PICTURE

Till Death or Divorce Do Us Part? Mark 10:1-12 How to Throw a Divorce Party: 1. Keep it intimate 2. Pick a location 3. Send invites (Bonus points for slogans like “Till Divorce Do Us Part.”) 4. Keep the vibe upbeat 5. Have a cake 6. Make a toast 7. Plan an activity (e.g., “burn the wedding dress.”) Commonly Known Statistics on Divorce Nearly ½ of all marriages end in divorce. 40% of first-time marriages end in divorce and 60% of those on their second marriage will end in divorce 73% of third time marriages end in divorce. America has the 6th largest divorce rate in the world. According to a 2019 CDC study, a divorce in America happens once every 42 seconds. There are 86 couples divorced per hour. 2,046 per day. 14,364 per week. And 746,971 per year. Interestingly enough. One study entitled “Divorce and Death” shows that broken marriages can kill at the same rate as smoking cigarettes. Indications that the risk of dying is 23% higher among divorcees than married people. Sad, but not surprising, especially given the stress divorce puts on the couple. Why are people divorcing? The number one cause is infidelity. In fact, studies show that 25% of married men and 15% of married women have had a sexual affair. Other reasons people list for getting a divorce are things such as the inability to communicate, financial struggles, an abusive spouse, addiction, weight gain and loss of attraction, and holding to different religious beliefs which paralyze the relationship. Three Biblical Views Regarding Divorce 1. Divorce is an option under two conditions “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32). “’And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it” (Matthew 19:9-12). “After hearing Jesus nullify most of the currently popular grounds for divorce, the disciples overreact and say, it is better not to marry (than to run the risk of a lifelong unhappy marriage). This saying is best understood as referring to that statement (“it is better not to marry”). Jesus explains that what they have said is true, but only for those to whom it is given, namely, for eunuchs. This would include those without the capacity for sexual relations, either through a birth defect or castration, and those who have chosen a life of abstinence. Celibacy is an acceptable alternative to marriage” (The ESV Study Bible). “But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved” (1 Corinthians 7:15). 2. Divorce is never an option “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:18-19). 3. Divorce Under Truly Dire Situations Today’s Takeaway’s: *If you’ve been through a divorce, first off, I’m sorry for your pain. Secondly, if there was any wrongdoing on your part and you’ve acknowledged that before the Lord then you are forgiven and should welcome God’s unconditional love and grace toward you. *If you’re thinking about getting a divorce, make sure you’ve really have biblical justification. So many people don’t want to put the hard work in. Don’t quit before the miracle happens. You may feel like your marriage is in the dumps today, but if you work on it together you can wonder how you ever felt that in the future. *Not to be trite, but do remember, couples that pray together, stay together! A 1997 Gallup Poll conducted by the National Association of Marriage Enhancement revealed the divorce rate among couples who pray together regularly is 1 out of 1,152. Let that soak in. That’s far less then 1%. What other antidote to divorce comes even close to trumping this? I’ll tell you. Nothing. If you want to stay together, then pray together. There’s no better remedy. It’s the antidote of antidotes.