"Divorce Misusings"

I'm stepping out a little further today. Some might wince and others might question me but that's okay. I am not trying to create controversy. That's not me. To those who know me well and personally know how I try with the best of my ability to keep things in context and the way they were intended. Sometimes I miss something but I do try to keep it honest.

The church is being battered over the marriage/divorce issue. One says this, another that. Congregations are dividing over the issue. Preachers are being marked. Members are being withdrawn from. For something to create such a fuss that tells us there is some difficulty in it but only because some try to put every thing in a little box to fit in their pocket and if it doesn't, it is rejected. Sometimes it is rejected with hate.

Malachi 2:16 says that God hates divorce. I know that if sin was not present in our world there would be no marriages in shambles, no treachery and no divorces. Each divorce says something sinister is in the world to lead to something so devastating. But what did Malachi mean? One has to look at the book as a whole, the context in which God says this through Malachi. The nation of God's people have chosen not to honor God any longer. They are going through the motions, offering to God their daily sacrifices that are less than whole and it has made God reject the priest and the nation. Malachi is offering the last words of God before God goes silent for the next 400 years.

This text isn't dealing with a woman dealing with a decadent and perverse husband. It's not about a mate being a hard-drinker and physically and emotionally abusing them. No, that's not what Malachi is addressing. God is about to divorce His people! That is what is happening. God hates doing it but He will. Be careful and read carefully. They are approaching God in their abominations with their offerings and God has had enough! He uses the divorce to send a message of what is about to happen to them! I know that might not set well but sometimes it is hard to look at things when our minds have been set so hard another way.

The Pharisees who came to Jesus in Matthew 19 came with a specific issue in mind, with specific Scriptures to throw out in front of Him with a specific heart and mindset. They didn't want teaching on marriage/divorce. They were trying to trap Him. They wanted to know if what they were doing was lawful by putting away their wives for any cause. They weren't just asking Him to explain Deuteronomy 24:1-4! Their entire approach to Scripture was wrong and this particular group wanted to justify their teachings. What did Jesus think of that? He called their whole reasoning and using of Scripture adulterous!! Jesus was speaking to God's chosen people at that time and exposing these 'preachers' ugly hearts. Many do not keep this in mind when studying Scripture.

For us to yank Malachi 2 and Matthew 19 out of its historical and theological context and make it apply to all people around the world and under all circumstances is to dabble with that text and it blinds many to the bigger picture from God's holy word. No wonder the church can't accept I Corinthians 7 where the inspired apostle shared with them God's teaching on marriage/divorce. By the way, Paul said that the two married (two in Christ), they did have a clause if they wanted to divorce (I Cor. 7:10-11). The word 'but' tells us the Lord allows. The divorce was not the problem, it was remaining unmarried or being reconciled. I just threw that in to help us see that there are allowances under the teachings of Scriptures! Let's be careful and deal with context. Let's not 'jam' things together, trying to make them fit while leaving other Scripture just hanging around as if they have no relevance. Context is the most important issue. Now that I have written the above, I will put on my coat of armor!!!