Letters    

ON DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

Dear C. S.                                                                                                           July 24, 1993

      ...On July 13th, Catherine and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. It is a marvel of God's providence that Catherine and I are so happily married. How can youth "choose" a wife having had no experience? It is a testimony to the gracious providence of God.

     I would ask you as my brother to re-think your position on the subject of divorce and remarriage. Certainly no one who knows me believes me to be permissive, and if I were, it would be evident in my children, for God would judge me for it as He has so many others. Certainly, it cannot be wrong for us to examine our stands on various and sundry issues by taking a fresh look at the Word of God.

       First, throughout history, there have been Montanists, Novatians, and Donatists, etc. who have sought to counter permissiveness in their day by taking positions more strict than the Law of God. While they refused to reinstate those who in times of persecution surrendered the Scriptures, or who denied the faith, it would have been more like Christ to show mercy to the repentant. Even Peter denied the Lord, but was after received by the Lord.

      Second, if it be asked, "Should we not compensate for today's permissiveness by exercising greater strictness"? I answer, "No! We have no right to be more harsh than the Lord."

     Consider the following texts. I. "When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife" (Deuteronomy 24:1,2).

     First, while this is referred to as "Moses' Law," the term does not mean that Moses invented it. This is as much the inspired Word of God as Genesis 1:1. It is called "Moses' Law" only because God gave it to Israel by the hand of Moses.

     Second, the fact that this is Old Testament does not give us liberty to trash it. Our Bible has 66 books given by the Holy Spirit. It would be error to maintain the discarding of the Old Testament by the New Testament.

     Third, Christ never abrogated the Mosaic Law: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17). Jesus clarified it, and gave the true meaning. For instance, in verse 21, Jesus said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, `Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment': but I say unto you, ..." (5:21). Did Jesus abolish the Old Testament law forbidding murder? Quite the opposite: He clarified it, detailing the fullness of the Law.

     Again, in verse 27, Jesus said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, `Thou shalt not commit adultery': but I say unto you ...." The Lord did not abrogate the law of adultery here, but applied it in its rightful sense to include even unchaste thoughts.

     So, in verse 31, when Jesus said, "It hath been said, `Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement': but I say unto you ..."; He did not abrogate the Law of Moses found in Deuteronomy 24:1,2. Instead, He gave the true meaning.

     Fourth, it is certain from Deuteronomy 24:1 that divorce occurs; and, it is here said by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that "she may go and be another man's wife." Would the Lord permit her to commit adultery? Certainly not. What we have here is an illegitimate divorce. A "legitimate" divorce was allowed in place of the death penalty, but in the case of an illegitimate divorce, i.e. one not allowed by God, the innocent party is allowed to marry.

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