Category: Theology of divorce

Mismatched values as in light and darkness

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? -2 Corinthians 6:14, KJV Whether one is abandoned or cheated on or both, the reality for faithful spouses is as stark as this verse from 2 Corinthians paints it. Light cannot fellowship with … Continue reading “Mismatched values as in light and darkness”

Joshua Harris’ Separation Announcement: Kissing Ordination Goodbye?

Joshua Harris is the author who wrote the purity-culture books I Kissed Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship.  If you came of age in the ’90s (or later) in the conservative Christian world, these books were unavoidable. Their ideas were taught all over the place as the way to go for Christian teenagers … Continue reading “Joshua Harris’ Separation Announcement: Kissing Ordination Goodbye?”

PSA: Adultery alone can cause divorce!

And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful. -Matthew 19:9, NLT It mystified me why good Christian pastors ever needed to hear more to the story of my marriage’s ending than verification that my ex-wife had committed adultery (and I hadn’t). The probing … Continue reading “PSA: Adultery alone can cause divorce!”

Awful Advice: “Don’t throw away your marriage over this!”

 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.’” -Leviticus 20:10, NIV “Don’t throw away your marriage over this,” the well-meaning pastor tells the sobbing faithful spouse upon discovery of the adulterous double life of their spouse. He misses … Continue reading “Awful Advice: “Don’t throw away your marriage over this!””

Is remarriage after divorce adultery?

Comment: Thank you for your blog – it has been so encouraging to me as a Christian walking through the pain of what appears to be an impending divorce following my unrepentant husband’s adultery. I was wondering what the Bible suggests about remarriage in such cases (I have been taught the traditional viewpoint that any … Continue reading “Is remarriage after divorce adultery?”

Testimonies of blessed lives post-divorce

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. -Job 42:12, NIV The Church needs to hear stories from divorced faithful spouses who went on to live fulfilling lives after the ending of their marriages. These testimonies are needed for faithful spouses who are trapped in fear. The fear of the spiritually … Continue reading “Testimonies of blessed lives post-divorce”

Hope for cheaters

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart,    with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. -Joel 2:12-13a, NIV What is described here in Joel is repentance. The prophet talks about genuine remorse or grief over wrong doing and not simply outward displays–like tearing “rending” one’s clothes. That is … Continue reading “Hope for cheaters”

Death leading to new life

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. -John 12:24, NKJV Death is not pleasant. I do not care how prepared one is. We were not made to die; rather, we were made to live … Continue reading “Death leading to new life”

“Thou shalt not commit adultery” is far from unclear, folks!

Thou shalt not commit adultery. -Exodus 20:14, KJV When an adulterous spouse feigns ignorance or confusion over the ending of their marriage, it is a ploy to avoid taking responsibility. This isn’t rocket science, folks! God does not command the ending of a marriage over adultery in the Old Testament to signal such sin is … Continue reading ““Thou shalt not commit adultery” is far from unclear, folks!”