Is Divorce & Remarriage an Unforgivable Sin?

Question

Pope Benedict reaffirmed a ban on communion for those who divorce and remarry, thus withholding what the church asserts is a practice that directly imparts God's grace. The sin is technically unforgivable because as long as the second marriage lasts the communicant is still actively sinning and unrepentant. The only remedy is for the Catholic to divorce their new husband or wife and compound the sin of their first divorce and remarriage with a second divorce, but ironically they will thus be eligible for communion again. So Adolph Hitler, raised a Catholic, could confess after the six million murders of the death camps and receive communion, but an otherwise innocuous Catholic who divorces and remarries cannot. Would Jesus callsify this as policy as "straining at gnats and swallowing camels?"

Scripture indeed lists one sin as unforgivable. Miss Momma illustrated that divorce is Biblically permitted. The Mosaic Law clearly recognizes that divorce terminates the relationship and carries with it a right of remarriage. Jesus objection in the Hillel vs. Sammai debate that was brought to him for resolution was that Hillel's willingness to allow divorce "for any cause" was not what God intended. Hillel had held you could divorce your wife for burning your breakfast. The Roman church ignores this context. PaulCyp has set out the Augustinian viewpoint the church holds to this day, but I note Augustine argued the OT was trash that should be discarded, so of course he ignores the Mosaic Law. The Protestant Reformers from Luther on down recognized the Biblical warrants for divorces in the Mosaic law and in Paul's epistles. The "bed and board" seperation Augustine held forth has no basis in either scripture or Jewish practice.

I would also point out to PaulCyp that the scripture is full of saints with mutiple wives, which I think further undermines his argument that second marriages are invalid. Nowhere in scripture is having mulitple wives forbidden. Only in the selection of bishopes and deacons is being the husband of one wife set forth as a standard, yet I don't se the Roman church insisting their Bishops have a wife.

So I think House Speaker has a dilemma, because either Moses was the Prophet of God and set forth the laws of divorce and remarriage in the OT or he didn't. If the OT is thus unreliable, and Christians base the Messiahship of Christ on the OT, you have a problem. If the Bible cannot contradict itself, then Moses allowing divorce and remarriage and Jesus saying remarriage for divorce other than for unchastity and remariage is adultery cannot be in conflict. SO the issue is context and the context was in teh question Jesus was asked which was part of a Rabbinic debate of Jesus' day. Shammai held divorce was allowed only for unchastity (sexual sin or impurity). Hillel held divorce was allowed for any cause. Jesus sided with Shammai, that divorce was only allowed for unchastity, and that a person who divorces for a lesser reason and remarries is an adulterer. But Jesus by no means enact and abolute ban. He simply bans kicking your wife into the street without severe cause.

Tink, I used the Hitler illustration to point out ridiculous extremes that a legalistic policy can lead one to. I cannot imagine that Hitler repented at any point in his career or ever went confession after his childhood. Your viewpoint is in the company of Luther and the Reformers who threw themselves on God's mercy and relied on God's grace (his unmreited and unearned good will and predisposition to mercy) , as opposed to rituals purported to convey God's grace.

Answer 1

No it is not an unforgiveable sin. The Bible says it is necessary at times when adultry has taken place. God even divorced the nation of Isreal in the Old Testament and he also said it was an abomination for a person to go back to their former spouse.

This is God talking in this verse.
Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

Answer 2

Absolutely not...God hates divorce because He knows the pain it causes to us, not because He considers it sin. He wants us to prevent it if possible. We are now living in the time of Grace because of what Jesus did for us, not in old testament times. As for hitler do you really think after the atrocities he committed had a change of heart, because this is what has to happen before God forgives any sin committed. If you really want an answer to this maybe you could ask God for wisdom and it will all make sense...shalom...

Answer 3

Adultery = Divorce & Remarriage

The seventh commandment says "Thou shalt not commit adultery." This sin has been committed throughout history.

Answer 4

No, Jesus said the only unforgivable sin was to sin against the Holy Ghost. Divorce is not a sin against the holy ghost.

Answer 5

I don't know or CARE "what Jesus would say", but anyone who believes divorce and/or remarriage is a sin is a sad dupe of the primitive adherence to an ancient, useless doctrine.

Answer 6

Divorcing your "second wife" in such a situation is entirely different from "divorcing your first wife". Since the first divorce had no effect on your first marriage, you would still be married to your wife. The second "marriage" therefore is not a marriage at all, since you are not free to marry, being already married to someone else. Therefore you have no "second wife". you are merely cohabiting with someone who is not your spouse. Divorce itself, since it does nothing at all, does not prevent a person from receiving the sacraments. Divorce followed by living with another person you are not married to does prevent a person from receiving the sacraments, since such an arrangement constitutes an ongoing public unrepented state of adultery. The Catholic Church considers marriage vows far more important than gnats. Too bad all churches don't.
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Answer 7

No, the only unforgiveable sin is blasphemy which is denying the Holy Spirit when He calls you.

Answer 8

No sin is unforgivable. You must ask God for forgiveness in Jesus Christ name. It is up to God not man.

Answer 9

Not according to many Baptists. The divorce rate amongst born-again Baptists is higher than usual. See the attached Baptist site.

Answer 10

Listen to your heart. That's the only thing God really speaks to in my opinion. You need to survive in life the best you can.