SDAs and divorce ...

WindHund

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I hear a lot about how divorcing and remarrying without "biblical reasons" is a sin. But what no one ever discusses is what does the person do when they are remarried without "biblical reasons". Do they dump the new spouse? Continue on and just "sin no more"?

And this brings me to another quandary I have regarding biblical views on marriage. Supposedly you don't divorce your spouse except for adultery. So, why is it described in Ezra that the men of Israel "put away" their non-Israelite idol worshipping wives. Did Paul not say to stay with your unbelieving spouse? So, it seems that actual practice when it comes to marriage is "all over the map" in what is acceptable.
 

EastCoastRemnant

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I hear a lot about how divorcing and remarrying without "biblical reasons" is a sin. But what no one ever discusses is what does the person do when they are remarried without "biblical reasons". Do they dump the new spouse? Continue on and just "sin no more"?

And this brings me to another quandary I have regarding biblical views on marriage. Supposedly you don't divorce your spouse except for adultery. So, why is it described in Ezra that the men of Israel "put away" their non-Israelite idol worshipping wives. Did Paul not say to stay with your unbelieving spouse? So, it seems that actual practice when it comes to marriage is "all over the map" in what is acceptable.

If you are remarried 'without Biblical reasons' before you came to know the truth, then you confess that sin before God and be forgiven... I do not believe you are required to leave the new spouse, as in 'go and sin no more' but that is just my opinion... I would pray on that one.

As far as your second question, the Israelites were permitted to do many things contrary to God's law because of the Rabbinic traditions that had been set up by that time...
 
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WindHund

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If you are remarried 'without Biblical reasons' before you came to know the truth, then you confess that sin before God and be forgiven...

Reality is though, divorce and remarriage occurs at about the same rates both in and out of the church, so if you already knew the truth, then what do you do?
 
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CaptainToad

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Reality is though, divorce and remarriage occurs at about the same rates both in and out of the church, so if you already knew the truth, then what do you do?

people do whatever they feel like - that is not to say its the right thing to do.

what about adultery in your heart - you look at a woman and commit adultery in your mind - would that be a biblical reason for your wife to get a divorce? do you have to confess that sin to her? what if it happens on a daily basis, like 20-30 times A DAY? is it better not to tell her about it? I mean, after some time she might consider divorce a possible solution.

You see, there are lots of topics that, when taken at face value can pose some serious trouble in real life. Over the years I have come to the conclusion that there arent easy solutions to difficult problems and real life is as tricky as it gets

In regard to you original question, I believe that God can bless a remarriage even if you have murdered your new wife's late husband :)
 
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Ubuntu

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And this brings me to another quandary I have regarding biblical views on marriage. Supposedly you don't divorce your spouse except for adultery. So, why is it described in Ezra that the men of Israel "put away" their non-Israelite idol worshipping wives. Did Paul not say to stay with your unbelieving spouse? So, it seems that actual practice when it comes to marriage is "all over the map" in what is acceptable.

There are a couple of important differences between the story in Ezra, and Paul's advice. In Ezra, people who already were believers collectively made a pact to send their pagan wives away. They sinned when they knowingly married people they knew they were forbidden to marry.

Paul's advice is given in a different situation. He addresses gentile converts to Christianity. These people had married pagans while they were unbelievers themselves, and thus hadn't violated any commandments when they got married.

I'm not saying that these texts are easy to understand, but we do need to remember that "circumstances alter cases".
 
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WindHund

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They sinned when they knowingly married people they knew they were forbidden to marry.

OK, cleave one to another unless you sinned to begin with. Kinda sounds like two wrongs make a right!

I was always under the impression that it did not matter the circumstances, you were married and needed to honor that commitment. Given the nature of humans to rationalize wrongs, makes me wonder if they were not rationalizing sending away their pagan wives.
 
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EastCoastRemnant

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God winks in our time of ignorance but knowingly sinning against God requires repentance and doing what can be done to correct the error. That means that, if while knowing better, you were divorced without Biblical excuse and remarried, then God considers you second marriage as open, continual sin. Your only option is repentance and single living unless you can reconcile with your first wife.
 
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WindHund

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God winks in our time of ignorance but knowingly sinning against God requires repentance and doing what can be done to correct the error. That means that, if while knowing better, you were divorced without Biblical excuse and remarried, then God considers you second marriage as open, continual sin. Your only option is repentance and single living unless you can reconcile with your first wife.

Well, Houston, we have a problem. I believe Moses wrote that we could not go back and remarry a wife that we have divorced.

And the second marriage, get ANOTHER divorce? Sounds like another wrong to correct a wrong.
 
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EastCoastRemnant

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Well, Houston, we have a problem. I believe Moses wrote that we could not go back and remarry a wife that we have divorced.

I'm not concerned with the Mosaic ordinances, only the Everlasting....
 
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WindHund

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The second divorce would have no bearing with God as He didn't bless the marriage in the first place... be careful not to put human constructs on His ways.

Well, again, I will bring up David and Bathsheba. True, her husband was dead when David married her, but David was already married before. So, how can a subsequent marriage (bigamy) then be considered?
 
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EastCoastRemnant

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There are many instances in the OT of patriarchs having more than one wife plus concubines... God met these mean where they were at that time, as they were following the light that had been given them. It was not God's ideal for Abraham's or David's marital arrangements just as it wasn't ideal that the reformers kept sunday....

We have the blessing (some say curse) to have revealed to us much greater understanding of the scriptures than at any time in history. To whom much is given, much is required. We have to compare these things today with God's character to rightly discern them.
 
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WindHund

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We have the blessing (some say curse) to have revealed to us much greater understanding of the scriptures than at any time in history. To whom much is given, much is required. We have to compare these things today with God's character to rightly discern them.

I would take issue with greater understanding. In Abrahams time, they had a longer life, better memories, their oral history was immense, and had the advantage of even frequent face to face meetings with God and angels. Not sure that we have any advantages over them.
 
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EastCoastRemnant

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Daniel tells us that in the last days knowledge will be increased...

The OT people only believed that the outward manifestation was sin... we know that it's the intent of the heart that is sinful.
The OT people thought it right to have many wives... we know that even thinking lustfully upon another than our spouse is sin.
The OT people believed their sacrifices were the atonement for sin... we know Christ is and always has been.
The OT people didn't and couldn't have understood the prophesies and their exact relation to historical account.
Even the disciples who were directly taught by Jesus didn't understand much of what He spoke to them until the Holy Spirit came upon them...
John and the other prophets didn't know what they were writing in regard to... we know what the prophetic understanding of these things are.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

We are at the end of the world so all light is given unto us...
 
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CaptainToad

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There are many instances in the OT of patriarchs having more than one wife plus concubines... God met these mean where they were at that time, as they were following the light that had been given them. It was not God's ideal for Abraham's or David's marital arrangements just as it wasn't ideal that the reformers kept sunday....

We have the blessing (some say curse) to have revealed to us much greater understanding of the scriptures than at any time in history. To whom much is given, much is required. We have to compare these things today with God's character to rightly discern them.

ECR, tell me! is this you speaking or is it some teaching that you have learnt by heart?:)
- coz' thats exactly what the SDA is teaching - God met the men where they were at that time... :) lol!

Sure, God met these men where they were at that time - thats right, He did. But why is it then that he gave so many concepts to the israelites, like what they were supossed to eat or not - and what have you - yet He allowed them to have more than one wife :) lol :) - yes, He met them...

Don't you think God would have told them through Moses?

Actually, think about it - coz' what you are basically saying is that He turned a blind eye because He met them where they are -
Imagine you have a little son thats smoking cigarettes
a) you tell him its forbidden - and beat the xxxx out of him
- I guess he will learn the hard way that its wrong and might give up on it
b) you tell him it was better if he didnt but its his health
- I guess he will learn it doesnt really matter what you are thinking

:) lol

no really, I believe if God made the israelites kill people who were caught in homosexual acts (NO, He didnt turn a blind eye when He met them :) ) He would have told them that its not good to have more than one wife! Yet, He didnt...

and this makes me think it doesnt really matter in the sight of the Almighty if you have more than one wife! And that has absolutely nothing to do with divorce or adultery.

God is the sovereing Lord - it is He who decides what is right or wrong.

Just btw, I heard one of those SDA preachers preach that God chose men over women to be priests in the OT times because satan chose women to be temple harlots (or something lol).

Yes, exactly, can you believe that? God adjusting Himself to the world or any kind of lesser being? Who are we talking about here? Always remember, its the soverein Lord - it is He who does what He does and what He does is right and no humand arguments nor logical thinking can change that - only lesser minds can fall for that.
 
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