So I've only written one post so far, and I'm quite sure that with what is described in that as well as what you would find in my profile, you'd have some questions. Like why do I say that I'm still married to a woman who divorced me?
Well in a nutshell, God said it. But to be more descriptive...........how do I explain this? Maybe I should explain the bible first? I think I will.
Ok so you have the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is filled with stories and rules that earlier Christians had to go by. In order to live right, you had to abide by those rules. Do what God commanded. Then Jesus comes on the scene and changes everything. His teachings are the foundation that current Christians are to live by. The rules of the old are nonexistent to us now, because we have His new rules. So His teachings are the basis of, and start off, the New Testament.
SN: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the first books of the New, recount the same story but from what they saw, which is why some things in one book aren't in another, or two books may say the same thing but not in another, or something is explained in more detail than in another book. It was the perspective they saw. Sorta like 2 people looking at an object, you can only see whats in front of you, you can't see whats behind it, but the other can see what's behind it. Another note, the bible is separated into chapters and verses. The Apostals wrote to churches in letters, just one long letter essentially. But as the bible began to be mass produced, a way of making sure everyone was on the same page was needed, so that's why the bible is divided into chapters and verses. Which is also why sometimes you read a chapter and it kind of seems like the next chapter belongs with the previous. Ok I'm done!
So in regards to marriage we have to look at the New Testament and ask what is commanded of us about marriage. So where do we turn to? The foundation, Jesus. Matthew 19 and special attention to verses 1-12. I am still married to my wife because of what is in verse number 6. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.". So we know that marriage is a concept developed by God. Therefore, to be married and remain married is a Godly action. So who are we, as man, who were made by God, are to tell God that it's okay to be divorced just cause we want to be? Who are we to state what the requirements are for being married? Who are we to say that the divorce down here on earth is better than the laws sent from heaven? That's being ignorant. So then the Pharisees ask, "Well why did Moses allow us to get a divorce then?", and Jesus replies in verse 8, "He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.". Moses didn't want divorce, but the people of that time kept pestering him for the law. So he allowed it. But as the scripture states, "but from the beginning it was not so", that wasn't what the spiritual law was from the beginning. Once you got married, you were married. That's the law that God recognizes.
So then we goa little further and read in verse 9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." So here's what happens when we stray away according to our own natural understanding. We get a divorce, to go date/marry someone else, in His eyes since we are still married, we are commiting adultery.And we will be punished as such. Now it reads, as if it was the man divorcing the woman, but it also recognizes the woman too. She is in danger of sin if she divorces her husband.Now this also is supported by Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18, and by 1 Corinthians 7:10.
Now we also can shoot over to 1 Corinthians 7 chapter. Good chapter to read about marriage. 10th verse is POWERFUL! Paul says, I command, yet not I, "but the Lord". What's he saying? God is speaking through him and telling us, "Let not the wife depart from her husband". Now if you mess around and do the opposite, go to the next verse, 11. "But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife." Plain and simple, she should not put herself in the position to get married again.And if she should want another relationship, she HAS to go back to her husband, and "reconcile" Reconcile: to bring into agreement or harmony. Essentially to fix, to work on the relationship. The verse also says "let not the husband put away his wife." These are commandments from God. Can't argue with that! This is scripture. Not what I would have chosen for myself, but its the rule I have to follow, yet I do it willingly.
Now there are other scriptures that apply to the husband, and some to the wife. But I have to ask myself, how does it relate to me considering that I'm divorced from her?
I stay single. I can't go out on dates, I can't have sex, I can't be involved with a female on that level. I become married to Christ. So spiritually, I'm following the supreme rules, my life is in God, but naturally, I'm just a single man with no real life with anyone.
This is a hard life to live, and it's not for everyone. However, if you're really following God, it becomes easier to do. It becomes something you're willing to do, joyfully. You do it joyfully because you understand that you're living for your treasure above, not for the things of this earth.
The Spirit of Christ dwell within you all at all times. Let Him guide you in all things. Don't justify your sinful actions. Let His peace, compassion, and strength abound in you as you live your lives and be the standard of how you treat others, especially those who you feel have hurt you.
No comments:
Post a Comment