My cousin Gordon wrote a note on facebook about how difficult it is for some Christians to accept someone who has been divorced... in fact, SOME will deliberately SHUN even a family member who has divorced. He challenged his readers to rethink that practice and make a change.
Now, I DO agree that Scripture is clear that God HATES divorce... If the concern is over the SIN of divorce, OK... but Scripture also says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and WILL FORGIVE our sins and Scripture is also clear that Jesus said there was ONLY ONE unforgiveable sin... And he did NOT spell it D-I-V-O-R-C-E. So to justify the "shunning" some religious traditions prescribe and practice because of the 'sin' of divorce, requires that you believe that Jesus was wrong. Is that such a good idea?...
OR... Perhaps the shunning of a divorcee is simply a statement that we believe God is powerless to forgive and Christ's sacrifice was not really enough. After all, who does He think He is... God?
Seems theologically dangerous to me. Wasn't Lucifer condemned to Hell for trying to overrule God?? Who are we to call something 'unpardonable' when God gave His Son, and Christ shed His blood, to forgive ANYONE who repents?
AND if God HAS TO condemn a divorcee because divorce is sin, then God must HAVE TO condemn the gossip to Hell along with the glutton and the liar and those who judge others.
I choose to believe the Bible and the God it reveals to us… The God who despises and hates ALL sin, including divorce, and yet is ALWAYS faithful and just to forgive us when we confess our sins.
One more thought: Jesus taught us to pray: “forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE those who sin against us.” I wonder if He really meant it?
He also said: "Let him without sin, cast the first stone."
About Me
- Dayton D. Mix
- Clarks Mills, Pennsylvania, United States
- I'm a husband, a dad, a son, a grandson, a pastor, & now a grandpa, too! Those are the basic hats I wear in my daily life. I was born & raised in rural Pennsylvania couple of miles from the New York border in a small town, Shinglehouse (Potter County). I struggle with my weight & my own quirks just like everyone else does. I became a United Methodist pastor in 1996 and was ordained in 2003. While I'm officially Methodist, I also consider myself a “charismatic” Christian, as well as an “evangelical”, although not everything identified with either of those labels fits me perfectly. I enjoy genealogy but seldom have time to do much with it. I like playing with eBay. I like to read, watch movies, camp, hike, and talk. I LOVE to write, but usually don't worry too much about formal grammar... instead choosing to write as I probably would speak. And even though I can spell pretty well, I'm a lousy typist, so be gracious. I update my blogs as often as I can, but I have a real life that demands me NOT being at the computer all the time... so there are dry spells!
1 comment:
I HIGHLY recomend reading chapter 9 of Strike the Original Match by Charles R. Swindoll which covers the subject of divorce, (and remarriage), in a straightforward and Scriptually based manner.
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