Category: Divorce

After some delay, all eight sermons preached by Micky Galloway during his April 2010 meeting are now available online. These can be accessed in this post, or by going to the 2010 Sermons Archive page.

Sunday Morning Class: My People Love to Have it So

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sunday AM: The Soundness of God’s People

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Sunday PM: The Promise

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Monday PM: Committment to Family

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Tuesday PM: A Marriage That Will Not Fail

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Wednesday AM: Jesus, The Master Teacher

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Wednesday PM: What God Expects of Us as a Family

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

Thursday PM: Victory in Jesus

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .
Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The sermon discusses the truth, and exposes error being taught on the subject of Marriage, divorce and remarriage.

Sermon Powerpoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

(Note: The following article is written by one of the members at West Side, Justin Carrell. I commend it to you. SC)

Matthew 19:3-9

“And the Pharisees came near to him, tempting him, and saying to him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?’ And he answering said to them, ‘Did ye not read, that He who made them, from the beginning a male and a female made them, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall be–the two–for one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh; what therefore God did join together, let no man put asunder.’ They said to him, ‘Why then did Moses command to give a roll of divorce, and to put her away?’ He said to them–‘Moses for your stiffness of heart did suffer you to put away your wives, but from the beginning it hath not been so. ‘And I say to you, that, whoever may put away his wife, if not for fornication, and may marry another, doth commit adultery; and he who did marry her that hath been put away, doth commit adultery.’” (Young’s Literal Translation)

I’ve heard this scripture debated more than any other. We debate baptism with those outside the body, but this we debate without and within. Below are two arguments recently put forward to me, and my response.

Continue reading “Separating What God Has Joined” →

Last Tuesday Reuters reported that the head of the Lutheran Church in Germany, Margot Kaessmann, 51, the Lutheran Bishop of Hanover, was cited for running a red light while driving under the influence of alcohol. A state prosecutor told the German Newspaper Bild that Kaessmann had a blood alcohol level that was three times the legal limit. She is under investigation, and could lose her driver’s license for a year.

The Reuters article also noted that Kaessmann was a controversial choice to head the Lutheran church, because she had had a divorce.

(Protestant Leader Regrets Driving Drunk, 2/23/10, Christopher Lawton)

Continue reading “In the News: Lutheran Leader Drives Drunk” →

You may not be aware of it, but in pop culture the biggest piece of news is the impending divorce of Jon and Kate Gosselin. The Gosselin family resides in Pennsylvania, and the two with their 8 children (one set of 8 year old twins, and one set of 5 year old sextuplets) are the subject of a very successful reality TV series, Jon and Kate Plus 8.

The series has been on television since January of 2007, and is widely viewed. Until recently the show revolved around the children, and the challenges of raising such a large and young family. However, the Gosselin’s marital problems have dominated reports in the entertainment media, and have been dealt with in the most recent episodes of the television show, which airs on TLC.

Continue reading “In The News: Jon and Kate Plus 8” →

Guest speaker Dennis Scroggins establishes from scripture that God hates divorce, and intends for a marriage to last for a lifetime. One man, one woman, for a lifetime is the teaching of scripture. We need to emphasize this rule in our preaching.

Lesson 8 of 9 in Gospel Meeting Series

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

The question of our title is similar to other questions that have been asked. Can a Christian be a lawyer? Or, can a Christian tend bar?

Those questions speak of the morality of the two occupations. While I believe that a Christian could certainly practice law, there are certain types of lawyers who seem, if they do their job successfully, to violate Christian morality.

However, when I ask the question, “Can a Christian be President?” I am not so concerned with the ethics of the job; rather, I am referring to the electability of a Christian. I am convinced that one who truly holds to the teachings of Jesus Christ would be considered an extremist, and would have no chance of being elected to the highest office in America.

Continue reading “In The News: Can A Christian Be President” →

“Then Peter said, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’ 29 So He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life’” (Luke 18:28-30).

A few months ago we examined the position that Luke 18 gives a rationale for a person to divorce their mate, “for the sake of the kingdom of God,” without sin. The article dealt not only with the context of the passage, but also the greater context of scripture, and concluded that the position is without merit. Jesus said in Matthew 5:32, “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except for sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” The text clearly reveals a single reason for which a man or woman may put away their spouse. To appeal to a passage where divorce is not contextually found in an attempt to explain away the plain import of another passage is, at best, poor hermeneutics, and is a common tactic of those who twist the scriptures to fit their pet theories.

Continue reading “Luke 18 Revisited” →

This sermon was preached to the West Side congregation to explain why the elders determined to cease monetary support of brother Bobby Holmes. The elders, together with brother Stan Cox had studied on several occasions with brother Holmes, differed with him regarding his teaching of divorce, and asked brother Cox to address the subject, and explain the events which led to the ending of his support. The sermon is, in part, an examination of brother Holmes’ teaching on the subject.

Sermon PowerPoint: Click Here .

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In the first verse of 1 Corinthians 7, the apostle Paul began a discussion of questions asked him by the Corinthian Christians. “Now concerning the things of which you wrote me…” While the Corinthians no doubt had an exact knowledge of those questions, we do not. It is important that we deal carefully with the text of this chapter. The exegesis is a difficult one, and brethren have struggled with the passage for many years.

After discussing some general principles concerning the sexual aspect and obligations of marriage in the first seven verses, the apostle answered certain questions concerning special groups in verses 8-16. First, the unmarried, in verses 8 and 9 were given the advice to remain unmarried during the “present distress” (cf. vs. 26), unless their passion precluded such a celibate state.

Continue reading “An Exegesis of 1 Corinthians 7:10-11” →

This section of scripture in Luke 18 recounts a conversation recorded by the physician between Jesus and his disciples. The exchange is also recorded by Matthew (chapter 19), and Mark (chapter 10).

The conversation immediately followed Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man desiring to know, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life” (vs. 18). When Jesus revealed his covetousness (putting his riches before service to God), the young man went away sorrowful. Jesus told his disciples that it was extremely difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven, but “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (vs. 27). What is obviously established in this teaching is that nothing can come before God in our lives. This elicited a response from Peter contained in the text under consideration:

Continue reading “An Exegesis of Luke 18:28-30” →

The first nine verses of Matthew 19 make up as disputed a passage of scripture as any in our time. It is interesting to note that the conversation contained in the passage, a discourse between Jesus and some Pharisees who sought to “test” him, was likewise an outgrowth of great dispute among the Jews of that day.

There were two major schools of thought concerning divorce in the first century. One group, following the teaching of a rabbi named Hillel, contended that the law, (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), allowed a man to divorce his wife for any offense at all. The other main group, led by the teaching of a rabbi named Shammai, maintained (as reported by Albert Barnes in his commentary, page 194) “divorce was unlawful except in case of adultery.”

The Pharisees knew that whichever position Jesus took would bring objections from the “other” group. So, they asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (vs. 3).

Continue reading “An Exegesis of Matthew 19:1-9” →

The fifth through the seventh chapters of Matthew provide a record of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” in Galilee, early on in His ministry.

Jesus spoke on numerous subjects, establishing His will for mankind. Again and again He said, “I say unto you.” As such, His teaching on these matters is to be studied carefully.

After discussing the sins of adultery and lust, Jesus taught, “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery” (5:31-32). In this passage, Jesus preempted the teaching of the law in establishing his own will.

Continue reading “An Exegesis of Matthew 5:31-32” →

Websites that reunite old flames are being highlighted by counselling firms in the UK as a factor in the rise of divorce rates in England and Wales.

The number of divorces in England and Wales continued to rise in 2003 to reach a total of 153,490, marking the third consecutive year of rising divorce rates according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). For the first time, the internet, and more specifically dating sites and sites that reunite old friends, are being mooted as factors behind the increase in marriage breakdowns.

“There are of course a number of reasons behind the rise in divorce rates,” said Christine Northam, a spokesperson with Relate, a counselling firm, “but chat rooms and sites which reunite friends make it easier for unhappy husbands or wives to meet other people and possibly go on to have an affair.”

Relate, which counsels couples facing divorce or separation, has noted that one in ten of the cases it deals with are indicating that the internet has played a role in the situation. “We have noticed in cases where a partner is having an affair, one out of ten couples have said that the affair began online, either on a chat site or reuniting site,” Northam explained to ElectricNews.Net.

ElectricNews.net
Wednesday, September 01 2004 by Deirdre McArdle

Analysis:

This news item indicates another possible danger which accompanies internet access. However, the danger is less in the internet access itself, and more in the desire of the one who involves him or herself in the situation.

Continue reading “Net Gets Blamed for High UK Divorce Rate” →

“‘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'” (Malachi 2:16).

Popular culture, left unchecked, can have an insidious influence upon the local church. This has always been so. The Corinthians, jaded by a culture of immorality and ungodliness, allowed a sexually immoral person to remain undisciplined. They rightly were admonished by Paul. “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6). Paul instructed Titus to sharply rebuke the Christians on the isle of Crete, lest they be influenced to sin by their culture. “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Titus 1:12-13).

Popular culture had influenced the Israelite’s treatment of their wives in regard to divorce. In their conversation with Jesus they sought to justify their practice of indiscriminate divorce by saying, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” (Matthew 19:7). Jesus rightly distinguished between the concession of Moses, for the purpose of regulating what was an abuse of the women, and what God had intended from the beginning. “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 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” (Matthew 19:8-9).

What once was allowed by concession is no longer so under the covenant of Christ. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). God has always hated divorce, but under the new covenant of Christ, he no longer tolerates it.

It is interesting to note that the disciples were astonished at Jesus’ teaching. They said, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry” (Matthew 19:10). Their attitude in this is very similar to that you hear expressed by some Christians today. God’s laws are too harsh! Surely it cannot be! Homer Hailey, in expressing the genesis of his false teaching on the subject of divorce and remarriage indicated his belief that the purpose of the gospel was to include, rather than exclude. As such, he felt that God would not exclude the divorced and remarriage who would come to Him, though they remain in that relationship. Others agree.

It is not surprising that such attitudes would become more pervasive with the passage of time. We too live in a culture that tolerates ungodliness. The call to righteousness is thought by the worldly to be extreme, narrow and unseemly. The order of the day is to tolerate! Tolerate the homosexual, tolerate the pagan, tolerate the promiscuous. The only intolerable action is to be intolerant!

Such an attitude has influenced Christians in our time. It seems that the first issue where this has been seen is that of Divorce and Remarriage. For a number of years false teachers have advocated a broader fellowship of those in adulterous relationships. Many have called for the fellowship both of the sinner, and the errorist who gives him a rationale for his behavior. But, other false doctrines are also being tolerated. Some now are calling for a more understanding treatment of those in institutional or premillinial error, others claim our “hermeneutic” is too radical, and there is a call to equivocate on the literal nature of the Genesis record with regard to the amount of time it took for the work to be done.

Jesus clearly stated the principle of duration with regard to marriage. It can be simply stated as “One man, One Woman, for a Lifetime.” Further, Jesus clearly stated the one exception that would allow for a divorce with His blessing. “Except for sexual immorality.”

Any position that redefines, softens or diminishes this teaching is false. Individuals who take these false positions will always have adherents, for there will always be individuals who think God’s ways to be too harsh, and who desire to follow their own predilections. But, as Job, we must learn to humbly submit to His wisdom and will. “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: ‘Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me” (Job 38:1-3). We have no right to question God’s will, our place is to accept it.

Conclusion

Man believes that he may enter into the marriage contract for a season, and break it at his pleasure. While he may indeed have the legal right, God indicates that divorce is not acceptable. “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate“ (Matthew 19:6). Jesus stated that those who divorce do so because of the “hardness of your hearts.” While the stigma of divorce has for the most part left our society, and the legal procedure is easily secured, God nevertheless still hates divorce. As his children, we must reject the world’s influence, and heed His will.