Caller: I have a question about divorce. I was reading in Luke 16:18. It says, ‘If a man divorces his wife and marries another, he commits adultery.’
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Caller: Before I was saved, I married a woman who wasn’t saved, and we ended up splitting up and I’ve tried everything since I’ve been saved to get back together with her, and that’s not happening. Now, what about me getting married again?
Pastor Doug: Well let me read some Scriptures to you. This is a very sensitive issue. First Corinthians, chapter 7, verses 10 through 15: “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband. But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But for the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not…” now this is the category you just described.
Caller: Yes.
Pastor Doug: “…if any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean….” Incidentally, do you have children in this relationship?
Caller: No.
Pastor Doug: That simplifies things. Verse 15: “…But if the unbelieving [spouse] depart, let him [or her] depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace….” [King James Version]
In other words, he’s saying you’re not in bondage to remain single the remainder of your life if your unbelieving spouse departs and you’ve tried to salvage the marriage.
Caller: Hmm. Ok.
Pastor Doug: Now that’s the way I understand that verse. I think a person should do everything possible to reconcile, because that could be the means of saving your spouse.
Co-Host: Yes.
Caller: Yup.
Pastor Doug: But you read that passage there – and you pray first – and you read that passage in 1st Corinthians 7 and see what the Lord says to you ok?
Caller: Ok thank you.
Pastor Doug: Incidentally you, and others who have similar questions on the subject, Amazing Facts has a lesson on marriage. It’s called “Holy Wedlock or Unholy Deadlock?” You can call our resource number and we’ll give that to you for free.
Caller: Ok. Thank you.
Amazing Facts’ Resource Number: 800-835-6747