Divorce and remarriage is becoming a popular practice among the Christians and this signifies a serious disaster in our communities. The view of God to divorce and remarriage is different from the legal rights claimed by many divorcee.
Global records of marriages per 1,000 people decreases from 8.06 in 1960 to 4.86 in 2022, while divorces per 1,000 people increases from 1.01 in 1960 to 2.03 in 2022. And, it is sad to know that divorce rate by major religions in the world reveals; Protestant 34%, Muslim 31%, Jewish 30%, Catholicism 21%, Buddhism 10% and Hinduism 1%.
In the beginning of human existence, God discovered it was not good for man to be alone so He decided to give Adam a wife made from his ribs. God used the ‘rib style’ to create Eve, because He wants to set up an unbreakable bond between the first husband and wife.
The Bible says in Genesis 2:22-24, “Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (NKJV)
The plan of God is not for married couples to live separately. He creates couples to be helpmates, so you will agree with me that divorce is not in the master plan of God for human.
Malachi chapter 2 verse 16 says: “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit that you do not deal treacherously.” (NKJV)
What can Cause Divorce?
Some common reasons by couples who involve in divorce include;
1. Domestic violence and abuse
2. Infidelity
3. Lack of equality in the marriage
4. Lack of courtship
5. Marriage at a tender age and
6. Addiction
7. Poverty
8. Lack of commitment
All these causes can be avoided if our generation will accept the Bible as our road map for taking decisions in life. The power of choice given to everyone by GOD is a great contributing effect to the popularity of divorce and remarriage.
God’s view on divorce and remarriage was clear when the Pharisees discussed the issue with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew chapter 19 and verse 4 to 6 says: “And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ “and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (NKJV)
When God gives you the freedom to choose and marry whoever you love, He takes the record on your wedding day. He is not happy whenever anyone put asunder. God is happy when you endure and keep your marriage intact. The best way to make a strong marriage is to practice a genuine love with your spouse.
God is always sad to hear couples filing for divorce, because He had made the husband and wife to become one flesh. So, it is an unpleasant experience for a flesh to be separated.
The main cause of unhappiness in broken homes is the disastrous effect of tearing a flesh apart. Linda Waite, a Sociologist in the University of Chicago analysed the relationships between marriage, divorce and happiness using the National Survey of Family and Households. She reported that unhappily married adults who had divorced were no happier than those who had stayed married. Some studies report that cohabitation before marriage is correlated with an increased divorce rate.
How can Divorce and Remarriage affect the Family?
Divorce can be described as emotional wounds filled with incurable pains to the victim. So, the effects of divorce are many which include:
• Children of divorced parents have a higher chance of behavioural problems than those of non-divorced parents
• Divorced person could have higher rates of clinical depression
• They seek formal Psychiatric care at higher rate and
• Have lower life expectancies
Jesus Christ discourages remarriage in Matthew chapter 19 verses 9, which says: “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
If the only cause approved for divorce is adultery, then the separation is not an avenue to remarriage. Jesus gives us the understanding that anyone that re-marries commits adultery because he/she is already one flesh to the other separated partner. This implies that both divorced are to stay single in all the days of their life, or to resolve their differences and come together as husband and wife again.
I strongly believe the rate of divorce and remarriage can reduce drastically if we educate our young ones to get involve in courtship at a matured age before marriage. Marriage built on the foundation of true love is unbreakable even at the midst of strong storms of life. Everyone of us in marriage must subscribe to God’s view of one man-one woman-one flesh-no asunder!
