Does your uncommon view on divorce affect your ministry to those in your church?

[NoTrueFace1]

minority view? it's the catholic doctrine.

[djb5255]

Without a doubt there are circumstances which merit a divorce. Child abuse and negligence being two prominent examples. With that being said, the covenant does hold the two people together even if they DO get divorced... divorced couples constantly worry about each other and think in "what if" clauses. The covenant doesn't end with divorce, which is why it ought to be redeemed as long as both parties are willing to make an effort.

[jagirl314]

I respect John Piper so much for this. He believes what he believes on this topic because of his study of God's Word not personal experience OR culture.

Imagine you knew nothing of divorce and studied God's word ALONE to find out what GOD thought about it. There would be a much stronger stand being taken by believers.

There has been a HUGE shift in Christianity today. This has become an widely unpopular view among almost all Christians, because of the CULTURE not because of the BIBLE.

[BenjaminWirtz]

I sometimes disagree with what John Piper says but here I am in 100% agreement.

[thenetrider7]

@patty7beth

Jesus is not unjust, to punish the innocent , humans are, unfortunately pastors too sometimes. The meaning of the biblical text about adultery is in my oppinion not the punishement of the innocent spouse, but double guilt of the guilty one: one for own adultery and second for the adultery he/she forced his/hers spouse to commit.

[billb380]

How can a Calvinist believe that someone can enter a marriage that they shouldn't have?

[copiousaim]

@billb380 It think he means that they later realize it was foolish or and unwise decision. Of course the Lord knew it would happen before hand.

[BenjaminWirtz]

@billb380

Excellent point, if they divorce they would be predestined to divorce.

[patty7beth]

What I hear him saying and what Jesus seemed to teach was this: that if, for example, you divorce your wife, not only do you commit adultery when you remarry if she's alive, you cause her to also commit adultery if she remarries!

If this is Jesus' POV so be it - but it seems cruel. A man cheats on his wife, divorces her and marries his lover - and the wronged first wife is an adultress too if she later marries a godly Christian man? Seems like punishing the innocent for sins of the guilty.

[sinnieleeonUtube]

@patty7beth BUT she gets to go to heaven in the end and he's not.

[DanPrinMan]

Wait, a calvinist just said a person "shouldn't have married another person" even though the calvinist also believes God has predetermined and caused all things. So, therefore, God shouldn't have married the two of them. Hmm.

Shucks.

[mrchiefofsinners]

Churches that teach reformed theology treat divorced people like criminals by giving them the left foot of fellowship. It is really very sinful. They will ignore you like the plague.

[prairiemark]

The congregation can "discipline" a member by a majority vote if they are a congregational church. It doesnt have to be 100% vote.

[MrDarisley]

I would like to know what his view would be should the one of the divorced partners marry, would that free the other one or not?

[555pontifex]

This is a no-brainer. It's in the Bible. Jesus even talks about it. If it's unfashionable in the Church, then the Church needs to grow up and into the truth.

[bobbyraejohnson]

I absolutely agree you might find someone that you shouldn't have been with when you could of had gone to college or something but it can be worth it because in the end you love that person

[billyjoet99]

Lol, i wonder Piper's grace to bless a marriage that "shouldn't" have been would be extended to gay marriage as well?

[sixfigures1]

"DON'T get divorced. If you do get divorced, you're forgiven." - Jerry Brown

[shalomjj]

Saddened that John comes so close to the truth of God's will for the permancy of marriage, but then he falls short in saying he could bless a remarriage that Jesus clearly calls adultery. Mark 10:1-11. Also: Take a look at why John the Baptist was beheaded. He stood up on the permanancy of marriage in a tough situation and the Bible never referred to Herodias as Herod's wife even though they had remarried, but always as his brother Philips wife.

[flossy986]

There is no support, logically or biblically, for demanding people to break up their families because of divorce in the past of either spouse.You would have to demand that people break up whose former spouse is untraceable and possibly dead; you will create confusion and further sin. That's not the pastoral solution Jesus would give to pastors for such people. I hold that it is, in principle, (not sexual activity) an act ofcovenant breaking to betray your spouse by divorce and remarriage;

[flossy986]

I understand John Piper's view on divorce and remarriage, though I disagree that the 'betrothal' view has much support in the context. I agree with him, however, that Scripture does not demand the dissolution of marriages after a divorce. Think about this; some people's first marriages will have been to divorcees, and the situation gets very complex. To determine which marriages are allegedly adultery and which are not would mean having to research the history of many people and who they married

[shalomjj]

@flossy986

Yes, it would be necessary to research. Does having to think hard about things mean it must not be of God? This is a serious situation and it should be well though out. If a person married a divorcee that changes everything. Take a look at why John the Baptist was beheaded. He stood up on the permanancy of marriage in a tough situation and the Bible never referred to Herodias as Herod's wife even though they had remarried, but always as his brother Philips wife.

[REAL88E]

@shalomjj ive been divorced 3 times my first wife is remmaried am i still married to her in gods eyes if not am i safe to remarry should i remain single .whats my options in the bible i want the truth eternity is now very serious to me and im learning

[Clarice1933]

People should seek council if they are coming towards thoughts of divorce as divorce should not be taken lightly, but if they try to make it work and are still not happy they should divorce. They should not be miserable and feel pressure to stay in the marriage anyway. The church damages people psychologically when they tell people that another marriage will never be right in the eyes of God. People believe this and feel trapped and it is very damaging.

[charis74Him]

I don't agree that 'grace' is given to REMAIN in an adulterous marriage.

If Jesus and Paul meant that only death separates the one flesh of a

legitimate marriage, then how can 'grace' work to 'redeem' a relationship

that is in contradiction. In all respect, the speaker has spoken out of

both sides of his mouth. Which is it?

[phil8888]

This is basically the Catholic view. :)

[LamourDeLucie]

I love this video!!!

[ashowofpower]

So, God can and will forgive a second, third, fouth marriage? I am so confused on this. I had a man tell me that everyone who is remarried and their spouse is still alive, will go to Hell...unless they divorse and stay single or get back with their first spouse.

Ceraline...I see your answer about David and Bethsheba. So what would prevent people from killing their former spouses?

[AratoSlayer]

@ashowofpower God can and will forgive any sin that is repented. That doesn't make it right though. That man was wrong, it is not his decision who will go to heaven and who will go to hell, it is God's and God says that He will forgive us any sins if we confess them.

However, any divorce and remarriage, with the exception of sexual immorality, causes both to live in adultery.

[mariuspieter]

@ashowofpower Dude, go and buy yourself one of those booklets, or there are some online, like bibles online where you can type a word in and the places in the bible where they are found will come up, do this and look up "divorse" and then go and read what the bible says about it, in various translations, because everybody has their opinions, but only the bible is right, don't follow people.

[victorydrux]

if people of your church decide to get married and one of them is divorced, would you attend/be part of the wedding ?

[ashowofpower]

what about David and Bethsheba?

[ceraline]

@ashowofpower That's why he had to kill Bethseba's husband otherwise he would have not been able to marry her as long as her husband was alive.

[mrotterdawg]

you have made a good comment rredhawk.there still are believers that hold to this view, you will find most of them in the Protestant Reformed Church, but as you said,divorce and re-marriage has become so common even in the church, and we don't want to offend, its hard...

[rredhawk]

Wow. I didn't think any "modern", "respectible" preacher today still held this view, which was easier to believe back when divorce was much less common in society, I suspect.

I tend to lean toward this view as well, but it's hard because so many of my Christian friends today are divorced or have divorced loved ones--so it's a very delicate subject, which Piper (as always) handles VERY well.

[davidgreen000]

Wow!.. To often we can let our minds slip of the miraculous, redemptive power of God.

[FreddyBenelli]

100% behind you on this one.