Up to this day I am still so torn between supporting and opposing the divorce bill in the Philippines. As you can see, I have been trying my best to type posts that weigh both sides of the issue objectively because I am confused and do not want to paint all of my compositions with bias.
If you would like to know, I am a born again Christian. I know I am not worthy to be called a pure person because I have my own share of transgressions just like any other person—may they be Roman Catholic, part of Iglesia ni Cristo, Muslim, Hindu, you name it. As a Christian, I first sought the Bible for answers on the issue of divorce unlike others who run to the internet or base their opinions on the credibility and opinions of personalities for or against it. So here’s my story on how I was enlightened on God’s views on divorce. I do not mean to be preachy, I would just like to share where my opinions and fuzzy stand on divorce come from.
It is not unfamiliar to Filipinos that the divorce bill has not just become a political issue but a religious one too. Divorce affects everyone in the society thus it is looked through the lens of different aspects. But this story looks through my aspect—one of a born again Christian.
I first checked what the Bible had to say about divorce because I believe that we, imperfect humans inevitably change—in attitudes, opinions, beliefs etc. but what God has to say has never changed since his preachings were inscribed through scriptures 1000 years ago.
I was enlightened by the pastoral message of David B. Curtis. He taught that the New Testament law of divorce is strict. Jesus restricted divorce to one cause only—fornication. But still, he did bind men and women who were unhappily married. So ask why he still allowed they continue living a life of misery? Because they covenanted before God to love each other until death, not until happiness. Curtis adds that the mayhem of divorce on a religious aspect has been due to discrepancies in standards. Some people have lowered its standard while others have raised it more than God’s intent. “In order to stop the problem, let’s take the Bible’s standard and raise it” is just as wrong as the lax view because it is not what God precisely states. Therefore, it is important to seek what the Bible says if you would like to oppose it in a religious aspect.
Malachi 2:16 says, “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce.” God detests divorce and has He changed his mind on this over the years? “For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” (Malachi 3:6) In Palestine, the Pharisees wanted to destroy Jesus and divorce was a flaming issue—whether it was lawful to divorce out of any reason or lawful to divorce only because of fornication. But he went along and preached what was right.
Jesus taught that first, God created one man for one woman. Second, marriage is a strong bond. Third, it makes the two one flesh. And fourth, marriage is a work of God.
So there goes one of my puzzling thoughts—divorce is lawful only for those who committed fornication, but God completely detests it. Watch out for Part II!
Reference: http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/topical/bible_and_divorce.htm
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