I recently read a John Piper article dealing with his treatment on divorce texts. In this article (Piper on Divorce), Piper takes a very interesting view on rationale for divorce. Piper believes infidelity or sexual immorality are not biblical reasons for leaving a spouse. Leaving the only valid reasons, death (Rom 7:2) and an unbelievers desire to depart (I Cor. 7:15).

Have any of you heard of this view? If so, what do you make of it?

__________________
Jaymin Jordan-Allen
Student, United Reformed Church
Ontario, CA

I'll stick with the framers of the WCF and folks like Dr. Jay Adams, et al. Of course, many could say I'm biased, being divorced and all. Providentially, though, I had come to these conclusions before that frowning providence occurred.

__________________
Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC. My Blog
The Puritan Pub (Team Blog)
Board Rules-Signature Requirements-Suggestions?

I always thought that this meant that sexual immorality was a grounds for divorce. Certainly, I think counseling is in order and that reconciliation should be desired, but I think reconciliation from the victimized partner who is willing to stay with the offender is out of an act of grace, and not necessarily compulsion.

__________________
Nikki Edmond
New Beginnings Believers Bible Fellowship (Family's Church), Non-Denom
Los Angeles, CA
www.haveatulip.com - Chat Room for Reformed Believers
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Two Biblical Reasons:

Adultery (I also believe this to include abuse/abandonment)

Unbelieving Spouse

__________________
Benjamin P. Glaser
Pittsburgh, PA
Fairmount ARP Church

Student of Theology
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
My Blog

Jesus says pretty clearly in Matthew 5:31-32 that adultery is the only grounds for divorce (at least for Christians). But it should really only apply if the spouse that commits adultery is unrepentant. If the offending spouse is truly broken and seeks forgiveness, it should be given, painful as it may be. Even so, clearly some people are called to stay with a spouse who commits adultery even if they are unrepentant and continue doing it (see Hosea).

As for abuse, I think it's important that the wife leave that situation and report her husband to the police. She shouldn't necessarily divorce him, but she shouldn't stay in a harmful environment either. If it is clear he is repentant and the abuse stops, then I believe she is obligated to return to him.

__________________
Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

It should be made clear that one's spouse being an unbeliever is not a valid grounds for the believer to pursue divorce, but is valid grounds for not pursuing reconciliation if the unbeliever decides to bolt. (1 Cor 7:12-16)

__________________
Rae W. | Elder @ Grace Central (PCA) | Columbus, OH
not another blog, v2.0

I get this question a lot from the inmates through Crossroads Bible Institute. We have to be very careful about how the questions get phrased. One fellow asked, "Why and when do church people encourage divorce?”

A variation is, 'when is divorced allowed?'

We may be answering questions that scripture does not explicitly answer but we can help someone to arrive at an answer. Here's my take:

God hates divorce, the church should hate divorce. The church should never encourage divorce or put it’s approval on it in any way. Jesus made no provision for divorce, neither did Paul and neither should the church. The reason is simple. Marriage is the picture of God’s unbreakable covenant with his church. If the marriage covenant before God is broken then it makes a mockery of the covenant that God has made with His people - ‘what God has joined together let no man separate.’

You will hear folks say that the bible allows for divorce in the case of adultery (or fornication) and abandonment. This is not true, the bible never allows for divorce, period. Divorce is never God’s revealed will. Now, having said that. It is very easy in our culture to get a divorce. Our society has mocked God’s commands at every corner. People get divorced. What do we do with a brother or sister who is the innocent party in a divorce? There is usually an innocent party. Can that person be an elder or serve in the church? Well scripture speaks to these matters. Can that person remarry? Scripture speaks to that question but there can be some different interpretations of the doctrines arrived at.

Bottom line is, divorce is not provided for in scripture but scripture helps us in where we should go if a divorce takes place.

If I'm off target here I would appreciate some pastoral direction.

__________________
Bob Vigneault (Bawb Vēēn-yo)
I'm learning more about less and less; soon I won't know anything at all!

The Heartbeat of Heaven (blog) MySpace (Music), MySpace (Personal)
Member of Christ Presbyterian Church, Janesville, WI OPC www.christ-opc.org
Jude 24,25

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

I looked at Piper's article. I think he is right. Did you know, there has not been a single case of divorce among the puritans? When a marriage would get on the rock, the couple would separate and the wife would typically return to live with her parents (as happened to John Owen's daugther). Most puritans married twice or three times even, but always after the death of their previous partner. Men would often marry widows (like Calvin and others) out of love and a desire to support the orphans. John Lightfoot, for instance married his first wife at 26, and she was a widow. The fact that many Reformed congregations have divorced and remarried couples is a sad trend that proves how believers nowadays often value the comfort of their lives above the Law of Christ.

__________________
Jean-David Jutras
URCNA
Alberta

Bingo. I think we stray into error when we allow personal convictions to be our presupposition to scripture. The text is not ambiguous.

__________________
B.B.
Elder
GBC

Deo volente

WCF 24:

Links and Downloads Manager - Christian Walk Links - The Westminster Divines on Divorce for Physical Abuse - The PuritanBoard

__________________
Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"On land, at sea, at home, abroad, / I smoke my pipe and worship God." -- J.S. Bach

Also I would add that the following IMU, does not mean the believer is free to marry again after the unbelieving spouse has left, but that the believer is free to let the unbeliever go, hence the statement"called to peace". I say this because the goal in mind here is the salvation of the unbelieving. Keeping yourself open for the unbelieving spouse to return is a great statement of mercy and grace to the unbelieving spouse.

This is my position. Should my wife ever leave me i will stay open until she dies in order that she may someday return.

I say that in all humility, I know some would disagree.

__________________
Paul W.
Ordained Pastor, SBC
Girard, Illinois

My blog: A Pilgrim's Ponderings Wife's blog: Grace in Bloom

Sorry Bob, maybe I'm misunderstanding, but how else do you intepret Matthew 5:32 than at very least an allowance for divorce:

"But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

I agree that God hates divorce and it should never be "encouraged," but I think Jesus spoke pretty clearly on allowing it in the case of adultery....

Well, these same Puritans helped frame the position as articulated in the WCF.

Because he is speaking after the fact Mason and the only exception being addressed is whether or not you force your wife to commit adultery.

Bob, basically you're right on target. While divorce is permitted under the circumstances articulated earlier in this thread, it's not God's perfect plan. Every attempt must be made to reconcile and to avoid breaking the marriage covenant. Unfortunately we are fallen people and divorce does happen. When it does happen it is a tragedy of epic proportions. It is not a matter of, "You cheated on me so now I can divorce!" It's more of, "You cheated on me and I am wounded deeply but marriage is a holy covenant and I will cling to Christ in this matter."

There are wonderful Christian men and women who oppose divorce but have it thrust on them anyway. In that case God allows for it and the church should not ostracize this person. In fact, they should come along side them for the purpose of encouragement and support. I have witnessed dear saints shunned because they were divorced. This ought not to be. It is a blight to the testimony of the church.

The story of Hosea and Gomer is a wonderful example of the grace, mercy and forgiveness in spite of repeated adultery. The fact that Hosea obeyed the word of the Lord did not mean that all was well with his relationship with Gomer. A marriage that is rocked by infidelity is shaken at its roots and placed in peril. The work needed to restore trust and intimacy is daunting and for that reason many decide it is easier to divorce and start over. Certainly Hosea had reason to feel that way.

In summary, the text does say there is grounds for divorce but it's not a positive command; it's negative. Still, God gives grace and will not abandon the Christian who fights against a divorce that is thrust upon them.

Yet even in the case of adultery it is the hard of heart that put away the unfaithful spouse. Therefore, would it not follow that this is not necessarily endorsed but merely permissable. Divorce in this case is an admission of hardness of heart.

Thanks for the clarification. I should have been more clear.

Pastor Paul,

I would respectfully disagree. Just as Jesus said he requires mercy and not sacrifice with respect to the sabbath law, so I believe it would be unmerciful to force a christian to stay in a marriage with an unrepentantly unfaithful spouse, or to deny that same christian remarriage if he or she was abandoned by their spouse.

I would emphasize of course, that just as many have said on this thread, I am talking about completely a unrepentant spouse. So maximum effort ought to be expended to save the marriage, and a christian always ought to be willing to forgive a repentant spouse, no matter how terrible that spouse's sins might be.

However, if the spouse cannot be recovere