Is divorce a sin?

Question

Does God want for those who are stuck in bad marriages to suffer?

Answer 1

There are two exceptions to the "no divorce" rule. One is adultery, (Matthew 5:32) and the other is when an unbelieving spouse leaves the believing one. (I Corinthians 7:15) Of course, God doesn't want someone to be abused, either.

God wants people to work out their differences. I Corinthians 13:4-8a shows what needs to be done.

God never promised that we would be "happy." He does ask that we remain faithful. (Malachi 2:15-16)

Answer 2

You'll get a lot of hate for this question, I'm sure (and maybe I will too for my answer), but here's my 2 points --

I do not think God means for people in bad marriages to suffer. I believe God's IDEAL is for people not to divorce, but I believe divorce is SOMETIMES the least worst option. I think a person in a horrible marriage is dragged down mentally, spiritually, and emotionally and could better serve God without such baggage if that is the last option (i.e., counseling didn't work, the other spouse refuses to quit drinking, etc.) Some of the fundamentalists believe if you divorce you can't ever remarry, but I believe in God's grace and that once you have made yourself right with God and know what went wrong the first time, you should be able to try again. After all, marriage is a human institution and humans are not perfect so why would all marriages be?

Answer 3

I think the main flaw is with the question. God doesn't want anyone to suffer in a bad marriage. He wants us all to enjoy happy, fulfilling marriages. If people would live according to bible principles, there would not be marriages so bad that people needed to leave. But, because people are imperfect God has allowed for divorce in the case of infidelity and for separation in cases of neglect or abuse. But, what God wants is for us to make our marriages work, not to suffer through them for his sake.

Answer 4

Dear altruist,

Yes, divorce is a sin. The Bible tells us in Mark 10:9, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

If we are going to be obedient to the Lord, a married person will never consider divorce as an option.

I hope this helps you.

Answer 5

13. Why doesn’t the Church get with the times and admit that some marriages don’t work?

It’s obvious to everyone, including the Church, that some marriages “don’t work out.” As mentioned earlier, in serious circumstances the Church even encourages separation of “bed and board.” But this is very different fro accepting divorce.

It’s hard to overestimate the importance that the Church places on defending the permanence of marriage. History tells the tale of entire nations separating from the Catholic Church because of disputes over this point.

Why is the Church so obstinate? Because marriage is where human and divine love “kiss.” To diminish in any way the permanence of married love is to diminish the permanence of God’s love. As a sacrament, marriage is a true participation in the love of Christ for his Bride, the Church.

If we truly understand this, to admit divorce is to say in the same breath that Christ has left eh Church. IMPOSSIBLE! Christ will never, ever abandon his Bride (we Christians). This is what’s at stake. But we’re not God, people say. How can we love as Christ loves?

On our own we cannot. But “with God all things are possible” . It’s no coincidence that these words of Christ from the Gospel of Matthew appear shortly after Christ’s teaching on the permanence of marriage . When Christ’s disciples learned what the permanence of marriage demanded of them, they though it would be better not to marry at all . Jesus responded, “Not all men can receive this precept, but only those to whom it is given”

To whom is this teaching on the permanence of marriage given? To men and women who remain slaves to their weaknesses? No! To men and women who have been given the power to love as Christ loves through the Holy Spirit!

This is the GOOD NEWS of the gospel. Christ’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit . This means husbands and wives can love one another as Christ loves.

What’s at stake in the permanence of marriage is really a question of faith. Do we believe in the good news of the gospel, or don’t we? Do we believe it’s possible to love another as Christ loves, or don’t’ we? To admit the possibility of divorce is to say that Christ cannot save us from our sin. Woes to the Church if she were to ever say such a thing. The permanence of marriage is an objective reality to which the Church must bear witness if she is to tell the truth.

Answer 6

Marriage is a sacred trust and promise made before God to love and support a person through life's problems (this is referring to two people who are both Christians married in a church and not legal only unions). For these people, they have broken their word to God...therefore it is wrong. Having said this...in reality if someone wants to be rid of you, they will find a way even if they profess to be a Christian. - jodee

Answer 7

The bible makes it quite clear that there are acceptable reasons for divorce, unfaithfulness or being shackled with an unbeliever. It might include abuse, it should anyway, but I'm guessing that's included as a legitimate reason for divorce.

Answer 8

I hope nobody believes that anymore. Is someone stuck in an abusive marriage not allowed to get divorced because it says so in a book? Boooo!

Answer 9

Depends on the reason for divorce.

If you are in an abusive relationship, or your mate is committing adultery, you have grounds to get out.

Answer 10

except for marital unfaithfulness yes it is a sin.

Matthew 19:9
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."
-And adultery is a sin-
Matthew 5:32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Read Matthew 19 though---it is more thorough.