What do you think of this? Do you agree?

Question

This incident is true. This is about a family that attended the Church of Christ. She found out that her husband had been molesting their daughter for years. She went to the church elders looking for support, and to ask that they grant her permission to leave her husband. The elders denied her request because she didn't have a biblical reason for the divorce, ie. no adultry.

What do you think? Wouldn't this be classified as adultry? To me, it would be. Do you agree that she shouldn't leave her husband? Why or why not? I was livid when I heard about this.

Because of confidentiality, I cannot give sources. It did happen and people did leave the Church of Christ because of it.

It did happen!

Answer 1

After talking to one of their member a few weeks ago I have concluded that this religion in a works based cult and should not be taken seriously. They are NOT Christians. In this instance they prove it again protecting a serious sin among them. This type of turn your head the other way doctrine was condemned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:1.. No true Christian church would allow such a terrible sin to go on in the body.. Jim

Answer 2

Well, the first is to throw this guy in Jail. However, I can understand why they would say what they're saying. The problem is that the Church of Christ does not have the fulness of truth. The reason why they're saying what they're saying is because in the bible it says that "man cannot break apart what God has joined together." This is an extremely strong arguement against divorce. However, if they had the fullness of truth they would be able to discern what God did and did not join together. I would argue that in this case God never intend for these peole two get married.

At the same time, just because they can't get a divorce doesn't mean she has to live with the guy or ever see him again. She could live a celibate life until the situation is resolved, out of harms way for her and her daughter.

This is the kind of thing that happnes when you break from the original church that Jesus himself started -- The Catholic Church.

Answer 3

I would hope that the chuch elders take direction from God. This mother should take her daughter and leave (I did not say divorce) and ask her husband to get 'help'. The church elders and minister are obligated by law to report this sexual abuse to authorities to protect this young girl. Yes, it seems that this would be considered like adulterous sin. I think in a situation like this it is best to seek God's guidance and trust in your leadership. There may be confidential facts that only they know and are not privy to passing out. We are always quick to criticize our leaders but if we knew all the reasons behind their decisions and advice we might understand and be more supportive..have faith. Yes, elders are just men and we should look closely to make sure they are living the life that Jesus has instructed. To put things more bluntly ...sometimes we just need to mind our own business... until things affect you personally.

Answer 4

First the Church is way primitive when it comes to facing the modern world challenges. Even they accepted Galileo after hundreds of years. If they had their way then sun would be still going round the earth.

Its our own life and one should have every right to ask herself/himself the basic question if she or he is happy with the situation... or if what is happening is morally right.... if the inside answer is no... then she has every right to leave her husband or anyone for that matter.

You only live once and no one else except you have the right to live happily with your head held high - better than dying every day you die once and lead a new life !

Answer 5

If by "molesting", you mean sexual molesting, then I believe there is adultery and/or fonication.

Matthew 5:32 uses the word "fornication". As I understand it, sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse is fornication. (Jesus even said, "whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.") And, no matter what Bill Clinton said, there are sexual relations even without the complete act of intercourse!

There are, in my understanding of the Bible, grounds for divorce (and remariage if she later chooses).

I am a member of the Church of Christ. Those elders need to re-study this matter!

Answer 6

First off the woman shouldn't have gone to her church elders, she should have gone to the police and file a report on her husband and attain a warrant for his arrest on the grounds of pedophilia.

Then she should have continued to file for divorce.

Then she should have gone to her church elders, told them the situation, what she has done and ask their opinion.

Her husband was committing adultery, with his own daughter! Having sex with a person outside of one's monogamous marriage as sanctified by the Christian God is adultery. The man was not having sex with his wife, he was raping his child. That is Biblical grounds.

Since when did adultery become discriminatory based on age? So what, if you sleep with someone under 21 it isn't adultery, but it is if they are over 21? NOPE! Adultery is the simple act of sleeping with another person; no age, gender, creed, or race is exempt.

Answer 7

I know my Mom stayed with my Step dad who was doing the same thing to me and my sister until he died because the church told her it was wrong for her to leave and she would go to hell if she did.He made her ( my sister) do oral on him when she was 4 years old. Then he spoke in tongues and preached the gospel like any other so called preacher in the pulpit. Never once was his sin revealed even when I tried to speak up and get him busted no one believed me. He found a way to discredit me and make me look like a fool. I was 6 years old so it was easy especially for a con artist.Why do people put so much credit into what the church thinks? To hell with them tell her to protect her child!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

Well,all organized religion is falling away in these Last Days.The divorce issue is not a factor.She would be insane to stay in harm's way.That doesn't give her license to remarry.But she most assuredly has the right to leave the man.

Answer 9

She should have gone to the police instead of her church leaders.
And the church leaders were correct in say it was not adultery.

Adultery is "Voluntary" sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful spouse not molestation of a minor or rape .http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/adultery

Answer 10

Not only should this woman seek a divorce, but she should have this man prosecuted. Any elder who would tell her otherwise is dishonest. Furthermore, she should read the Bible for herself. Clearly, her husband is not a christian and she is well within her rights to divorce him.