Divorce and re-marriage: the unforgivable christian sin?

Question

NIV Mark Chapter 10, verse11: He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12: And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."
This is the reason I stopped practising Christianity and chose to practice a different spiritual path.
My first husband was a violent man. He later committed and was imprisoned for the manslaughter of his second wife. This passage from Mark came to me at a time could have done with some christian compassion . Was my sin to leave this marrige or is it the greater sin to die at the age of twenty at the hands of a violent and depraved man? I am now married happily to my current beloved and we plan to have a family (yay! I'll be a mother at last!) and the union to be life-long. Yet, I still believe that my actions will not be cleansed by blood of the cross. Prayfully consider it. Thank you.

Answer 1

There is no sin involved. You were right to leave this man for he was not a Godly man, and certainly not of the Christianity that Jesus taught. Your marriage to that man was null and void in the eyes of God the moment he began to hurt you. A true marriage is based on love and mutual respect, and when that basis is broken, the marriage is broken as well. Because of the verse you quoted above, there are many people clinging to failed and broken marriages out of fear of committing a non-existent sin. Jesus would have been the first to tell you to get away from that man in order to save your life.

There has been a lot added to the original scriptures and teachings of the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments. That verse is definitely one of those additions, for it is absurd to expect a person to live their life alone after a divorce. Love is the most important teaching of the original gospels, and it is still found in them. When you love a person, your love rises to God. That you have married someone who gives you joy is a gift of God, not something to be condemned.

If the true love you have for your present husband is condemned by the blood of the cross, then the cross is to be condemned as ungodly. What you do in love is blessed by God, and nothing can supersede the blessing of God, for God is love (First John 4:7-12, 16-19), and there is nothing to fear from our Father God. The unforgivable sin here is the addition of hateful material to the original teachings like that verse condemning love as adultery.

I can well understand why you have chosen a different spiritual path than Christianity, for I also left it behind over forty years ago for similar reasons. Jesus was a good man and taught about love, but his followers have forgotten his teachings and turned his pathway to spiritual freedom into a prison.

I wish you joy and continuing love throughout your marriage.

Answer 2

First, I am sorry you've been misled by Bible hopscotch. Second, I am sorry your first marriage wasn't what it should have been. Your citation is correct. However, you can't make doctrine out of one or two verses. Otherwise, we'd have psychos out there combining Matthew 27:5 with Luke 10:37 - you'd get "Judas went and hanged himself ... go and do likewise." Not solid and not a true teaching!

Now, take your verse in Mark in context. Remember the Bible also teaches us not to be yoked with unbelievers, or to allow others to abuse us just because they feel like it. (Our bodies are temples; letting someone hurt them is not showing respect for God's work.)

Counterfeit Christianity is a huge problem. I wish you had known a true believer when all this happened! But listen now. You have done NOTHING wrong. You have done the right thing, first by protecting yourself, and then by beginning a family with a mate who treats you well. Even if your former divorce was a sin (which it's not), the blood of Jesus was shed to cover those sins. All of them. If you start saying that the perfect sacrifice wasn't perfect enough, it's blasphemy. That's a sin, but it still won't separate you from God's love. I don't need to prayerfully consider your situation, because I know the truth. Unless you blaspheme the Spirit or in some way actively reject the salvation I assume you once accepted, it's still yours.

I will pray for you and your new husband because you deserve to be happy, and I hope you are able to forgive yourself the way God already has. Bless you.

Answer 3

Well, the Bible also says that divorce is acceptable in the case of marital unfaithfulness. One could argue that breaking any of the marriage vows is unfaithfulness. Love, honor, cherish.... An abusive husband is not faithful to the commitment he made into this holy covenant.

Also, divorce or adultery is not the unforgivable sin. All things are forgiven when you ask with a true heart. God is Just, He knows your heart and your desires. He wants what is best for you. His ultimate desire would be for you to be married to one man forever, but with the human factor in a marriage, that isn't always possible. God knows what you have gone through and He weeps for your pain. Don't turn away from your only source of hope and life because of half a principle. God's justice extends to you too.

Answer 4

I am not much on quoting the Bible, but I believe the only unforgivable sin is to not accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I believe that it states that if you accept him and ask for forgiveness then all will be forgiven. everyone interprets the Bible differently. Do you believe it is a sin to find happiness. I do not, keep reading and look at the whole picture and not just certain parts of the scripture.

Answer 5

We are all sinners saved by grace. The only "unforgiveable sin" is the renouncement of Christ as your saviour. King David was a liar, a murderer and an adulterer yet, God said that David was "a man after His own heart".

Ultimately, God hates sin but, he loves the sinner. As Jesus was dying on the cross, he looked up to heaven and cried out "my God, my God, why have you foresaken me". I believe it was at that very moment that Jesus became the sin of the world. The prophecy was fullfilled, and God turned his back on sin -- NOT JESUS -- but sin. Just like divorce.

Don't let the lies of the devil rob you of your peace and joy. Also, don't underestimate or minimize the power and magnitude of His sacrafice! I believe you have been forgiven!

God Bless!! =^)

Answer 6

Make no mistake, God loves you! It is not His will that you become a punching bag for a loser like your ex! It is not His will for you to end up in a morgue for a person like that! What passage in the Bible did you read that said what happened was "unforgivable"? The God we worship is bigger than any sin we can commit. Since He is a big God He is able and willing to forgive even the biggest sinner!God is searching our hearts and knows our motivations for everything! I do not even think that God considers what you did sin. You did what you had to. It is not a sin to save your precious life! Yes, your life is precious to Him, and since He gave it to you, no one has a right to take it!
The atonement of the cross is available for you too! You are not beyond redemption! Jesus died for you and he loves you! He is waiting for you! You have had a rough time! God knows what you have been through and loves you and wants to heal you! The Devil has made you think you have done something unforgivable. The Devil is a LIAR! You ask Jesus to come into your life and heart and receive the love of God! Let the blood of Christ heal you, redeem you, and let his love fill your heart!

Answer 7

of course God does not like divorce- however it is not the unpardonable sin- that is when someone completely denies Christ over and over again- I heard someone say once "God forgives murder, but not divorce"- that is totally ridiculous. If there was one sin that God could not cleanse then He died for nothing. God cares and loves you- He would not want you to stay in a marriage where you feared for your life- I am sorry once again for the Christians that could not show you compassion. Each of us have our weaknesses and no one sin is worse in the eyes of our God than another- but once again- Your life could have been in danger- Please consider returning to the Lord- do not judge Him by the actions of some unloving people who call themselves followers of Christ. If you need a friend and want to talk more- email me,

Answer 8

I used to believe the same thing, and it caused me to leave the faith also. I asked the very same questions you are asking.

Once you come to Christ, all your sins, past present and future are forgiven. So to divorce, yes its a sin. But you know, the other thing is we can't comprehend God's grace and forgiveness and we only think in human comparison to His understandings. So for us to put conditions on others for their actions in scenarios like that, isn't fair. God knows the reasons, He knows the actions and He alone is the judge.

If you are saved, your sins are forgiven, not a question there.

Answer 9

I Cor 7:15 " But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart A brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God hath called us unto peace."
Here the scripture plainly tells us that if our spouse defaults on the marriage through desertion, and not being responsible
could easily be implied by this also that we are"not under bondage in such cases"
In your situation God is telling you through this scripture as well all who are abused mentally and or physically etc that you are not under bondage in this situation.The bible says let them go here in this scripture.
When it comes to re-marriage there is no command against such in this passage you have a biblical right to remarry
but from the word of God I caution against any adulterous or relationship of fornication seek the will of God and examine the next relationship to ensure that the person is actually free to re marry according to the scriptures.

Answer 10

that verse is for 2 believers. Obviously your husband didnt care about God. I dont think you care about being a believer either. Non believers dont care about fornication, adultrey, divorce. The world lives for the lust of the flesh.......You should have talked to your pastor. He would have told you it was ok for you to remarry. God doesnt want you to be beaten by your husband. He wants that unity to be faithful, pure and under Christ who says that you both must love one another. By the way, one doesnt "practice" Christianity. You follow Jesus because He is the Way and because God loves you and you love Him shoing love by obeying His commandments that are good for you and show much love. God doesnt need your "practices". He wants your real love and faith and trust. Not forced. God doesnt want to harm you. Read Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.