Photo: Pixabay

Does God allow divorce?

Jesus states, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. … whoever divorces … and marries someone else commits adultery.” God's standard, as stated by Jesus, goes beyond the law and states that God's intent is for no one to divorce.

gbfamilylaw.com - Divorce for Christians: Can It Be an Act of Faith? | GBA

Are Pisces lucky or unlucky?

Pisces has to be the second-luckiest sign in the zodiac—and they secretly have something in common with Sagittarius. While many modern astrologers...

Last updated Mar 28, 2021

What makes a house lovely?

A Pleasing Color Palette Choose bold, bright, neutral or serene, just make sure the colors are complementary. Give thought to the walls, decor,...

Last updated May 20, 2018

Do you really know who the “One” is? Your true Soulmate?

Promotion

Back to Learning Center

Blog

Specialty tag(s): Divorce

Divorce for Christians: Can it Be an Act of Faith?

Divorce may be an accepted fact of life in our culture, but for many Christians in broken marriages it presents a moral dilemma. Do they stay in an unhealthy, perhaps even harmful marriage for the sake of a vow and covenant? Or do they act against their beliefs and seek a divorce? The stark choices can leave Christians in a kind of limbo—no longer feeling committed to a marriage that is irreparable, but unable to take that step towards a new life. As a Texas family attorney and Christian, I have helped offer advice to many Christians as they face the big question of whether to divorce or not, along with the following questions Christians have about divorce:

Are Christians sinning in seeking divorce?

Are they condemning themselves to hell?

Must they suffer through an unloving, unwholesome marriage?

Are there any circumstances that permit Christians to divorce?

In addition to covering those pieces, our discussions often focus on the struggle between conscience and harsh reality in making decisions about children, assets and the future.

What the Bible Says About Divorce

Let’s first consider what the Bible says. Deuteronomy gives us the only law about divorce in the Old Testament. Here, the Israelites are given a law which permits divorce, allowing a man to write his wife a “document of divorce” if she “does not please him “ and “she is free to marry another man.” (Deuteronomy 24:1-2). Opinions differ on whether this law is intended to justify divorce and/or remarriage, but most theologians agree that this law was in fact given as a way to provide PROTECTION to individuals who are in a situation that deals with divorce and/or remarriage. In the New Testament, Jesus initially offers a more nuanced view to this question. In Matthew, the Pharisees ask Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (Matthew 19:3). This verse is preceded by the phrase, the “Pharisees came and tried to trap [Jesus] him” by trying to get Jesus to provide a black-and-white answer to determine where He stands on the law regarding divorce that was provided by Moses in Deuteronomy. But Jesus knows their hearts and their intentions and recognizes their hardened hearts. Instead of answering their question, Jesus quotes Genesis and concludes: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” As the Pharisees continued in their questions, Jesus takes this opportunity to expand on the law of Moses to explain that divorce is not what God intended. Jesus states, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. … whoever divorces … and marries someone else commits adultery.” God’s standard, as stated by Jesus, goes beyond the law and states that God’s intent is for no one to divorce. What we see here is similar to what we see when Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness in Matthew 18. Peter asked, “How many times should I forgive…seven?” But like the Pharisees, Peter wasn’t asking because he wanted the answer. He wanted to elevate himself and Jesus saw right through it. Jesus responded stating that God’s standard would be to forgive seventy-seven times.

How to get free money?

Here are the best ways to make free money with little or no effort: Bursaries, scholarships and grants. ... Sign-up offers. ... Money for switching...

Last updated Nov 30, 2021

Can you be in love and cheat?

Infidelity does not mean that the love is gone or never existed. The reality is that you can love someone and still cheat on them. In fact, many...

Last updated Jul 9, 2019

Promotion

What we see here is a true example of what Jesus expects of us. He doesn’t want a begrudging heart. He doesn’t want us to check the box. He wants us to do everything we can to pursue HIM. Pursue him with a pure heart. Not live life doing the minimum. But having a heart that is an offering to Him.

Four Grounds for a Christian to Divorce

The Christian faith does not promote or encourage divorce. It does not casually condone divorce or take it lightly. But it does allow it in certain circumstances. What might those be? The creation image of “becoming one flesh” provides a clue. God intends a married couple to become so close physically, emotionally and spiritually that they are as “one flesh.” When something so serious comes between them that they can no longer be “one,” their marital bond has broken. This brokenness, is a harsh reality that the marriage is over. Many times, marriages end in brokenness even before someone decides to file for divorce. Adultery is one breakdown Jesus specifically mentions. Infidelity has destroyed marriages from ancient times to the present. Of course, marriages break down for other reasons, too. Apart from adultery, the most typical reasons for brokenness are a result of what I call the three “As”: addiction, abuse, and abandonment. Without treatment, addiction will consume everything in its path. The addicted person is choosing drugs or alcohol over their marriage, children and job. At some point, the spouse will have to make the difficult decision to protect themselves and their children and declare the marriage irretrievably broken. Marriage is meant to be a lifelong joy, not a sentence of life in “prison” with an addicted spouse.

3. Abuse

Most often, we think of physical abuse. But it can be emotional and verbal as well. Does your spouse treat you one way in public, but another way behind closed doors? Does your spouse call you names, belittle or bully you? These are just a few examples of non-physical abuse. Conscientious couples will work to fix these problems, but persistent abuse can make a marriage unhealthy and unsafe. Repeatedly and unrepentantly harming a spouse—physically or emotionally—is a violation of the “oneness” that God intends for marriage and if left unaddressed, can lead to brokenness.

4. Abandonment

What is the difference between soul mates and soulmates?

They're both rare to find, but soul ties typically develop differently than do soulmates. Psychologist Ronald Williams says a soulmate is most...

Last updated Apr 23, 2019

At what age is your metabolism the fastest?

Your metabolic rate peaks in your early 20s, according to Women's Health Magazine. At this age, you tend to have a higher muscle mass and have a...

Last updated Oct 19, 2018

Promotion

Finally, brokenness can be a result of abandonment. Whether the abandonment is physical or emotional, when one spouse has checked out of their marriage vows, it isn’t required for the abandoned spouse to stay committed to their vows so that the marriage that was intended to be a blessing turns out to be a curse. When marital partnership dissolves—regardless of the issue—a marriage can feel like an empty shell that no longer honors God’s vision of “oneness.” Coming together, not drawing apart, is the whole reason for marriage, after all. If you are feeling more and more alone in your marriage despite your best efforts at resolving divisive issues, it may be worth considering whether your spouse has abandoned his or her duty to be “one” with you. God established marriage to be a blessing, but often our human failings make it into an unbearable burden. That isn’t part of God’s design, and there are Biblical grounds for divorce when the oneness of marriage has broken down. If you are a Christian in an unhealthy or unsafe marriage, consider consulting with a family attorney who shares your faith. A Christian attorney can help you explore your options—not only from a legal standpoint but also from a faith perspective as well.

Work with a Christian Divorce Attorney in Texas

People with strong personal faith navigate difficulty by staying grounded in the beliefs and values that define them. This is true in marriage—and it’s also true in divorce. At GoransonBain Ausley, we can help clients develop pathways to meet their goals while staying grounded in their faith commitments.

For example, this might include considerations such as:

Developing a parenting plan based on Christian values

Working collaboratively on deciding activities or churches that will continue to support your children through and after divorce

Determining how to divide assets and decide issues without fighting

If you’re interested in consulting about divorce with a Christian faith-based lawyer in Texas, Please Contact Jeff Domen at 214-473-9696.

gbfamilylaw.com - Divorce for Christians: Can It Be an Act of Faith? | GBA

Why you can't marry your soulmate?

Having a “Soulmate” Could Be Less Satisfying Studies show that thinking of your spouse as your soulmate can actually leave you dissatisfied with...

Last updated Nov 5, 2019

Can you be intimate with your twin flame?

If you're having sex with your twin flame, you'll probably find that you can't keep your hands off each other. You might find this feels like the...

Last updated Dec 16, 2022

Promotion

Does parenting end at 18?

Court-Ordered Child Support Ends at Age 18, In Most Cases Many parents' obligations to support their children end permanently when the children...

Last updated Nov 5, 2021

Promotion

Are lips darker after kissing?

Some people call a kissing bruise, a lip hickey, and some are surprised you can get hickeys on the lips as well as the skin. The pressure of the...

Last updated Oct 27, 2019