Rethinking Divorce

Time.com recently posted an article titled, An Evangelistic Rethink on Divorce. The article discusses the fact that divorce, which was once looked down upon, is now accepted and defended among many religious people. Some have come to accept divorce by ignoring the Scriptures. But the article talks about those who try to use the Bible to condone it.

There is nothing wrong with examining our beliefs and practices in light of God's word. In fact, we should do that. Our lives and outlook on the world around us should be shaped by the word of God. But many have this backwards. They let their lives and society shape their interpretation of God's word. The result is a "different gospel" that Paul warned the Galatians about (Gal. 1:6-9). That is exactly what this rethinking on divorce is - a different gospel.

There is no need to rethink divorce to allow what Jesus clearly condemned. There is only one cause that gives one the divine permission to put away their mate. That cause is fornication on the part of one's spouse (Mt. 19:9). Jesus did not use ambiguous language. Everyone can understand this (if they want to).

Evangelicals, and some of our own brethren, are twisting the Scriptures (2 Pet. 3:16) in order to justify multiple causes of divorce. Their "rethinking" is based in the wisdom of man. They would do good to remember the words of Paul: "the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor. 1:25).