More on marriage

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

I sent this to Sis Kathleen a day or so ago.  She said it
was OK to 
"publish" it.  Let's all remember her in our prayers! 
Amen!

Me:
I thought I would send this to you first and then if you
think it is OK, I would like to send it to H-F as it clears
up a lot of things.

Me B4:
> >Any remarriages by a person who was divorced while a
> >believer, even if backsliden, under any other
circumstances
> >than these makes them an adulterer until they terminate
the
> >marriage and remain unmarried.

You: 
> Are you speaking of the believer who backslides, then
divorces or leaves his/her spouse or of the spouse who has
been left or 
> divorced? (Complicated isn't it?!)  

Me:
Not really.  Since you both were and are still believers
(your husband's rebellion hasn't changed the fact that he
still believes in God even if he doen't serve), divorce is
not an option.  If you cannot live with your husband, you
are free to move out but you must either remain alone or be
reconciled to your husband at some other time.  Your
husband is under the same "bond."  If you decide to move
out and you remain faithful to him, he must remain faithful
to you also even in his backslidden state.  There is only
one legitimate reason for a divorce between two believers
and that is fornication.  If you and your husband remain
faithful to each other even if you live apart, there is no
option for divorce but should either commit fornication,
the other could divorce the guilty party and remarry. 
Forgiveness is also an OPTION.  

God wants us to live together in peace and He is against
divorce but He allows us to escape from the "dead" if there
is no way to bring the sinner to repentance.

You:
I ask because I am a believer who married a believer who
has since backslidden.  For now he has chosen to remain in
our home and therefore I am obligated to remain with him
(even though I have endured great sufferings and troubles
since he has a substance abuse problem).  

Me:
As I, and Paul have said, you may leave if you cannot take
it but you must remain faithful.  This doesn't mean you
have to server all ties since you are still married after
all, but you must BOTH honor the marriage.

You must consider whether it would be better for him to
have you as a witness for returning to the Lord in the same
house or would you be a better witness living somewhere
else?  I assure you that if you put his interest first, God
will BLESS YOU.  It may not turn out like you think you
want it to, but you will be "content" with the end results.

You:
What if he chooses to leave me?  In your opinion then, must
I remain unmarried?

Me:
If he remains faithful to you, divorce is not an option. 
If you separate and he remains faithful you must remain
married and faithful to him, period.  If he then decides to
divorce you (legally) and he remains faithful to you (but
you cease all relations since relations would then be
illegal in most states, no joke) you must remain faithful
to him.  If he divorces you and then HE remarries or
commits fornication whether he is remarried or not you have
grounds for divorce and remarriage, but only to another
saint.  If he remarries he is an adulterer.  When one
backslides, they do not become "unbelievers" so the "new
creature" part doesn't apply to them.  Even after
remarriage he could be restored to a right relationship
with God but he would have to renounce his adulterous
relationship (remarriage) and live unmarried.  This would
make him one of the "eunuchs for the Kingdoms sake" that
Jesus spoke of in Matt. 19:11-12.

I will pray for you!

Me now:
I would add one footnote.  Sis Kathleen wrote me that her
Pastor had told her in counseling that he thought that
since her husband was guilty of nonsupport that 1 Timothy
5:8 applies.  I replied that any time a believer willfully
sins that we are "worse than unbelievers" because we know
better but that doesn't make us unbelievers.  

Question: Does anyone who has the Holy Ghost EVER become an
"unbeliever?"

Timothy Litteral
472 Grant St.
Marion Ohio 43302
trlitteral@usa.net
http://members.tripod.com/~trlitteral



Timothy Litteral
472 Grant St.
Marion Ohio 43302
trlitteral@usa.net
http://members.tripod.com/~trlitteral