Thank you for this in depth discussion, but I think one thing that might be good to discuss is the aspects of marriage for unbelieving couples vs believing couples.
I think it would be fair to say Jesus and Paul are addressing believers, but what about those marrying apart from belief or adherence to the scriptures. If two unbelievers mar…
Thank you for this in depth discussion, but I think one thing that might be good to discuss is the aspects of marriage for unbelieving couples vs believing couples.
I think it would be fair to say Jesus and Paul are addressing believers, but what about those marrying apart from belief or adherence to the scriptures. If two unbelievers marry then divorce and for example one becomes a believer after the divorce, do the restraints presented in the Bible still apply? Does coming to the knowledge and obedience of the scriptures change anything?
For me, I think a clarification of applying biblical commands and principles to unbelieving and believing couples would helpful to understand or think through. Do they apply to both unbelieving and believing couples or does chronology in coming to faith mean there is or should be a distinction. The local church doesn't exercise authority over unbelievers but believers.
Granted there could be myriad of situations which would best be addressed case by case by pastors/elders, but a discussion on application like believers vs unbelievers might be helpful or at least is something I wrestle with.
Good thoughts, Matt! One point "The local church doesn't exercise authority over unbelievers but believers." Well, fair enough, but do note that marriage is something universal and natural---part of God's general Providence, we might say. So I do think God's intent for marriage matters for all. And the chronology question IMO doesn't change things for this reason.
I would agree with your statement on God's intent, but the direction on how a church enforces what constitutes the validity/invalidity of re-marriage, due to its ambiguity in Scripture as you have thoroughly discussed, I think of as another category.
Again very interesting and thought provoking discussion I discovered from the Challies newsletter. I will be following you going forward. Thanks!
Thank you for this in depth discussion, but I think one thing that might be good to discuss is the aspects of marriage for unbelieving couples vs believing couples.
I think it would be fair to say Jesus and Paul are addressing believers, but what about those marrying apart from belief or adherence to the scriptures. If two unbelievers marry then divorce and for example one becomes a believer after the divorce, do the restraints presented in the Bible still apply? Does coming to the knowledge and obedience of the scriptures change anything?
For me, I think a clarification of applying biblical commands and principles to unbelieving and believing couples would helpful to understand or think through. Do they apply to both unbelieving and believing couples or does chronology in coming to faith mean there is or should be a distinction. The local church doesn't exercise authority over unbelievers but believers.
Granted there could be myriad of situations which would best be addressed case by case by pastors/elders, but a discussion on application like believers vs unbelievers might be helpful or at least is something I wrestle with.
Good thoughts, Matt! One point "The local church doesn't exercise authority over unbelievers but believers." Well, fair enough, but do note that marriage is something universal and natural---part of God's general Providence, we might say. So I do think God's intent for marriage matters for all. And the chronology question IMO doesn't change things for this reason.
I would agree with your statement on God's intent, but the direction on how a church enforces what constitutes the validity/invalidity of re-marriage, due to its ambiguity in Scripture as you have thoroughly discussed, I think of as another category.
Again very interesting and thought provoking discussion I discovered from the Challies newsletter. I will be following you going forward. Thanks!