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The Informer Vol. 52 July 11, 1999 No. 38 FORNICATION, THE CAUSE OR THE CONSEQUENCE? Marriage is for life. When an eligible couple vows to live together in holy matrimony according to God’s ordinances, forsaking all others, until death do them part, they are bound to keep their vows (Eccl. 5:1-5). This is God’s will. Paul wrote, "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Heb 13:4). In the sermon on the mount Jesus said, "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give here a writing of divorcement; But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultry" (Matt. 5:31-32). Jesus made it clear that for a man to put away his wife for a reason other than fornication was to cause her to commit fornication, that is, he puts her in a vulnerable position; and rather than live alone, she commits adultery. She will give an account for her adulterous relationship, but her husband will also have to give an account for having placed her into this vulnerable position. The only divorce that God recognizes is if the innocent party puts away the guilty party because of his or her having committed fornication. Fornication must have been the cause of the divorce and not the consequence of the divorce. Then, the innocent party may remarry; but the guilty party is not free to remarry. This is clearly stated in Matthew 19:9: "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except is be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." "Except it be for fornication" means if and only if it be for fornication. Whoever marries the woman who has been divorced, whether she was put away on the ground of fornication or for some other reason, will be guilty of adultery. In a case where a married couple separates because they just cannot get along for one reason or another, "the waiting game" begins. When one succumbs to temptation, the other party thinks her or she is free to remarry. This, the New Testament does not teach. Paul said, "And unto to married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband; But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife" (I Cor 7:10-11). God does not give permission to the wife to leave her husband; but if she does so anyway, she is to "remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband." Likewise, the husband is not to put away his wife. If a wife leaves her husband, it may place him in a vulnerable position; and Satan may tempt him for his lack of self-control. His vulnerability may lead to his committing fornication. Or a husband may get mad at his wife, leave her and place her in a similar situation. She, in a weak moment, might yield to Satan’s ploys and become guilty of fornication. If one puts away his mate for a reason other than fornication, his failure to maintain his marital obligations might subject her to temptations that would result in adultery. In such an instance, fornication would not be the cause of divorce but would be the consequence. In such a case, the person having put away his wife would be the causative factor in making her an adulteress. Certainly, he would not have the right to remarriage. But if he maintained his marital obligation (I Cor. 7:2-5), and in spite of this, his wife committed fornication, then he would have the proper ground for divorcing her. The same would hold true if it were the wife that was remaining faithful, but not the husband. This is why Paul said, "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for you incontinency" (I Cor. 7:2-5). If married couples would follow Paul’s inspired counsel, there would be fewer people with "eyes full of adultery" and few marriages would end up in the divorce courts. I have known some cases where there is no innocent party. For example, a married couple cannot get along; so, they separate. During their separation, each begins to look elsewhere and date others. One party yields to Satan’s temptations and commits adultery. The other party goes out and does likewise. Both are guilty of being unfaithful to their marriage vows before the divorce is final. In such situations, neither the husband nor the wife has the right to remarry. They need to reconcile or live a celibate life. If one says, "I do not care; I am not going to live a single life nor leave an adulterous relationship," he needs to contemplate what hell will be like. If one dies as an adulterer or an adulteress, he or she will be lost in eternal hell forever and ever. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and the murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev 21:8). Paul wrote, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators not idolaters, nor adulterers, not effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (I Cor 6:9-10). Bretheren, do not commit fornication nor be the cause of another’s committing fornication. |