Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 8/5/2006

Question
I have already asked this question and the Pastor gave what I consider a biblical answer. However, when I look at the profiles of the Ministers and Pastors, yours jump out at me because you talk more about God and the Word of God more then you talked about yourself, So, I would like to pose this question again to you.

If both are Christians, there really is no reason for a divorce, unless there is some hidden sin, and one is not a 'true' Christian?


Answer
Hi Karen,

There are only two reasons that a Christian could even consider a divorce, but even then it is not required:

1.  Adultry on the part of one's spouse.

Matthew 19:3-9
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them,  Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you,  Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  If an unbeliever leaves a Christian BECAUSE of his or her beliefs as a Christian.

1 Corinthians 7:15,27-28
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.  

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don