Divorce & Remarriage - God's Design? (part 4)

Implications
In our world today, we are taught to be our own person, to decide what’s good for us, to do what feels good. And I feel sometimes we Christians and our churches have so bought into the world’s ways of thinking and handling things that we’ve given the authority and power to make life’s decisions to our own senses, feelings and intellect rather than to God and His true and unchanging words. Feelings come and go, but only God’s words last forever. By this, we aren’t discounting the hurt and emotional turmoil that some may have experienced. They are very real. But all the same, it doesn’t make God’s command on this issue less real or less applicable. Homosexuality and abortion, like divorce involve a great deal of emotions. But if they are considered wrong, why aren’t divorce and remarriage, that have even more explicit references and instructions in the Bible, be treated the same?

In making concessions to divorce and remarriage, whether on emotional or other grounds, we are saying that we know better than God. At the same time, we’re telling others that we can take only those parts of the Bible that we like and ignore those bits that we have difficulty with. Not only that, but it also paves the way for more concessions, all based on our human wisdom. Isn’t this what the world’s doing? Everyone has their own standard. What’s right for you doesn’t necessary apply to me. Soon, God’s word is no longer valued and the church ceases to be a light to the world. The Bible in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12 and Psalm 119:105 all speak of the scriptures being God breathed and powerful in judging our thoughts and attitudes. The Bible is God’s wisdom, standard and morality, and therefore should be our guide for life decisions.

Finding excuses will only establish us as hypocrites in the world’s eyes and prevent the furthering of God’s kingdom. As mentioned before, if as Christians we fare worst than non-Christians in our standard and morals, why would any non-Christians want to be like us? After all, they’ve succeeded conforming us and there’s no reason to reverse that position.

Being silent or turning a blind eye to the issue that causes much grief to God and our church today will only exacerbate the problem. We simply can’t afford to stay ignorant to this anymore, not with the state that our churches are in today. For those that are placed by God in a position of influence, there’s all the more concern that they shouldn’t take God’s words lightly, for they’ll be accountable to God. And for all Christians, we have the responsibility as instructed in the Bible to tell our brothers and sisters in Christ if they’re doing what’s not right in God’s eyes (Galatians 6:1).

Are we showing our love for God by obeying His words? (John 14:15, 21, 15:10, 20, 1 John 3:22, 24, 1 John 5:3) Are we courageous enough to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29) and be blessed by Him as a result? (Luke 11:28) Lets take God’s words seriously by not undermining His authority, showing it in our actions and encouraging one another to do what pleases God.

Let me wrap up with this hymn just came to mind: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way. To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.