preacherman

Thursday, August 26, 2010

What Are Your Thoughts on Separation or Divorce?

How does the Church treat separated and divorced people? Do the judge? Do they condemn? Are they more understanding, forgiving? Have things changed over the last 10, 20, 30 years in the church having sympathy and giving care to those with relationship problems? How would your church treat you if you where going through a separation or divorce? What would happen if a minister went through a separation or divorce. Doesn't Paul say it is good or can be good for a couple to be separated for a time? Can separation be a blessing for a couple? Or does it hurt? If you have gone through a separation or divorce how have you felt? Did it help, hurt? How? If you are a minister how would your church treat you if you where separated or divorced? Why? What advice do you have for those who are separated or considering divorce? Does the church need to treat separated and divorced people different? How and Why? If you are currently separated or divorced how has your church helped you and your family?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts?

10 Comments:

Blogger Brian said...

When you ask whether Paul thought separation was a good thing, I think you must be referring to 1 Cor. 7:5. To answer your question, I do not believe that the modern definition of "separation" is what Paul is talking about in this verse.

When you you consider the context of the verse, Paul is clearly talking about the sexual relationship. Before verse 5, he says that each spouse's body does not belong to them alone, but to the other spouse as well. At the end of the verse, he tells them to come back together so that they will not be tempted because of their lack of self-control. It does not seem that Paul is advocating the idea that two spouses completely remove themselves from one another or the idea of taking a break.

In fact, Paul gives the reason for and limitations on the temporary deprivation. First it is for the purpose of the couple devoting themselves to prayer. By using that language, it seems that Paul is advocating sexual fasting within the marriage relationship. The purpose of fasting is to learn to rely on God. What modern Americans call separation does not seem to have reliance on God as the motivation for the separation.

Paul limits the deprivation in two ways. First, it must be by mutual consent. How many separated couples do you know that are separated by mutual consent. I would guess that many separations are initiated by one spouse and the other spouse really has not choice. Second, Paul says the deprivation must be for a time or a season. In other words, it is limited and my interpretation is that it should not be a long time.

Once you really break the verse down, I just don't think it applies to the modern concept of marital separation. If you had another instruction from Paul in mind, I'm sorry.

1:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

God hates it and I work to keep it from happening but that doesn't mean it doesn't.

I try to minister and educate in an attempt to keep it from happening again.

We take people where they are and go from there.

10:27 PM  
Blogger Keith Brenton said...

I hate divorce ... maybe not as much as God does (Malachi 2:16. But I've been there.

And so has He:

Isaiah 50:1; Jeremiah 3:8.

9:30 AM  
Anonymous Trey Morgan said...

Wow, that's a lot of questions.

5:26 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Does becoming a Widow mean you come into this same discussion?

Does this also mean you can or cant re-marry?

7:58 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

gucci outlet, louboutin outlet, longchamp handbags, tory burch outlet, longchamp outlet, true religion jeans, louis vuitton outlet, air max, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, louis vuitton, jordan shoes, burberry outlet, tiffany and co, louis vuitton handbags, michael kors outlet, kate spade handbags, ray ban sunglasses, air max, oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet, louboutin, tiffany and co, oakley sunglasses cheap, kate spade outlet, michael kors outlet, prada outlet, burberry outlet, michael kors outlet, nike shoes, coach factory outlet, nike free, louboutin, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton outlet stores, chanel handbags, christian louboutin shoes, prada handbags, michael kors outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, coach purses, michael kors outlet, coach outlet store online, true religion jeans, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp handbags, coach outlet

8:45 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

insanity workout, north face jackets, giuseppe zanotti, chi flat iron, ugg boots, p90x, birkin bag, longchamp, ferragamo shoes, rolex watches, herve leger, hollister, canada goose, babyliss pro, ugg australia, canada goose, canada goose jackets, reebok outlet, ghd, soccer shoes, ugg, nfl jerseys, nike roshe run, north face outlet, valentino shoes, mont blanc, celine handbags, nike huarache, new balance shoes, canada goose outlet, ugg boots, canada goose, mcm handbags, beats by dre, bottega veneta, wedding dresses, soccer jerseys, marc jacobs, canada goose uk, mac cosmetics, ugg pas cher, vans shoes, jimmy choo outlet, instyler, uggs outlet, asics running shoes, lululemon outlet, abercrombie and fitch

9:20 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

lancel, canada goose, timberland boots, pandora charms, thomas sabo, moncler outlet, hollister, canada goose, moncler, hollister clothing store, converse, ray ban, louis vuitton, rolex watches, iphone 6 cases, oakley, juicy couture outlet, vans, karen millen, pandora jewelry, ugg, moncler, air max, supra shoes, swarovski crystal, swarovski, pandora charms, moncler, moncler, converse shoes, gucci, ugg, louboutin, montre homme, air max, hollister, coach outlet store online, links of london, baseball bats, juicy couture outlet, ralph lauren, parajumpers, moncler, toms shoes, wedding dresses, moncler

9:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sac guess, coach factory outlet, new balance pas cher, air force, kate spade handbags, nike roshe run, hogan, michael kors, kate spade outlet, oakley pas cher, ray ban pas cher, true religion jeans, burberry, coach purses, vans pas cher, michael kors, north face, longchamp pas cher, air jordan pas cher, chanel handbags, coach outlet, north face, hollister, true religion jeans, louboutin pas cher, ralph lauren pas cher, tn pas cher, michael kors, nike blazer, coach outlet, sac longchamp, true religion outlet, nike free, michael kors, lacoste pas cher, air max, hollister pas cher, converse pas cher, lululemon, timberland, nike air max, true religion jeans, vanessa bruno, ray ban uk, hermes

3:47 AM  
Blogger susan said...

I got too much interesting stuff on your blog. I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the good work. celebrity net worth is a website which reports estimates of the total assets and financial activities of celebrities. Read it for more information.

10:47 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home