Today, holy matrimony within the church body, fornication, and divorce among Christians are topics. The outcome of divorce is to be peace. As a sacred practice (we say, sacrament) within the church, holy matrimony addresses more than the happiness, love, and prosperity of a single couple. There are issues of eternal life, family stability, godliness, new creation, oneness without sameness that should appear throughout the assembly, and developing believers becoming ripe for harvest by the Lord at his appearing. In sanctifying Israel as a covenant people and nation belonging to GOD, Moses introduced divorce to release women from the abuse they were suffering in marriage. In the early church, believers are encouraged to marry and avoid fornication; however, during times of persecution, unmarried believers are counseled to remain single. Divorce is not automatically a condemnation of ones spirit content and divine makeup. Even so, in addition to situations of adultery, divorce also may be a remedy where a wife hinders her husband’s prayers, nags, practices idolatry, irreverence, prostitution or witchcraft, and is a “stranger” outside the covenants of GOD. The annulment of holy matrimony through divorce acknowledges that the holiness of the Lord is profaned. Divorce is mistakenly taken to be a form of excommunication; yet, the disunion of joined spirits is only accomplished through the operations of divinity. Among those commanded to “love your enemy,” divorce separates and denies a couple a right to cohabit; however, it does not remove their duty to acknowledge accountability, or to continue showing forbearance, forgiveness, and respect. A writer in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “East” (Level 1 with 116 points, a member since September 06, 2015) posted the following:
Why do Christians not frown on divorce?
In the Bible, Jesus Himself says that you should not get divorced except if your spouse was unfaithful, and that marrying a divorced person is adultery.
Why do Christians focus on so many "values" issues but not divorce?
I'm asking as a Christian. I will ignore answers that bash Christianity.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. (Malachi 2: 11-16, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Conforming to Divine Standards (06/18/2017); Marriage Is A Sacrament? (06/11/2017); The Wife of Your Youth? (12/22/2015); Dating and Worship? (09/11/2014); Quality Time Together? (09/12/2014); GOD and Adultery? (06/11/2014); A Hardened Spirit? (06/12/2014)
“East”, the future soundness of a marriage relationship can not be predicted; however, by following familiar and fixed patterns (e.g., ABC), we can have a sense of sequence and what else may be on the way (XYZ). Many mature Christian believers regard divorce as a peculiar divine judgment intended to resolve ongoing and recurring conflict between two or more spirits that have been joined through the sexual intercourse provided to consummate marriage. The application of divine law for the settlement of disputes comes into view. Where marriage is only a carnal and social institution, marriage comes under the jurisdiction of civil law, family courts, and the oversight of the community-at-large and the general public. Law enforcement and the courts become involved to establish equity regarding such issues as joint financial obligations, credit ratings, custody for the children, the disposition of ownership for jointly held property, and domestic violence.
Even where young adults and their parents are careful to practice discernment during the dating and courtship phase of relationship and trust-building before emotional, psychological, and sexual commitments are made, correctly apprehending the spirit content and eternal purposes within another developing believer is not a simple process. There are many subtleties (i.e., barely visible differences; hidden shifts in meaning, quality, and value), and the candidates for holy matrimony often are driven by finite human tools such as intellect, secular knowledge, and romanticism. Sexual joining may occur through behavior that appears innocent (e.g., kissing (oral sex), holding hands), because joining occurs on multiple levels, and is not just “physical”.
Fornication (the defilement of ones inborn spirit by sexual partners who may not be physically present) can result in a couple being bound to, or dominated by strangers, and those whose spirit makeup are not compatible. Where she has had 6 partners, 7 will be joined to her mate; where he has had 7, 8 will be joined to her; and, where the Spirit of Christ does not reign and rule over the conjunction of 15 spirits, expressing such elements as disposition, inclinations, and moods can regularly display anger, confusion, fear, and self-contradiction. More than this, where the 6 each have had 5, and the 7 each have had 5—do the math! And their partners may have had multiple partners. (Many think this may have accounted for the demoniac who told Jesus his name was Legion.)
Where couples who are learning and growing as individuals do not, in fact, grow together in the same direction, with shared goals and experiences of new knowledge, divorce may become necessary for the sake of conscience, and for the sacred commitment to Christ. Thus, in counsel through the Apostle Paul, it is written: 1st Corinthians 7: 10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But tot the rest speak I, not the Lord: if any brother have a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and made a part of our own developing belief. Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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