What are the ways one can be divorced?
When looking at divorce, I had not realized it before, but every state in America has their own reasons for divorce; and they are not always the same. For example: In Alaska one can get divorced for: Adultery, mental illness that proceeds 18 months, drug abuse, failure to consummate (sexually fulfill) the marriage, conviction of a felony, willful desertion of at least 1 year, cruel and/or inhuman treatments, if one in the marriage is personally insulted by the other, and drunkenness. Now, in New York it is different. The only reasons are: If both parties are legally separated for more than 1 year. Adultery. Willful desertion of at least 1 year. Imprisonment for 3 or more consecutive years. Cruel and inhuman treatment. Now, that is just 2 states in America.
But, let’s notice other areas of the world: In China First of all, in order to get a divorce, they must first liquidate all properties into cash. All except their clothes. If one is a bigamists (marries another while still married). Family violence by any family member. Anyone caught in gambling or drug-abuse. Both parties have lived separate lives for at least 2 years. In Africa The man is required at the time of divorce to give the woman the funding to maintain her current lifestyle by his salary and anything of the property she deems hers: no exceptions. Then, all of the remaining man’s possessions are confiscated by the government and sold leaving him with nothing. In Germany divorce is granted only by: Irresponsible attitudes Incompatibility. In Pakistan Islam does not believe in unlimited opportunities for divorce on trivial reasons. They believe that God has condemned the Muslims who use their legal rights of divorce except on legitimate grounds and in unbearable condition only. All of these from America to China, Africa, Germany and Pakistan shows that there are many variations to how one can be divorced.
So out of all of this confusion, rules and regulations, which ones are we able to pick? Well, what does God say? Jesus said, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matt. 19:9) Now, this is not sexual immorality as used in some translations. Fornication is the Greek word “porneia” which means sexual intercourse. This is the only meaning for fornication. That is it. This means that there is no other way that one can be divorced. Now some may say, “Well, my husband is abusive and has threatened me . . . Can I get a divorce? The Bible ask you, “Is this fornication?” If not, then no you cannot. Some may ask, “Well, what about annulments?” An annulment is a termination of an official and legal proceeding and if it is not for fornication, it is still a divorce. Fornication is just that, fornication. Well, some may say, “You know, my wife is just not as sexy as she use to be” or “We are not compatible anymore,” now can I get a divorce? The Bible still have the same answer for everyone: “except it be for fornication.” There are no exceptions to this rule! What part of “Except it be for fornication is unclear to the lawmakers and the people of the land?
You know Jesus reminds us, “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6) Peter also reminds us, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) Now, some may claim that this is not fair, but the simple truth is that God intended marriage to be between 1 man and 1 woman for life. It is not something that is to be dealt with lightly. Marriage is a union that God takes very seriously. Now, along these same lines, there is only one other reason for someone to remarry. The apostle Paul speaking with all authority said, “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:39) Death of a spouse is the only reason other than one committing fornication in marriage that one may become remarried. But, when the Christian remarries it is only to be in the Lord meaning that they are to be Christians less the worldly spouse tempt the Christian to live worldly again and pull him away from his first love, which is Christ.