At various times in Scripture we read of groups of people who found themselves in the terrifying position of being under the fierce wrath of an almighty God. In most of these cases the people hardened their hearts and were judged accordingly, as in the case of Sodom, the pre-flood world, and the Jews in Jeremiah’s day. Other times, though, they chose to humble themselves and were spared judgment, as in the case of King Manasseh, the city of Ninevah, and the Jews at Pentecost.
This last group, the Jews who “were pricked in their heart” when they heard Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, asked the very pertinent question, “men and brethren, what shall we do?” This question should be asked only by those who fully recognize that they are under the wrath of God and are willing to do absolutely anything to escape.
When we take an honest look at the issue of divorce and remarriage, it ought to make us tremble as we think of the fierce wrath of God that must be hanging over this nation even now. It ought to make us desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to obtain His forgiveness. It ought to make us cry out like the guilt-ridden Jews at Pentecost, “What shall we do?”
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To those who are desperate enough and courageous enough to ask “what shall we do?” in regards to divorce and remarriage, I would like to offer some proposals. When I first considered the thought of actually writing down the things I am sharing with you here, I admit it struck some fear to my heart. I feared the reaction and the rejection that I knew would follow.
My second thought, however, was far more realistic: “How silly of me to fear the opinion of puny mortals, who, like me, will face the justice and wrath of a holy God.” I therefore make these proposals with no fear except the fear that they may not be enough to turn away God’s wrath. I make them in the spirit of the king of Ninevah, who after proclaiming a fast of repentance, asked, “Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?” (Jonah 3:9)
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I propose first that all Christian pastors should refuse to perform marriages where a divorced person is involved. That is, if either party has been married before to someone who is still living, we should kindly, lovingly, and firmly refuse to take part in the marriage ceremony.
Secondly, I propose that we ask all members of our flock who have been married more than once, with more than one spouse or ex-spouse still living, to live in celibacy from this day forward. Make a commitment that, to the best of your ability, you will serve communion only to those who are willing to purge themselves from all known sin, including the sin of adultery.
If you are a pastor, there is no doubt that making commitments such as these will cost you dearly. Many of your members will likely leave your church immediately to find a new one. Or perhaps even more likely, they will ask you to leave the church so that they can hire a new pastor. Is such a price too high? Listen to what Jesus says:
Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)
Again He says:
And I say unto you my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12:4-5)
You will be tempted to focus on what it will cost you if you teach and preach these things. Ask God for the grace to resist these temptations, however, and instead ask yourself what it will cost you if you don’t.
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If you are yourself in a divorced and remarried situation, these commitments will also cost you very dearly. But Jesus says again
For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. . . And every one that hath forsaken . . . or wife . . . for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:12, 29)
This phrase “He that is able to receive it, let him receive it” is not saying “you can take it or leave it, either way you’ll be right with God.” Rather, Jesus is using language similar to the numerous times that He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” He is urging people from all over the world to receive and obey His hard sayings about divorce and remarriage, knowing full well the sad truth stated in the following passage.
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (Luke 13:23-24)
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In the face of wide-spread tolerance of divorce and remarriage among evangelical Christians, there are still a few courageous leaders, writers, and teachers who are attempting to take some sort of a stand against it. Among these, however, there is a glaring lack of consensus about what to do once the remarriage has already taken place.
Some have rightly concluded, as Jerome did, that it would be wrong to remain in the second (adulterous) marriage. They would, however, allow and even encourage a person to try to bring reconciliation to the first “original” marriage.
Others state just as strongly that returning to the former spouse is no longer an option. Therefore, they say, remarried people should be allowed to simply confess their sin but then remain in that second marriage.
In this book I have suggested strongly that we should not be making any of these allowances. My reasons for doing so, in summary, are as follows:
Jesus’ dealing with the woman at the well. He did not tell her to remain with her current husband. Nor did he tell her to return to her first husband. His verdict, rather, was “thou hast no husband”.
Jesus’ “eunuch” saying. Along with Paul’s counsel to “remain unmarried”, this indicates the Biblical approval of singlehood rather than being involved in multiple marriages.
Jesus’ “against her” saying. Since adultery is a sin against another human, to continue on in any marriage when there is an ex-spouse still living, looks like, smells like, and probably feels like adultery against that person.
The lack of a better solution. None of the allowances that are commonly made are supported directly by Scripture, but rather by inferences and logic. And although many of you are still not convinced that this book’s position is air-tight, the burden of proof ought to be on those who make these allowances, not on those who reject them.
The desperate need for clarity. The situation is perilous and the hour is late. We as God’s people need to sound out a clear warning and a clear call to repentance, and that very quickly. To make exceptions for one situation or another will only muddy the water and raise questions about some of the other possible exceptions.
The coming wrath. If we really believe that our nation’s sins have ascended to God in Heaven, we ought to be trembling from the image of His impending wrath, not apologetic about the idea of radical repentance. Our decisions should not be based on what is popular, convenient, or acceptable, but on what kind of actions might turn God’s anger and incur His favor. If God has granted to any of us the wonderful privilege of radical repentance, let us think soberly about the millions of lost souls for whom repentance is no longer an option. Let us then seize this repentance gratefully, thank Him continually, and cling to it forever.
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If God in His mercy should grant to a large number of divorced and remarried people the grace to heed this call to radical repentance, the ramifications would truly be staggering. Not only would the persecution be intense from those who oppose this decision, but there would also be many practical questions to answer regarding children, living arrangements, and personal purity. I do not have the space, the wisdom, or the time to try to prescribe a practical resolution for every sticky situation that would result. My primary counsel for someone who is in such a situation would be to surround themselves with a group of Christians who are spiritual, supportive, and caring, and allow themselves to be guided through the perilous battleground that lies ahead.
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I fully recognize that most pastors will flatly refuse to accept most of the things I’ve proposed above. I also recognize that even in cases where church leaders do accept them, most of the people in their congregations will reject them. This is simply because most of us in North American churches do not realize the true situation that we are in. We think we are “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” and don’t realize that we actually are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”. Jesus is about to spit us out of His mouth into the eternal fires of Hell, and most of us either don’t believe it or don’t care.
My prayer, however, is that there will be a few who do believe it, and that they will care enough to do something about it. If that is your heart, pastor, then may God be with you.
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