Siri, show me "the spirit of the age" in one sermon, please.
This "pastor" of a United Methodist congregation argues that Jesus is okay with divorce because half of Americans are divorced already.
So, does Jesus condemn half of this church? Does Jesus condemn my parents? The church taught for centuries that divorce is wrong.Even sinful ...
Gee. I wonder why?
I imagine that Jesus would be more concerned with the number of women who have been forced, or felt forced, to stay in an unhappy, dysfunctional, or abusive marriage because that's what their church leaders told them to do.
You notice the rhetorical trick, right? This dude seamlessly lumps abusive with "unhappy" or "dysfunctional" marriages. He equates being unhappy, whatever that means to you, as the same thing as being physically abused.
We do not owe it to ourselves or our partners to stay in marriages that just aren't gonna work, that become abusive, or have no chance of survival.
(He did it again)
God calls us to live whole lives. And if your marriage is something that is keeping you from being your most authentic and whole self, then I don't think God would mind if you end up breaking that covenant.
What are you going to trust, the words of Jesus Christ and sacred Scripture? Or what this pastor in a gay affirming denomination "thinks" about God?
Here's a sampling of the Bible and divorce.
Malachi 2:16 - '"For I hate divorce," says the Lord, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence," says the Lord of armies. "So be careful about your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously."'
Matthew 19:8-9 - 'Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery."'
Mark 10:5-12 - '"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.' ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."'
Will you listen to the clear and explicit teaching of Jesus Christ, or the advice of Ryan?
A tough call!
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Not the Bee or any of its affiliates.
