Divorce

1

• focus is not on marriage
• focus is not on divorce and remarriage

2
What Brethren Should Be Pressing

• marriage is honorable for a male and female who
  have never been married (Heb. 134)
• man should not separate what God has joined
  together (Matt. 196)
• remarriage is permitted for those whose spouse
  died (Rom. 71-4)
• divorce with remarriage is permitted for the
  innocent spouse whose mate defiled the marriage
  agreement with fornication (Matt. 199)

BUT WE'RE NOT!
3
OF LATE, BRETHREN LOVE TO MAJOR IN

• the methods used by the innocent in a divorce
• the speed of the fornicator in divorcing an
  innocent mate
• the particulars and incidentals of divorce (where
  only those involved in such should work out with
  fear and trembling)
• redefining divorce by American Law as giving
  papers, laywers, judges, court rooms, etc.
• Note Matt. 531 of differences in divorce and
  certificate

4
AS A RESULT

• brethren are bitter with each other
• gospel meetings are being cancelled
• support is being stopped
• accusations of being a false teacher are spewed
  out all over the country for preachers who do not
  agree on every particular
• Satan is happy
• false teachers on divorce are getting a pass
  because of our detour of details
• God is not pleased

5
This Issue Involves Questions Like These

• Is a woman in sin for divorcing her husband for
  physical abuse?
• Is a woman in sin for divorcing her husband when
  he lives to make his children worldly and
  antagonizes the faith?
• Is a man in sin for divorcing his wife when she
  continues to seek to pull him away from the
  church of Christ?

6
This Issue DOES NOT Involve Questions Like These

• Is a woman in sin for divorcing her husband for
  not bathing?
• Is a woman in sin for divorcing her husband for
  being a stick in the mud?
• Is a man in sin for divorcing his wife because
  they fell out of love?

7
Positions on Divorce

• every divorce is sinful
• everyone who divorces has committed sin
• every fornicator who divorces has sinned
• everyone who divorces their mate causes them to
  commit fornication
• every divorce shy of fornication is sinful for
  both parties

8
Malachi 216
For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates
divorce, For it covers ones garment with
violence. . .

• Q does God hate divorce?
• A Obviously!
• Q does this mean that every divorce is sinful?
• this passage is abused by two groups of people
• false teachers say that BECAUSE GOD HATES
  DIVORCE, when you become a Christian you shall
  remain in whatever marriage you are in
• others say, that BECAUSE GOD HATES DIVORCE, every
  divorce is sinful!

9
Malachi 216
For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates
divorce, For it covers ones garment with
violence. . .

• if every divorce is SINFUL, then reconcile. . .
• Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our
  God to put away all these wives and those who
  have been born to them, according to the advice
  of my master and of those who tremble at the
  commandment of our God and let it be done
  according to the law (Ezra 103)
• how can men put away their wives ACCORDING TO THE
  LAW if the law condemns every divorce as sinful?

10
Malachi 216
For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates
divorce, For it covers ones garment with
violence. . .

• Divorce is sinful is generally true but not
  absolutely true!
• He who divorces commits sin is generally true,
  but not absolutely true!
• Every man who deals treacherously with his wife
  and flippantly divorces her is in sin is true in
  the absolute sense!

11
Context of Malachi 216

• Judah had become married to the daughter of
  foreign gods (v. 11)
• the men were practicing a synchronistic religion
  by honoring idols and seeking to honor Jehovah
  (v. 12)
• they covered the altar with tears of poor women
  who were divorced by their husbands in marrying
  foreign women (v. 13)
• Malachi is reminding these men and priests that
  God hates divorce (vv. 14-16)!
• Why were they doing these things?
• Why were the priests allowing things like these
  to go on?

12
Positions on Divorce
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS

• every divorce is sinful
• everyone who divorces has committed sin
• every fornicator who divorces has sinned
• everyone who divorces their mate causes them to
  commit fornication
• every divorce shy of fornication is sinful for
  both parties

13
IS IT TRUE THAT EVERY FORNICATOR WHO DIVORCES
COMMITS SIN?

• Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
  commits adultery. . . (Lk. 1618)
• he was not in adultery with his first wife
• he was in adultery when he divorced and remarried
• he is now in fornication and MUST divorce/put
  away/repudiate his second wife in order to get
  right with God!

14
Herod Herodias

• example of Herod Herodias (Mk. 617-19)
• Herodias and Philip were seemingly divorced
• Herod later married Herodias
• John said their marriage was not lawful
• CONCLUSION they were in adultery (a type of
  fornication) Herod must put her away to be right
  with GodTO PUT HER AWAY WAS THE RIGHT THING, NOT
  A SINFUL THING!
• God would NOT hate that divorce!

15
IS IT TRUE THAT EVERY FORNICATOR WHO DIVORCES
COMMITS SIN?

• the scenario determines whether the above
  statement is true/false
• where one is committing fornication on his spouse
  and chooses to divorce her. . . he absolutely
  sins in divorce
• where one has married a person bound to another
  person, they sin absolutely every time that they
  do not put away that sinful marriageits not
  lawful for them to be married (viz. Herod to
  Herodias)!

16
Positions on Divorce
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS

• every divorce is sinful
• everyone who divorces has committed sin
• every fornicator who divorces has sinned
• everyone who divorces their mate causes them to
  commit fornication
• every divorce shy of fornication is sinful for
  both parties

17
Absolutes General Statements

• Does the Bible demand us to understand
  absolutes and general statements?
• we must RIGHTLY divide the word of God (2 Tim.
  215)
• one preacher in Texas stood against this idea for
  the sole reason given that he was uncomfortable
  with that concept
• Pharisees were uncomfortable with the concept
  that Jesus could work good on the Sabbath too!
• such reasoning affords little fiber!

18
All The Livestock Died
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• So the LORD did this thing on the next day, and
  all the livestock of Egypt died but of the
  livestock of the children of Israel, not one
  died (Ex. 96)
• all the livestock of Egypt was not absolutely
  all the livestock of Egypt!
• it was only those in the field and many livestock
  lived through this plague (93 919-21)

19
Intercessions for ALL Men
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Therefore I exhort first of all that
  supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving
  of thanks be made for ALL MEN (1 Tim. 21)
• generally we should make intercessions for ALL
  MEN
• but there are some in which we cannot make
  intercessions for (1 Jn. 516 Jer. 716 1411
  1114)

20
Cretans are ALWAYS Liars
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• 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 112, 13)
• Obviously those in the church at Crete were not
  liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons (v. 5)
• there were some Cretans who were elder
  material!
• the general moral character of Cretans is
  described

21
All Were Baptized
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Then ALL the land of Judea, and those from
  Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized
  by him in the Jordan River, confessing their
  sins (Mk. 15)
• generally, all were baptized
• but not every single one was baptized (Lk. 729,
  30)

22
Lesson 1 (Review)

• 3 points we should be majoring in
• what some brethren have detoured to
• consequences of
• defined the issue of D.W.R.
• exegesis and misuse of Malachi 216
• positions on divorce
• general versus absolutes
• all the livestock (Ex. 96), intercession for
  all (1 Tim. 21), Cretans are always (Titus
  112, 13), all were baptized (Mk. 15)

23
It Is Shameful For Women To Speak in Church
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Let your women keep silent in the churches, for
  they are not permitted to speak but they are to
  be submissive, as the law also says. And if they
  want to learn something, let them ask their own
  husbands at home for it is shameful for women to
  speak in church (1 Cor. 1434, 35)
• is it shameful for women to speak in church?
• YES!
• three times Paul emphasizes the silence of women
  during the special worship service

24
It Is Shameful For Women To Speak in Church
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Let your women keep silent in the churches, for
  they are not permitted to speak but they are to
  be submissive, as the law also says. And if they
  want to learn something, let them ask their own
  husbands at home for it is shameful for women to
  speak in church (1 Cor. 1434, 35)
• condemnation not limited to a woman standing up
  in front of the church to lead a discussion in
  edification (as one person tried to affirm)
• it is even in connection with the interruption of
  services in asking their husbands NOT leading
  their husbands during the worship!

25
It Is Shameful For Women To Speak in Church
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• is there a time when it is not shameful for a
  woman to speak during worship?
• congregational singing (Eph. 519)
• confession of faith after the invitation
• confession of sin after the invitation

26
Women Submissive to Their Husbands in EVERYTHING
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Therefore, just as the church is subject to
  Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands
  IN EVERYTHING (Eph. 524)
• is the wife to be submissive to the husband in
  everything?
• that is what it says
• is this a general statement or absolute?
• is there ANYTHING that a wife is not to submit
  to her husband in????
• if there is anything that she must not submit in,
  then everyone must concede that there can be
  commandments which appear absolute but are only
  general in nature

27
Women Submissive to Their Husbands in EVERYTHING
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• a wifes submission is as is fitting to the
  Lord
• Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is
  fitting in the Lord (Col. 318 Acts 529)
• Every wife must refuse to submit to her husband
  in things that are not fitting in the Lord thus
  an exception to the rule!
• same point can be made of children (Col. 320)

28
If a Woman Divorces Her Husband and Remarries She
Commits Adultery
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• And if a woman divorces her husband and marries
  another, she commits adultery (Mk. 1012)
• does a woman commit adultery when she divorces
  her husband and marries another?
• YES!
• do we dare say that all women who divorced their
  husbands and remarry are in adultery?
• NO!
• as a general rule women who divorce their
  husbands commit adultery when they remarry
• an explicit exception exists where women divorced
  their mates for fornication (Matt. 199)

29
Marriage is Honorable Among All
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed
  undefiled but fornicators and adulterers God
  will judge (Heb. 134)
• Q Is marriage honorable among all?
• A As a general rule, yes
• A It is honorable among all who have never been
  scripturally married
• A It is dishonorable in any unscriptural
  marriage
• A It is not honorable for those who have made
  themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven to
  enter marriage (Matt. 1912)

30
God Desires Young Widows To Marry
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Therefore I desire that the younger widows
  marry, bear children, manage the house, give no
  opportunity to the adversary to speak
  reproachfully (1 Tim. 514)
• absolute or general?
• GENERAL! Note the exception But I say to the
  unmarried and to the widows It is good for them
  if they remain even as I am but if they cannot
  exercise selfcontrol, let them marry (1 Cor.
  78, 9 cf. 726, 39, 40)

31
Whoever Divorces His Wife and Marries Another
Commits Adultery
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
  commits adultery and whoever marries her who is
  divorced from her husband commits adultery (Lk.
  1620)
• So He said to them, Whoever divorces his wife
  and marries another commits adultery against
  her (Mk. 1011)

32
Divorce
ABSOLUTES GENERAL STATEMENTS

• The general law is that those who divorce and
  remarry commit adulterytherefore do not divorce!
• this is not an absolute rule
• the exception is for those who remarried because
  their spouse violated the marriage bed (while
  they were innocent)
• it is ABSOLUTELY true that one commits adultery
  when one divorces ones mate for any other reason
  than fornication and remarries
• God limits who can remarry

33
Positions on Divorce
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS

• every divorce is sinful
• everyone who divorces has committed sin
• every fornicator who divorces has sinned
• everyone who divorces their mate causes them to
  commit fornication
• every divorce shy of fornication is sinful for
  both parties

?
WHAT ABOUT. . .
34
Everyone Who Divorces Their Mate, Save For
Fornication, Causes them to Commit Adultery

• 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 (Matt.
  532)
• whoever divorces his wife causes her to commit
  adultery is a general rule
• an explicit exception to the rule is when
  fornication is found. . .then he doesnt cause
  her to commit adultery

35
Context of Jesus Teaching on Divorce

• there is more to the story. . .
• the context of Jesus teaching was against the
  liberal school of thought that prevailed during
  his day justifying trivial divorce.
• Malachi was not addressing an Ezra 10 situation!
• Jesus was not addressing a 1 Corinthians 712ff
  situation!

36
Albert Barnes

• There was considerable difference of opinion
  among the Jews for what causes the husband was
  permitted to do this. One of their famous schools
  maintained that it might be done for any cause,
  however trivial. The other, that adultery only
  could justify it. The truth was, however, that
  the husband exercised this right at pleasure
  that he was judge in the case, and dismissed his
  wife when, and for what cause, he chose (Barnes
  NT Notes on Matt. 531)

37
Abusive Trivial Divorce

• hinted in Matt. 531, 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. . .
• hinted in Matt. 193, The Pharisees also came to
  Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, Is it
  lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any
  reason?

38
Jesus Did Not Discuss Abusive Hostility Toward
the Faith in Marriage

• Paul did 1 Corinthians 710ff!
• 710, Now to the married I command, yet not I
  but the Lord A wife is not to depart from her
  husband
• What the Lord personally taught (cf. Mk. 1012)
• Note Law of Moses didnt permit women divorcing
  men but God allows for such today

39
1 Corinthians 7

• 711, But even if she does depart, let her
  remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.
  And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
• if she does depart/divorced/put away she is still
  under restriction
• she must seek reconciliation if she had acted
  rashly
• she must remain unmarried she has no authority
  to remarry
• it is not inherent that she always sins if she
  departs?

40
1 Corinthians 7

• 712, But to the rest I, not the Lord, say If
  any brother has a wife who does not believe, and
  she is willing to live with him, let him not
  divorce her
• Jesus NEVER addressed this
• scenario was not in the context of the Lords
  discussions on divorce
• Not Pauls OPINION he has the SPIRIT of God
  (v. 40)
• a Christian man should not divorce his pagan wife
  if she is willing to live with him...he should
  love her even as Christ does the church

41
1 Corinthians 7

• 1113, And a woman who has a husband who does
  not believe, if he is willing to live with her,
  let her not divorce him
• she had the power to divorce under Roman law
• she should be concern about his physical and
  spiritual welfare she should love him and not
  divorce him

42
1 Corinthians 7

• 1113, And a woman who has a husband who does
  not believe, if he is willing to live with her,
  let her not divorce him
• should not divorce IF he (the unbeliever) is
  willing to live with her
• what IF he is NOT willing to live with a
  Christian woman?
• what if he wants NO PART of Christianity in his
  life?
• what if he is determined to wreck her faith?

43
Doesnt IF Imply ANYTHING?

• You are My friends IF you do whatever I command
  you (Jn. 1514)
• IF you know these things, blessed are you IF you
  do them (Jn. 1317)
• what if you dont know?
• what if you dont do when you do know?

44
Doesnt IF Imply ANYTHING?

• IF you do well, will you not be accepted? And IF
  you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its
  desire is for you, but you should rule over it
  (Gen. 47)
• IF you are reproached for the name of Christ,
  blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of
  God rests upon you. On their part He is
  blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified (1
  Pet. 414 cf. Lk. 626)

45
Doesnt IF Imply ANYTHING?

• IF you send them forward on their journey in a
  manner worthy of God, you will do well (3 Jn. 6)
• You will be clear from this oath when you arrive
  among my family for IF they will not give her to
  you, then you will be released from my oath
  (Gen. 2441)

46
Doesnt IF Imply ANYTHING?

• Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing
  IF they continue in faith, love, and holiness,
  with selfcontrol (1 Tim. 215)
• People do not despise a thief IF he steals to
  satisfy himself when he is starving (Prov. 630)

WHAT A BIG-LITTLE WORD!
47
1 Corinthians 7

• 713, And a woman who has a husband who does not
  believe, if he is willing to live with her, let
  her not divorce him
• if he is not willing to live with her, then she
  is hardly the cause of his fornication when she
  engages in the divorce
• how he manifests his willingness to NOT live with
  her is determined by him (state it, forbid his
  wife to worship, abuse, etc.)

48
1 Corinthians 7

• 714, For the unbelieving husband is sanctified
  by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is
  sanctified by the husband otherwise your
  children would be unclean, but now they are holy
• no need to divorce when your unbelieving spouse
  is willing to live with you
• God sanctifies your marriage

49
1 Corinthians 7

• 715, But if the unbeliever departs, let him
  depart a brother or a sister is not under
  bondage in such cases. But God has called us to
  peace
• But if the one who is not a Christian has a
  desire to go away, let it be so the brother or
  the sister in such a position is not forced to do
  one thing or the other but it is Gods pleasure
  that we may be at peace with one another (BBE)
• not released from the marriage bond, BUT released
  from under bondage to men cf. 723
• perhaps there would be more PEACE if folks would
  appreciate this verse!

50
1 Corinthians 7

• is dealing with an environment that is
  distressing on marriage (v. 26)
• not discussing petty causes for separation
  (burning bread, unkempt, immaturity, etc.)
• an unbeliever may despise spouse
• a believer is never to be under bondage to an
  unbelievers ungodly desire
• Satan needs to be resisted, even when his will is
  at work in marriage (1 Pet. 59 Jas. 47)
• must always obey God rather than man!

51
Attempted Rebuttals

• 1. has God speaking contradictory things. .
  .hates divorce (Mal. 2) tolerates divorce (1
  Cor. 7)
• contending that God hates all divorce has God
  speaking contradictory things with Ezra 103 and
  even for the innocent in Matthew 199
• did God hate the divorce in Ezra 10????

52
INTERCESSION FOR ALL BUT NO INTERCESSION FOR
SOME
(1 Tim. 21 1 Jn. 516 Jer. 716)
DOES NOT PIT GOD AGAINST HIMSELF!
RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD!
53
SHAMEFUL FOR WOMEN TO SPEAK BUT THEY CAN SPEAK IN
SPIRITUAL SONGS
(1 Cor. 1434, 35 Eph. 519)
DOES NOT PIT GOD AGAINST HIMSELF!
RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD!
54
WOMEN SUBMIT TO HUSBANDS IN EVERYTHING BUT NOT IN
ANYTHING AGAINST GOD
(Eph. 524 Acts 529 Col. 318)
DOES NOT PIT GOD AGAINST HIMSELF!
RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD!
55
GOD DESIRES WIDOWS TO MARRY BUT DOESNT DESIRE
WIDOWS TO MARRY
(1 Tim, 5 1 Cor. 7)
DOES NOT PIT GOD AGAINST HIMSELF!
RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD!
56
GOD HATES DIVORCE BUT ALLOWS DIVORCE FOR CERTAIN
PEOPLE!
(Mal. 214 Ezra 10 Mat. 199 1 Cor. 711-14)
DOES NOT PIT GOD AGAINST HIMSELF!
RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD!
57
Attempted Rebuttals

• 2. youre preaching the doctrine of Mental
  Reservation (lying is bad but okay if it is for
  the kingdom)
• liars will go to hell (Rev. 218)
• God never told a man to lie for him
• However, God commanded men to divorce their pagan
  wives in Ezra 10
• If divorce was inherently sinful like lying, why
  did God require it in Ezra 10 and permit it in
  Matthew 19?

58
Attempted Rebuttals

• 3. God said he hates divorce and your preaching
  is like the Pharisees in setting aside the
  commandment of God to keep your tradition (Mk.
  79-13)
• preaching all divorce is sinful is the
  tradition that men are keeping at the expense of
  setting aside the word of God in Ezra 10 and 1
  Cor. 7
• adversaries MUST prove that there can never be
  righteousness in ANY SINGLE DIVORCE!
• I need only show one case where God accepts
  divorce in order to sustain that all divorce is
  not sinful.
• God also said, I do not change in Malachi 36
  and Sabbatarians contend that such a fact is the
  reason why we must keep the Sabbath today!
• some mishandle Malachi 216 as reckless as others
  mishandle Malachi 36!

59
Attempted Rebuttals

• 4. Jesus said there were no reasons for divorce
  in Matthew 191-8
• Jesus didnt teach there were no reasons for
  divorce
• the Lord allowed some to divorce and remarry in
  verse 9!
• the Lords answer is condemning their loose views
  in justifying frivolous divorce

60
Attempted Rebuttals

• 5. There is only one law in Matthew 191-9 NO
  DIVORCE!

61
5 LAWS
(pertaining to marriage, divorce and remarriage)

• God has a law for the unmarried (1 Cor. 71, 2)
• God has a law for those who are married (1 Cor.
  73-5, 10, 11b)
• God has a law for those who would divorce (1 Cor.
  711-16 Matt. 532 199 Lk. 1618 etc)
• for fornication
• when your spouse is not willing to live with
  you
• God has a law for those who divorce and remarry
  (Matt. 199)
• only for fornication
• God has a law for widows (Rom. 71-3 1 Cor. 78,
  39, 40 1 Tim. 53-16)

RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF TRUTH!
62
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every
one of Your righteous judgments endures forever
(Ps. 119160)

• Using Matthew 191-8 for NO DIVORCE AT ALL is
  as evil as basing salvation by faith alone in
  using the thief on the cross!

63
Attempted Rebuttals

• 6. Divorce cannot be a possibility in Lk.
  1828-30 (cf. Mt. 1929 Mk. 1029), because
  Peter didnt divorce his wife when he left all.
  
• a) . . .if it is such, the passage would teach
  that you must abandon your children too!

64
Attempted Rebuttals (6)
863 afihmi aphiemi

• 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, who shall not receive many times
  more in this present time, and in the age to come
  eternal life (Lk. 1829, 30)

(verses with 863 Jn. 2023 Rom. 127 1 Cor.
711-13 Rev. 24 etc.)
65
Attempted Rebuttals (6)

• you only have to leave that which holds you back
  or destroys your service to Christ
• Peter didnt have to leave his wife. . .no
  indication his wife was ever against Christ

66
Luke 1829, 30 and the Old Testament Tutor

• God required duty to His service over and beyond
  any natural relationship
• Levites were commanded to kill their idolatrous
  brothers, companions and even sons (Ex. 3226-29)
• Levites were not to leave their service at the
  tabernacle even for the death of their own
  parents (Lev. 2111, 12 cf. 101-7 Duet. 339
  Lk. 959-62)

67
Luke 1829, 30 and the Lords Teaching

• Jesus requires duty to His service over and above
  any natural relationship
• the Lords true brothers and sisters are those
  who obey the Lord, not those born of the flesh
  (Matt. 1248-50 Jn. 113)
• must hate precious relationships in comparison to
  love for Christ (Lk. 1426-28)
• loving family more than Christ disqualifies (Mt.
  1037)

68
Attempted Rebuttals (6)
5043 teknon (teknon)

• 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, who shall not receive many times
  more in this present time, and in the age to come
  eternal life (Lk. 1829, 30)

small children are not part of this equation!
69
5043

• Mt 39, and do not think to say to yourselves,
  We have Abraham as our father. For I say to you
  that God is able to raise up children to
  Abraham from these stones.
• Mt 1021, Now brother will deliver up brother to
  death, and a father his child and
  children will rise up against parents and
  cause them to be put to death
• Mt 2128, But what do you think? A man had two
  sons , and he came to the first and said,
  Son , go, work today in my vineyard.

70
Attempted Rebuttals (6)

• NOTE abandoning small children cannot be done
  for the kingdom of heaven (Eph. 61-4)
• HOWEVER delivering sinful adult children to
  Satan could certainly be done for the kingdom (1
  Cor. 51-5)!
• leaving a wife that you should not be married to
  can certainly be done for the kingdom (Mk. 617,
  18)
• leaving a wife who is bent on destroying your
  faith and provoking you to work evil can
  certainly be done for the kingdoms sake (viz.
  Jezebel, 1 Kin. 2125 Rev. 220)

71
Attempted Rebuttals

• 7. Your saying sin is sometimes NOT sin and
  promoting situational ethics
• IF EVERY divorce is sinful, were God and Ezra
  teaching sin is sometimes not sin in Ezra 10?
• were they promoting situational ethics when they
  required those to divorce?
• was Paul implicitly saying sin is sometimes not
  sin. . .in 1 Cor. 711, 13 . . .but even if she
  does depart, . . . if he is willing to live
  with her, let her not divorce him
• How could Paul make such statements IF EVERY
  divorce is sinful!

72
Attempted Rebuttals (7)

• shall we accuse Paul of teaching a situational
  ethics gospel when he desired widows to marry (1
  Tim. 5) but didnt desire widows to marry (1 Cor.
  7)?
• shall we accuse Solomon teaching situation-ethics
  in Proverbs 630, People do not despise a thief
  if he steals to satisfy himself when he is
  starving?

73
The Truth

• we are not teaching sin is not sin
• we are not teaching situation-ethics!
• such rhetoric is merely an inflammatory
  smokescreen to cloud the mind of listeners!

Situational Ethics Sin is not Sin
74
The Truth

• we teach God hates divorce!
• we also teach that every divorce does not
  automatically imply sin is involved for both
  parties!
• we also teach that Christians are not slaves to
  men!

Situational Ethics Sin is not Sin
75
Answering The Basketball Illustration

• In a sermon trying to convince the audience that
  all divorce is sin, one fellow explained 1
  Corinthians 711ff with a basketball
  illustration
• Coach says Dont turn the ball over (dont
  divorce) but if you do turn the ball over (sin
  in divorcing), get back on defense (remain
  unmarried/reconcile??)
• Why not repent?

76
Basketball and Divorce?

• dont turn the ball over, but if you turn the
  ball over. . .play defense
• what if the other team doesnt want to play by
  the rules?
• what if the other team breaks the rules and takes
  the ball by force. . .did one still sin in
  turning the ball over?
• what if the other team is content breaking the
  rules of basketball, along with your nose?

77
Basketball and Divorce?

• dont turn the ball over, but if you turn the
  ball over. . .play defense
• what if the other team thinks traditional
  basketball is for losers and demands to play
  pagan ball (adding bats, pepper spray, guns and
  knives to the game)?
• shall your team still play defense, or shall they
  divorce themselves from the game all together?
• is your team committing a basketball sin by
  refusing to play with players using weapons?

78
Warning Against Misguided Preaching

• But we have renounced the hidden things of
  shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the
  word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of
  the truth commending ourselves to every mans
  conscience in the sight of God (2 Cor. 42)
• preachers can handle Gods word deceitfully by
  reaching and straining in making their points
• preachers cannot manifest the truth with a
  shallow understanding of the bible
• make sure that what you believe is based on
  scripture and not merely because it has been
  traditionally taught

79
To Those Who May Judge Me. . .

• But with me it is a very small thing that I
  should be judged by you or by a human court. In
  fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know
  nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by
  this but He who judges me is the Lord (1 Cor.
  43, 4)
• it matters little to me when men jump on a
  bandwagon of tradition and judge me for not
  joining them
• all that really matters is how the Lord will
  judge me

80
I Answered

• But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and
  always be ready to give a defense to everyone who
  asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
  with meekness and fear (1 Pet. 315)
• I have research the scriptures and outlined these
  facts with prayer and scriptural references
• It is left for the viewer/listener to decide for
  themselves