Divorce

My Original View

Divorce is a tragedy, but it is sometimes appropriate. In the course of our ministry here at Life Church we have had the opportunity to counsel couples who were dating, couples who were planning marriage, and couples struggling with marital problems. Sadly, we have also faced the challenge of those who were contemplating divorce. Early in the history of Life Church, when the subject of divorce came up, I recognized only the following grounds for divorce:

• abandonment
• adultery
• physical abuse

My Current View

Because of some recent counseling situations I have done some additional study on the subject and , as a result, my understanding of biblically acceptable grounds for divorce has expanded:

• abandonment
• adultery
• physical abuse
• repeated, unrepentant breaking of the vows essential to marriage including: neglect and emotional abuse  (the vows inherent in a biblical marriage include faithfulness, and support with food, clothing and love)

The Biblical Context

The following resources from Dr. David Instone-Brewer have been particularly helpful to me and to our entire leadership team. Dr. Instone-Brewer's earlier book, "Divorce and Remarriage In The Bible", goes into greater detail, but his more recent book, "Divorce and Remarriage In The Church", is easier to read without sacrificing important historical research. To get a quicker sense of his approach to the subject check out the links available from the "Divorce & Remarriage" web site below.

General Resources