Subject: unaffordable annulllment-How to? |
Bible Note: Dear Tim...I agree with most of what you wrote... You wrote... "There is an alternative translation which goes like this ......She does not become GUILTY of adultery but the INNOCENT PARTY of adultery if you will." ....but that is the way I understood the passage so that I'm not sure of what you mean by "alternative translation", unless you meant the word(s) themselves. But I understand that divorce under those circumstances was devastating for women. But the more important devestation was a sin against the law. Nothing has changed, except that the social status, the secondary devestation if you will, has lessened for women in Post-Christian America. But the sin is still paramount. You wrote... "Do we forbid him from re-marrying? I know preachers who would indeed do this but on what scriptural authority I do not know." ....but you gave the Sciptural authority above (Mt 5:32) so I mis-understand your point. But it may be related to an annulement which, as you know, is a judicial pronouncement declaring a marriage invalid. The "judge" is the church. The church relys on Scripture, not on the ever changing socio-economic status of believers. Divorce should be difficult. Half of the people in our churches have been divorced, the same percentage as the general population of unbelievers. How then are we to be different from the population of non-believers if not to make the desolution of a marriage vow Scriptural? We can't go by popular acceptance of the fact. My mom would always ask me "Would you jump off a bridge just because everyone else did" to illustrate how we must sometimes act independent of the herd. As Christians must act. Please do not think I judge divorce to be beyond the pale. I, like you, think that divorce should not happen in a Bible believing Christian home. But when it does, it should be by an annulument of His church, not our secular courts, which is of secondary importance. On this issue, the Roman Church has it right :-) God Bless....Jensen |