The faithful spouse is being ostracized by friends, church members, and other Christians because he cannot go on with the torment of a renegade spouse, a loveless home, strife ridden “marriage”, (often) a financially distraught situation, lack of sexual care (which according to St. Paul is satanic as opposed to merely a “control yourself” kind of situation).
• Children who rebel and see the “success” (getting what the rebellious spouse wants) by being unchristian in conduct.
• Condemnation by others on the premise “it takes two to divide a home” (sounds a lot like the kinds of injustice perpetrated by attorneys who, in court, condemn rape victims – “… are you sure you didn’t tempt him?”)
• Finally, we condemn such a spouse when he finally divorces the wretch who has torn up life in front of him and the children, knowing the church will often help the rebel (“counseling”) and point the finger of “lack of faith” at him.

The problem we face here is simple: We condemn the upright and help the unrighteous. This is the very thing the Bible condemns. God does NOT does not justify the wicked and condemn the just.

Is it really true that our understanding of our duty should move us to do the same? Here is a list of issues which often occur BECAUSE Christian people do not know biblically how to deal with them SCRIPTURALLY and DEFEND the upright spouse who tried to keep the marriage to begin with!

Why Divorce in Christian history? “Problems” with abuses by Christians, churches and the state.

1.Should Christians ostracize another Christian who divorces?

2.Should churches discipline people who get a divorce?

3.Should pastors or other church officers automatically be removed from office if they divorce – no matter who is at fault Biblically?

4.Doesn’t a policy of “no-fault divorce” subsidize the one whose actions lead to the break-up of the marriage?

5.Is it the case that in all divorces, both parties are always the cause, irrespective of the details?

6.Why is it that the spouse responsible for provoking the circumstances leading to the divorce is often subsidized in the process of divorce and the Christian spouse is often unconditionally condemned for not having enough faith?

7.Isn’t it the case that a rebel spouse who provokes the faithful one often uses the church and friends as means of further provoking and exasperating the faithful?

8.Is it just to assert “where there smoke, there’s fire” on the assumption that both parties in a marriage must be at least “a little guilty”?

9.Is it a lack of faith on the part of the faithful spouse who has “has had it” with the unfaithful spouse and pursues a divorce due the impenitent behavior of the other?

Why Divorce in Christian History: Our Questioning of the Problems

At ICHR, we believe there is a solution to these dilemmas showing themselves throughout the sordid Christian history of “why divorce?”. We also believe the unjust spouse needs to be sanctioned biblically and mercy shown to the exasperated spouse who attempted to keep the marriage. There are definite means in Scripture which should be utilized by the churches.

Maybe it’s our “interpretation” of Scripture which too often subsidizes evil, encouraging a bad spouse in his/her rebellion. The plague like Christian history of “why divorce?” is one of misinterpretation.

- Submitted by ICHR

Parts II through IV will emphasize other problems in the Christian history of “Why divorce?”

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