Hello everyone! I do not believe I have actually addressed the issue of divorce head on so I wanted to do that today. I will not apologize for the frankness of this blog. I hope you understand my heart is to see you free!
God is not only a compassionate God, he is a practical God who does not want us to be in a situation where someone is intentionally harming us and is unrepentant in doing so. This type of person not only does not represent Him, they do not represent love. You may be surprised to learn that God actually sanctions divorce where abuse is concerned. He also sanctions it in the case of emotional and physical neglect which can overlap with abuse or be the abuse itself. Divorce for this reason is sanctioned in both the Old and New Testaments in Exodus 21:10-11 and reaffirmed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthian chapter 7. By the way, He also sanctions divorce for infidelity (adultery) where there is no repentance (Deuteronomy 24:1, and Matthew 19 by Jesus). If someone is not loving, honoring and keeping you (the basis of Jewish marriage law) then the Bible not only sanctions a divorce, it also encourages it.
Where am I getting my information? I am getting this information, which may be new to some of you and unheard of, from the article What God Has Joined by David Instone-Brewer. This article was published in Christianity Today about 11 years ago. This is the first time I am seeing the information laid out for us to understand as the Bible has been mistranslated and misinterpreted in so many ways for so long. I highly recommend you read it. I hope this new information will bring many of you peace who are struggling with the decision about whether to divorce an abusive or neglectful spouse or leave a long term relationship where this is prevalent. He made you for so much more!
The bottom line is God does not want us to be with or around people who ignore our boundaries, or harm us in any way. He did not design marriage for it to be used to walk all over you and your children. He did not design a supposed “loving relationship” to be used against you or your children. He did not design you to be walked on or hurt but to be loved and cherished and treated well. He designed you for abundant, full life and abuse and neglect to not fit into that picture. Abuse, neglect and infidelity are not love, have never been love and will never be love! Is this ringing true for some of you today? Have you been struggling with a decision about whether to go or stay? Struggle no more! Let the words on this page sink in and take the steps you need to take today toward a better life for you and your children! You are worth it despite what you may have been told by your spouse, partner, other pastors or your church denomination! God is not a god of abuse, neglect and unfaithfulness. He is a God of love, compassion, faithfulness and attentiveness! If you have been told otherwise, it is a lie! There is no place for abuse, neglect and infidelity in marriage! There is not an argument otherwise that can hold water!
I encourage my readers today to read this blog and the article for yourselves and let it bring you freedom. Share it with your pastors and other Christians and non-Christians alike. Let freedom come to our relationships! Love will prevail! Love has already won! In the name of Love and Freedom,
Elizabeth