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I agree with most folks that the Bible has some tough teachings on divorce and re-marriage. Ones that are often ignored or winked at because they are so hard. Such teachings as: If you divorce and remarry you are in a state of adultery (Unless your original partner is dead). I never ever heard that taught and have seen it violated on a regular basis with no one raising a voice of objection.
I think we should try to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. He and His apostles lived lives of servitude and suffered frequent persecution and imprisonments. Even today there are the Christians of Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, and other restricted countries that are treated like the scum of the Earth simply because they want to live Christian lives.
A lot of people tend to think "Well God couldn't possibly want me to be unhappy or as miserable as I am in this relationship." Consider the God who did not spare His own Son from the cross. Consider the God who permits many of His servants to suffer unspeakable tortures in prisons all over the world. And it's not like God breaks all these Christians out of prisons like He did in Acts. Many of them spend the rest of their lives there, being fed little and suffering much.
The Bible says:
"All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2Timothy 3:12
As well as:
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake."
Philippians 1:29
The same who think it is okay to file for a divorce if physical or emotional abuse is happening in a relationship are probably the same who would think it is okay to deny Christ or to bow before a pagan idol in times of intense persecution. Or even if they don't advocate that philosophy right, probably would when the persecution actually happens to them.
That being said, the Bible does not say that you can never put some distance between the two of you for some time of prayer and reflection.
I would take everything people say on this thread with a grain of salt because people tend to be so tainted by the desire for self-preservation and the 1st world comforts--Folks who seldom to never try to err on the side of caution. Even take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. I don't know it all. I just try to live by the Bible and look at the large perspective on things.
The large perspective is that God says He hates divorce. That being stated, I would hope to never divorce my wife even when the Bible provides grounds for it (adultery). I would hope to be as faithful as Hosea even if my wife was as unfaithful as Hosea's wife. Have I ever felt the emotion distraught caused by this? No. Do I realize that it would be excruciatingly painful? Yes. But no more painful than Christ dying on the cross for an unworthy wretch like me.
I think we should try to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. He and His apostles lived lives of servitude and suffered frequent persecution and imprisonments. Even today there are the Christians of Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, and other restricted countries that are treated like the scum of the Earth simply because they want to live Christian lives.
A lot of people tend to think "Well God couldn't possibly want me to be unhappy or as miserable as I am in this relationship." Consider the God who did not spare His own Son from the cross. Consider the God who permits many of His servants to suffer unspeakable tortures in prisons all over the world. And it's not like God breaks all these Christians out of prisons like He did in Acts. Many of them spend the rest of their lives there, being fed little and suffering much.
The Bible says:
"All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2Timothy 3:12
As well as:
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake."
Philippians 1:29
The same who think it is okay to file for a divorce if physical or emotional abuse is happening in a relationship are probably the same who would think it is okay to deny Christ or to bow before a pagan idol in times of intense persecution. Or even if they don't advocate that philosophy right, probably would when the persecution actually happens to them.
That being said, the Bible does not say that you can never put some distance between the two of you for some time of prayer and reflection.
I would take everything people say on this thread with a grain of salt because people tend to be so tainted by the desire for self-preservation and the 1st world comforts--Folks who seldom to never try to err on the side of caution. Even take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. I don't know it all. I just try to live by the Bible and look at the large perspective on things.
The large perspective is that God says He hates divorce. That being stated, I would hope to never divorce my wife even when the Bible provides grounds for it (adultery). I would hope to be as faithful as Hosea even if my wife was as unfaithful as Hosea's wife. Have I ever felt the emotion distraught caused by this? No. Do I realize that it would be excruciatingly painful? Yes. But no more painful than Christ dying on the cross for an unworthy wretch like me.