According to God’s design, human beings should be sexually united only within a permanent marriage relationship between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-6). No alteration to this arrangement should be considered on merely human authority. As Christians we believe that this permanent relationship should not be broken by any human being, because Jesus Christ said, ‘They are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.’
We believe disregard for God’s pattern is wrong. Trial marriage, swapping partners, unmarried people accepting the privilege of sexual intercourse without commitment to unbroken loyalty, are all judged wrong by God’s standard. The Bible teaches, ‘Since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband’ (1 Corinthians 7:2), and, ‘Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and-all the sexually immoral’ (Hebrews 13:4). Because God is right, all who reject his directions should be warned about their error.
The only other patters open to a person is to enjoy working in God’s world outside of marriage, devoted to him with the loyalty and attention which might otherwise be given to a marriage partner. Both alternatives have distinct advantages of their own, but we should not think of either being in itself more virtuous than the other. Married or unmarried, the main aim is to honour God and enjoy the benefits he gives us (1 Corinthians 10:31).
God-oriented and God-directed living is rejected by many today in favour of self-centred pleasure. Many marriages begin and end without regard for God’s directions. Despite laws which overlook the fact, the end of marriage is also under the authority of God’s word. The Bible makes it clear that when the marriage bond is violated in certain circumstances an offended person may have the right to claim the bond is broken and the offender at fault.
The only circumstances in which this may happen are in cases of adultery, that is, being sexually united to a person other than the marriage partner, or wilful desertion, which is when one partner refuses to maintain the marriage relationship (Matthew 19:9, 1 Corinthians 7:12-15). In such cases the one against whom these steps are taken may obtain a divorce and be free to remarry. In every other case the marriage obligations remain. If divorce has taken place on unbiblical grounds it needs to be repented of and God’s pardon obtained and recognised by the church before marriage can take place again.
How can the obligations of married people be fulfilled in cases of mistreatment on the part of one or both partners? The answer to such problems, even though they may be very complex, is to follow God’s directions and trust him. The Reformed Presbyterian Church is ready to help in such situations. Wrong behaviour can be identified and changed. The roles of husbands and wives can be clarified. Strength and patience can be found in God’s word.
Human marriage which shows each partner submitting to the other and seeking forgiveness for wdone, wrongs pictures the relationship which exists between Christians and Jesus Christ who loves them and gave himself for them.
Further reading:
“Christian Living in the Home” (J.Adams);
“Divorce” ( J.Murray)
