This document represents the statement of this ministry regarding divorce and remarriage. We have adopted the statement of our home church, Grace Chapel because we think it reflects biblical truth and pastoral wisdom. We recognize that thoughtful Christians may differ with their conclusions on these issues, but we welcome fellowship with those with whom we differ on those doctrines that are not essential to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

   The staff of Marriage Plus International must adhere to this statement in practice and in their teaching. We place a high value on the sanctity of marriage and will endeavor to support marriage and the family at every opportunity. We also recognize the pain and heartache that accompany divorce and seek to support those going through the process.

• Marriage is God's institution (Genesis 1-2; Matthew 19:4-6)
• God hates divorce, but the Bible recognizes that divorce occurs (Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:8-9)
• Biblically, divorce is permitted in cases of adultery and desertion (Matthew 5:32, 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:12-15)
• Reconciliation should be the first choice for Christians (ex. Hosea 1-3)
• Remarriage is permitted in cases of a biblical divorce where there is no longer a chance for reconciliation, i.e. the spouse is deceased or remarried (1 Corinthians 7:15)
• Remarriage after a non-biblical divorce results in adultery, but once this marriage is entered into it is better to stay in that marriage than to dissolve it (1 Corinthians 7:10,11; Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

Biblical Foundation

   Marriage is God's institution and plan for mankind (Genesis 1-2). Divorce in the Scripture is only permitted as an accommodation to man's sin for the protection of the innocent party. Since divorce is a concession to man's sin and not a part of God’s original plan for marriage, all believers should have the same attitude toward divorce as does God (Malachi 2:16). In Matthew 19:5-9 Christ teaches that divorce is an accommodation to man's sin and is in violation of God’s purpose for the unity of the marriage bond (cf. Genesis 2:24). Divorce was a concession for the "innocent party" due to the insensitivity of the other partner to God. This is biblically stated as the "hardness of heart" (Matthew 19:8). Dissolution meant that the innocent party no longer had to remain in a hopeless and intolerable situation (Matthew 5:32, 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:12-15).

1. Fornication – The Greek word translated "adultery" in Matthew 5:32 is porneia probably better translated fornication, which seems to cover a wide area of sexual activity such as adultery, homosexuality, bestiality, prostitution, and incest (Matthew 5:32, 19:9; 1 Corinthians 5:1).
2. Desertion – Cases where a non-believing mate leaves his or her believing spouse and initiates the divorce (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).

   It is essential to keep in mind that the Bible permits divorce in these limited circumstances but never commands divorce. The goal should be reconciliation as exemplified in Hosea 1-3, where the adulterous wife was forgiven and restored.

    Salvation means that a person begins a new life. The believer is responsible to live up to what God has revealed about marriage and divorce from the point of his or her salvation. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, the believer has become a "new creature" when he or she accepts Christ as personal Savior. This does not mean the Christian immediately erases painful memories, bad habits or the underlying causes for past marital problems, but that he or she begins a process of transformation through the Holy Spirit and the Word. A sign of saving faith will be receptivity and a willingness to obey what Christ has revealed about marriage and divorce through the Word. The Apostle Paul’s counsel in 1 Corinthians 7:20,27 is that a believer is to see every circumstance that he or she is in when he or she becomes a believer as from God. If the person becomes a believer while married, he or she is not to seek a divorce (except on the grounds given in Matthew 5:32, 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:12-16).

• Remarriage is permitted for the innocent party when the divorce was on Biblical grounds and there is no possibility of reconciliation, i.e. spousal remarriage or death.
• The Old Testament pattern allowed for remarriage after the divorce.
• The New Testament allows for remarriage after a biblically based divorce (1 Corinthians 7:15). However, forgiveness and reconciliation should to be pursued as the first choice (Ephesians 4:32).

• The believer is exhorted to either seek reconciliation or remain unmarried (1 Corinthians 7:10,11).
• If the innocent party (innocent according to Matthew 5:32 and 1 Corinthians 7:15) in a divorce is seeking remarriage, it is preferable that he/she wait until the spouse is deceased or has remarried in order to not preclude any possibility of reconciliation.
• When one party remarries after a divorce based on non-biblical grounds, that person commits adultery because God has not recognized the validity of the divorce (Matthew 5:32, Mark 10:11). Since the remarried partner has "committed adultery," the marriage bond is now broken and the remaining partner is free to remarry since reconciliation is no longer possible.

    The Bible gives a word of caution to anyone who is considering marriage to a divorcee. If the divorce was not on biblical grounds, the person who marries the divorcee is considered an adulterer (Mark 10:12). However, if an individual has entered into a second marriage, they should remain in that marriage (Deuteronomy 24: 1-4).

    In cases where divorce took place on non-biblical grounds and where the guilty party repents, the grace of God is operative at the point of repentance. It is assumed that the repentant party will endeavor to restore the marriage whenever possible as a sign of true repentance. A true sign of repentance would be a desire to stay unmarried or seek reconciliation (1 Corinthians 7:11).

    Believers who pursue divorce on non-biblical grounds are subject to Church discipline because they openly reject the Word of God. The one who obtains a divorce on non-biblical grounds and remarries commits adultery (Matthew 5:32, Mark 10:11,12). That person is subject to the steps of Church discipline in love for the purpose of restoration as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17 and illustrated in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.

    In summary the Bible presents God's ideal for marriage. It is a value and goal of this ministry to uphold the sanctity of marriage and the family as the basic, necessary human institution ordained by God (Genesis 1-2; Ephesians 5). God intends for the commitment of marriage to be life-long and its purity to be faithfully preserved. The inevitable tensions and differences between spouses arising from the "Fall" and from individual temperaments should be viewed as opportunities for mutual love and growth (Romans 8:28-29).