Do We Really Believe God?

(Divorce and Remarriage)

Richard Hollerman

Today I noticed a person who claims to be a Christian and felt like weeping. This person has several children but it goes beyond this. The first group is from one woman and the second is from another one. He was very kind and thoughtful but I had to think…

I am not absolutely sure but I believe that he is on his second marriage. Suppose that he did divorce his first wife (for whatever reason), and then sent his children off to college to play sports. But then suppose that he is now raising his second group of children with a second wife. Then what? These children (just as the father) seem to be kind and responsible (although they are in the worldly public school system)—but are they really the offspring of a holy and pure relationship? I am not positive but I think not. I don’t want to wrongly “judge” such a person—or any other person in such a situation—but I am seeking to be very honest.

Doesn’t God speak to this—loud can clear? We know that many churches, denominations, preachers, ministers, pastors, and others seem to just overlook this kind of situation and assume that if the marriage is “blessed” of God (?) then everything is good. Everything is fine and wonderful. But is it—really?

Somehow, I think that we don’t really believe God. Remember that Jesus said, “Whoever divorces [puts away] his wife and marries another woman [other than his wife] commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery” (Mark 10:11-12; see also Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:9 and Luke 16:18).

Yes, we know quite well that children from a first and especially a second marriage do tend to complicate matters. It is easy to say that such a person should have known better and that the present difficulties are the woman’s or man’s fault, but this is simple and even too simple. Perhaps it is simplistic. We need to recognize the problem and go on with God’s help to solve it, by His grace and power. Isn’t this the wise choice!

So do we really “believe” in God? Do we believe in what He has said regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage? Do we really believe what God has said regarding adultery (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8)? What do you think? How can we solve this? How would you solve this? How would you both honor God, obey Jesus, and go on with a workable plan and blessed life?

We know that this person is not alone in this condition. There are thousands and surely millions of people in America who are living in similar circumstances—now living in adultery. They have divorced their first mate and are now living with another one—with the blessings of society and even their church or denomination. Or they have been divorced by their spouses whereupon they have remarried and are now living with their second marriage partner. And this is only America consisting of only about 4% of the world population.

What about the other 96% of the world? We can only guess but we do know that this consists of atheists, agnostics, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Catholics, various kinds of Protestants, and many others. Many of these have also remarried. The outcome? We believe that many or most of these are now living in adultery. And, as you know, they must face the outcome of this situation (Mark 10:11-12; Matthew 19:9; Luke 16:18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8; Hebrews 13:4; many other passages could be cited, as you know).

Thus the “problem” doesn’t just pertain to the person mentioned at the beginning. It pertains to millions of others around the world. With a population of nine billion people, surely many of them are on a second marriage or even a third marriage—after divorcing for unbiblical reasons. And, the end result, is that these people are “living in adultery” or committing the sin of adultery in an ongoing basis.

Remember that this only pertains to one sin (yes, it is one that continues day after day, year after year, for a lifetime) but it is also one among many. Think of the many sins that will condemn unless we repent, according to places like Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:4;  2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 21:8; and many others. Thus, hopefully, we can see that even though this may seem like a simple sin that should be overlooked, it actually is a serious offense that will bring the wrath of God—the unending and eternal wrath of God!

We know that this sort of sin does bring anguish. It brings much heartache and distress. It even causes confusion and serious disturbance. It may cause pain, separation and turmoil. Actually, it can cause us to face life with a different focus. We will be filled with strife and perplexity. We may experience an inward pain. It may bring much heartache in the second or third marriage and also in the family if there are children involved. Yes, we know this and must express our consternation and sorrow. But is it better to face these feelings now or later? Are you willing to experience the devastation, the division, and the confusion now—or face God’s displeasure and unending anger in the future? What will it be?

Again, we must ask, do we really “believe” God in this? Do we objectively look at Scripture, take stock of the situation, and make decisions—hard but necessary decisions?