Marriage covenant is a covenant of love. Since God is love (1 John4:8), it is a covenant of God. No one therefore, can put aside the covenant (Matt 19:6). Divorce therefore, goes directly against God; and those who remarry after divorce commit adultery (Luke 16:18). God is therefore, not pleased with the offering of those who divorce their spouse (Malachi 2: 13-14).
God always stays faithful to His covenant with us. When we were unfaithful to Him, He brought us healing by sacrificing His own life. As believers, we are called to love our spouse just as Christ loves us (Eph 5:25). The Lord told Hosea (Hosea 3:1), "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." We therefore, have to be faithful to our covenant with our spouse, even when there is unfaithfulness and hurt; and bring healing to our spouse by our prayers, sacrifices and support.
Divorce is absolutely prohibited by the Gospels (Mk 10:11-12, Luke 6:18; Matthew 5: 31-32). In Matthew’s gospel the exception is for unlawful marriages. The exception in the Greek text is porneia (which means incest or fornication), and not moiceia (which means adultery). The exception is for marriages between close relatives, which according to Mosaic Law (Lv 18:6-18) were unlawful, because, they were considered as incest. According to some authors it also refers to Jewish betrothal process, in which, prior to the marriage, if it was discovered that the bride was not a virgin (had committed fornication), the groom could back out. Such was the case when Joseph had planned to back out, when he found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus.
Why does God hate divorce? (Malachi 2:16
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arunangelo
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Post #11
Well then, why do you neccesarily go by the first study? I haven't read theMiraculously, in the new study Christians have improved their score a little, but since the methodology used wasn't the same as the previous study it's difficult to compare them.
information yet, but this is an initial objection which came to mind.
Post #12
By all means read some of this stuff. The numbers, by themselves, aren't all that important. We all know what can be done with numbers. The fun part is that Christians are no better than anyone else at maintaining their marriages. To quote George Barna one last time...Nicene wrote:Well then, why do you neccesarily go by the first study? I haven't read the information yet, but this is an initial objection which came to mind.
"A person's faith doesn't seem to have a lot of effect on whether they'll get divorced," Barna says. "Even among born-again Christians, most don't exhibit attitudes or behaviors any different than non-Christians."
...from here.
That's great stuff. Maybe you'll think that I "go by" the first study because of personal bias but so what? I don't "go by" either of them. Not exactly. I would be very surprised if Christians hadn't scored better in the second study. The Barna Research Group makes no claims to objectivity...
"The ultimate aim of the firm is to partner with Christian ministries and individuals to be a catalyst in moral and spiritual transformation in the United States."
...in other words, they have an agenda. It is surprising that Christians came off looking as badly as they have. The point of all this is that Christians have no business preaching to anyone on the topics of marriage or divorce, and that the bible is probably less effective as a marital aid than a good cookbook.
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto His people. Exodus 32:14
Post #13
Too bad we can't compare them with the number of Christian kids who are also having sex before marriage (which of course would be "adultery" in the eyes of God). And, better yet, it would be nice to know how many wide eyed, born again teens have rushed to the altar because they can't keep their pants on.1John2_26 wrote:Of course we have no clue how many atheists and agnostics are having sex before marriage, which of course would be "adultery" in the eyes of God. But, I'm sure the numbers are interesting to keep in mind when all of the judgment starts a flyin'!
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto His people. Exodus 32:14
Post #14
All of us like sheep have gone astray.1John2_26 wrote:
Of course we have no clue how many atheists and agnostics are having sex before marriage, which of course would be "adultery" in the eyes of God. But, I'm sure the numbers are interesting to keep in mind when all of the judgment starts a flyin'!
Too bad we can't compare them with the number of Christian kids who are also having sex before marriage (which of course would be "adultery" in the eyes of God). And, better yet, it would be nice to know how many wide eyed, born again teens have rushed to the altar because they can't keep their pants on.
There is none righteous no not one.
I've heard that's written somewhere.
Free love, baby!!! Safe sex, wear a condom.
I've heard that somewhere too.
Post #15
Why does God hate divorce?
The family unit is the key factor in handing down traditions and dogmas. This is how memes travel.
The high priests that wrote the book long ago knew the importance of this in spreading their religion.
Post #16
Well, there ya' go . . .
The "family unit" is key to a lot of things.
Quote:
Why does God hate divorce?
. . . an agnostic that "knows" something.The family unit is the key factor in handing down traditions and dogmas. This is how memes travel.
The high priests that wrote the book long ago knew the importance of this in spreading their religion.
The "family unit" is key to a lot of things.
