Does God allow divorce?

To sum up the Bible’s teaching’s on marriage and divorce:

1. Marriage is the sacred union between one man and one woman and God’s intention is for marriage to last a lifetime.

2. Divorce is not always sinful.

3. Divorce is permitted, but not required, on the ground of sexual immorality.

4. Divorce is permitted, but not required, on the ground of desertion by an unbelieving spouse.

5. When the divorce was not permissible, any subsequent remarriage results in adultery.

6. In situations where the divorce was permissible, remarriage is also permissible.

7. Improperly divorced and remarried Christians should stay as they are, but repent and be forgiven of their past sins and make whatever amends are necessary.

* This points are from Kevin DeYoung’s brilliant paper: “What did Jesus think of divorce and remarriage” (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/11/03/a-sermon-on-divorce-and-remarriage/)

The most important thing

What is the most important issue in your life right now? Your exams, your job, your upcoming wedding, your children, your girlfriend, your cancer?  Jesus, in Mark 2, speaks to what’s really important.

Friends bring a paralysed man to Jesus, who by this stage is a semi-famous miracle worker.  The paralysed man is lowered to Jesus through a desperately-made opening in the flat-roofed house.  Jesus sees this physically handicapped man and says to him, quite surprisingly, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Why is Jesus so insensitive and tactless?  Surely he realised the desperate man needed healing.  The key is to see that Jesus knew that the paralysed man’s physical handicap wasn’t his biggest, deepest problem.  Jesus knew that the man had a far greater issue.   Jesus knew he was a sinner estranged from his Creator and because the man was estranged from God he would not only suffer in this world, but he would also suffer in the world to come, for all eternity, in hell. Jesus knew what his big issue was, and so said, “Son, our sins are forgiven”.  Jesus extended to the spiritually paralysed man forgiveness and new life for all eternity.  His new life would start that very day and have no end. 

What is the biggest issue you’re facing right now?  What’s causing you the most joy or the most pain?  Remember that as a Christian, Jesus has dealt with your biggest problem and that you now belong to him.  He cares and control.  He empowers and enables.  If you are not a Christian yet, make sure that deal with the biggest issue before you get caught up in the others.

Oh yes, just to prove that he does care about the other issues too, Jesus tells the paralysed man to stand up and walk home.