Divorce and Abuse

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RosaMarie

Junior Member
Feb 11, 2015
6
0
0
#1
Biblical Reasons To Divorce For Abuse
Battered spouses seeking biblical reasons to divorce for abuse will find scriptures to support a decision to end an unsavory relationship. When marriages turn sour because of one partner's tendency to inflict physical, mental, emotional, or sexual harm, the Bible offers some sound advice. While God hates divorce, or "putting away," He does not condone staying in an abusive union. In Ephesians, Chapter 5, husbands are commanded to love their wives and cherish them as their own flesh; and wives are charged to reverence the husband. No where in the Holy Word of God is there justification to beat or berate a spouse; and a battered man or woman has a right to dissolve a marriage that causes undue distress or harm.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word, That He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth it, even as the Lord the church" (Ephesians 5:25-29). Biblical reasons to divorce for abuse may apply when a husband fails to treat the wife with loving care. Just as Christ sanctifies and nourishes the Body of Christ, which is His Bride; exercising care to keep her unspotted and free from blemish; so should a man exercise care not to inflict blemishes and bruises on a beloved wife. Men are to love their wives, cleansing and pampering the female just as they would care for their own bodies. "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband" (Ephesians 5:33).

I Corinthians, Chapter 7 addresses believers married to non-believers who also may be in abusive relationships. Biblical reasons to divorce for abuse include non-believers who are not "pleased to dwell" with a saved spouse. In many cases, non-Christians become violently opposed to a believer's lifestyle; some resort to physical or emotional battering to try and control the spouse who desires to serve God. The more a husband or wife who desires to follow Christ strives to attend church or become involved in fellowship with other believers, the more abusive a non-believing spouse can become.

The problem is that couples who are unequally yoked because of faith or a lack thereof are diametrically opposed. A Christian man or woman has professed a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and has a desire to walk out a personal salvation through regular church attendance, prayer, worship, and holy living. Conversely, an unsaved mate not only serves the impulses of an unregenerated fleshly nature; but also can be used as a tool of Satan to torment the believer. Because of the intimate union of married life, believers are often forced to choose between the wishes and whims of an unsaved spouse versus those of the Savior. A battle of the wills can sometimes lead to domestic violence, including name calling, cursing, hitting, or a the very worse, sexual enslavement. All of these are biblical reasons to divorce for abuse. No one should stay in a home where their life or emotional well being is threatened. Help is available through the church or social service agencies offering counseling or temporary shelter for battered spouses, especially women with children.

If an unsaved spouse abandons a Christian mate, scriptures give biblical reasons to divorce for abuse and provide a way of escape for the believer: "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace" (I Corinthians 7:15). A Christian spouse, therefore, has the right to divorce a mate who abandons the marriage, especially when physical, mental or emotional mistreatment is involved. God's purpose for marriage is not to allow His children to live in fear of their lives or safety, or to become a whipping post for an abusive spouse. Biblical reasons to divorce for abuse are clearly stated in the Holy Word of God. A believer who lives with an unsaved mate should exemplify a holy lifestyle; but there is no guarantee that a non-believing spouse will become a born-again Christian. "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?" (I Corinthians 7:16).

While the institution of marriage was designed to create a lifelong bond between one man and one woman, God never intended marriage to be bondage. Husbands or wives who find themselves in intolerable situations or are victims of repeated domestic violence, including emotional, mental or physical abuse, should not tolerate mistreatment. Biblical reasons to divorce for abuse can be found in the Holy Scriptures which allows Christian spouses to dissolve the union. In some cases, believers who are married to non-believers are also free to divorce if abandoned by a husband or wife. However, scripture prohibits remarriage after marital dissolution, except if the cause of the breakup was fornication or adultery. Biblical reasons to divorce for abuse are justifiable, but couples in crisis should seek marriage or relationship counseling from qualified professionals or clergy. Abusive spouses may need to attend behavior modification courses to reveal the root cause of a desire to inflict injury to a loved one. With the help of professional or spiritual adviser and prayer, God will lead those who are hurting to an equitable solution for both parties.

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