Let’s Open Our Eyes to Divorce and Adultery

Roy and Dale Evens Rogers

Richard Hollerman

Earlier today I was reading and the source gave some of the background of the popular TV and movie “cowboy” whom we known as Roy Rogers. Beginning as Leonard Slye and born in Ohio, Roy moved to different locations and finally became a regular in movies of the 1930s (as well as singing with various groups). He continued to star in such movies during that decade, into the 1940s, and into the 1950s—and occasionally after this.

One of my first articles at this site was of Roy and the article was not only critical but also commendable. This actor was more of the “clean” cowboys which would be very different from contemporary male actors. As a Christian, I haven’t gone to a movie in many years but we must admire certain aspects of this personality.

The sad, sad aspect of Roy Rogers came out today in my research. Roy married and divorced his first wife in the 1930s then married another woman who died in childbirth. His third and final wife was Dale Evans who died only about three years after Roy did.  Sadly, Dale herself had married and divorced three times before she and Roy married. In other words, Roy married three times and Dale married four times.

I knew that Hollywood was known for multiple marriages, but didn’t know that there was such extensive remarriages in the life of Roy and Dale. Indeed, there were many marriages and divorces of this couple before they settled down with each other. After they married (remarried), they stayed together the remainder of their lives.

We know that Roy and Dale claimed to be outspoken “Christians” and interviewed on this basis many times. They also had many children—some children were natural and others were adopted. They were involved in many charitable organizations and events. Although they tragically lost several of their children, they did promote a “cleaner” image than many others of the time and since.

We were saddened by the marriages, divorces, and remarriages of this popular couple. Those who regularly read these pages on this website (www.Truediscipleship.com) are aware that we seek to hold to Biblical moral teachings regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Although this is rejected by most professing “Christians” in our age, we know that this is a serious offense. Often people today just “sweep under the rug” these public sins and refuse to forsake these immoral and adulterous relationships.

If the sources are correct (we can’t ask either Roy or Dale directly), we receive the impression that both Roy and Dale were adulterers. Further, while they may have been sorry for this aspect of their past (we find no hint that this was so), there is no indication at all that they repented of this and sought to amend their relationships. In other words, probably both of them were adulterers much of their life and apparently died as unrepentant adulterers—ones guilty of adultery.

We do know that no “adulterer” will be able to inherit the kingdom of God. In fact, all unrepentant adulterers will not enter God’s kingdom (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). We realize that even after this sin (and many other sins listed), it is possible to be “washed” from this sin, “sanctified” from uncleanness, and “justified” before God (see verse 11). But, sadly, there is no indication that either of these two personalities did this during their lifetime.

Let this example be a warning to each of us so that we do not too readily accept a person’s testimony to his or her standing with God. In this age of lax living and “anything goes” Christianity, often (or, more likely, generally) professing “Christians” are living in sin and do not intend to change their ways. Most are willing to die in this state and face the Lord in the terrifying judgment to come (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Galatians 5:21-23).

How do you view such things? Many of you know very little about Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. They died in their eighties many years ago. But a whole generation of personalities have arrived and are now well-known to many movie-going people. Our warning is that very, very few of these (perhaps none of them) are genuine and sincere, conscientious men and women who seek the will of God. Let’s be more discerning about these matters in the future!