With an Open Mind
[EGW
editors preface: This interesting article was forwarded
to me by George
Sinkie from articles he had collected over the years concerning
the subject of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Being
favorably appreciative of the authors courage to express
his thoughtfulness and concern, and yet not being personally
familiar with the background of the author or original publication,
I thought it best to include the article in this feature column
as opposed to other feature columns where I am more familiar
with the authors. The Scripture quotation used appears
to be from the New King James Version.
If you have not yet read the editors note
defining and caveating the purpose of the With an Open
Mind column, please do so at this time before continuing
with the article.]
Planting a Red
Flag
by Travis L.
Quertermous
from The Reminder, October 17, 2010
A
red flag is a warning signal. Thus, to plant a
red flag, has become a figure of speech meaning to
give a warning. In this article, I would like to plant
a red flag in all our minds on the subject of marriage,
divorce, and remarriage.
I realize that this is one of the
most controversial topics in our brotherhood today. Mores
the pity since, in my judgment, the Bible is remarkably clear
on its teachings on this point. The key text in the New
Testament on this subject, of course, is Matthew 19:3-12. Space
forbids us to even quote the passage in its entirety, but you
are encouraged to re-read it along with this article.
There are at least six major (and
many minor) false doctrines in the church today on the subject
of divorce and remarriage. One thing they all have in common
is their desire to justify those in adulterous marriages.
It is not necessary to refute each one specifically nor is that
our goal. (For those who are interested in knowing more
about these false doctrines, we would recommend the July 1997
issue of The Spiritual Sword on that subject.)
In my judgment, one mistake too
many brethren make when studying Matthew 19 is that they stop
with verse nine. Here Jesus said, But 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
(Matt. 19:9).
Just how did Jesus intend for this
teaching to be understood? Was it a loose teaching that
permitted divorce for just any cause or was it a strict teaching
meant to discourage divorce and remarriage? The reaction
of the disciples in verses 10-12 shows that it was a strict teaching
and Jesus agreed with them.
Now here is where I want to plant
a red flag in all our minds. While we may not be familiar
with every false doctrine taught on this subject, we can know
that anytime we hear anyone teaching a theory of divorce and
remarriage which makes it easier for people to do so, they are
teaching error! Forewarned is forearmed, brethren
let us not be fooled by the devil and his agents! |