Abuse <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In Matthew 10:23<\/a> Jesus tells his followers to flee from one city to another if they are being persecuted. Requiring the victims of spousal abuse to remain married to their abusers would be cruel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Often physical violence comes to mind when the word \u201cabuse\u201d is heard, but there are other forms of abuse. Verbal abuse such as name-calling and insults, emotional abuse, and financial abuse can occur in Christian marriages just as they do in marriages between people who are not religious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus\u2019 advice on fleeing abuse could be lifesaving in some abusive marriages. Rabbinic law dating to the Old Testament holds that abuse and neglect<\/a> are grounds for marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Colossians 3:19 advises husbands to love their wives and not be harsh with them,\u201d but this can apply to both marriage partners. Abuse is unacceptable in Judeo-Christian teachings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marital infidelity is the only grounds for divorce mentioned by Jesus. In Matthew 19:8-9, Jesus is asked whether a man can divorce his wife, as no-fault divorces were happening at that time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus answered, \u201cMoses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Mark, he also says that those who divorce and remarry are committing adultery. The sin of adultery<\/a> was taken so seriously that it was punishable by death under Old Testament law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bible scholars say that Jesus was referring to no-fault divorces and not all causes of divorce when he listed sexual immorality as the only valid reason for a divorce<\/a>. Jesus\u2019 teachings should not be twisted into living in a dangerous, abusive marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus took adultery so seriously that in Matthew 5:27-30 he said those who look on another with lust in their hearts have already committed adultery. This doesn\u2019t mean a wayward look is grounds for divorce but that the act of adultery begins with thoughts that lead to temptation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a spouse leaves, it hardly seems just for the remaining partner to be locked into a marriage that\u2019s clearly over. The Bible also addresses this reason for divorce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Providing for the family is central to Christian living. In 1 Timothy 5:8, the apostle Paul writes that \u201cif anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Abandonment of a spouse, then, is so serious that it\u2019s a denial of Christian beliefs and values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In I Corinthians 7:15<\/a>, it is written that if an unbelieving spouse leaves, their husband or wife is not held to that marriage. \u201cGod has called you to peace,\u201d the verse reads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not returning from a trip to the supermarket isn\u2019t the only way a spouse can abandon a partner. There can also be emotional abandonment or financial abandonment in an estranged marriage. Abandonment can be depriving a spouse of food or medicine or depriving a partner of affection and kindness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the two cannot reunite as partners, divorce may be best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Christians who are married to non-Christians are required to honor those marriages, according to verses of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 7. The non-Christian spouse is \u201cmade holy\u201d by their partner\u2019s faith, the verses say. However, if a Christian is divorced by that non-Christian, then that divorce is allowed, and the Christian is free to remarry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bible does not spell out the reasons for divorce an unbeliever should have, only that it is allowed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No one walking down the aisle as a wedded couple envisions divorce, but it happens. In the U.S., about half of marriages end in divorce, so Christians\u2019 33 percent divorce rate is lower than the national average. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoiding divorce is a goal Christians can reach by following the Bible before marriage and after saying their vows. You\u2019ve seen what the Bible says about divorce. Here\u2019s what the Bible says about marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marrying someone who shares the same faith and values with you makes your marriage more likely to succeed since you\u2019ll agree on many of the issues that bring couples to divorce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2 Corinthians 6:14<\/a>, it is written that Christians should not marry those who are of a different faith, calling in being \u201cunequally yoked.\u201d Two Christians can also be unequally yoked since marriage partners could be from denominations that disagree on theology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if both partners are from the same Christian denomination, the differences in levels of faith can make for conflicts in marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering faith during the courtship process is one way couples can ensure compatibility and increase their chances of marital success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you live in an apartment or a house, having your own household is important to a happy marriage. Genesis 2:24 holds that \u201ca man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Living with parents or others can create conflict and limit privacy, so even if a couple has to live in a tiny house, having their own home is essential to having a happy marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remembering that God ordained marriage and that marriage is a sacrament in many denominations will strengthen your marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife \u2026 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate,\u201d it is written in Matthew 19:5-6. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thinking of God as the reason they met and married makes marriage more meaningful for many couples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to avoid divorce is to watch what you think. Abuse, adultery, and abandonment all begin with the thoughts we have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, Exodus 20:17, one of the verses of the 10 Commandments, says, \u201cYou shall not covet your neighbor\u2019s wife.\u201d Coveting is having the thought of wanting that person for yourself, even if that person or you are married to another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not coveting another person\u2019s wife or husband would prevent adultery from happening. Likewise, thoughts of kindness and care toward a spouse would prevent abuse and abandonment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t let monotony make your marriage die of boredom. Keep your love alive by showing love and kindness to each other, just as you did during your courtship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 12:10 says to \u201cbe kindly, affectionate to one another \u2026 in honor giving preference to one another.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wanting to please each other can keep the romance alive even when the kids have the flu and there\u2019s a broken water pipe. \u201cShe who is married cares \u2026 how she may please her husband,\u201d says 1 Corinthians 7:34. That also applies to husbands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think your marriage may be heading for divorce, there are ways it can be mended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Forgiveness of sins is a key tenet of Christian theology. Ephesians 4:32 says to \u201cbe kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.\u201d What can be forgiven is unique to each marriage but holding grudges can destroy relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Love, one of the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians, can keep marriages from ending in divorce. Ephesians 4:2-3 tells believers to be \u201ccompletely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Love and forgiveness bring with them patience. 1 Corinthians 13:4 tells believers that \u201clove is patient.\u201d For married Christians, that verse encourages them to be patient with each other. Patience can decrease the chances of divorce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control, and it figures heavily into the success of any marriage. Self-control certainly is part of resisting sexual temptation, but it also means resisting the urge to be unkind or impatient with a spouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are already divorced, does the Bible say anything about how you should treat your ex-spouse and live the rest of your life? It does, indeed. The Bible offers this advice for those who are divorced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When spouses separate and divorce, the Bible is clear about how an ex-partner should be treated. Exodus 21 includes this instruction: \u201cAnd if he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n During Old Testament times, this instruction was written for men, but modern-day Christians should consider this to apply to caring for former spouses and living up to obligations and responsibilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Christians can remarry in three situations spelled out in the New Testament: if a spouse dies, if the grounds for divorce were sexual immorality, or if a non-Christian divorces a Christian. If two Christians are divorced, then they should not remarry unless the divorce was for adultery or sexual immorality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The apostle Paul writes that Christians who are married should honor their marriage commitments, but Christians who are unmarried or divorced should remain single unless they are tempted sexually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What if divorced Christians remarry even though their marriages didn\u2019t end in any of those scenarios? Christian teaching requires honoring those current marriage commitments and learning from mistakes in earlier relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201clove\u201d chapter of 1 Corinthians encourages personal growth. \u201cWhen I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me,\u201d 1 Corinthians 13:11 reads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This encourages Christians to mature in their faith and actions. This means learning from the mistakes made in a prior marriage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The word \u201clove\u201d may suggest romance, but true love goes much deeper than that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to 1 Corinthians, \u201cLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n By this definition, love is hard work. Love means not being right all the time and not bringing up a list of your spouse\u2019s errors during an argument. It means keeping hope in a current marriage alive and caring for your partner\u2019s well-being and welfare. Love is a verb in this chapter and not a feeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd now these three remain: faith, hope, and love,\u201d the chapter reads, \u201cBut the greatest of these is love.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bible includes far more information on how to have a happy marriage and live in peace than it does on grounds for divorce. This is because God looks to bring people together instead of separating them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The teachings of all major Christian denominations look to salvage marriages, but some marriages cannot be mended. Whether there is physical or emotional abuse, adultery, or abandonment, the Bible is clear that these situations call for divorce to give those in those marriages peace, safety, and a chance for future happiness. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Marriage vows include the promise of \u201cuntil death do you part,\u201d but statistics show that one in every three Christian marriages end in divorce. People of faith may find themselves asking what the Bible says about divorce and when it is allowed. Continue reading to learn more about the Bible\u2019s teachings about marriage and divorce … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":3443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"People of faith may find themselves asking what the biblical grounds are for divorce and when it is allowed. Read this...","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[150],"tags":[173],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/biblical-grounds-for-divorce-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/biblical-grounds-for-divorce-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Lauren Cook-McKay","author_link":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/author\/laurendivorceanswers-com\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3442"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3442"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11055,"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3442\/revisions\/11055"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Adultery <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Abandonment <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/abandoment.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDivorce by an Unbeliever <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Avoid Divorce <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Find a Compatible Partner <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Have Your Own Home <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/happy-home.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWeave Faith into Your Marriage <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Guard Your Thoughts <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keep the Romance Alive <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Mend a Marriage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Forgiveness <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Love <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patience <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Self-Control <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/divorceanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/impatient-couple.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat If You\u2019re Divorced? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Provide for Your Ex and Children <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Divorce and Remarriage <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Grow in Faith <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Love in Action <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Love One Another <\/h2>\n\n\n\n