Divorce rates increasing day by day, there is a need to remind those Christians, bonded in the 'union of marriage', about the Christian views on divorce. The Bible has always been a source of guidance, and it continues to be so, provided you are ready to accept its teachings in your life!
Some Pharisees came and tested Jesus by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” “What did Moses command you?” he replied. They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied….
…“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female’. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” ~ Mark 10 v 2-12
Yes, God created the union of Adam and Eve even before sin entered in this world. The Book of Genesis explains that God had first created Adam, which was then followed by the creation of animals, but Adam was still lonely and did not have an ideal companion. For this purpose, God then created Eve and was happy with the union of the two.
God blessed both Adam and Eve and gave them the entire earth to rule upon. The union of a man and a woman is considered to be sacred in all religions, including Christianity. The mentioned quote would have given you an idea about what the Bible has to say on divorce.
It clearly states that what God has joined together, let man not separate. Apart from this, there has been an increasing rate at which couples are getting divorced, though not in the view of the church, but through the civil courts.
Although, we are sure that the reason why you are reading this is because you do believe that God has the power to take care of your marriage and that God’s words matter to you, in taking decisions in your life! Being a true Christian and a strong believer in the almighty, the given particulars will tell you about the Christian views on divorce.
How Does Christianity View the Concept of Divorce?
“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
Did you read the first three words of the aforementioned quote? “I HATE DIVORCE!” Well, Christianity does not accept the ‘concept of divorce’ under any circumstances except for the biblical grounds for divorce, such as adultery and death.
However, because Christianity as a religion which involves various denominations, each have a degree of separate point of views when it comes to divorce and remarriage. These beliefs and views are discussed as under.
The Catholic Views on Divorce
As mentioned earlier, marriage is a holy sacrament signifying the life long unity between two people, and the Catholic church strictly follows this principle. Divorce is strictly prohibited by the Catholic church, and the person is allowed to remarry only if their spouse has passed away.
However, the point to be noted is that the Catholic church permits annulments, in case there is proof stating that the marriage was invalid. There are many Catholics that manage to obtain a divorce from the civil courts and remarry, however, these people are not allowed to receive the Holy Eucharist, but they can attend the mass.
The Protestant Views on Divorce
Some of the extremely conservative protestant churches consider divorce to be a sin. Some Baptists church on the other hand, although opposing divorce, also sympathize with them who want to get one.
The Methodist church tries their best to prevent the situation by counseling the couple, but also act comparatively liberal when it comes to divorce and remarriage. The protestant church permits divorce in cases like adultery.
The Orthodox Church Views on Divorce
Same is the case with Orthodox churches who allow divorce on the grounds of adultery and when the relationship lacks internal symphony. In such cases, The Holy John Chrysostom states, “better to break the covenant than to lose one’s soul“. However, the Orthodox church views divorce as a tragedy resulting from sins committed due to human weakness.
We believe that all the Christians in the world, though under any denomination, are equally precious in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord is your strength and your guide, he is your light and your comforter, so pray to the Lord to heal your marriage. Pray that what he joined together, let not misunderstandings and differences separate.
From the given write-up on Christian views on divorce, it would have become clear to you that God doesn’t want the unity to separate, for it is not something that is bound to the earth, but it is spiritual and holy in nature. You have been united as one in front of the almighty. You are expected to be there for each other through thick and thin.
Recall the qualities that made you marry each other, think about the good times, the sweet things that you both did for each other, the kids, speaking about kids, have you considered the effects of divorce on your children? Isn’t all this worth giving your relationship a chance? Just ask God for strength and blessings; he’ll surely heal your relationship.
To conclude we would like to quote the verse by Edna Ferber, Show Boat 1926. “Wasn’t marriage, like life, unstimulating and unprofitable and somewhat empty when too well-ordered and protected and guarded….
…Wasn’t it finer, more splendid, more nourishing, when it was, like life itself, a mixture of the sordid and the magnificent; of mud and stars; of earth and flowers; of love and hate and laughter and tears and ugliness and beauty and hurt.” May God bless you with his patience and wisdom and guide you through all the tribulations. Peace be to you. Amen.