Do We Really Believe God?

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 woman. 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 wrong “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 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. 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?