There has been a long debate about whether Christians can divorce(remarry) or not. An article by Huang Aoxiang, a member of Faith Council, claims that the early Church Fathers held that Christians should not get a divorce. One could divorce only when a marriage was irretrievably broken down and the person should never remarry.
Augustine of Hippo believed that a couple could live apart rather than divorce, for marriage was considered as a sacrament. After the Reformation, Augustine's opinion on marriage was corrected: divorce was allowed in some cases, such as when one suffers from domestic violence, the spouse was maritally unfaithful, insisting on abandoning his or her spouse or nothing was heard of a partner for a long time.
First of all, Christians should be witnesses in their families in such an era of lost marriage and family, let alone divorce that is not favored by God. I think that divorce has been permitted under extreme circumstances after the Reformation, which is reasonable. Because a person involved cannot be spared from committing more sins, though apart from divorce.
What Huang says makes sense: there are many problems in marriage. Divorce solves the marriage issues itself, not problems in marriage. One has to how to deal with various problems in married life to keep his or her family strong and a happy marriage. These problems may arise again if one who refuses to face marriage problems and remarries after a divorce.
Let's take a look at how the Bible talks about remarriage:
Caleb Zhang, another member of Faith Council, points out in one of his posts that the Bible doesn't command Christians not to marry again, instead, lists out some cases of remarriage:
1. If the death of one partner terminates a marriage, the Bible encourages the other partner to remarry, especially for young people, otherwise they may be tempted, slandered, meddle, or become burdens to the church.
The Bible verses that support this:
1 Corinthians 7:8-9 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
1 Corinthians 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
Meanwhile, Zhang reminds that those spousally bereaved who want a remarriage must completely say goodbye to the past and never apply the previous marriage pattern into the new marriage; if he/she has a child, he/she should take the difficulty of forming a step-family into account and discuss it with the new partner. What's more, he/she should seek pastoral counseling and the church pastor to interfere in it.
2. Can Christians who divorce against the biblical principles marry again? -- Sin is hateful, but God's grace is greater than any detested sin.
The Bible verses that are on this side:
Romans 5:20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 2:7-8 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
Therefore, those who divorce due to their transgressions and desire remarriages should repent their sins; they should realize how severe their sins are and admit them, not rationalize them or blame others; be grateful for that they will be forgiven thanks to Jesus' salvation, if they confess their sins; produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
At the same time, keep in mind with the severe word of God: "'I hate divorce,' says the LORD God of Israel, 'and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,' says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. " (Malachi 2:16)
Translated by Karen Luo
