What are the Christian’s perspective on divorce?
Christians' Perspective on Divorce
A Christian perspective on divorce varies among different denominations. Some believe God hates divorce, while others hold that divorce is permissible. There are differences between Orthodox and Protestant Christians when it comes to divorce. Here are three fundamental principles that Christians hold regarding divorce: first, the divorce must be biblically based, and second, the divorce must be an option that allows the divorcing couple to move on with their lives.
God hates divorce
The Bible says that God hates divorce. In Malachi 2:16, God says that divorce is an evil thing and should be avoided. However, some people take this verse out of context. They say that God hates divorce because it destroys the covenant that marriages form. In reality, divorce does not destroy a marriage.
God created marriages. He designed them and defined them, and God hates divorce because it breaks that covenant. A divorce is an immoral act that violates God's will for human relationships.
Reconciliation is a sign of true repentance
The first step in a process of reconciliation is to determine whether a person has truly repented for their sins and is truly sorry. Genuine repentance will manifest itself in changes of behavior and attitudes. While deeply ingrained patterns of behavior can sometimes be difficult to break, a person's commitment to a new life is essential to a true restoration.
The second step in a process of reconciliation involves the decision by the repentant spouse to try to mend a broken marriage. In this case, the repentant spouse will make every effort to reconcile with his or her former spouse. Biblically, this requires a genuine desire to implement 1 Cor. 7:11 and pursue reconciliation.
Orthodox and Protestant Christians allow divorce
Catholic and Protestant churches have different views on divorce. Some hold that divorce is always wrong, while others say that divorce is acceptable and should even be encouraged. The Orthodox Church, however, adheres to its traditional pastoral perspective. It holds that a marriage should not end without contentment. Its doctrine on the dissolution of the bond is rooted in the gospel of St. Matthew.
Orthodox Christians view the sanctity of life as a life-long process. As such, the ultimate aim of a Christian is union with God. Salvation is a free gift from God and comes through a life-long faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice. This salvation is received through the grace of God, including baptismal regeneration and the sacraments.
Paul's principle on divorce
Paul's principle on divorce teaches that divorce is not the end of a marriage. In fact, Paul encourages believers to stay married to their non-believing spouses, reminding them that the presence of one believing parent sanctifies the children. He makes this clear in the book of Ephesians.
The principle is straightforward and flies in the face of the most popular opinions. For one, divorce is a sin that separates the two partners. As an apostle of Christ, Paul repeated Christ's teaching on marriage in the New Testament. Moreover, Paul was referring to married couples in Corinth when he made this command.
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